Guide to NYC’s Most Unique Cocktail Ingredients
New York City’s cocktail scene thrives on creativity, and its bartenders are always pushing boundaries with rare and locally sourced ingredients. From foraged herbs to experimental bitters, these unique additions elevate your drinking experience. Here's a guide to the bars that champion innovation with their one-of-a-kind cocktail offerings.
Foraged Herbs and Floral Accents
Some of the city's top mixologists are incorporating botanicals straight from nature.
Katana Kitten (West Village): Known for its playful Japanese-American cocktails, this bar uses shiso, yuzu, and matcha to craft dynamic drinks like the Shiso Negroni.
Apotheke (Chinatown): A bar that doubles as a chemistry lab, Apotheke specializes in using fresh herbs and botanicals to create "prescriptions" like the Drunken Botanist, featuring rosemary and lavender-infused gin.
Exotic Fruits
Tropical and rare fruits bring vibrant flavors to NYC cocktails, turning every sip into a journey.
Angel’s Share (East Village): A hidden gem that incorporates ingredients like calamansi and dragon fruit in its Asian-inspired cocktails. The Calamansi Sour is a tangy delight that highlights this unique citrus fruit.
Leyenda (Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn): A Latin-inspired cocktail bar using tropical fruits like guanabana and tamarind to enhance its exotic drink list.
Experimental Bitters
Bitters are no longer just an accent; they’re the star of the show in these innovative creations.
Death & Co. (East Village): Known for pushing mixology’s limits, they experiment with bitters like coffee, mole, and even house-smoked varieties. Try the Smoke Signal, a bourbon cocktail with charred cedar bitters.
Attaboy (Lower East Side): This speakeasy-style bar uses custom blends of bitters in drinks like the Penicillin, a smoky-sweet concoction of scotch, ginger, and honey.
Locally Sourced Ingredients
Supporting local farmers and artisans is a hallmark of NYC's cocktail culture.
Clover Club (Cobble Hill, Brooklyn): This classic cocktail bar uses locally sourced berries and honey in their signature drinks, like the Bramble, a refreshing gin cocktail.
Sweetbriar (Flatiron): Known for its woodfired cuisine, Sweetbriar extends its commitment to local flavors in its cocktails, incorporating regional fruits and herbs. The bar’s inventive creations, paired with the restaurant's upscale comfort food, offer a full sensory experience.
Embrace the Craft with Art of the Cocktail
For those who want to explore these techniques hands-on, the Art of the Cocktail class offers an intimate dive into mixology. Learn to use rare and exotic ingredients like foraged herbs or experimental bitters to craft your own signature drinks. Pair your session with dinner at Sweetbriar, where local ingredients shine on every plate.
NYC's most innovative bars are redefining what a cocktail can be. From the unexpected tang of foraged herbs to the depth of experimental bitters, these unique ingredients ensure every sip tells a story.
