New Yorkers - The Lobby Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental

Have you ever been at a bar, and wondered to yourself, "Why did I pay $20 for my  mediocre and completely pretentious pink ginger cosmo?" You look around, and on the surface this bar seems like any other stylish Manhattan bar. Nothing groundbreaking; there are couches, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and chic New Yorkers milling around. The architecture isn't spectacular, there aren't Picassos on the wall, and the flavors in the strange drinks don't quite fit. Then you remember you're in the Lobby Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental on the Upper West Side, and you have one of the best views in the city.

Perched overlook the NYC skyline, the bar offers a spectacular view of Columbus Circle and beyond. The ambience and soft chatter behind you no longer matters; you feel as through you are part of the city lights as you look out of the massive windows. The certain lightheadedness that occurs after a few drinks  combined with the view evokes a wonderful on-top-of-the-world sensation. Are the outrageously overpriced drinks worth the view and the experience? You can be the judge.

The Lobby Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental

80 Columbus Circle at 60th St

New York, NY 10023

(212) 805 8876

North of Boston - Alchemy Tapas and Bistro

Alchemy Tapas and Bistro isn't known for their bar scene. The bar seats maybe ten people comfortably, and you won't find patrons clamoring for drinks at last call. The establishment's main focus is their food menu, and the drinks that best accompany the dining. The powers that be have done a fantastic job creating a booze menu including seasonal brews, specialty cocktails, and an array of wine that compliments the food. However, their specialty cocktail list stands out as a creative and thoughtful combination of flavors not to be missed. We're happily making our way through tasty treats like the Cherry Blossom, the Italian Sunrise, and the lemongrass cosmopolitan (made with house infused vodka; think sophisticated lemonade). Enjoyed with or without a meal, Alchemy's innovative yet unpretentious cocktails shine as some of the restaurant's most exciting offerings.  

The specialty cocktail to order: Bookers Beehouse. Made with the cask strength Bookers Bourbon, this drink is not for the faint of heart. Most bottled whiskeys are diluted with water, but not Bookers, giving it one of the highest alcohol contents on the market. Alchemy blends this bourbon with fresh squeezed lemon juice and ginger syrup, topped with Prosecco, creating a surprisingly smooth and refreshing, yet intensely bourbon-y result. The richly fruity essence of the bourbon is enhanced by the lemon, and the ginger syrup sweetens the drink. Alchemy serves the cocktail neat in a martini glass, but we prefer ours on ice to water it down a bit; cutting the drink with a splash of water helps release some of the bourbon's flavor. If you're in the mood to guzzle, don't order the Bookers Beehouse; this drink is so strong it deserves the verdict, "One, and you're done."

Make it at home:

1.5 oz Bookers

2 squeezes of fresh lemon

.25 oz ginger simple syrup

Shake and strain in a martini glass, and finish with a splash of Prosecco. Garnish with a heated lemon twist to release the flavor. 

Insider tip: General Manager Matt Rose is a veritable treasure chest of beer and wine information. He's passionate about bringing great drinks to Alchemy, and it shows in his extensive knowledge of boozeh business. If you're there on a quiet day and he's around, pick his brain about exciting new beers, local brews, and the best wine to accompany one of Alchemy's many delicious dishes. 

photos by liv hauck
Alchemy Tapas and Bistro
3 Duncan Street, Gloucester, MA
(978) 281-3997

West Hartford - Treva

As it is, West Hartford exists as one of Connecticut’s premiere destination dining hot spots.  This may surprise those who live there (and peeve the restaurant owners of downtown Hartford), but the town center and its surrounding areas are reliably teeming with patrons all week long.  Treva is the newest addition to West Hartford’s dining scene, with a menu boasting delicious “artisanal cocktails.”  On a recent visit we decided to sample a couple of their original potions.

First up: The 980.  If you’re looking for something with a fruit base and sour overtones (it’s made with a balsamic reduction), this cocktail is definitely worth a try.  With a $14 price tag, you can expect attention to detail, intricate flavors and house made ingredients such as house infused rosemary gin and homemade sour, as well as basil, strawberries, and the balsamic reduction.  It is garnished with a fresh strawberry, which assists in highlighting the underlying sweet flavors.  Don’t order this if you’re looking for something to finish in a few gulps.  Because of the acidic ingredients, we recommend that you sip and savor.

And then there’s the Lavender & Lace.  Huckleberry vodka, Crème de Violette, fresh squeezed lemon, Hibiscus syrup, and egg white foam make this drink pure ambrosia.  Despite the intricacies of preparation and ingredient, the resulting flavor was not overwhelmingly complicated.  In fact, after a sip consensus from friends, we all agreed on what it tasted like: jellybeans.  This drink is perfect if you’re feeling whimsical, or if you want something pretty to look at—the presentation in itself makes it worth ordering. 

Treva

980 Farmington Ave.

West Hartford, CT 06107

860-232-0407

For more by Do You Have a Vodka Preference contributor Laurel Beede, follow her on twitter!

It's Simple Math

Some people call this a Kir Royale, but since that cocktail is traditionally made with Creme de Cassis and not Chambord, we like to call this variation really f*cking delicious. Sip (or guzzle, whichever you prefer) this beverage and view the world through rose colored glasses. Add a splash of vodka to really kickstart your night!

Don't make this rookie mistake: Using cheap champagne will ensure you a raging headache and terrible hangover the next morning. Splurge on decent bubbly and make sure you're drinking water throughout the night to prevent waking up feeling zombielike. 

Bostonians - The Short List

Do You Have A Vodka Preference invites you to consult this short list of Boston establishments when your goal is to go out and spend money on drinks. Whether you'd like to meet underage girls or people in suits going places in life, or simply enjoy delicious drinks with friends while avoiding frat guys, the list below is all you need to know.

Most likely to meet 18 year old sorority girls:

Crossroads Irish Pub

Daisy Buchanan's

Joshua Tree

T's Pub

Bro Dude Sess Pool:

Daisy Buchanan's

Lir

White Horse

Likely to spot a Boston celeb:

McGreevy's 

Sonsie

Best place to meet Euro imports who wear too much cologne and have snakeskin Gucci loafers:

Estate

Rumor

Meet your next sugar daddy in a suit:

Eastern Standard
J.A. Stats
The Liberty Hotel

Young Professional Subset - Hot Surgeons:
Harvard Gardens

Sticky floors and awesome f*cking beer:

Bukowski's 

Lower Depths

Don't go here if you're a girl and you don't want your ass grabbed by random dudes:

The Four's 

Joshua Tree

White Horse

Incredible custom made drinks:
Drink

Venturing into Allston seeking a Hipster Paradise:
The Model Cafe
Silhouette Lounge

Our all-around winners. Great drinks, great people, and great atmosphere:
Audobon
Back Bay Social Club
Dillons
Eastern Standard
McGreevy's

Bostonians - Back Bay Social Club

This Boylston Street bar, located in the heart of Boston's Back Bay, takes the cake for employing the peachiest bartenders I've ever had the pleasure of being served by. Friends and I went on Marathon Monday, one of the busiest days of the year for Boston bars. 20,000 people run 26.22 miles, and 2,000,000 Bostonians spend all day drinking 26,000,000,000 gallons of booze. It would be an understatement to say that bars are swamped.

Back Bay Social Club was no exception, and even more chaotic than most as the marathon passes right in front of it along Boylston. This chaos didn't deter bartenders, however. We waltzed in, shoved our way to the bar, and were waited on in a matter of minutes. I've waited longer for a drink at a bar with two other patrons on the premise. I wanted to put our bartender to the ultimate test, and ordered the most pain-in-the-ass cocktail I could think of: a mojito, with a splash of Chambord. Ok...in my defense I wasn't actually trying make his life difficult, I simply had a craving for this refreshing and summery drink. He smiled - I couldn't even detect one ounce of grimace or sarcasm - and said, "Of course, coming right up." In the midst of this crazy atmosphere, he took the time to gently muddle the mint and properly stir the concoction to dissolve the sugar and release the mint leaves. What service and dedication! It turned out to be the best mojito + Chambord I've ever tasted. My friends and I ordered a few more, and each one was as skillfully and deliciously prepared as the first.

Insider tip: If you're ever feeling like the crowd is overwhelming in the main bar area, seek out the stairwell opposite the bar and venture downstairs. You'll be transported into a dining and bar area evocative of a 1920s speakeasy: think black and white tiled floors, dim lighting, and deep red leather booths. We crept downstairs to escape the drunken crowds above, and enjoyed a more intimate experience without having to scream above the din.

Answering your late night munchies prayers, the kitchen is also open daily until 1:30am!

Back Bay Social Club
867 Boylston Street
Boston, MA
(617) 247-3200

Bostonians - Eastern Standard

In our opinion, and our opinion is the only one that matters, Eastern Standard in Boston's Kenmore Square makes THE BEST DRINK, EVER. We know that's a bold statement, but seriously. If you're anywhere else in the world, a plane ticket and a hotel room is worth trying this delicious beverage. It will bring your taste buds as close to heaven as they'll ever be. It will tickle your fancy. Butter your bread. Make you weak in the knees. Do you speak our language? Ok, good. Now without further ado..

The Old Cuban.


No, this drink will not make you feel like a wrinkly, leathered old man. Served in a champagne coupe with a mint garnish, this tangy and effervescent concoction of rum, lime, and mint topped with a splash of champagne will leave you begging the bartender for more, served in a pitcher. Old Cubans will seduce you into a summery world evoking hot, sticky nights on the beach, palates cooled only by this divine ambrosia.

Insider tip: The drinks are small and on a weekend evening, the bar is packed. Don't be embarrassed about double-fisting and order two at a time, preventing long stretches while waiting for your drink and your mouth shriveling up in horror from not having inside of it the best drink ever.

Eastern Standard
528 Comm Ave. 
Boston, MA
(617) 532-9100

Welcome...

...to the greatest blog, ever. If you like booze, that is. We pledge to bring you, oh tipsy ones, the best drink recipes, bar reviews, and shamefully hilarious tales of drunken shenanigans. From Amaretto Sours to Z Street Slammers and every debaucherous moment in between, we have you covered. So grab your martini shaker, let your boss know you'll be late to work tomorrow, and let's get drinking.