The sun is out, the bank holiday has begun and really there’s only one thing for it…

Cocktail hour is the best way to kick off your weekend celebrations and Cork’s creative mixologists are pulling out all the stops to lure you to the bar.

There are gorgeous new concoctions hitting menus all over the city this weekend, from frothy, juicy blends to artisan inventions using Irish flowers.

Here are five divine drinks to try first:

1. The ‘Pour Decisions’ at Upstairs

Find the door next to the Pembroke Street entrance to Arthur Mayne’s, then take the winding stairs up to one of Cork’s hidden gems – a whole bunch of brand new spring cocktails awaits. The Pour Decisions is a happy little mix of Jameson Caskmates IPA, fresh grapefruit juice, fresh lemons juice, bitters, simple syrup and cinnamon tincture.

It opens at 5pm. Race you there.

2. The ‘Rose Between Two Thorns’ at The River Club

Lillet have partnered with The River Club to create the gorgeous Blossom Grove Terrace, but the fun doesn’t end there; three new summer cocktails have been added to the menu.

There’s a Lillet Spritz, blending Lillet Rosé, tonic water, fresh lime and strawberries, a Rosé Between Two Thorns which is Lillet Rosé with fresh grapefruit, rhubarb, cardamom and chilli, and an appropriately named In Full Blossom, featuring Lillet Rosé, elderflower, apple and verjus. It would be rude not to try them all…

3. The ‘Dandelion 3 Ways’ at Cask

It’s officially the best cocktail bar in Ireland, so you know there’s always something special on the menu at Cask. The new spring menu features this curious concoction, which makes use of the dandelion root, leaf and flower combined with Diplmatico Planas, Killahora Apple Ice Wine and Mancino Biancho.

They say: “We then carbonate the shite out of it to give it a light, complex effervescence. Our head bartender Linda calls it ‘Sunshine in a Glass!’” Worth crossing the bridge for, we say.

4. The ‘Caskmates and Tonic’ at Arthur Maynes

An oldie but a goodie, Arthur Mayne’s is extending its Caskmates & Tonic offer all weekend to quench your thirst in the scorching spring sunshine. Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition is a whiskey aged in IPA beer barrels – mixed with refreshing tonic water and a squeeze of zesty lemon it’s absolutely delicious.

A bargain €6.50 will buy you this delectably refreshing tipple on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

5. The ‘Tijuana Sour’ at The Cornstore

If a boozy brunch is on the cards this weekend, make a beeline for The Cornstore on Cornmarket Street. With tequila, Aperol, passion fruit, lemons and grapefruit juice and egg white, the Tijuana Sour is the zingiest way to toast the bank holiday.

Sip it outside on their gorgeous terrace and you could almost imagine you’re on holidays.