Bartenders are realizing there are only so many highly acidic or astringent cocktails one stomach can, well, stomach on any occasion, and so one current trend popping up is hosting spirit showcases on slow nights. In New York City, there’s now Whisk(e)y Monday at Ward III, where on Mondays, several spirits are featured in discounted tastings and flights, special pours and/or whiskey-focused cocktails from the bar’s selection of more than 100 brown spirits. Presenters have included Signatory, Bruichladdich, Auchentoshan, Willet's Bourbons, Maker's Mark, Cooley, Michter's and Yamazaki. Check "Ward III" on Facebook for programming, or e-mail miguel@ward3tribeca.com.
Similarly, there’s the tequila librarian at La Biblioteca at Manhattan’s Zengo. For Father’s Day, Courtenay Greenleaf, the bar’s Tequila Librarian, offered advice for selecting, buying and storing a bottle for dad at the bar. An online buying process allowed gift-givers to send the old man a photo of the bottle with his name tagged on it and a library card so he can check out his bottle and enjoy some quiet sipping time at La Biblioteca. Bottles are stored in tequila lockers for as long as six months, free of charge, and are served with house-made sangrita or a bar kit to make his own Margaritas.