March is in full bloom, even if those blossoms are not quite there yet. And though it was chilly early this week, the celebrations around DC’s perhaps most popular annual event are certainly heating up. They started with a floral bang on Monday evening, March 21, at Chaplin’s Restaurant. In a top-floor nook lit up by the brilliant setting sun, a well-dressed crowd gathered to nosh and cheers to the season.

Japanese beer fave Kirin Ichiban was on hand to raise glasses (and elegant ceramic appetizer spoons) in honor of the soon-to-bloom cherry trees around the city. The intimate, exciting reception began with chopstick and fan door prizes, and a live DJ spun beats the entire evening.

Chaplin’s owner Ari Wilder gave us the low-down on the unique cocktails featuring Ichiban. The first was a classic known by many a college-age youngster: the sake bomb. This time, though, the sake was special: the heirloom Sakura Emaki Rose Sake. The second was titled “Bread & Soda,” perhaps an Irish nod as well. It started off with a Bulleit bourbon base, and then sweetened with an international maple-ginger syrup using an Ichiban reduction. The drink was topped off with a toothpick of ginger beer cake also using this beer reduction, as well as a splash of lemon and a touch of cardamom caramel. Finally, The Honzo’s Steel cocktail arrived in a hearty mug with a base of highly floral gin, sweetened with Ichiban orange blossom honey, and turned a gorgeous color of pink with Tozai sake, distilled from plums. Cheers! Ari and his brother have been in the cocktail business for close to two decades, dreaming up cocktails using a range of unique ingredients with interesting interplay on the nose and tongue.

He also gave us some exciting scuttlebutt: he’ll be opening an all-day breakfast bar across the street, as well as a casual yakitori and karaoke bar on the penthouse level of the building that Chaplin’s currently occupies.

To pair liquid festivity with the edible type, Chaplin’s offered small bite tastes. These ranged from crispy fried wontons to shrimp gyozu to salmon-seaweed salad and of course, that Ichiban beer bread.

And so while those trees aren’t necessarily bright pink right now, Chaplin’s and Kirin Ichiban are making the cherry blossom party bloom.

-ESC