Cold as Rice
The adult slushy has an image problem, something you can blame on the glut of sugary, premixed booze bombs that crash parties this time every year. Happily, a handful of serious bar masters are giving this besmirched category a little reputation rehab. Among our favorites: Jonathan Bernier’s frozen mai tais and palm-syrup-sweetened Arnold Palmers at Night Market, in Harvard Square. Bernier uses dry junmai sake from Ozeki in place of heavier neutral spirits (like vodka). Which means you can enjoy that brain freeze with half the hooch—but just as much humidity-cutting frigidity as all of those neon-hued pretenders.
Night Market, 75 Winthrop St., Cambridge, 857-285-6948, nightmkt.com.