Best of - Holiday Cocktails

Winter doesn't officially start until December 21, but the temperatures outside suggest otherwise.  What's the point in fighting the inevitable?  We thought we'd embrace the season with this holiday's best cocktails.

By RG Writer - Agatha Khishchenko

Char No. 4

Address: 196 Smith Street

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Phone: (718)643-2106

There are a lot of destination restaurants, but this is what I like to call a destination bar.  If you live in Carroll Gardens, consider yourself lucky.  If you don't, you're really missing out.  The bar is a glowing shrine to whiskies from all over the world with a 400-bottle selection.  This is the perfect season for the Noreaster, a whiskey-based cocktail featuring Old Crow, ginger beer, lime and Canadian maple syrup.  The  Bourbon Insider is set to debut just in time for the holidays.  This warm, fragrant cocktail is made with Old Taylor six-year bourbon, mulling spices, lemon, ginger, and apple cider.  The final touch is a pear chip and cloves.

Brookvin

Address: 381 7^th Avenue (Brooklyn)

Phone: (718)768-9463

This Park Slope newcomer has been quickly embraced by the neighborhood.  It's mostly a wine bar, but our favorite winter drink is the Pumpkin Spiced Manhattan.  A riff on the classic, this Manhattan is made with infused pumpkin bourbon, sweet vermouth, Fee Brothers whiskey barrel bitters, and ginger syrup. 

Spitzer’s Corner

Address: 101 Rivington Street

New York, NY 

Phone: (212)228-0027

A Bloody Mary at brunch is just as essential to Sunday brunch as any other timeless cocktail.  The Bloody Mary at Spitzer’s Corner is different, essentially a hangover cure for all those cocktails you drank the night before.  This isn't your classic tomato juice and horseradish concoction.   It's an organic cocktail made with fresh tomato water and vodka. 

Freemans

Address: End of Freemans Alley

Phone: (212)420-0012

The bartenders at Freemans have created homemade elixirs to relieve holiday stress.  You can order a liquid cure called Penicillin made with scotch, lemon juice, and honey ginger syrup.  And if you’re not quite ready to accept winter, get your last licks of fall with the Autumnal Aperitif, a refreshing cocktail of rye, lemon juice, pear cordial and maple syrup.