Usually you don't want your bartender getting hopped up on vodka, but the haircutters at the Blind Barber speakeasy in the East Village know how to work a pair of shears with one hand while holding a martini with the other. When New Amsterdam decided to throw a launch party for their new vodka there, we were so down.
We had a never-gets-old Prohibition moment walking through the barber shop front (which was operating that night – complimentary straight shaves for the gents), and were greeted with vodka, vodka and more vodka. There was a make-your-own screwdriver station, make-your-own Bloody Mary station and of course, martinis at the bar.
No Agent (007 or otherwise) would be ashamed to order a vodka martini with this brand or buy one for his lady companion, preferably after a fresh shave. The Bloody Marys and Screwdrivers were smooth enough that you could barely tell you are drinking vodka (danger! danger!). The martinis were strong enough that you felt sophisticated just ordering one and smooth enough to pretend you were on the hunt for an international terrorist. Conclusion? New Amsterdam vodka is a great value, though slightly less than that free haircut. Sounds like a good excuse for another drink to us.
-Katie Carroll
This is very good stuff for a dry vodka martini (the real kind - up or on the rocks - not chocolate, mixed with orange juice, etc). Interestingly, it is made by Gallo in Modesto, CA. Pricewise, at my purveyor, it's higher than Smirnoff but less than the the real pricey, imported stuff, like Kettle One, etc.
Supposedly, it was just introduced in late October 2011, but on November 10, my grocery store in a little town in Illinois had it.
"New Amsterdam" is referring to the old name of NYC - aiming for the eastern boozers, not the snobby California wine drinkers.
Posted by: Doug Criner | November 10, 2011 at 04:24 PM