Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City
This was the first New Year’s Eve I was celebrating with someone under the age of 21 since I was 21 myself. I have a three year old son and this year our babysitter was unavailable.
So instead of visiting an exciting cocktail bar like usual, we went to a local pasta restaurant that does not have a liquor license. But, of course, they allow you to bring your own bottles of wine or beer. I might have been the first person to bring my own bottle of cocktail.
St. Agrestis is a Greenpoint-based spirits maker that has been on my radar for years. They make wonderful amari and more recently have expanded into the world of bottled cocktails.
These are sold solo or in a pack of two or three. Both products they bottle include their red bitters, which are Italian-style apertivo concoctions of herbs, flowers, peels, and spices. It’s the main flavor profile of their bottle Negroni. It also works wonders in their Spritz.
St. Agrestis doesn’t say Aperol anywhere on their label or website, but of course, the Spritz (which was a great start to my pasta meal) is modeled after an Aperol Spritz. That being said, it’s local and more complex.
For this new bottled cocktail, they use their Paradiso Apertivo (which they have yet to release on its own), unnamed sparkling Italian wine (but I’m sure it begins with a “p” and ends with an “ecco”), and sparkling water. The drinker is responsible for supplying the ice and the orange twist.
It’s bitter with lots of juicy citrus, grapefruit pith, big bold herbs, and a hint of sweetness. The cold sparkling backbone is great for summer but also festive and appropriate enough to ring in the New Year. When I can’t get to the cocktail bar, I bring the cocktail bar to me. A very good motto for 2020. Price Varies.
| ST. AGRESTIS |
| 233 Eagle Street (between McGuinness Boulevard and Provost Street), Greenpoint, Brooklyn (973) 598-5746 |
| stagrestis.com |
