5 to Try: Bourbon Cocktails
By Alexis Korman, New York
Bourbon is a special kind of whiskey known for its rich, smoky flavor. But if the standard "Jack and ginger" or "Maker’s on the rocks" drink orders make you yawn, check out these fun bourbon-based beverages with an old fashioned bent at five New York spots that celebrate the Kentucky-based spirit.
-
Death & Co
433 E 6th St, New York, NY
Ominous name aside, this East Village bar has an exclusive feel and a Jazz-age vibe. Pass through the formidable, scorched wood doors into the low-lit space, and snag a seat at the bar to sample one of many specialty cocktails made with premium ingredients. Quench your whiskey craving with the Deshler ($12), a Baker's bourbon-based concoction topped off with Cointreau, Peychaud bitters, and twists of orange and lemon. -
Weather Up
589 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Classic cocktails aren't just for Manhattanites, as evidenced by this popular upscale drinking den in Prospect Heights. Trained by famed mixologist Sasha Petraske, these barkeeps know how to mix old-fashioned drinks perfectly, and they prove it with favorites like the Presbyterian and the Dark and Stormy. For bourbon drinkers, the Old Fashioned ($11)--a heady mix of bourbon and Angostura bitters, an orange peel and a sugar cube--doesn't disappoint. -
Louis 649
649 E 9th St, New York, NY
This East Village gem near Avenue C is a favorite among neighborhood locals thanks to its chill jazz soundtrack, laid-back barkeeps, and friendly resident pit bull, Hamsa, who sometimes sleeps at your feet. In addition to a lengthy list of single malt scotches, old fashioned cocktails are lovingly mixed before your eyes, like the Fancy Free ($12), made with Maker's Mark, Luxardo maraschino liqueur, and a dash of orange bitters. -
Employees Only
510 Hudson St, New York, NY
Serious drinks and a speakeasy vibe are the hallmarks of this West Village cocktail den. The mustachioed barkeeps serve premium drinks like the Billionaire Cocktail ($15), an "upgraded" version of the classic Millionaire Cocktail, made with Baker’s bourbon, lemon juice, homemade grenadine and absinthe bitters--which lend the drink a slightly sweet flavor with a hint of licorice. -
Smith's
79 MacDougal St, New York, NY
You'd never know that a relaxed, copper-topped bar lies at the back of Danny Abrams' chic, narrow Village eatery, outfitted with black leather banquettes and mirror topped tables. The Smith’s Julep ($12), named after Kentucky native and co-owner Cindy Smith, is a smooth concoction of Bulleit bourbon, vanilla bean syrup and fresh mint--a sweet twist on the classic bourbon beverage.
