Fall Sips: Because It's Still Summer...Somewhere?

...which means it's totally acceptable to drink on a Monday night, right? Right! (or Tuesday, or Wednesday, and goes-without-saying Thursday)

If you've spoken to me in the past, uh, month, you've probably heard me complain about (among many, many other things) the lack of seasonal sense you get living in Manhattan. Though I wouldn't trade my home sweet home for anything (well, excepts Nashville...), you really can't appreciate the gorgeous fall foliage and shift in the seasons here in NYC. You can however, sip it. And sip I did when mixing up these killer cocktails from Jay Zimmerman of the Sekend Sun. You'll be in safe hands at a bar helmed by Mr.Zimmerman, industry vet, come early November when this gem of a cocktail bar opens up, and best of all, you'll have another reason to beat yourself up for not heading to Astoria more often.

Black Baby Grand by Jay Zimmerman of Sekend Sun

1 1/2 oz Jameson Irish Whiskey

3/4 oz China China Amer

2 drops orange flower water

2 dash barrel aged angostura bitters

Sugar cube

In a rocks glass muddle sugar cube, bitters and orange flower water. 

Add Whiskey, Amer and ice cubes. 

Stir 20-30 times. 

Garnish with grapefruit twist.

Remember Dead River by Jay Zimmerman of Sekend Sun

2 oz Old Overholt rye whiskey

3/4 oz Cocchi Di Torino sweet vermouth

1/4 oz Lapsang Souchong Cherry Heering

Dash absinthe

2 dash Angostura bitters

Add all ingredients to mixing glass with ice and stir 20-30 times.

Strain into cocktail glass and garnish with lemon twist.