NY Barfly

Sixpoint Brews in Brooklyn / Scotch in the West Village

-The Times Business Section stops by Sixpoint’s brewery to take a gander at the business models of modern beer makers. The business can be tough, but Sixpoint has stuck it out with a combo of excellent product and an innovative sales strategy. If their Righteous Rye label is any indication, they’re only at the beginning of their success.

-Eater gets some feedback on their “charge bars for a smoking license” proposal. The majority of nightlife goers are for the ban, but a few bar owners would entertain the idea of getting a license. This issue won’t go away anytime soon, as even the discussion of the stress makes us want a cigarette.

-Fork in the Road has a nice chat with Brian McGrory, of the just opened West Village spot Highlands. He’s got some nice insights into Scotch, including how you can cook with it, drinks you can make with it, and how to make a non Scotch drinker get into the spirit. If only he included some information on how to bathe with it, we would be set.

More Absinthe and Art (This Time, Win $$)

If you weren’t so into hitting up BOMB Magazine’s art party, maybe you’d like to produce something creative instead. Pernod just announced that they’re holding an art contest to celebrate the Green Fairy’s roots. You’ve heard the storied tales of absinthe in the 19^th Century – it was a staple in Bohemian cafes, artist salons, and Baz Luhrmann movies.

Now it’s your turn to use the spirit as artistic inspiration. Pernod’s Creator of Art contest will award a first place winner $1,805 for best original piece. Second place will get 500 smackers, and third place $250. An award party is planned in March to coincide with the annual Armory Show.

The requirements? Only that the pieces be original works, and that they contain the year 1805 (Pernod’s birthday). Submissions are being accepted through January 31, 2010, in the following categories: Painting, Illustration, Photography, Video, Digital/Animation.

Check out more details and enter online at their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pernodabsinthe.

BOMB's Art and Absinthe Party

Lushes, get out your calendars. The Christmas season is upon us, and we all know the true meaning of the holidays: parties galore. Locations throughout the city have their punchbowls out and their tinsel ready.

We like BOMB magazine’s punchbowl. It’s filled with Absinthe. On Thursday the 10^th, they are hosting their Starry Night party. The stars aren’t only from the green liquor. The magazine plans to have an art sale along with the cocktails. They’re selling over 175 pieces to support the publication, at up to 70% off the retail. The one pictured is by David Kramer.

The paintings and drawings will make great holiday gifts. You can take a look at some of the art for sale here. What’s more fun that getting tipsy and making impulse buys of contemporary art?

Take a look at the details:

Thursday, December 10

6:30 – 9:00 PM

Nicole Klagsbrun Gallery

526 West 26^th Street, #213

RSVP [@] bombsite.com

Thanksgiving Time!

We’re off early this week for Thanksgiving festivities. As always, you can keep up with our delicious musings on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nybarfly. Because sometimes turkey isn’t enough. 

We want to give thanks to you, all of our lovely readers. The past six months have seen a lot of growth, in both the site and our other exploits (ahem, see post below). Just to let you know, we would never trade you for sustenance to the Indians.

We promise to return and see 2009 out with a bang. There’s plenty more drinking to get done by the end of the year, and we’ll be sure to help you down those last tasty shots.

Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble-gobble (is the sound we make when we drink a martini).

Catch us on AOL's Tripvine

We love blogging at NYBarfly, because we know that you’re thirsty. Without us, you wouldn’t know what to drink (didn’t we say to put that water down!). We’re happy to announce that we’ve expanded our reach, and are now writing for AOL’s new Travel site, Tripvine.

The site relies on local insiders to let you in on what’s hot and what’s not in some major destination cities. We’re in charge of the New York bars and nightlife beat. Now, thirsty visitors will know the secrets of New York at Night. Secret one: going out is fun.

You can check out our content here. Stop by to see NYBarfly unmasked and, even more unthinkable, using the first person. Gasp!

Don’t worry, we’re not cheating on you. There is plenty of drinking advice to go around!

Alcoholic Energy Drinks: Gross? Yes. Unsafe? Maybe.

Better start stockpiling your favorite caffeine laced alcoholic beverages. The Food and Drug Administration announced that they are giving spirits companies 30 days to prove their alcoholic energy drinks are safe. Check it out:

The FDA decided to take action [look into the safety of the drinks] at the urging of state attorneys general from New York, California, Maryland and 14 other states, who contend the drinks appeal to underage drinkers and encourage reckless behavior. Young adults already are the primary demographic for marketing of highly caffeinated drinks like Red Bull.

In their letter to the FDA, the attorneys general say caffeine can mask the effects of alcohol, leading to ''increased risk-taking and other serious alcohol related problems such as traffic accidents, violence, sexual assault and suicide.''

Guess everyone will just have to go back to putting Jameson in their coffee. We’re sure that the liquor brands will figure something out. It’s a good thing that the FDA didn’t ask the drink makers to prove that these beverages were palatable.

We Heart The Summit Bar

Summit Bar, a cozy little cocktail den on Avenue C, is worth the trip to Alphabet City. And good thing, as we get discombobulated when the streets start listing by the letter. Does it go in order, or is Q street next to U street?

The classy design and sleek cocktail list make the spot warm and inviting. We hear that the owners were involved in the drinks at the Minetta Tavern, and they clearly know their stuff. There are a bunch of small nibbles and cheeses if you want to snack while you sip, and a back garden is planned for warmer weather. The bartender explained that the drink list rotates regularly (the owners were currently unhappy with their Pisco, so they took their Sour off the menu until they can find an acceptable brand). Our whiskey based cocktail The Gov’ner hit the spot, and the place gets props for using fancy-schmancy ice.

The Summit Bar changes our vocabulary a bit. This isn’t just a solid spot for drinks, and it’s not just a great neighborhood haunt. The Summit Bar is loveable. Awww, now we’re starting to blush.

Stop by and show some love at 133 Avenue C.

Conker Hill Conked Out?

During a Saturday night bar crawl on 10^th Avenue, we noticed that neighborhood bar Conker Hill was closed.

We suspect that the spot, which was notable only for its 2 for 1 happy hour, bit the dust due to increased competition. Pony Bar is right across the street, and Bar Tini next door seems quite popular. Conker Hill was just another place to drink beer and play Buck Hunter, apparently not enough to draw them in these days. Especially on 10^th Avenue.

Their Irish flag still flies outside. Maybe the cleaned out interior means they’re renovating? Just don’t get rid of the Buck Hunter!

Paradou Owner a Psycho / Cocktails at Ma Peche

-The food blog obsessed have likely already seen the crazy email sent by Paradou owner Vadim Ponorovsky to his employees, who he lovingly describes as “fucking lazy disrespectful assholes.” The whole thing is too good, especially since Vadim seems to REALLY LOVE TO PUTTING CURSES IN ALL CAPS.

-With the launch of Ma Peche (currently serving in the lobby), The Chambers Hotel has become quite the popular dining destination. Food and Wine has a peek at their cocktail program. Drinks are poured every day after 5 PM. That Sesame Old Fashioned looks quite yummy, can’t wait to spend our rent money at this spot.

-Over at Alcademics, Camper English is busy playing the cocktail version of a mad scientist. His current round of experiments center around ice. It must be a evil plot to take over the world a la Mr. Freeze! Or, maybe it has something to do with cocktails.

Drink of the Week: Straight from Drambuie's New Bottle

Is it possible to have a crush on a liquor bottle?

Drambuie has always been a Barfly favorite. This centuries old Scottish spirit is great for spiking tea or sipping straight on the rocks. For the past 100 years, it’s been bottled in a squat brown container, which easily gets lost on the bar.

The company just launched a much sleeker new bottle. It’s clear, which allows it to show off the golden hue of the spirit to shine through. Well, hello there bottle. Aren’t you looking lovely today?

To celebrate the launch of the new design, the spirits maker enlisted Jamie Stephenson to create some cocktails for the season. We’ve included a recipe below so you can mix it up at your holiday party.

Hmmm – do you think the bottle is seeing anyone?

The Clementina

½ part DRAMBUIE® Liqueur

1 part BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® Gin

dash of honey syrup

dash of lemon syrup

splash of fresh grapefruit juice

dash of grapefruit bitters (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and add ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a chilled martini cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange twist.