The Manhattan Cocktail Classic

Sunday Night Spectacular

melissa — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:29:24 +0000

8pm – 11pm, The New York Public Library, Astor Hall

Evocative of New York’s first golden age of cocktails, The New York Public Library’s grand Astor Hall will be a fitting location to conclude the weekend’s festivities. Twelve individual bars will be serving up iconic “New York” cocktails drawn from the past two centuries of imbibing, staffed by some of the greatest bartending talent of the city (and beyond). Music will be provided by the iconic big jazz band, Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks; food in the style of the
classic pre-Prohibition era “Free Lunch” of local artisanal products and New York specialties. Fancy attire preferred. Dancing encouraged. Reveling mandatory.

Participating brands include: Absolut Vodka, Bacardi Gold Rum, Bombay Original Gin, Crop Organic Vodka, Don Julio Tequila, Don Q Rum, Grand Marnier, Hendrick’s Gin, Ketel One Vodka, Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Michter’s Rye, Solerno Liqueur, and Zacapa Rum.

Tickets $100 each.

Sunday at the Official Bar

melissa — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:27:26 +0000

11:30am – 7:30pm, The Lounge at Astor Center

Download the Official Bar Sunday Cocktail Menu.

You guessed it: more of the same here (but with different drinks). More bartenders, more cocktails, more time spent amongst friends.

The Lounge at Astor Center, 399 Lafayette Street at E. 4th Street

Admission included with the purchase of any educational session, or $25 a la carte for admission plus two drink tickets.

Sunday Seminars

melissa — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:16:36 +0000

12:00pm – 6:30pm, Astor Center

Tickets $50 each. Includes complimentary admission to the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic (plus one drink ticket) on Sunday.

All educational seminars will take place at Astor Center. Note the separate entrances for the Study and Gallery.

Call of the Rye with Allen Katz
12:00pm-1:30pm @ The Gallery
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Ryes, Ryes my beloved,

Meet me down by The Bowery.

There will I give you my love.

By history and culture,

With song, per chance dance,

A Savor to be kissed by kisses.

O, my dear, come…

Ryes at the day break

As the shadows enter over Astor.

Awake.

Inhale.

O friends, drink, yea, drink abundantly,

O, beloved.

The Gallery at Astor Center, 399 Lafayette Street at E. 4th Street

Admission includes entry to the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic plus one drink ticket.

Glasses & Tools: How Do You Choose the Right Glass for a Drink? with Dale DeGroff
12:00pm-2:00pm @ The Study
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The choice of glass can mean the difference between a successful and elegant drink, or a glass of booze. In a commercial operation, the choice of glass can impact dramatically on the bottom line. At the home bar, the choice of glass can have an impact on the success of your cocktail party, and the well being of you guests. Explore the classics with Dale DeGroff as he culls his glass collection to find the perfect glass for well-know classics and the tools to make them successfully.

The Study at Astor Center, 23 East 4th Street between Lafayette and Bowery, 2nd Floor

Admission includes entry to the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic plus one drink ticket.

History of the Cocktail in New York, 1810-1920 with Dave Wondrich
2:30pm-4:00pm @ The Gallery
(psst…this session sold out long ago, but for those of you die-hard Wondrich fans out there, he’s also co-presenting the Saturday session at Bill’s Gay Nineties…)
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Description: Among all the classes of American mixed drinks—the Cobblers, Sours, Fizzes, Coolers, Juleps and all the rest—the Cocktail stands as first among equals. If there’s something about a quick jolt of ice-cold, mixed-up boozy deliciousness that’s essentially American, then it’s quintessentially New York. And indeed, while many other cities have made key contributions to the Cocktail’s development, none has done so much as to shape it as Gotham. This seminar will attempt to track the interventions the city’s mixologists made in the idea of the Cocktail during the 110-odd years between its first documented appearance here and Prohibition. Liquid exhibits will be served.

The Gallery at Astor Center, 399 Lafayette Street at E. 4th Street

Admission includes entry to the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic plus one drink ticket.

Cocktail Kingdom Presents: A Practical Guide to Barware from Around the World with Greg Boehm, Don Lee, & Alex Day
4:00pm-6:00pm @ The Study
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From the cobbler shakers of Japan to the Boston shakers of London, bar tools have a long and varied international history. Join Greg Boehm and Alex Day as they explore and demonstrate commonly used barware from around the globe. Participants will learn how to make the best use of Parisian shakers, Hawthorne strainers, Japanese bar spoons and a wide array of other modern barware. Both an original and a classic cocktail will be served. All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks
by David Embury, arguably the “best book ever written about cocktail theory.” (So says Greg, and we’re not one to argue with Greg.)

The Study at Astor Center, 23 East 4th Street between Lafayette and Bowery, 2nd Floor

Admission includes entry to the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic plus one drink ticket.

Audrey and Gary’s Unparalleled Gin Palaver with Audrey Saunders & Gary Regan
5:00pm-6:30pm @ The Gallery
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Audrey Saunders, Libation Goddess from New York’s Pegu Club, and perhaps the bartender most responsible for the resurgence of gin in the 21st century, will join Gary “gaz” Regan, author of The Joy of Mixology (2003) and The Bartender’s Gin Compendium (Fall 2009), to present gin-based cocktails, old, new, borrowed, and well, you get the picture. They will wax lyrical on all things juniper; they will pontificate endlessly about the attributes of the Martini and of the MarTEAni, and they will display the splendor of cocktails made with dry gin, genever, Plymouth gin, and a most peculiar Old Tom. It’s probable that Saunders and Regan will flirt shamelessly throughout the workshop. The throwing of rotting fruit or vegetables will not be permitted.

The Gallery at Astor Center, 399 Lafayette Street at E. 4th Street

Admission includes entry to the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic plus one drink ticket.

Saturday Night

melissa — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:12:16 +0000

7pm until the cows come home, various locations

A night to head out to some of this city’s most famed cocktail establishments, to let down your hair and kick off your heels. Nothing happening officially, but we suspect there will be some good cocktails to be had.

Saturday at the Official Bar

melissa — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:06:29 +0000

11:30am – 7:30pm, The Lounge at Astor Center

Download the Official Bar Saturday Cocktail Menu.

Join us at the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, where some of New York’s greatest bartenders will be crafting up special concoctions all afternoon long. Stop in to sample their wares, grab a snack, and refresh yourself in between sessions. Also a great opportunity to just kick back, relax, and catch up on cocktail recipes with friends.

The Lounge at Astor Center, 399 Lafayette Street at E. 4th Street

Admission included with the purchase of any educational session, or $25 a la carte for admission plus two drink tickets.

Saturday Seminars

melissa — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:23:36 +0000

12:00pm – 6:30pm, Astor Center

Tickets are $50 each. That half-Benjamin (or a Grant, as some might call it) will also get you complimentary admission to the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic (plus one drink ticket) on Saturday.

All educational seminars will take place at Astor Center. Note the separate entrances for the Study and Gallery.

Rest up on Friday night, and eat a hearty breakfast in the morning.

Have Cocktail Shaker, Will Travel with Charlotte Voisey & Simon Ford
12:00 pm-1:30 pm @ The Gallery
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Once the last legal cocktail was served on the eve of Prohibition in New York City, things would never be the same again. ‘Have cocktail shaker, will travel’ was the mindset of many a passionate barkeep in the 1920’s when their craftsmanship turned criminal. Join Charlotte Voisey, Simon Ford and other assorted friends for a jovial discussion on how New York has been influencing cocktail culture around the world for many years. Liquid references will be served.

The Gallery at Astor Center, 399 Lafayette Street at E. 4th Street

Admission includes entry to the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic plus one drink ticket.

Sherry: The Cobbler and Beyond with Andy Seymour
12:00pm-2:00pm @ The Study
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Sherry has long played an important role in the world of mixology and has emerged in this new age of the cocktail more popular than ever. Join Master Mixologist and US Sherry Ambassador Andy Seymour for a fascinating look at one of the worlds most cocktail (and food) friendly wines. Taste five of the finest Sherry, representing its many styles, and sample cocktails that show off Sherry’s traditional side and what it is up to today. Come ready to shake, as Andy will lead the group in building their own version of the Sherry cobbler!

The Study at Astor Center, 23 East 4th Street between Lafayette and Bowery, 2nd Floor

Admission includes entry to the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic plus one drink ticket.

The Agave Session: The Magical Elixirs of Mexico with Steve Olson
2:30pm-4:00pm @ The Gallery
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There is a heritage and culture associated with Tequila and Mezcal that dates back well over a thousand years, when the agave plant – also known as the maguey – was utilized by Mexico’s native peoples for virtually everything: from food and drink, to sugar, shoes, soap, building supplies, and even medicine. Join us for an exciting tasting of this exotic elixir, each by artisan producers, as we pay homage to the heritage, the history, and culture of Mexico’s national spirit. It is also likely that agave-based libations will be consumed.

The Gallery at Astor Center, 399 Lafayette Street at E. 4th Street

Admission includes entry to the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic plus one drink ticket.

Cocktails for Your Home Cocktail Party with Sasha Petraske
4:00pm-6:00pm @ The Study
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Famed (and oft-elusive) owner and proprietor of Milk and Honey Sasha Petraske will demonstrate the basics of creating cocktails in the home. He will go over how to set up and stock home bars of varying degrees of seriousness, as well as cover different scenarios of cocktail entertaining – from temporarily taking over your friend’s kitchen for a house party, to grabbing the reins at a fully-equipped bar. And of course, Sasha will teach you how to prepare some basic, ever-pleasing libations for these occasions. Participants will leave armed with a no-fail recipe list and a short set of directions for preparing basic cocktails with block ice and fresh juices.

The Study at Astor Center, 23 East 4th Street between Lafayette and Bowery, 2nd Floor

Admission includes entry to the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic plus one drink ticket.

The Many Faces of Cognac & Armagnac with Julie Reiner, Charlotte Voisey & F. Paul Pacult
5:00-6:30pm @ The Gallery
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This one-time-only, comprehensive seminar joins celebrated master mixologists Julie Reiner and Charlotte Voisey with America’s spirits guru F. Paul Pacult on an extraordinary excursion deep into France’s legendary AOC grape brandies, Cognac and Armagnac. Participants will first be taking on a guided tour of tasting a half dozen remarkable brandies to see how these distilled and oak-matured cousins compare and contrast. Then, they will be treated to a Cognac cocktail, made by Julie, and an Armagnac cocktail, made by Charlotte. A rare opportunity to spend 90 minutes with three of America’s most engaging spirits and cocktail personalities.

The Gallery at Astor Center, 399 Lafayette Street at E. 4th Street

Admission includes entry to the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic plus one drink ticket.

Stories from Behind the Bar

melissa — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:53:56 +0000

1pm – 3pm, Various locations

It just wouldn’t be a proper cocktail event if we never set foot in an actual bar! Spend a couple hours on Saturday afternoon at one of the fine establishments that has so defined New York’s cocktail landscape; meet the owners and head bartenders; hear their tales of trial and triumph; sip on some signature cocktails. These sessions will be extremely limited in size, so guests will truly have the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the city’s greatest bartending talent.

Tickets $50 each. Includes complimentary admission to the Official Bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic (plus one drink ticket) on Saturday.

Bill’s Gay Nineties, with Barbara Bart (Proprietor), Richard Jefferies (Head Bartender), Jack Sheehy (Manager), & Dave Wondrich (for good measure)
1:00pm-3:00pm, 57 East 54th Street between Park and Madison
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“If the idea of entering a time machine holds the slightest fascination for you and one of your destinations would be a trip to old New York during the Roaring Twenties, go to 57 East 54th Street, walk four steps down and back into time. For once you pass through the hand-carved swinging doors and enter the famous Silver Dollar Bar, you’ll find everything just as it was back in the mid 1920’s when Bill Hardy first converted this five-story brownstone into one of New York’s most prominent and celebrated speakeasies.”

Clover Club, with Julie Reiner (Owner and Beverage Director of Clover Club and Flatiron Lounge) & Brad Farran (Head Bartender)
1:00pm-3:00pm, 210 Smith Street between Baltic and Butler
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The Clover Club opened in Brooklyn (arguably the hippest borough) back in June of 2008. Since opening, it has won numerous awards including Time Out New York’s Best New Cocktail Bar (2009), and has been included on Esquires’ list of the Best Bars in the Country. Additionally, Clover Club picked up Best New Cocktail Lounge in the World at Tales of The Cocktail this year in NOLA. Julie and Brad will be mixing signature drinks from the classically inspired menu that has made her lounges a destination for cocktail lovers. Pull up a stool for this up close and personal afternoon with one of the country’s greatest cocktail slingers as she shares stories about the inspiration behind the bars, her beverage program, and the joys of , trying to open anything in NYC.

Death & Company, with Brian Miller (Head Bartender and Head Curmudgeon), Joaquin Simo (Bartender and Nicest Guy Behind the Stick), Alex Day (Bartender and Haley Joel Osment look-alike), Thomas Waugh (Bartender and Guinness Book of Records Holder for Tightest Pants: Male Category), Jessica Gonzalez (Bartender/Waitress and “new guy behind the bar”), & Toby Cecchini (Bartender and the Ultimate Substitute Teacher).
1:00pm-3:00pm, 433 East 6th Street between 1st Ave and Avenue A
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Spend a couple hours at the bar with Brian Miller, David Kaplan, and the entire Death & Co team. This landmark establishment opened New Years Eve of 2006-2007 to bloggers’ rejoice and one grumpy neighbor’s chagrin. Since opening, it has received numerous accolades from publications far and wide and has generally been packed to the brim every night of the week with avid cocktail enthusiasts from all over the world. Famed for its amazing reinvention of classics, extensive original cocktail list, and its rebirth of the punch bowl, this bar continues to define the very shape of New York’s cocktail landscape.

Employees Only, with Dushan Zaric & Jason Kosmas (Co-owners and Principal Bartenders, Employees Only and Macao Trading Co)
1:00pm-3:00pm, 510 Hudson Street between Christopher and West 10th
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Employees Only is a prohibition style speakeasy tucked away on the west side of Greenwich Village. Established by a group of New York bartenders, “EO” serves mordern twists on classic cocktails using a culinary approach to mixology. This landmark establishment opened in 2004 when most people thought a good cocktail came in a coconut with a pink umbrella and a plastic seahorse. Famed for its culinary approach to classic cocktail making and delivery, this bar maintains its well-deserved spot at the forefront of NYC’s cocktail scene.

Mayahuel, with Philip Ward (Proprietor)
1:00pm-3:00pm, 304 East 6th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues
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“The idea behind Mayahuel was to take all that was good in the NYC cocktail scene and apply it in a new arena,” says Proprietor Phil Ward. “Tequila and especially Mezcal have historically been underutilized, despite the fact that they’re very versatile and – most importantly – delicious. There were great cocktail bars and some great tequila bars – but there wasn’t a great tequila cocktail bar making drinks of the highest quality and craftmanship. Our goal at Mayahuel is to teach people about the finest tequila and mezcals, to utilize them as never before, and to offer better food than cocktail bars are expected to serve.”

Pegu Club, with Audrey Saunders (Owner & Proprietor)
1:00pm-3:00pm, 77 West Houston Street between West Broadway and Wooster
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More information coming soon.

PDT, with Jim Meehan (General Manager) & John Deragon (Bartender)
1:00pm-3:00pm, 113 St. Marks Place between 1st Ave and Avenue A
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General Manager Jim Meehan and bar manager Gerry Corcoran will tell all: the story behind the opening; the service and drinks philosophy; the taxidermy; the snazzy outfits. Hot dogs, tater tots and cocktails will be served during this informal gathering of local cocktail aficionados inside the phone booth.

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admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:21:25 +0000

Stories from Behind the Bar

admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:46:15 +0000

1pm – 3pm

Hello world!

admin — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:34:43 +0000

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

News

admin — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:20:06 +0000

Accounts of the weekend, photos, tweets, hang-overs, etc:

Time Out New York
NYC Recession Diary
Metromix
The New York Times
Just A Taste
The Examiner
The Dipsograph
Lush Life Photos – Day One
Lush Life Photos – Day Two
Lush Life Photos – Gala
Tweets, many tweets
Slashfood
More Photos
Serious Eats
The Boulevardist
Notes on a Party
BlackBook Mag
The Liquid Muse
Off The Presses
Retro-Luxe
Tuna Quest
Confessions of a Palm Beach Bartender
Drinking the World
Cocktail Buzz
Nightclub & Bar
The New York Law Journal
Bloomberg.com

_______

A totally incomplete list of media coverage to date:

July
New York Times
The Dizzy Fizz
Time Out New York (But hey now, we love NOLA!)
Undertaking the Bar
Off the Presses
Good Spirits News
Nightclub & Bar

August
Off The Presses (Part II)
Down by the Hipster
Serious Eats

September
Time Out New York – Fall Preview, Best of October
Serious Eats – Interview with Lesley Townsend
Kegworks.com
Tasting Table
The New York Post “Fall Forward: 12 Things We Can’t Wait For”
Loungerati
New York Decider – Last Licks
Savory Cities
Savory Cities – Interview with Dave Wondrich
The New Yorker
Restaurant Guys Radio – Interview with Lesley Townsend
Intoxicated Zodiac
Digital City
New York Daily News
The Feedbag
Standards and Pours
Food Mayhem
Budget Travel
The New York Times Diner’s Journal
The Village Voice
New York Insider TV
Snacky Tunes Radio Show
BlackBook
New York Times Dining Calendar
NBC New York
Drinking the World
The NY City Dish
Joonbug Scene Tracker
Eater.com
Metromix
New York Post
The Dizzy Fizz

Waxing Poetic

admin — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:19:00 +0000

Courtesy of Gaz Regan over at Ardent Spirits, behold the first printed definition of the word “cocktail” as used to describe a drink. Below is the exchange between reader and editor of The Balance and Columbian Repository, Hudson, New York, dated May 13, 1806.

This is how it went down.

Verbatim.

____

To the Editor of the Balance.

Sir,

I observe in your paper of the 6th instant, in the account of a democratic candidate for a seat in the Legislature, marked under the head of Loss,’25 do. cock-tail.’ Will you be so obliging as to inform me what is meant by this species of refreshment? Though a stranger to you, I believe, from your general character, you will not suppose this request to be impertinent.

I have heard of a jorum, of phlegm-cutter and fog driver, of wetting the whistle, or moistening the clay, of a fillip, a spur in the head, quenching the spark in the head, of slip, etc., but never in my life, though I have lived a good many years, did I hear of cock-tail before. Is it peculiar to this part of the country? Or is it a late invention? Is the name expressive of the effect which the drink has on a particular part of the body? Or does it signify that the democrats who take the potion are turned topsyturvy, and have their heads where their tails should be? I should think the latter to be the real solution; but am unwilling to determine finally until I receive all the information in my power.

At the beginning of the revolution, a physician publically recommended the moss which grew on a tree as a substitute for tea. He found on experiment, that it had more of a stimulating quality than he approved; and therefore, he afterward as publically denounced it. Whatever cock-tail is, it may be properly administered at certain times and to certain constitutions. A few years ago, when the democrats were bawling for Jefferson and Clinton, one of the polls was held in the city of New York at a place where ice cream was sold. Their temperament then was remarkably adult (?) and bilious. Something was necessary to cool them. Now when they are sunk into frigidity, it may be equally necessary, by cocktail, to warm and rouse them.

I hope you will construe nothing that I have said as disrespectful. I read your paper with great pleasure, and wish it the most extensive circulation. Whether you answer my inquiry or not, I shall remain, Yours,

A SUBSCRIBER

____

RESPONSE:

As I make it a point, never to publish anything (under my editorial head) but what I can explain, I shall not hesitate to gratify the curiosity of my inquisitive correspondent: cock-tail, then, is a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters – it is vulgarly called bittered sling, and is supposed to be an excellent electioneering potion, inasmuch as it renders the heart stout and bold, at the same time that it fuddles the head. It is said also, to be of great use to a democratic candidate: because, a person having swallowed a glass of it, is ready to swallow anything else.

- Edit. Bal.

FAQ

admin — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:17:28 +0000

So when will the rollicking good times commence?

The Manhattan Cocktail Classic will take over New York City from May 14 – 18, 2010. The 2009 Fall Preview, if you missed it, was October 3 – 4. Man, it was fun.

Splendid. Now whereabouts will all of this take place?

Despite its rather misleading name (we couldn’t resist the pun), the Manhattan Cocktail Classic is in fact a city-wide festival, sprawling across the bridges, into the other boroughs – with events taking place in innumerable bars, restaurants, art galleries, libraries, barber shops, party boats, and just about every other sort of event space that’s amenable to the copious consumption of cocktails. A good chunk of the educational activities will be held, once again, at our beloved Astor Center, located on Lafayette and East 4th Street – but that’s just one of many many locales.

Who’s going to be talking/presenting/making fancy drinks for me?

Our all-star advisory board will once again be making appearances leading seminars, opening up their cocktail bars, hosting extravagant parties, etc – but beyond that we’ll have a whole slew of national and international cocktail luminaries leading the brigade. Stay tuned for the full line-up of seminars, events, and other sordid activities.

So who should come to this? Enthusiasts? Professionals? People who are neither professional nor enthusiastic?

All of the above, so long as you’re over the age of 21 and promise not to heckle (in excess).

I’m a bartender, and a jolly good one at that. Will this be fun/enlightening/professionally rewarding for me?

In addition to providing some pretty stellar educational content, the Manhattan Cocktail Classic will afford bartenders the opportunity to meet and network with other like-minded professionals from the community. Also, if you’re not already a member of the United States Bartenders Guild, now would be a very wise time to join. USBG members will receive discounts on tickets (in addition to the wealth of benefits offered by the organization). Lastly, if you truly feel you have nothing further to learn from the likes of Dale DeGroff, Steve Olson, Paul Pacult, and the rest of the overwhelmingly knowledgeable spirits and cocktail gurus that comprise the advisory board, you can entertain yourself (and the rest of us onlookers) by challenging Gary Regan to a drinking contest (which you will lose, verily).

How can I get tickets?

When the time comes, we’ll put tickets up for sale on this very website. (That time has not yet come.)

How can I find out more?

Oh tsk, you’re more self-reliant than that. Use the top navigation above (and think about having a glass of water in between cocktails).

Friends with Benefits

admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:10:14 +0000

Media Partners

admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:01:56 +0000

Drinking Buddies

admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:54:51 +0000

Significant Others

admin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:53:06 +0000

random5

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:00:25 +0000

“It is most absurdly said, in popular language, of any man, that he is disguised in liquor; for, on the contrary, most men are disguised by sobriety.”
– Thomas de Quincy, Confessions of an English Opium-Eater, 1856

Random2

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:32:51 +0000

“Always remember that I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me.” – Winston Churchill

Lesley Townsend

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:51:47 +0000

A meandering life of gustatory excess and probable liver damage finally found purpose and vocation in a job at Astor Wines & Spirits, which subsequently led to the even more ludicrous opportunity to serve as the founding director of Astor Center. A devout believer in the healing properties of madeira and a proud defender of whole eggs in cocktails, Lesley is thinking she should really knuckle down and write a proper bio one of these days (though that day is certainly not today).

random4

admin — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:20:46 +0000

“If you were to ask me if I’d ever had the bad luck to miss my daily cocktail, I’d have to say that I doubt it; where certain things are concerned, I plan ahead.” – Luis Buñuel

Sunday Seminars

admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:42:37 +0000

11:30am – 6pm

A major incentive not to get too horribly intoxicated on Saturday night, Sunday will offer even more terrific educational sessions by our all-star team. A look at glassware with Dale DeGroff; a lively romp through the land of gin cocktails with Gary Regan and Audrey Saunders; rye, oh lovely rye with Allen Katz…

Sunday Night Spectacular

admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:41:28 +0000

8pm to 11pm

Just a little gathering of friends to conclude the weekend’s festivities. No, we’re not spilling the beans just yet. Details forthcoming.

Sunday at the Bar

admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:40:53 +0000

11am – 7pmpm

You guessed it: more of the same here. More bartenders, more cocktails, more time spent amongst friends.

Saturday Night

admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:39:51 +0000

7pm until the cows come home.

A night to head out to some of this city’s most famed cocktail establishments, to let down your hair and kick off your heels.

Saturday at the Bar

admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:11:18 +0000

11am – 7pm

Join us at the official bar of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, where some of New York’s greatest bartenders will be crafting up special concoctions all afternoon long. Stop in to sample their wares, grab a snack, and refresh yourself in between sessions. Also a great opportunity to just kick back, relax, and catch up on cocktail recipes with friends.

Saturday Seminars

admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:10:32 +0000

11:30am – 6pm

Saturday will offer an array of educational seminars presented by the advisory board members of Manhattan Cocktail Classic: from the ultimate crash course in Cognac & Armagnac with Paul Pacult, Charlotte Voisey, and Julie Reiner; to a panel discussion of agave-based spirits led by Steve Olson, to a look at New York’s storied history of imbibing with Dave Wondrich (and that’s just the beginning). Rest up on Friday night, and eat a hearty breakfast in the morning.

random3

admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:54:21 +0000

Blogging about us? Gosh you’re nice. Let us know so we can put you on our list of favorite people.

random fact

admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:50:51 +0000

“The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind.”
– Humphrey Bogart

A quote! and any other ‘misc’ post.

admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:40:47 +0000

“He did not seem to have any keen Craving for Breakfast, so he drank two large ruby-red Cocktails, smelling like Furniture Polish, just as an Appetizer.” - Forty Modern Fables by George Ade. Published by R. H. Russell, 1901.