Monday, December 23, 2013

wWw Holiday Edition at Flatiron Room


Last Wednesday we decided to host an impromptu event to have one last drink together before we all went our separate ways for the holidays. 

We chose the Flatiron Room, for it's cozy ambiance, live music, and well-crafted cocktails. 

The bartender pouring a flaming drink




Flatiron Room is famous for its "Bottle Keep" service.

Good whiskey is meant to be enjoyed at your leisure and preferably in the company of good friends. We created our “Bottle Keep” program for this very reason. Most of our whiskeys can be purchased by the dram or by the bottle. If you come across an expression you really like then you might consider purchasing the bottle. 
It works like this: You purchase your favorite bottle and enjoy as much as you’d like at your table. When you’ve had enough, we’ll tag it with your name and store it safely in our Bottle Keep. 
You’ll also receive some “Entitlement Cards”. These cards give the holder authorization to drink off the bottle (so be careful who you give them to!). Next time you come by simply give the server your Entitlement Card and we’ll fetch your bottle. It’s a lot of fun and it makes a great gift. 
 The bottles are kept in beautiful, softly lit lockers that line and decorate the length of the bar. 

The "Bottle Keep" Locker


We started off the evening with a round of Old Fashioneds at the bar, while we waited for our table, and perused the menu of Tasting Flights and Classic Cocktails.

An Old Fashioned



When we finally sat down we got a round of Templeton Manhattans, straight up, and waited for our food--truffled mac and cheese, mushroom pizza, and beet salad. We were starving! 

The Flatiron Room's standard is a Perfect Manhattan (made with half sweet and half dry vermouth) and served with a twist. Personally, that how I prefer it--something about the citrus aroma really opens up the flavors--but Kim was a little disappointed that they didn't have brandied cherries. 

Templeton Manhattans

Given the last minute nature of the invitation, we had a small group, but it gave us the chance to catch up with each other and share an intimate evening over delicious drinks and tasty snacks.

Mary and Julia

Julia and Andrea

Kim and Elizabeth

The live jazz was a delightful addition to the cozy, timeless atmosphere. 



The Flatiron Room is the perfect place for a quiet evening with friends, or a romantic, intimate evening with a lover. 

At around $15 each, the cocktails are a little on the pricy side, even for Manhattan, but they're impeccably mixed and the service is flawless, so it's worth the little extra, especially if you want to impress.

***
37 W 26th Street
(6th Ave)
212.725.3860
***



Friday, December 20, 2013

wWw at the WhistlePig Holiday Party!

After hosting a wildly successful event with Whistlepig in November, launching The Boss Hog--WhistlePig's new Single Barrel Barrel Strength Rye--I was delighted to hear back from the folks at WhistlePig with an invitation to their annual Holiday Party.

Hosted at Webster Hall--in the 126-year-old speakeasy below that used to be frequented by Al Capone and his cronies--the party was already in full swing when we arrived at 8:30.


The band--bedecked in festive holiday attire--was singing a mix of old tunes and 1920s renditions of contemporary pop songs. A great mix that got everyone in the mood to drink and dance! 




As soon as we walked in we were handed a glass of Whistlepig and photographed.
True VIP treatment! 

Caitlin, Kim, and Julia





The WhistlePig Stewards of the Brand--our new friend Ben and our old friend Michael--were gracious hosts and answered all of our questions about the tasty whiskey we were sampling. 

Ben and Michael

Behind us, some rambunctious guests were getting up to some shenanigans! 


And others were sporting festive 1920s getups--vests, furs and pearls, and suspenders--imbuing the whole evening with a vintage vibe. 



The dapper WhistlePig gentlemen.



Back in the speakeasy bar, the bartender was secretly pulling pranks,


 and we were grinning with glee, after discovering the event was open bar!


Which meant a celebratory glass of champagne was in order!



Before we called it a night, we finally managed to track down Michael for some photos!






Thank you to Michael, and the whole WhistlePig family for inviting us to be part of such a delightful and festive evening! We had so much fun, and it was a the perfect kick off to the holiday season.


Happy Holidays!



{All photos courtesy of WhistlePig}