You know how to EAT THIS CITY. With top chefs as tour guides, you’ve learned how to scout out hot spots for breakfast and brunch, where to go for a delicious date night, and how to feast like a local liege in the cities you love. But where do you wash it all down? Do you know how to find the best brewpub? Who makes the meanest of bloody marys and the most sparkling of mimosas? What bars transport you?
You’re about to find out. Welcome to DRINK THIS CITY!
This week, we’re diving deep into the heart of Brooklyn, with award-winning bartender Ivy Mix — the co-owner and head bartender of the outstanding cocteleria Leyenda, which frequently makes it onto “best of” lists since it opened in 2015. You might remember its appearance on our own Drink This City: New York.
Ready to drink in Brooklyn? You can ask for no better guide than Ivy. She’s the co-founder of Speed Rack — the all-female speed bartending competition which highlights and celebrates the talents of its competitors — and donates 100% of its proceeds to fighting breast cancer. Mix also won the coveted American Bartender of the Year award at the 2015 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards.
Needless to say, she knows a good drink! Check her steez:
Who’s ready to hit the best bars in Brooklyn? Let’s check out Ivy’s favorite drinking hot spots in the borough she calls home!
BRUNCH COCKTAIL OR HAIR OF THE DOG
https://www.instagram.com/p/BawaaQUgr4D/?taken-by=aperolspritzofficial
I always like something light and refreshing. Aperol Spritzes are probably my go to. They’re not too heavy on the ABV and delicious and bubbly. I like them just about anywhere :) Honestly, sometimes I really just make them at home!
CLASSIC COCKTAIL
Negroni. I order this the most. It’s really hard to make one horribly but also quite hard to make one fantastically. I can order one in almost any bar and it’ll be ok or fantastic, which I love. I love going across the street from Leyenda to Clover Club. It’s the best!
CRAFT COCKTAIL
During this time of year, I love going to Fort Defiance in Red Hook Brooklyn and having their Hot Apple Toddy — hot cider, amaretto with a cream float on top. It’s decadent and delicious.
PUNCH
Hm…. Right now Ryan Liloia has a Tahitian Rum Punch on the menu at Leyenda it’s out of this world. Like Sangria on crack with Malbec, 4 different rums, vanilla, grapefruit, lemon and more.
DIVE BAR
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ09a9JFds-/?taken-at=284632
I love Montero on Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn. Nautical, funky, historic. I feel at home there.
PUB, TAVERN, OR BREWERY
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Sunny’s in Red Hook Brooklyn. Just the best. Was almost destroyed in Sandy and came back. A relic from the 70s with fantastic music in the back.
HOTEL BAR
Nomad in Manhattan or Dandylyan in London. Top of the game.
HOT DRINK
See above about Fort Defiance!
THEMED BAR OR IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
We are doing an event this year at Leyenda called SLEYenda – a Chirstmas pop up with lots of Beyonce references!
COCKTAIL MADE BY A FRIEND
Shannon Ponche’s Daiquiri al Pastor
Shannon Ponche, the head bartender at Leyenda, is fantastic at making savory drinks. While it is no longer on the menu as we changed it for winter, she made a drink called the Daiquiri al Pastor with a pork fat washed white rum blend, pineapple, lime, achiote and cilantro with a chicharron/salt rim and it was out of this world.
Thank you Ivy for taking us on a tour of Brooklyn’s best bars!
Like what you read? Check out Drink This City: Honolulu, Drink This City: Detroit, Drink This City: Chicago, Drink This City: New York and Drink This City: Nashville.
Join us next week for more DRINK THIS CITY! Meanwhile, hit us in the comments — where should we travel next?
