As the art world descends on Manhattan for Armory Week, we turned to bartender Jesse Vida of Blacktail, a new Cuban-themed spot in Battery Park City, for guidance on where to tip back—and what to order.
Vida’s Recommendations
“My favorite drink at Blacktail is the Nacional. It’s based on the classic cocktail named after the Hotel Nacional in Havana, Cuba. The original recipe features rum, lime, apricot, and banana; ours adds Yuzu and a bitter, French gentian liqueur. It drinks like a refreshing rum sour with tropical notes, hints of dry fruit, and a slightly bitter finish.”
“The Irish coffee at The Dead Rabbit in the Financial District is the best version I’ve ever had. The recipe calls for a Sumatra blend of coffee, sweetened with Demerara Cane syrup, and topped with cream. The blended Irish whiskey base is grain dominant, so it’s lighter in style and works well with the drink’s richer components.”
“Williamsburg’s Fresh Kills executes the Invisible Gin perfectly. They sourced the recipe from culinary historian Charles H. Baker’s 1951 book, “The Gentlemen’s Companion.” It’s the quintessential refreshing Gin Collins variation, with fresh lemon and pineapple juice, apricot, ginger, gin, and a soda top-off. It’s a little too good—and easy to forget the strength of the booze, so pace yourself!”
