Boozy NYC: January 2009 Archives

Happy Hour - Aussie Booze Bonanza

By Head Bartender on January 30, 2009 5:38 PM | No Comments

When we get emails that start off with the phrase "Learn to Drink Like an Australian," we can't help but peruse the contents. Yup, the intrepid Aussies behind Sunburnt Cow (137 Avenue C) and Bondi Road (153 Rivington Street) have struck again - a two hour all you can drink happy hour for $20.

Basically, this early frontrunner for boozy deal of the year is an invitation to get ripped. Just sidle up to the bar and get two hours of tap beer, wine, moojuice (huh?) cocktails and well drinks every day from 4pm to 8pm. No word on whether if you arrive at 4pm, drink for two hours and then throw down another $20 at 6pm you can stay for two more. But we suspect they're up for all sorts of rowdy behavior with this kind of offer. Then they'll drop you off via their Moo Mobile... 646-315-1786 for info on pickup and drop off services.

Booze Booming in the US

By Head Bartender on January 30, 2009 11:09 AM | No Comments

According to the VinExpo study by the International Wine & Spirit Record reported by MSNBC, the US continues to experience a boom in wine and liquor sales. Within three years, the US is poised to become the planet's biggest consumer of still wine, at roughly 4 billion bottles.

Liquor sales are also way up, with a further 10% rise expected - recession be damned - by 2012. Vodka continues to lead the way, as the planet's favorite spirit. In the US, vodka sales are expected to reach 65 million cases. That's a lot of cosmos.

Anti-Super Bowl Party

By Head Bartender on January 29, 2009 5:42 PM | No Comments

This year's Super Bowl match-up is such a snooze, we wouldn't blame you if you were looking for something else to occupy your time. Kyotofu has perhaps the most tempting offer, especially if you want to get blitzed - and you're not a quarterback. The Hell's Kitchen tofu and dessert emporium will have 2 for 1 cocktails, half-priced sake (their usual Sunday night offer), dessert specials, free cupcakes and Japanese "foodie movies." No, not In the Realm of the Senses. This is the new Times Square...

Kyotofu
705 Ninth Avenue, 212-974-6012

Calabrian Wine Week

By Head Bartender on January 29, 2009 12:44 PM | No Comments

One of Southern Italy's best winemakers, Paolo Librandi will be in New York this week for a series of tastings and events. Having been guests at his winery years ago in Calabria, we can highly recommend the Librandi wines as food friendly and great to drink.

Tonight, Astor Wines & Spirits will have a tasting of his Ciro Rosso, Duca San Felice Riserva and Gravello. You'll also get 15% off these wines - the Riserva is a steal at $15.29.
Tomorrow, January 30th, Union Square Wines will also be tasting these wines. Their website has good notes on the wines, and while they generally discount wines being tasted, no discount is mentioned.
On Saturday, they will taste five Librandi wines paired with cheese and charcuterie at Otto Enoteca Pizzeria (1 Fifth Avenue). Cost is $45 (tip extra) and reservations can be made at 212-995-9559. More info is on Otto's website.

Liquor Stores in a Tizzy

By Head Bartender on January 29, 2009 10:22 AM | No Comments

Crain's New York is reporting that liquor stores are up in arms over the proposal by Governor Paterson to expand sales of wine to grocery stores in an attempt to raise money for the state budget. 2,700 of them have banded together to form a coalition called "The Last Store on Main Street" to fight the proposal, which could lead to an additional 19,000+ licenses to sell wine.

New York State has long been backwards in laws related to selling wine. Recall that only a few years ago, all liquor stores were closed on Sundays as if this were the deep South. Some of these same stores fought the change because they argued Sunday hours favored big liquor stores over mom & pop shops. They were wrong about that and they are wrong about this.

Fewer than ten states limit wine sales to liquor stores. New Jersey has tons of liquor stores and you can buy wine in supermarkets. If you peruse the aisle of a Jersey supermarket, you'll find a good deal of plonck among the mostly pedestrian choices. If you want interesting or hard to find wine, you go to a liquor store. The same would happen in New York - not to mention that you would still have to buy liquor at a liquor store. Also, let's not forget that stores in New York City don't even have all that much room for wine due to high real estate costs - stuff is already stacked to the ceiling. Where are they going to put so much wine that it puts shops out of business?

However, we do think wine shops should be able to sell more than alcohol - cheese, mixers and beer come to mind. We also support the proposal to allow shops to have multiple licenses - creating mini-chains that can then leverage distributors for better deals. Let's level the playing field and let capitalism take over, shall we?

Bar Room at the Modern: Restaurant Week

By Head Bartender on January 28, 2009 5:02 PM | No Comments

Danny Meyer sure knows how to do Restaurant Week. We've tried his restaurants in the past and they are some of the hardest reservations during RW. So when we sidled up to the packed bar at The Modern's Bar Room last week for just a drink and found out they were serving the menu at the bar, it was no surprise that we were tempted into ordering.

At his restaurants, the restaurant week menu is all they serve. Choices are plentiful and interesting, usually drawn from the regular menu. It seems like they want you to have a good time and truly want to show off the restaurants to those who may not have had the chance - or the means - to try it otherwise. At the Bar Room, the menu had around 10 choices in each category (fewer for dessert) and from what we sampled, you couldn't go wrong.

Continue reading Bar Room at the Modern: Restaurant Week.

Time Out Fumbles the Manhattan

By Head Bartender on January 28, 2009 4:18 PM | 2 Comments

Time Out New York would seem to be a fan of our own Manhattan Project - why else would they advertise the "Perfect Manhattan" on the cover of this week's issue? Sure, the article delves into NYC themed drinks that the Manhattan has inspired, but why do they fumble so badly when highlighting where to have the original?

Our guess is the writer was not aware of our own post about the Bemelman's experience - short version: dated room, overpriced drinks and a piss poor Manhattan made by someone who could have cared less. We'd actually be willing to bet that the writer did not set foot in Bemelman's for the story - since the default Manhattan when we were there was made with Makers, which is certainly not a rye as listed in the recipe on TONY's website. Not to mention that the recipe doesn't even include bitters. Huh?

Among their picks for Manhattan-inspired cocktails, our favorite is the Little Italy at Pegu Club. Basically a somewhat bitter Manhattan, made with Cynar, it's one of our favorite drinks around town.

Boozy Deals

By Head Bartender on January 27, 2009 10:19 PM | No Comments

Seems like every day more and more deals pop into our inbox. Here are a few that showed up this week.

Back Forty (190 Avenue B) just introduced a Monday night deal - half off drinks at the bar. We recommend the eponymous cocktail made with Ezra Brooks bourbon, maple and lemon.
East Village lounge Boucarou (64 E. 1st Street) is giving diners 20% off the entire check, including cocktails, Tuesday through Thursday
Grub Street reports that Spitzer's Corner has introduced a happy hour from Noon to 7pm with $3 "craft beers"

Undoubtedly there will be more to come and we'll keep you posted.

Toddy Time

By Head Bartender on January 27, 2009 5:28 PM | No Comments

We're not generally fans of warm drinks but with the coldest January in recent years still bearing down, we at least understand the appeal. Metromix has a new slide show up of Hot Toddies at joints around town, including one of our faves - Tribeca's The Brandy Library (25 N. Moore). The article is curious, however, in its Brooklyn slant - three of the five places listed are in Brooklyn. We can only surmise the writer is Brooklyn based...

If you want to stay in Manhattan, Little Branch has a nice version made with applejack, Pegu Club offers the Sleeping Monk with chamomile-infused scotch and Tocqueville Restaurant makes one of our favorite versions. Click through for the recipe.

Continue reading Toddy Time.

Natural vs Organic - the Debate Rages

By Head Bartender on January 27, 2009 2:35 PM | No Comments

Yesterday we were perusing Chamber's Street Wines' January newsletter when we noticed in their list of sales and "endangered" wines that most were natural or organic. While most people are quite familiar with the term organic - for wine the grapes and means of production must be certified by some agency - the concept of "natural" is a lot less clear.

We asked winemaker, wine tech expert and blogger Clark Smith for his take on what turns out to be a controversial issue in the wine world.

Continue reading Natural vs Organic - the Debate Rages.

The Manhattan Project - Little Branch

By Head Bartender on January 26, 2009 11:49 AM | No Comments

Recent West Village wanderings took us into subterranean cocktail den Little Branch (22 Seventh Avenue South) in search of a good Manhattan. While we like the look of the space, the drinks themselves have never really impressed us. We slid into one of the tight booths and ordered a Manhattan. The waitress didn't ask for a booze preference but when it arrived, there was a familiar quality to it. Hmm, we thought. Could it be Old Overholt, our own house rye? Sure enough it was. Makes a nicely balanced Manhattan, though theirs was a tad drier than the Head Bartender version. At $12 a solid version of a classic cocktail.

Oceana - A Restaurant Week Review

By Head Bartender on January 25, 2009 11:58 PM | No Comments

NYC diners know Restaurant Week is a bit of a crapshoot. Participants either take the promotion as an opportunity to introduce themselves to new diners - Danny Meyer's restaurants do this very well, so do restaurants such as Tocqueville and Cafe Boulud - or they do it for the volume or because they think they have to.

We had hoped that Oceana's pedigree would put it firmly in the former category and their offer of 30% off the entire winelist during Restaurant Week was sufficient to lure us back, in spite of the mediocre food and wine service we had experienced there a few years ago. The chef had since changed, the Times' critic loved it (reaffirming its three stars just last July) and it seemed like a good opportunity to give it abother try.

However, on our visit, it seemed like the kitchen wasn't even trying, just cranking out those menus and praying RW would soon be over soon. There was little imagination at work on the plates presented. Bland, boring, monotone presentation and flavors seemingly customized to a shabby room.

Continue reading Oceana - A Restaurant Week Review.

Another Long Island Wine Icon Passes On

By Head Bartender on January 25, 2009 10:40 AM | No Comments

The New York Times reported yesterday that Long Island vintner Robert Palmer died last week, making him the second winemaker to pass away within weeks after the tragic accident took Christian Wolffer's life in South America over the New Year's holiday.

Palmer, though a pioneer in Long Island winemaking, was an ad man by trade and, as befits all true "Mad Men," professed to like a good martini. Yet this non wine drinker still managed to build Palmer Vineyards into a well respected winery and popular tourist attraction. His ingenuity will live on as Long Island grows in stature as a world class wine region.

Woodson and Ford Update

By Head Bartender on January 23, 2009 10:47 AM | 1 Comment

It seems the more "news" outlets, the more we get the same news. We were first on the scene with a report about new "secret" speakeasy Woodson and Ford in mid-December, and Wednesday, what happens? Urban Daddy sends out an email "introducing" Woodson and Ford. Sorry folks, we introduced it already - and kicked up a bit of dust in the process.

Are there at least any updates on the places hours and access? Nope, UD actually has exactly the same info as in our post.

So, where is the news? See for yourself and hear from one of Woodson and Ford's partners after the jump:

Continue reading Woodson and Ford Update.

Joy of Sake Aftertaste

By Head Bartender on January 23, 2009 9:34 AM | No Comments

The Joy of Sake takes place every September and is quite the party with over 300 sakes tasted and 1,000 attendees. However, if the size of their events ever seemed too much, you'll be happy to know they do hold more intimate Joy of Sake Aftertaste events centered on particular themes throughout the year.

On Monday night January 26, Sumile (154 W. 13th Street) will be the venue for the latest Aftertaste - and the theme is aroma, or how do you get such a variety of aromas such as apple and banana from something made from water, yeast and rice. These events tend to be quite a steal and this is no exception - two hours of sake drinking plus appetizers by the restaurant. It's 37 sakes for $37, all inclusive.

Buy tickets online or call the restaurant and speak with Karen (212-989-7699).

Moore Brothers on Sale

By Head Bartender on January 23, 2009 8:42 AM | No Comments

Moore Brothers, one of the city's best small wine shops, is holding a Post Holiday Sale with 10% off every bottle in the store. The sale ends on February 2nd.

Moore Brothers
33 E. 20th Street

South African Wines at Astor

By Head Bartender on January 20, 2009 1:33 PM | No Comments

Astor Wine and Spirit's "15% Off Tuesdays" hits South Africa this week. Pick up a steely Chenin Blanc or light Sauvignon Blanc, close your eyes and think of warmer weather. It's not that far off. Trust us.

Astor Wine and Spirits
399 Lafayette Street

Media Monday - Booze Deals and More Inauguration Madness

By Head Bartender on January 19, 2009 10:29 AM | No Comments

Today the blogs are alive with the sound of deals.

Eater is reporting on its Dealfeed that Alto, Midtown's three-star Italian, is waiving its corkage fee until September. That will save you a cool $60! Limit is one bottle though.

Grub Street has put together all the inauguration deals by time of day - making for a handy guide to getting sloshed morning, noon and night. Eater went the less comprehensive map route.

Ahead, some good news for a change plus beer brews.

Continue reading Media Monday - Booze Deals and More Inauguration Madness.

Barack Booze O-rama

By Head Bartender on January 17, 2009 1:56 PM | No Comments

It seems like the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States on Tuesday has suddenly become a reason to get sloshed. How ironic then that the new president replaces a reformed drunk. But in these times, any excuse to booze up is good enough for us.

In honor of the historic occasion, many DC bars already got permission to stay open 2 extra hours and Maryland bars also got an extended hour. Meanwhile in NYC, email inboxes have been flooded with inauguration day promotions and websites are falling all over themselves to provide you with spots to celebrate history.

Here are just a handful of places with inauguration day specials:

Continue reading Barack Booze O-rama.

Shopping Deal

By Head Bartender on January 17, 2009 11:00 AM | No Comments

Union Square Wines is having one of its seasonal blowouts starting NOW. Head to the shop and pick up 30% off a case or more of still wines. They also give you double credits for their Eno machines so you can sample as you shop.

Union Square Wines
30% off cases of still wines until February 15

Punch Up Your Winter

By Head Bartender on January 15, 2009 8:14 AM | No Comments

Our misadventure at Bemelman's the other night got us thinking about punches- no, not those awful concoctions we tried to slip booze into during high school dances - but the predecessor to the modern day cocktail. Death & Company features four punches on its menu and last year Clover Club got a lot of play when it opened with a menu featuring punch. But somehow it remains a group or party option.

Yesterday, an intriguing punch recipe popped into our inbox courtesy of snazzy downtown wineshop Pasanella & Son (115 South Street). Using Batavia Arrack, a Javanese spirit made from sugar cane and fermented red rice, the Nuremburg Punch has the added benefit of being warm, thus perfect for a mid-winter party.

The Nuremburg Punch

1 pound sugar
2 or 3 large oranges
1 qt boiling water
1/3 qt Batavia Arrack
1 bottle inexpensive red wine

Pare off a thin orange peel. Juice oranges. Add OJ to sugar with peel. Pour boiling water and Arrack over the mix. Add hot (but not boiling) wine. Stir. Serve.

Happy Hour - Boxcar Lounge

By Head Bartender on January 14, 2009 4:10 PM | No Comments

With the market down yet again and the coldest part of the season upon us, we have the perfect Happy Hour to chase away the winter blues - 2 for 1 until 10pm at Boxcar Lounge (until 8pm on weekends). That's right, 10pm!

We know it's cold out but Avenue B isn't that far.

Boxcar Lounge
168 Avenue B
Happy Hour daily - 2 for 1, Monday - Thursday until 10pm, Friday - Sunday until 8pm

Bemelmans Bummer

By Head Bartender on January 14, 2009 10:36 AM | 2 Comments

We popped into Bemelman's the other night for a quick drink and found the room surprisingly busy for a cold January weeknight. Whether this was due to the live music or the famed bar being bullet-proof in our recessionary times is unclear, but the welcome at the bar itself was hardly warm and inviting.

Even before sitting, the bartender warned us there would be a $10 per person cover charge ($20 each at the tables, more on weekends). Then we looked at the menu - $19 for a cocktail. Sheesh. The list has fallen a ways since Audrey Saunders redid it and seemed tailored to the crowd. We were talked out of the famed "punch of the day" ($15) by the gruff bartender, who implied the punch is the same every day and predictably suggested the most expensive drink ($20). Instead, we got a barely stirred Manhattan made with Makers that was rough, to say the least. They do give you a sidecar and the nuts are good.

The room itself has seen better days, even though it was renovated in 2002. The famed murals seemed dim and the large piano right in the middle of the room forces you to dodge musicians and tables to reach the bar. The bar itself is merely functional, and the footrail was partially dislodged and not a secure place for feet.

I guess the joint is content to ride on its history and good will of the aged clientele. But who knows for how long at these prices?

Bemelman's Bar
The Carlyle Hotel, 35 E. 76th Street (at Madison)

BYO Update

By Head Bartender on January 13, 2009 12:44 PM | No Comments

Grub Street is reporting that Kuma Inn was approved for a liquor license so bye bye byo once the papers come through the SLA slog. And the soon-to-open UCB theater replacing Two Boot's Pioneer Theater sailed through with no problems. Who doesn't want a side of booze with their anarchic comedy?

White Star Relents on Cocktails

By Head Bartender on January 12, 2009 4:21 PM | 4 Comments

Urban Daddy breaks the news today that Sasha Petraske's White Star has adjusted its concept and is now serving proper cocktails. Prior, it only served liquor, notably absinthe, and beer. Thankfully, you can now get an Old Fashioned, Caipirinha or Manhattan, among others, for $10. We can only surmise that they succumbed to the pressure to serve cocktails due to the concept not quite clicking and a nowhere location (21 Essex near Hester St).

For a look at their expanded menu, visit Urban Daddy. Expect a review, not to mention a visit from the Manhattan Project, soonish.

The Manhattan Project - St. Germain Edition

By Head Bartender on January 9, 2009 12:00 PM | No Comments

We get a lot of recipes from liquor companies, but few are any good. Most of their so-called signature drinks wind up being too heavy handed with the product they are pushing. A notable exception are the fine folks at St. Germain, who consistently craft good drinks made with the elderflower liqueur.

Paris Manhattan.jpg

Case in point is the Paris Manhattan, a twist on the classic made with St. Germain, which actually enhances the flavor of the bourbon. The 'Parisian' touch is light and flirty without being too frou frou. We'd raise a glass to the creator of the drink, if we knew who he or she is...

Paris Manhattan
makes one

2oz Bourbon
1oz St. Germain
1/2oz Dry Vermouth
2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Pour ingredients into an ice filled shaker and stir until cold, strain into a martini glass.

Brolin Blames Booze after Berserk Outbursts

By Head Bartender on January 8, 2009 6:30 PM | No Comments

Last night at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards, actor Josh Brolin accepted the Best Supporting Actor award from presenter and Milk co-star Sean Penn. After Penn teased him, he launched into a bizarre attack on Russell Crowe, calling him an "Asshole". He then proceeded to say "Fuck you, Ben. God I hate that motherfucker" to NY Times reviewer Ben Brantley. We hear the audience was stunned at the tirade.

Of course, Brolin later apologized, blaming booze, along with the "ambiance" of the ceremony, for the outburst. Yeah right, blame it on the booze!

Booze Deals Abound

By Head Bartender on January 8, 2009 6:05 PM | No Comments

More and more booze-related deals are popping into our inbox - here are a few of the latest:

Greek fishery Thalassa in Tribeca (179 Franklin Street) has a new "Wine Day" promotion every Monday. Stop by for dinner and get 50% off every bottle of wine.

Another fish joint, David Burke's new Fishtail on the Upper East Side has a great deal on Sundays in January - a three-course $20.09 menu and 20% off wine.

Lastly, four star heavyweight Daniel has the deal of the week - a $98 three-course menu with multiple choices for each course, paired with wines. The menu is available Monday to Thursday from 5:30 - 6:30pm until the end of March.

Given the way January is shaping up, stay tuned for lots more deals.

Obama Beer?

By Head Bartender on January 7, 2009 4:10 PM | No Comments

Apparently Obama-mania spread to the booze world when we weren't looking. The Daily News reported today on the ingenious beer created by Red Hook-based Six Point Craft Ales, Obama Beer. Unfortunately for us, the beer sold out after election day and there are no plans to make any more. However, on Inauguration Day, you can head out to a few places like d.b.a to get a small glass for $7. Crafty indeed.

The Manhattan Project - Gotham Bar and Grill

By Head Bartender on January 5, 2009 5:26 PM | No Comments

The bar at Gotham Bar and Grill (12 E. 12th Street) has long been one of the city's best dining bars thanks to their ingenious trays that rest on the rail running along the bar. While not a go-to spot for the drinks crowd these days, we figured it would have a solid Manhattan, so we popped in just before the holidays.

The bartender asked our choice of booze and we chose rye. He recommended Michters, which is quite good but it turns out a bit pricey ($16). The resulting drink was a taste of classic New York - smooth yet potent. It almost made us forget the howling wind just outside the doors. Alas, if we could afford two, we might have really been protected from the elements.

Happy Hour - The Stumble Inn

By Head Bartender on January 5, 2009 4:10 PM | No Comments

There are straightforward bar names - Irish surnames, addresses, etc. - and then there the more creative ones, like The Stumble Inn. Way up on the Upper East Side, it is a hike for many but worth it if you are a sports nut - 17 HDTVs! - or if you like a generous happy hour.

Monday is a great day as there is both half-off the entire bar until 7pm and later beer specials, including $1 drafts, $8 pitchers and $4 Sam Light & Stella bottles. There may be no football these cold Monday nights but that shouldn't stop you from stumbling in.

The Stumble Inn
1454 2nd Ave (at 76th Street)
Happy Hour - half off everything, 11:30am - 7pm Mon - Sat, additional specials Mon & Tues eves

Last Holiday?

By Head Bartender on January 5, 2009 10:57 AM | No Comments

Vanishing New York is reporting the possible demise of one of the East Village's great dives - the Holiday Cocktail Lounge. Apparently it has been shuttered for several days due to the owner's hospitalization. Opened in 1965, the Holiday was the epitome of the EV dives and one of the few that has survived to the present day. We raise a glass to it and hope reports of its death are greatly exaggerated.

The Times Takes Down Absinthe

By Head Bartender on January 4, 2009 8:45 PM | 2 Comments

Always on the cutting edge of a trend, The New York Times looks at the effect absinthe is having on the NYC booze world. The resulting article is pretty silly and yet more evidence of the paper's cluelessness when it comes to popular trends - down to the decidedly un-glamorous "ptooey" in the article's title.

The author is Eric Konigsberg, apparently best known for his revealing insights into such topics as cloned pets and the need for supernannies. His take is basically that absinthe is a scam, something with silly rituals and dubious marketing, not to mention a pretty vile tasting liquor.

At the outset of the piece, he visits Chinatown hotspot Apotheke - one of only two spots serving absinthe mentioned in a piece purportedly about an uber hot NYC trend - and makes little effort to temper his derision of the owner, the atmosphere and the crowd. Then he heads uptown to L'Absinthe, a "polished and perfectly highly-regarded French restaurant" run by "a perfectly charming fellow," where he was lured by the restaurant's PR materials and a PR girl named Alice, then proceeds to partake in four different absinthes and talk to a few fans. What follows is "perfectly" predictable...

Continue reading The Times Takes Down Absinthe.

Christian Wolffer Dies in South America

By Head Bartender on January 2, 2009 6:32 PM | No Comments

Acclaimed Long Island winemaker Christian Wolffer died in bizarre circumstances near Rio de Janeiro on New Year's Eve. Apparently he was swimming when he was struck by the propeller of a passing boat. A nearby swimmer rescued him but he died from the wounds. Newsday reports an autopsy was performed but has not been released.

The founder of Wolffer Estate and a key figure in the growth of Long Island as a world-class winemaking region, Wolffer was an outsized figure in the industry. A native of Hamburg, Germany, it is rumored that he invested $15 million in the creation of the successful winery also known for hosting the annual James Beard Chefs & Champagne event each summer. His influence will be missed.

January 2009 Archives