The Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala a celebration of one of civilization’s simplest creations - varying combinations of alcohol, ice, sugar, and juice - transformed through stirring, shaking, and sometimes finger twirling, into the mighty cocktail. Year after year the gala continues to be one of New York City’s most exciting and wildly anticipated events, and is my favorite event of the year, a night of revelry, debauchery, and more cocktails than one can possibly count.
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| The Main Hall - Photo by Filip Wolak |
The Gala is the kickoff event for the week long Manhattan Cocktail Classic - five days of events, lectures, decadent soirees, lavish dinner parties, tiki safaris, mixology classes, city tours, bar crawls, boozy brunches, tasting rooms, and of course, lots and lots of drinking. It’s an opportunity for guests to try new spirits, imbibe in hand crafted cocktails, and connect with brands they otherwise would not try. I have discovered some of my now favorite tipples in past years, and this year was just the same.
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| New York Public Library - Photo by Filip Wolak |
The grandiose doors to the
New York Public Library swung open at 9pm sharp, and the line howled with excitement - the crowd anxious to see what curiosities were planned for this year’s bash. A band greeted guests as they walked into the awe-inspiring central hall of the library - the ceiling of which was illuminated with thousands of stars, creating the effect of lifting the roof of the library up into the night sky. Metallic paper cranes hung from archways - shimmering.
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| Twinkling Lights and Shimmering Cranes |
We started our ascent of the library stairs, the beginning of our journey through the labyrinthine building, peppered with bars, troupes of dancers, human statues, tables of nibbles and canapés, bands, barber shops, and more bars. An
Appleton Estate Jamaican Rum Old Fashioned kicked off the night - a sweet and buttery variation of the classic cocktail. This was hands down my favorite cocktail of the evening - a glass of perfection.
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| Appleton Old Fashioned - My New Favorite Cocktail |
Off to the third floor, where an entire room was dedicated to
New York distillers. Excited to see friendly faces of Bridget Firtle of
Owney’s Rum and Josh Morton of
Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur, two Brooklyn distillers making some damn fine spirit. It was a pleasure to see all the New York distillers together:
Hillrock Estate Distilling,
Greenhook Ginsmiths,
Kings County Distilling,
Industry City,
New York Distilling Company,
Prohibition Distillery,
Sorel, Tuthilltown,
and Atsby Vermouth, to name a few. We also loved the
Dutch Spirits Stissing Mountain Punch, made with Dutch’s Sugar Wash Moonshine,
Aperol, Grapefruit Juice, and Sparkling Wine, served from a boozy backpack. Double win.
Ladies served up boozy ice cream on the second floor -
Hendrick’s Gin Ramos Fizz, Painkiller, and Absinthe & Burnt Sugar made with
Pernod, a gorgeous pairing of herb and sweet.
Then to the basement, one of the most magical rooms of the library - a glass domed space with a grand dance floor filled with costumed dancers and a live bandstand playing for imbibers. Live entertainment is such a special treat these days, and it seemed like each room was filled with musicians, dancers, and exotic entertainers. My favorite was the couple on stilts who towered over guests, twirling on the dance floor to everyone’s amazement.
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| Photo by Filip Wolak |
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| Photo by Filip Wolak |
I quickly had
two delicious cocktails in my hands, first the
Maker’s Mark 46 cocktail, which was a variation on an old fashioned, made with a cider infused
Martinique Clement 10 year rum made by Michael Neff of
Ward III, and the
Prickly Heat Sour made with
XXX Shine White Whiskey, Chipotle Sour, Prickly Pear Puree,
Mandarine Napoleon, and Barritts Ginger Beer. Another impressive cocktail of the evening was the
Malacca Flip from Spice Market made with
Tanqueray Malacca Gin, Hibiscus Syrup, Maraschino Liqueur, Sweet Vermouth, Lemon Juice, Mint, Egg White, and Orange Bitters. Sweet and Spicy!
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| Makers 46 Old Fashioned Redux |
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| Malacca Flip |
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| Yours Truly, Hands Full and Happy |
Non-boozy Popsicles from
Brewla were served from nostalgic cigarette trays, the Sweetened Espresso pop was a refreshing treat. Tables of nibbles flanked the bandstand, sliders, pickled vegetables, and a decadent display of cocktail shrimp on ice.
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| Shrimp! |
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| Social Climbing Snacks - Breadsticks and Meat Skewers |
Up the stairs again, where we found the
Shellback Bar making two very delicious cocktails - the
Barbados Slim with spiced rum, East India Sherry, Lime Juice, Ginger Beer, and Angostura Bitters, and the
Olive Blossom made with Silver Rum,
St. Germain, Pink Grapefruit Juice, Simple Syrup, and Lavender Bitters, topped with an Edible Orchid. I’m normally not one for the girly drinks, but I loved this cocktail. Sweet and light, and would taste amazing on a yacht.
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| Dark n' Stormy |
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| Olive Blossom |
Your Truly, Happy with Tropical Cocktails
Around the corner we found the
Johnnie Walker bar - brightly illuminated with two handsome gents workin' the crowd. These guys were great - joking with patrons whilst pouring two smashing drinks: the
Shotgun Wedding made with
Johnnie Walker Black,
Pimms, and Gonzalez Byass Nectar Pedro Ximenez Sherry, and the
Post Modern made with
Johnnie Walker Red, Honey, Lemon,
Pacharan (a Spanish liqueur made with sloe berries and aniseed), and an Absinthe Rinse.
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| Shotgun Wedding, Topping Off |
Then, up to the
New Amsterdam bar for the gentleman in our party to have a close shave and a shoeshine. The ladies chatted and sipped on
The Close Shave cocktail with
New Amsterdam Vodka and
St Germain topped with Prosecco and Rosemary.
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| Close Shave and a Martini, Anyone? |
We meandered from bar to bar, nibbling on Lo Mein served in small chinese take out containers, stepping into lavish reading rooms that were filled with revelers dancing to the selections of
Mr Herbert Holler, and then back down to the
Campari bar in the main hall for a Gary Regan finger stirred
Negroni and cans of carbonated Negronis.
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| Shakin! - Photo by Filip Wolak |
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| Photo by Filip Wolak |
I was thrilled to see that some of the kinks of previous years had been worked out - bars did not run out of drink, nor glassware, although I did miss seeing many of the “startenders” that have defined mixology and helped bring it to its current popularity.
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| Revelers Under the Shimmering Ceiling of the Library |
One of the most amazing things about the Gala is that in the few mere hours of the party there is so much to see, and so much more that isn't seen. The next day I was told of wagons of snacks and dips being wheeled through the halls of the library, nibbling patrons trailing behind.
At the end of the night, the crowds poured themselves onto the steps of the library, ladies sitting and resting their feet. Couples posed for photos in front of the iconic building, cementing themselves in history, there, at one of the greatest parties in New York.
Want more?
Angostura’s MCC in 60 seconds:
xxG
