I love Frank Bruni’s latest installment of The Tipsy Diaries (to start with, I just love the name of this column). In it, he talks about the New York craze for “bespoke cocktails” and highlights the talented owner/bartenders at TriBeCa’s Ward III. Messrs Neff, McCoy and Tabini will accept any customer’s challenge to use any ingredient to create a cocktail. The story starts with a Twinkie thrown down on the bar and ends with a recounting of Bruni’s own experience, the result of which is the yummy-sounding BruniBerry, made of tequila, cilantro, strawberry, jalapeno, honey water and lime juice. Frankly (no pun intended, but savored nonetheless) I really want to try a drink made of gin, cardamom and peach – quite possibly my three favorite flavors ever – that was a result of one of Ward III’s challenges and is featured on the article’s accompanying slide show.

Of course, Boston has its own talented bunch of bartenders making couture quaffs. There is the great group over at Drink, which I wager could hold their own against anyone in New York. And Tom Schlesinger-Guidelli, the creator of one of my all-time favorite cocktails, The Metamorphosis, who after stints at Eastern Standard and Craigie on Main will be landing soon at a new venture. Recently, I had the pleasure of trying several cocktails that he created especially for an aperitif tasting event at BRIX. A master of libation improvisation, the man can make you something tasty to drink out of almost anything!

I’m getting thirsty. It’s five o’clock somewhere.