AM New York
Try These 5 Holiday Spirits
by Perrie Samotin
Weekend, November 25-27, 2005
Bottoms up to some wintry cocktails, from holiday eggnog to gingerbread or mango nut martinis
When we think winter in New York, cocktails probably aren't the first thing that come to mind.
But with the holidays around the corner and the weather already decidedly cold, why not slip into the spirit a little early and warm up with one of these festive winter cocktails?
Snowflake at Tribeca Grill
2-2.5 parts Grey Goose
1.5 parts Godiva White
1 part Crème de Cacao White
.5 part Simple Syrup
Shake on ice, serve in chilled martini glass or on the rocks.
Created by bartender Greg Cohen, this festive cocktail is a rich in quality and as welcoming as the De Niro owned place itself. Exposed brick walls, a spacious yet cozy wooden bar and striking artwork contribute to Tribeca Grill's warm weather feel.
375 Greenwich Street, (212) 941-3905
Holiday Eggnog at Campbell Apartment
2 oz. eggnog
1 oz. brandy (or cognac)
1 oz. Foursquare spiced rum
1 oz. white crème de cacao
Splash simple syrup
Dash of nutmeg
Combine eggnog, brandy, rum, white crème de cacao and simple syrup in a Boston cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with nutmeg.
Warm and authentically New York, this 1930s-era bar is housed in what was once the office of early 20th-century tycoon John W. Campbell by day and an exclusive salon at night, where prominent New York characters would gather for cocktails.
15 Vanderbilt Ave. at SW Balcony at Grand Central (212)953-0409
Gingerbread Martini at Lotus
1.5 oz. Belvedere
.75 oz. Navan Vanilla Cognac
1 oz. gingerbread syrup
Splash fresh lemon juice
Shake Belvedere, Navan and lemon juice over ice for 15 seconds. Strain into a chilled gingerbread-rimmed martini glass.
"At a place like Lotus, people know we have lots of fun specialty cocktails and are always asking about them," says Karma, a bartender at Lotus. "Once one person orders this one, though, and others see the gingerbread cookie rim, five more people will come up to the bar and order one, too."
409 W. 14th Street, (212) 243-4420
Mango Nut Martini at the Hudson Hotel
1 oz. Finlandia Mango
1 oz. Triple sec
Splash of apple juice
Splash of lychee juice
Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice; serve up in a martini glass. Garnish with lychee nuts.
Not quite ready to commit to the impending cold season? Hudson Bar at the Hudson Hotel lets us phase winter in slowly with their mango nut martini, a bi-seasonal blend of ingredients.
"We're still working on some others for winter, but so far this drink has gone over quite well," says Steve Greaves, Director of Operations at Hudson Hotel bars. "Even Christina Applegate, who comes in sometimes, orders them."
356 West 58th Street, (212) 554-6000
Havana Side Car at Son Cubano
2 parts Montecristo Rum 12 YR
Cointreau and fresh lime juice
1 tsp. cinnamon and sugar
Combine Montecristo Rum, Cointreau and fresh lime in a martini shaker. Shake well and serve in a chilled martini glass with a cinnamon-sugar rim.
A cold winter's night in Cuba may be somewhat of a contradiction, especially at this spot-on incarnation of 1950s Cuban glamour. But Son Cubano celebrates the season by staying true to its roots and combining national staples rum and lime juice with cinnamon, a definitive holiday spice.