Find Your Signature Drink: World Cocktail Week

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YES, HOT ON the heels of Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby, America celebrates another holiday so soaked in alcohol that it should avoid open flames. World Cocktail Week is upon us — OK, it's been upon us for a few days now, but you can still catch the end of it.

D.C.'s classiest bars and most creative bartenders spend this week one-upping each other, dishing out new and exciting spring cocktails. Even though you've missed some of the happy hours on offer, don't skip the last few. And remember, these are cocktail events for suave city-types. The first sign of a sombrero, and the whole thing is off.

Tonight's event, held at Proof, might be too rich for anyone's blood in this economy — $145 buys you a five-course dinner accompanied by five specialty cocktails, preceded by a party at which you can try five more specialty cocktails and munch hors d'oeuvres. First, you should ask yourself if you want to pay $145 for one night. Second, do you really want to be 10 cocktails deep on a Monday?

If the answer to either of those questions is no, don't despair. World Cocktail Week ends Wednesday, so you can spend Tuesday night from 6-9 p.m. at Sonoma's upstairs happy hour. The featured drink is called Cucumber Milk Punch. We know, we know, but these guys are professionals. Give them the benefit of the doubt.

On Wednesday, bid farewell to the booziest week ever — OK, until next year, when it will certainly be even better — with a late-night happy hour at the Tabard Inn. You can test out bartender Chantal Tseng's cocktails for May after 10 p.m.

» Proof, 775 G St. NW; 202-737-7663. (Gallery Place)
» Sonoma, 223 Pennsylvania Ave. SE; 202-544-8088. (Capitol South)
» Tabard Inn, 1739 N St. NW; 202-331-8528. (Dupont Circle)

Photo by Michael Temchine/The Washington Post