NY Barfly

Gerber Group Turns 20, Pours Out Special Bourbon For Chairty

Here’s something you don’t see every day: a nightlife proprietor turning 20. That’s like, 1,000 years old in the world of NYC eating and drinking, impressive. Gerber is behind haunts like the Stone Rose in the Time Warner Center, and they are celebrating their birthday in style. And by in style, we mean with lots of bourbon, natch. The nightlife impresarios have teamed up with Woodford Reserve Bourbon to create a special label that will be served at their establishments through November 21. The proceeds from the special bottles (along with a custom-made barrel that holds about 200 bottles in the Stone Rose Lounge) will go to charity, namely the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. We’ll definitely be stopping by to knock back a few for charity. Oh, and if anyone out there is making a birthday list for us, a barrel with 200 bottles of bourbon inside of it would surely be an excellent gift.

Hit These Cranberry Cocktails For Thanksgiving

Cranberry sauce from a can – gross! Yeah, it may be nostalgic, but you can still see the indent that the lines from the can made in the stuff. Not appetizing at all. Even though the traditional way of gorging on cranberry is something we want no part of, the fruit does scream holiday spirit. That’s why we came up with a selection of cranberry cocktails for our latest article on Tablespoon. These libations will let you enjoy the seasonal ingredient without having to eat mush. Who knows, maybe after a few cranberry drinks, you’ll be ready to dig right into that junk from the can. You can read the full article here.

A Liquor Company Wants to Tattoo You

File this one under the wacky liquor promotions. We've all heard about the poor schmoes who go out, drink one too many, and then come home with a tattoo that they barely remember receiving. Well, Tuaca wants to makes sure that the tattoo you get is top notch. They've partnered with celebrity tattoo artist Corey Miller for a pretty kick-ass giveaway. We're not too up on the world of tattoo artists, but from what we understand it would be hard (and way pricey) for a civilian to get inked by Miller, so if you were thinking of getting that design stamped on to you , now is the time.

All you have to do is hit this website to enter. Oh, and in addition to the ink, you'll get a two night stay in Los Angeles and some spending money. If you're afraid of the needle, just think of how much fun the vacay will be.

Behold: The Hungoevr Cookbook

Holiday gift time is coming up, and we know just what the lush in your family wants. Check out the Hungoever Cookbook (yep, when you're that hungover, spelling things correctly is really a chore). Released earlier this year from Milton Crawford, the cookbook is the only thing you need after a night out on the town. OK - actually, the only thing you need after a night out on the town is a Seamless Web account and a credit card, but this is the next best thing if you're low on funds. The book is broken down by degree of difficulty - which is good, because in your worst state all you can really do is crack an egg in your hand and let the juicy innards drip into your mouth. Also included, since the truly hungover are prone to distraction, are witty remarks and crude jokes. Even if you don't plan on cooking, you can still read the thing while you wait for the delivery man to arrive. The book is $10, but you can get it for $8 right now on Amazon. Check it out here. 

 

508 GastroBrewery Offers Growlers to Go

A quick note for the beer lovers out there: a new stop just opened up on the Growler Tour of New York City. 508 in the West Village recently started brewing their own beer and re-launched as a “gastrobrewery,” and now you can get that house-made beer to go in reusable Growlers (note: try not to drink an entire growler in one sitting, it kind of defeats the purpose).

If you’re headed to a holiday party, bringing a growler is a great way to make a splash. They’re basically as expensive as a bottle of wine, but we guarantee no one else will be showing up with one of these puppies (and if they do, you should talk to them immediately).

508 is located at 508 Greenwich Street. Growlers cost between $21-24 and refills cost between $17-20. Hit it up!

Bakon Vodka Wants to Play a Game

Bakon Vodka isn’t resting on the laurels of being the world’s first “meat-flavored spirit.” To survive in this day and age, the brand knows that you need to do more than just taste like everyone’s favorite piggy treat. The brand just redesigned their bottles, which now include Quick Response Codes – the customer who purchases the bottle can scan the code and then enter a “game-like” environment where they can track the bottle’s movement (presumably down their throats), earn badges for making new purchases and get recipe suggestions. The scan will also allow drinkers to share their history with the brand on Facebook, confirming what your friends already know: that you are a GIANT lush. Look for the bottles in stores, and get more info here.

Introducing The Hangover Patch. Whaaa????

If there were a cure for the hangover, whoever invented it would go down in history for solving one of the great problems of humanity (and, probably become a bazillionaire in turn). That’s why we were a little dubious when we got the press release for Bytox, a new patch that supposedly lessens the effects of a hangover if you wear it while you drink. Yeah, we’re suspicious, but hey – we’ll try anything to feel less horrible the morning after (come on kids, we all know that Bloody Mary is just delaying the inevitable). The patch supposedly replaces vitamins and nutrients that are depleted during benders. Here’s a description from the company:

The specially-formulated Bytox hangover remedy patch effectively replenishes the vital levels of vitamins and nutrients your body loses when you consume alcohol. By enhancing and restoring these levels, Bytox reduces the physical side effects of alcohol consumption. Use the patch before during or after your night out for maximum relief from hangovers. The patch is 100% safe and really works!* Bytox has zero calories and won’t irritate your stomach, so you can party in style.

Hmm – so who’s ready to drink too much for the purposes of “research”? Come on – you know you don’t even really need an excuse. For more information visit www.bytox.com.

Drink of the Week: Chili-Spiked Mexican Hot Cocoa at Yotel

With a cool nip starting to turn up in the air, it’s time for drinks that pack some heat. Naturally, mulled wine and a few hot-toddy type libations are going to pop-up on cocktail lists around town, but we’re more interested in a drink that packs a double-punch when it comes to the heat department. Over at FOUR, located in Midtown West’s Yotel, beverage manager Michael Miloscia has spiked a run-of-the-mill hot chocolate drink with chili. Yes, please. His concoction is a mix of Patron Anejo, Patron XO (the label’s coffee infusion) and chocolate abuelita (a chocolate tablet). It gets its special kick from a house-made ancho chili-marshmallow (we’d like to roast a few of those over the fire this season).

The libation is topped off with some whipped cream, and will set you back $13 – a bargain when you need to get warmed up mucho quick. FOUR is also serving some other seasonally inspired drinks, you can see the full selection below or stop by to knock a few back at 570 Tenth Ave.

Five Spiced Rum Punch 14

spiced rum / fresh apple cider / 5 spice simple syrup / soda / lemon

 Tequila Hot Toddy 13

añejo tequila / orange liqueur / lemongrass / ginger / star anise

 

Warm Apple Cider 13

spiced rum / apple cider punch / 5 spice rim

Apple Cider Sangria 13

fresh apple cider / spiced simple syrup / red & green apple / Asian pear

Photo: Melissa Hom

A Beer Vending Machine that Tweets. #Awesome

Wouldn’t 9 to 5 life be better if every office had the beer vending machine that’s currently in use at Boston-based advertising agency Arnold Worldwide? Yep – that’s right – a vending machine that dishes out bottles of beer instead of soda, 24-hours a day. Imagine the possibilities (if you can through your beer-induced haze). The machine, dubbed Arnie, was the brainchild of a few employees who work at the company. Not only will Arnie dish out agency-brewed beers – he will talk to you. The machine can greet you by name and automatically sends out Tweets under the handle @ArnieBeer (on his Twitter profile, he humbly explains that “his mother was a toaster”).

The machine also can show you how much beer has been dispensed in the last week – so be warned: he will know if you’re tippling too much. Although this does confirm our greatest fear, that vending machines will soon develop intelligence and kill us all, at least we can have a brew or two before judgment day comes.

Georgia Proves It's Not Lame, Repeals Silly Alcohol Laws

Something that’s always befuddled us when we visit the south: those laws on the books that establish “dry” counties. Don’t the former confederates like to get their hooch on during the weekend? Well, something good came out of the last Election Day, according to The New York Times. Check it out:

After years of debating whether to do away with a century-old law that banned selling alcohol on Sundays, Georgia politicians decided to let the people vote, city by city and county by county, on what they preferred in their communities. The results were resounding: 105 of the 127 communities that voted chose to end the Sunday restriction, often by huge margins. And before polls closed, supporters were announcing celebrations at liquor stores.

Whoopie! Those communities that voted to keep the liquor laws in place cited the typical reasons for their continued lameness: the bible and the decline of American morals. Yawn. One person quoted in the article said it best: “For those that drink, they just have to cross the county line.”