Cocktail Journalist. One in a Worship of Writers.

I've been writing about spirits, cocktails and bars since 2006 and during that time I've attended several spirit launch (and re-launch) events. Figure on average about seven a year. In that time I've learned from my mistakes and the mistakes of others. So, I've come up with some basic rules for you to follow if you find yourself attending a Spirit Launch Party. Rule #1 for attending a Spirit Launch Party. Stock up on singles & 20's. Be prepared to tip everybody. The thinking behind this is simple - 5's & 10's make you look like a hipster piker. Also, do you want to be that person who asks for change of a 5 dollar bill or the guy who doesn't tip at all?? Rule #2 A.B.C. ALWAYS BE CLOSING! Bring plenty of business cards. Be prepared to get a ton. Bring 2 cardholders. Rule #3 Dress like you mean business. 3.1) Men: Clean Shirt with a nice tie and jacket. 3.2) Ladies: Yeah, I'm not going to tell you how to dress.  Rule #4 Lear...

  Some time ago I was hired to write a review about Death & Co. This version of my review was never published so.... Death & Co. 433 East 6th Street New York, NY 10009 (212) 388-0882   (East Village) When you are standing at the threshold of Death & Co . you will notice something that most cocktail bars don’t have, a gatekeeper. This man’s job is not to demolish people. He is NOT a Ray Lewis clone dressed in black and carrying a chip on his shoulder. This man’s job is to make sure you enjoy your evening in a stress-free environment. Once he lets in you’ll realize that the gatekeeper’s clipboard was set to ‘comfortable and cozy’ not ‘crowded and noisy’. And if that means taking your cell phone number and calling you once space is available - than that is what happens. This isn’t Fort Knox or Studio 54…they know that. This is Death & Co. and they want you to have a great time in an intimate setting. Brian Miller is one of the principles behin...

It's been way too long. And that's all I'll say about that. This much is true, I am back to my craft, my joy... my reason for rocking the boat.  Enjoy! Ward III 111 Reade Street New York, NY 10013 (212) 240-9194 Some of the best cocktail bars in Manhattan are smothered in rumor, hidden behind false walls and drenched in the rich history of the prohibition era. The men and women behind these establishments spend their time writing about, researching and rebuilding the cocktails of that bygone time. Ward III is one of those bars and its proprietor, Michael Neff is one those men. The Ward (as it’s called by its long time patrons) is hidden in plain sight at 111 Reade Street between West Broadway and Church Street in Tribeca. The front of Ward III looks like a tough- as-adamantium nails New York dive bar (circa 1970), but don’t be fooled. The façade is just a clever trick to keep the Budweiser crowd away. When you walk in, you’ll be greeted by the usual décor...

Saw this one on Facebook and I had to share it. Funniest line- "What's Star Fruit?"

A Change of Season Mixology Classes at The Pierre

In October of 2011 I was sent a bottle of Kansas (Clean Distilled) Whiskey and the press kit for it. After reading the major selling points and the  history  behind Kansas (The whiskey, not the band) I was ready to file it all under the heading of  WTFWTT (What The F$%K Were They Thinking?) and walk away. But I could not do that, it would not be professional. So, I took the bottle home and did what any good liquor reviewer would do: I let the bottle sit on my shelf for a month. On a random day in November, I opened the elongated flask-shaped glass bottle, poured myself three fingers worth of the cream colored whiskey, took a healthy swig and something interesting happened: I discovered that I was drinking a horrible whiskey. Usually this is where I go into a scathing two-page rant on why I think Kansas (The whiskey not the State ) is one of the worst whiskeys on the planet, compare it to a WMD and make witty jokes about it using references from TV shows and ...