Culver City brings "Taste of Summer" to Downtown

Members of the public lined up outside restaurants, pubs, and businesses in Downtown Culver City on Wednesday, July 16 to sample various takes on a martini themed summer drink as part of Culver City Downtown Business Association’s (CCDBA) Taste of Summer: Summertini Time.

Every third Wednesday of the month for June, July, and August, the CCDBA has been holding a Taste of Summer event. This free event takes advantage of the summer crowd and flavors, inviting the public to visit businesses in Downtown Culver City to try spiked or virgin cocktails from 5 to 8 p.m. 

Each participant is given a passport which lists the businesses and the drinks they offer, with an opportunity to vote for their favorite flavor. Voters are entered into a raffle, with a gift card prize for a Downtown Culver City business after each Wednesday Taste of Summer event. The winner for the July Taste of Summer received a $200 gift certificate to AFURI ramen + dumplings.

Businesses took inspiration from July’s focus on “-tini” drinks with cocktails like the Village Well Books & Coffee’s “Lynchini,” The Culver Hotel’s “Yellow Brick Tini,” and Kirk Douglas Theatre’s “Puppetini.” 

The top five summertini drinks announced by the CCDBA for the month of July were 33 Taps’ “Hot Fun In The Summertime,” AFURI ramen + dumplings’ “The Culver Club,” Akasha’s “Key Lime Drop,” Jameson’s Pub’s “Jame-O' Rita,” and Nardò Italian’s “Hugo Spritz.”

There were a total of 21 businesses participating and even more drinks and snacks for residents and visitors to partake in. Here is a look at some highlights:

Go Go Bird

Go Go Bird, a restaurant in the Citizen Public Market on Culver Boulevard, specializes in fried chicken with Asian inspired flavors. Yet, their “Sake Yuzu Green Tea-ni” submission for Summertini Time shows that fried chicken is not their only specialty. 

With a balanced blend of yuzu — a Japanese citrus fruit — sake, and green tea, this cocktail reflects the lightness of summer. While lemons are usually the citrus drink for a hot sunny day with its tart and acidic taste, the yuzu offers a more floral, aromatic alternative. The green tea adds a more subtle earthy flavor that complements the yuzu well. Combined with the sake, this cocktail offers a uniquely Japanese drink fit for the season.

Jameson’s Pub

Jameson’s Pub is an Irish pub located on Washington Boulevard that serves both Californian and Irish favorites with their whiskeys and beers. Their “Jame-O' Rita” was voted among the top five drinks for the July Taste of Summer. However, what stood out was their selection of free samples — Pesto Mac & Cheese, Peanut Butter & Jameson Whiskey Shot, and of course, their Jame-O' Rita.

While the Jame-O’ Rita was a mixture of Jameson Whiskey, lime juice, and a dash of simple syrup that fit the martini themed day, their Peanut Butter & Jameson Whiskey Shot distinguished itself as a smooth and rich drink. With a shot of Jameson Whiskey, creamy peanut butter, and white chocolate, this sweet treat was the highlight of the selection of samples offered.

Piccalilli

Piccalilli is a restaurant on the corner of Main Street, known for their modern Southeast Asian dishes with Californian influences. Their July submission, the Piccatini, is a mixture of Ojai Orange liqueur, Giffard’s apricot liqueur, Bond Street Gin, Maraschino Liqueur. 

The Ojai Orange, a flavor from Ojai Valley in California, adds a subtle sweetness. However, the strongest flavor that takes front stage is the gin, making this drink the perfect drink for a Summertini evening. The Piccatini is a drink that goes down smoothly, making a strong impression despite the small sample size.

The final iteration of Taste of Summer 2025 — named Tropical Staycation — will be August 20. Visit the Culver City Downtown Business Association’s website to learn more.