NYC's Best Fall 2016 Cocktails, Bars And Seasonal Spirits
Fall has officially arrived! Celebrate the start of a new season with these five delicious cocktails. By Carly Petrone.
Porchlight
271 Eleventh Ave.
New York, NY
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The new fall cocktail menu at Porchlight bar celebrates everything autumn has to offer: a little bit of spice, orchard fruits, and lots of apple brandy. Head bartender Nicholas Bennet is putting a spin on traditional favorites like the Old-Fashioned, Mint Julep, and Mulled Wine. Notable cocktails include the Harvest Moon – Laird's apple brandy, maple syrup, lemon, Allspice, and egg white – or the comforting Vinho Quente, made with Cimarron Blanco tequila, Douglas Fir brandy, and mulled wine syrup. You can't go wrong with a traditional Army & Navy cocktail (gin, orgeat, lemon, and Angostura bitters) while the Sass n' Frass Julep will satisfy any sweet tooth you may be having. Guests can also nosh on two new additions to their culinary menu, including Tortilleria Nixtamal nachos with Arkansas cheese dip as well as Firecracker Chicken with a spicy habanero honey glaze. After you're satisfied, make sure to check out all of the fun and creative street art that hang along the walls – the work is made up of eight different artists from eight different countries.
Cantina Rooftop
605 W. 48th St.
New York, NY
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Enjoy this beautiful fall weather and a Mezcal-inspired cocktail over at Cantina Rooftop. Mixologist Nelson Lemus has created quite an array of drinks that will have your taste buds dancing. If you're in the mood for something spicy, try the Salta P'Atras (Cazadores Reposado tequila, jalapeno-infused Cabeza tequila, Union Mezcal, citrus, and Angostura bitters), or the Cielo Rojo (Jalapeno-infused Cabeza Tequila, pomegranate molasses, lime, and simple syrup.) If you're looking for something sweeter, tey the the Chingon - Union mezcal, St. Germain Elderflower, grapefruit juice, cordial, and lime-cinnamon syrup. If mezcal isn't your thing, there's plenty of other options, like a simple Tepache (rum and pineapple punch) or one of their many flavored margaritas. Grab a pitcher of cocktails for the whole group and don't forget the chips and guacamole!
Analogue
19 W. 8th St.
New York, NY
More: NYC's Best Summer Cocktail Menus
Head bartender Zack Berger (formerly of Jacob's Pickles) and his talented bar team over at Analogue are mixing up a tasty fall cocktail menu. This colorful selection is filled with autumn-inspired drinks like the Dorian Gray – Black Bottle scotch, dry vermouth, pear liqueur, rosemary maple syrup, lemon, and bitters, with a sprinkle of nutmeg on top. If you're looking for something nutty, try the Velveteen Rabbit – Remy Martin 1738 cognac, Nux Alpina walnut liqueur, house-made toasted hazelnut orgeat, lemon, egg white, and whiskey barrel-aged bitters. If you really want to wake up your taste buds, opt for the Envy – Ancho Reyes Verde (a limited edition green chili liqueur), Chartreuse, dry vermouth, banana liqueur and fresh basil. You can always order something from their barrel-aged menu, which includes a Manhattan that's been aged for 27 days in a new oak barrel or two types of Negronis, one aged for 18 days in a new oak, and the other for 23 days in a used Manhattan barrel. Bottoms up!
The Stinger Cocktail Bar & Kitchen
Inside the InterContinental Times Square
300 W. 44th St.
New York, NY
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Make your way over to Times Square this October because Chef Todd English is opening up The Stinger Cocktail Bar & Kitchen inside the InterContinental Hotel. The James-Beard award winning chef is utilizing the hotel's rooftop beehives to create an inviting cocktail program that is both refreshing and sweet. A must-have is definitely The Stinger, a crafted cocktail that includes Grey Goose Le Citron vodka, yellow Chartreuse herbal liqueur, fresh squeezed lemon, and finished with homemade Demi-Sec mead foam and fresh honeycombs. You may want to pair this delightful drink with some of their truffle-honey shrimp dumplings.
Ootoya
41 E. 11th Street
New York, NY
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If you really want to warm up, then grab a seat at Ootoya because they're serving up a variety of warm wine, tea, and sake specials starting October 1. Start off your meal with their hot red wine with orange juice and cinnamon powder, or hot white wine with honey ginger. If you're a tea drinker, you can choose between two soothing drinks – hot yuzu with Chamomile tea and sake or hot Ginkobai with Chamomile tea and plum sake. These four seasonal specials will certainly get you in the mood for fall.
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Carly Petrone is the founder of Petrone on the Rocks, a lifestyle site about food, drinks, beauty, travel, and more. She lives in New York City.