Cocktail Guess: Make Me Something For a Rainy Day

Where: Comet Ping Pong, 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW

Bartender Response: “How about some sunshine?”

What We Got: Grey Goose vodka, citrus Pucker, and pineapple juice in a martini glass with lemon, salt, sugar, and an orange slice on the rim

Price: $9

How It Tasted: Like a less sweet screwdriver

Improv Points (1-5): 5. When your bar has “Comet” in its name, every answer comes from outer space. A drink as bright as the sun was the perfect antidote for a downpour.

Where: Lost Society, 2001 14th St. NW

Bartender Response: “Rum, vodka, gin?” We opted for gin.

What We Got: Gin, pineapple juice, a lime wedge, and a splash of tonic.

Price: $8

How It Tasted: Flatter and fruitier than a customary gin and tonic

Improv Points (1-5): 2. A gin and tonic is a summer staple, but rain still falls in the warmer months. The pineapple juice brightened up this standard.

Where: Drafting Table, 1529 14th St. NW

Bartender Response: “Would a Manhattan work?”

What We Got: A Manhattan with Maker’s Mark and sweet vermouth, garnished with a black cherry and served on the rocks

Price: $9

How It Tasted: Drafting Table recently opened and is still working out its kinks. Our bartender seemed a bit startled by our request for an off-menu drink but served us a Manhattan that was fine enough, if a bit heavy-handed with the vermouth.

Improv Points (1–5): 1. The Manhattan is something of a rainy-day drink; any bartender can keep it in her back pocket. It’s not the most creative default, but we didn’t mind.