NY Barfly

Catch Some Smokin' Hot Jazz and Burlesque on Fridays at 10 PM!

Yeah, we basically decided to write up The Plume Review because we wanted to publish this photo - doesn't it make you want to go knock back a few martinis as you listen to some classic torch songs from the 40s and 50s? The show is at Duane Park, which bills itself as an "elegant turn of the century parlor" - in addition to the martinis, you can also get some seasonal American cuisine (with some Southern notes thrown into the mix). The host of the festivities is Cunio, whose suave presence channels the days of martinis past. If you want to drop by for a full meal, you can get din din for $75 which includes three courses of anything from the menu. If you just want to booze it up while you take in the show (and maybe get tickled by some of those feathers), there is a two drink minimum. Either way, there is no cover - so you have no excuse to miss out on this. 

Duane Park is located at 157 Duane St.  

 

Turn Your Face Red With Redbreast 12 Cask Strength

There's a new whiskey in town, and we think it will bring a healthy hue to your face. Redbreast just released a new label, dubbed Redbreast 12 Cask Strength. This version of Redbreast 12 has gone straight from the cask into your bottle, which means you'll experience deep flavors full of spices, fruits and a little wood. Even though the stuff was just released, it's already been creating quite the buzz in spirits circles, where brown beverages are pretty hot.

This stuff is Irish, and as we all know they like their spirits strong. "Cask strength" is basically a synonym for "super boozy" and tipplers won't be disappointed to learn that this stuff rings in at a whopping 57.7 % ABV - yowza. With its flavor profile, this stuff is made for sipping, and that's a good thing. Gulping it down is the fastest ticket to falling off your barstool that we've ever seen.

Help Wanted. Only Drinkers Need Apply.

Here's something that you don't see in a job advertisement so often: the requirement that you must imbibe alcohol if you want the position. Well, that's just the prerequisite that some jobs in Utah require - and that's a state that's hardly known as a haven for lushes. A few positions may come up soon on the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission - and a bill that's circulating in the state legislature would require that at least two members of the panel actually consume alcohol.

According to the New York Times, the state has been unduly harsh to the liquor industry because of all the members of the Mormon Church that hold positions in the government (and Mormons don't drink).

Check it out: Applicants for the two drinking slots — all commissioners are selected by the governor — would even have to sign an affidavit to the effect that they had consumed alcohol for at least a year before their appointment.

While drinking once a year would technically fit the bill, we think that the positions would be well served by those who regularly tipple. In fact - maybe we should move out there and start running for the governor's nomination. Commissioner Barfly, anyone?

Kazaam! Courvoisier Partners With Shaq for Comedy Tour

Recently launched brand C by Courvoisier has wasted no time bringing in the celebs to help the brand, and in this case they're bringing in a triple threat. Shaq is a former basketball player, a former movie star genie, and a current producer of the "All-Star Comedy Jam" a touring troup of comedians who are gonna yuck it up across the country. The spirit has partnered with the all star jam to be liberally poured during the tour (as well as the after parties along the way), and we can imagine O'Neal knocking a few of these back himself. Yeah, the whole thing may seem a little random, but, if anything at least a few sips will make the jokes on the tour that much funnier. 

Brooklyn's Hill Cafe Launches Burger And A Beer Deal

We don't get out to Brooklyn as much as we should, but if there is one thing that encourages us to get our butts to the borough it's the deals - there is mucho to offer in the wallet friendly department, that's for sure. If we were to head out there on a Tuesday night, we'd drop by Hill Cafe to check out their burger and a beer deal, which is gearing up to launch on Tuesday, March 6. The promotion will run from 6 to 8 PM and you'll be able to scarf the patty and kick back a brewski for only $15. Which should leave you enough money leftover for, well, another beer. 

If you're jonesing for this deal and in the Clinton Hill area, Hill Cafe is located at 17 Putnam Ave. 

Lin-Sanity Comes to The Village Pourhouse

Um, maybe you didn't hear, but there is this basketball player named Lin, and people are going CRAZY over him. He plays for the Knicks, and if you've followed that team's recent history, you know that Big Apple basketball fans could use something to be happy about after years of abysmal results. Well, NYC drinkers now have something to be excited about as well - The Village Pourhouse has announced a two for one drink special during all Knicks games. 

The drink served is called the Ty Ku LINtoxicated Bomb - it's essentially a sake bomb made with Ty Ku liquor. The beverages will surely help you cheer that team on, and if you aren't so into B-ball well, it will help you fake it. And at $5 a pop, they're already super cheap - chug chug chug! 

Dad's Hat Proves White Whiskey is Hot

Move over barrel aging - there is a new trend in the world of spirits. The new spirit du jour that is popping up around town is white whiskey. The stuff is pretty much moonshine (and one of the brands actually goes by that name) - it's what whiskey looks like before it's put into the barrels that give the sauce its signature brown hue. The latest release to hit the market is dubbed Dad's Hat Pennsylvania White Rye - it's distilled at 100 proof (editor's note: yowza) and poured into the bottles without touching a barrel.

PA is no stranger to rye, it's been making the spirit for upwards of 200 years, so this craft label has some good pedigree. In the days before Prohibition, the state produced upwards of six million barrels of hooch annually. The launch of this label will surely be one step in reattaining that former glory. 

Manhattan Cocktail Classic Tickets on Sale March 15

Is it really almost that time again? It seems like just yesterday that we got our tux on and went over to the New York Public Library for the cocktail event of the year. Well, better send your fancy threads to the cleaner, because tickets for this year's cocktail classic go on sale March 15. Yeah, it's a little advance planning, but you should put that date in your calendar, because passes to all of the best events are sure to sell out super quick, as they have in previous years. And, if you want to get super on it, the tickets are on sale at noon sharp that day. 

You can learn more about the MCC and purchase tickets when they come on sale on the festival's website here: www.manhattancocktailclassic.com. 

  

 

Zum Schneider Dishes out Lent Beer

Everyone knows how to kick off lent Mardi-Gras style, but going crazy with booze and beads isn’t the only game in town. East Village bar Zum Schneider has been playing host to a Karneval festival for the past few days, and as part of the ongoing shindig they are serving up Hofbräuhaus Traunstein's special Lent beer. As with many beer labels, if monks are behind it, you know it must be good. This stuff was traditionally brewed in monastaries in the end of December, and lagered for six to eight weeks. The brew contains a higher alcohol level than the average label, as it had to be preserved through the 40 day fast. So, this stuff will get you tipsy on Fat Tuesday – not too shabby.

Oh, and that fasting business is out the window these days, it’s not like Zum is going to turn off the taps once Lent starts, so you get to have all the fun with none of the pain. Suh-weet.

Zum Schneider is located at 107 Avenue C.

Spring44 Bringing Honey Vodka To NYC

 

The reason why that infamous honey badger doesn't give a shit? Well, we're not a biologist, but it probably has to do with all that vodka he drinks. His hooch of choice has got to be Spring44 Honey Vodka, a craft brand that is making a sweet splash in NYC with its recent launch. The label is made right here in the USA - it's distilled using artesian spring water from the Rocky Mountains - and the stuff is super pure. That goes into a mix of US grown wheat, corn and rye, which is distilled five times for a super smooth finish. In addition to the honey label, the spirits company also has a normal variety of vodka along with a juniper-spiked option dubbed Spring44 Gin. Look for this stuff to pop up at bars around the city, and beware of the honey badger, he can be quite mean after a cocktail or two.