Foursquare On The Pin Ep 7: The State Of Cocktails Talia Baiocchi, Editor-In-Chief, PUNCH And Brian Hawthorne, Bartender And Partner At The Wayland
Cheers to a podcast devoted to cocktails: current trends, where to go, and what's happening in the world of drinks according to guests Talia Baiocchi, editor-in-chief of PUNCH, an online magazine all about wine, spirits, and cocktails; and Brian Hawthorne, bartender and partner at The Wayland, in Manhattan, and the soon-to-open bar Goodnight Sonny. They're joined by Foursquare co-hosts Dennis Crowley and Sarah Spagnolo. Pull up a chair and listen in, then download the Foursquare app and save this easy-to-use guide to everything mentioned.
In this episode—timed to the upcoming NYC Cocktail Week, happening July 13 - 17, 2015 and featuring The Wayland (get tickets here)—the foursome digs in with some of their favorite bars. Hawthorne picks Sisters, in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill, for its stunning interior, long bar, and extensive list of draft beers. Baiocchi, whose forthcoming book is all about spritz (her last was on sherry), offers The Four Horseman for its selection of natural wine and the lively music thanks to owner James Murphy, the man behind LCD Soundsystem; suffice it to say, the vibe is outstanding. Find more killer cocktails on this list of The 15 Best Places for Tropical Drinks in New York. Crowley spends his weekends in Kingston, N.Y., where he's been hanging at Boitsons and Stockade, for the hipster vibes and stellar drinks.
Related: 5 Gin Cocktail Recipes For Your Next Party
Baiocchi recently claimed that, "This is arguably the best time to be drinking in America, ever," and it's a statement she confirms in the podcast thanks to the variety of cocktails being made and the quality of ingredients. Though she's been focusing on her books on sherry and spritz, the latter being an Italian symbol of the shift from work to play, as it's traditionally served during aperitivo, her pick for a summer cocktail is a Paloma cocktail with Mezcal instead of tequila, while Hawthorne goes for a spicy margarita. For Crowley? An Old Fashioned any time of year.
When probed about the bars they're excited about, both guests look outside New York. The scene in L.A. is imaginative and creative says Baiocchi, with two examples being the 70s vibe at Good Times at Davey Waynes and the dance bar Honeycut in Downtown, where serious cocktails are courtesy of bartenders trained by notable mixologist Alex Day. Want more cook L.A. nightclubs? Check out The 15 Best Nightclubs in Los Angeles. Hawthorne's roots will bring him back to Minneapolis this summer; a new taproom and beer hall from Surly Brewing Company is a must-see (as are The 15 Best Places for Beer in Minneapolis).
Related: Ask A NYC Bartender: Your Best Tequila Cocktail
Low-alcohol beers and wines, seriously local cocktails that are unique to a place, and a game of Foursquare Taboo—Cocktail Edition. Episode 7 has all this and more. Download the podcast now.