The Shanty

My beer group came here to do the distillery tour. I got there a little late and watched my group sweat their balls off through the giant window looking into the distillery, so I opted to wait for them in the bar, enjoying the awesome AC that was going at full blast.

Their menu has a very creative list of gin and rye cocktails. No fruity beach concoctions with purple umbrellas here. This is top shelf, connoisseur-worthy recipes that lean towards a more sophisticated palate. They reach for the bitters moreso than the sour mix, and that's just fine. I ordered The Wizard's Wand which was a fabulous mix of gin, bitters, and various juices that all swirled nicely together.

The only drawback to this establishment is that there was only ONE bartender mixing all these great drinks. And he wasn't exactly fast. He took his time measuring out precise pours with a jigger, and put together each garnish meticulously well. Unfortunately, each drink took an average of 5+ minutes to make, and when you have a full bar of people waiting, that is a lifetime. My friend waited over half an hour for a drink, and he only wanted a beer! In fact, our entire group waited over 30 minutes for their turn to order a drink, and most of then were only getting beers! Some complained that the bartender was rude, but I didn't experience that on my end. When it came time to go, they all had to wait their turn to ask for their checks, and that was another 20+ minutes.

If you're hungry, they do offer a small assortment of snacks you can order like cheese, olives, or pickles. But, again, this is the bartender's job to prepare and you're going to have to wait for him to get to it. He was doing his best, in my opinion, but he needed some help back there. Maybe an assistant to handle the money, the beer, and the food so he could concentrate on the more complicated drinks.

If you're a gin fan, I would recommend you pay them a visit and try out one of their creative drinks. If you just want to chill and drink with your buddies, you are in for a long wait if the place is busy. You may want to opt for another spot.

My new favorite hangout place. This place gives me nothing to complain about: the prices are more than decent, the place is a distillery serving several house gins, they serve fantastic cocktails (heavy-handed pours help), and the ambiance is the right mix of chill and chic. So glad we decided to make the 10 minute walk from the Bedford station because I couldn't figure out how 2+ hours went by so quickly. Yelpers raved about the gin and tonic (or, the Tot and Tonic as it's called here) and it really was the best gin and tonic I've ever had. Also loved the Brooklyn ale + shot of rose gin -- the gin is very strong but extremely fragrant, goes very well with the beer. My only complaint is that it's not closer to my apartment as I'd for sure be a regular.

just the best gin and tonic you will ever have!