April 27, 2011
First off, you should go check Goggla’s blog post about the Mars Bar last Sunday. She has some great photos from the day. Check it out here: The Gog Log. And check out her flickr page for more fabulous photos from Goggla.
Last week, after being inspired by a post at Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York, I went out in search of the ever-elusive, glass swizzle stick. I ended up with a plastic one, but it kind of struck a spark in people. Karen McBurnie from Grade “A” Fancy sent in photos from her collection of swizzle sticks and Jaws and Jason both donated glass swizzle sticks to the MAD collection I’ve started. And there are pending swizzle sticks on the way from “Boris” and the fine blog, One More Folded Sunset.
I’ve decided that every Tuesday will be “Swizzle Stick Swag Night” here at MAD. Basically, I’ll go to a bar and see if I get a swizzle stick in my drink and what other goodies are there like matchboxes, etc. I’m always going to order the same drink—double gin and tonic in a tall glass, which should be accompanied by a swizzle stick in my humble opinion. And, not to be barking up Lyndon Johnson’s barbecue-soaked asshole, but I do feel like my opinion carries a little weight. I did go to 365 bars in a row last year, after all. Harumph.
I thought that for the very first official, Swizzle Stick Swag Night, I’d pick a bit of a ringer. One of the more high end bars I visited last year on my bar crawl was the Brandy Library. It’s really upscale, but at least on the night I went there, it was friendly and attitude free. I didn’t get a swizzle stick then, but I had a beer and two short drinks, not drinks you’d associate as being swizzle stick-friendly. Let’s go order the double gin and tonic and get rolling on the first of what will be many Swizzle Stick Swag Night. I’m so excited!
Deja view, here we are at Penn Station again.
For once I had a nice escalator ride down free from the dreaded escalator walkers. Nice!
Okay, one minute till train-time!
And 59 seconds later, here's the train! Everything's working out nicely tonight. I love it when that happens.
And through the magic of the internet, you're spared the subway ride and me getting lost for about twenty minutes in Tribeca. It's confusing down here. But here we are, the Brandy Library. Swizzle me dizzle!
Some of the top shelf liquor available at this fine drinking establishment.
Ah, nice and dark in here, definitely an Al bar!
And check it out, the "Librarian" on duty was none other than, Josimar, who mixed drinks for me last year on the bar crawl. It was good to see him again.
I ordered the double gin and tonic and he set about mixing it up. First the ice...
Josimar suggested this gin, which is served exclusively at the Brandy Library.
Tonic and a lemon wedge are added...but where's the swizzle stick?
Houston...we have Swizzle Stick! And it's a nice one. It's not glass, but it is sturdy plastic emblazoned with a gold brandy snifter at the top. Very nice!
Here's some of the top shelf liquor on top of the bar.
Here's Shawn Rhynehart who's the manager of the Brandy Library. Shawn started out in this industry at age 15 and has done everything from washing dishes to bartending to now managing this high end saloon. He's hoping to open his own place within a year or two. Best of luck to you, Shawn, I hope when you do open your establishment it's in Manhattan!
Swizzle Stick Rating
The Brandy Library is an upscale institution in Tribeca that is an attitude free zone. The bartenders/librarians are more than happy to suggest drinks from the massive list and even if you’re a newbie to the high class cocktail world, they are happy to serve you and answer any questions.
Their swizzle stick isn’t glass (will that ever be found in my travels, only time will tell and as usual, time ain’t talking) but it is sturdy plastic and a nice shade of brown. A brandy snifter emblazoned in gold leaf shines at the top of the cirlcled swizzle stick. A nice addition to the MAD collection. Plus I took a cocktail napkin which had their logo on it. I couldn’t find a pen to steal. Maybe next week.
Brandy Library
25 N. Moore St. (@Varick St.)
212-226-5545
Further reading: Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York, New York magazine, NY Times and Shecky’s.
You might also like: Pete Best, Peat Moss and Kate Moss.
Three Types of Brandy and the Sea
Chandon's Brandy
Brandy
Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)
But my life, my lover, my lady...is the sea.
Pirate skulls and bones,
Sticks and stones and weed and bombs.
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Bonus Swizzle Sticks!
Karen McBurnie from Grade “A” Fancy sent in these photos of more swizzle sticks from her prized collection. The first two have paper rolled inside of the glass and the third is a Friars swizzle stick. How cool! Thanks, Karen!
Bonus Movie!
And speaking of Grade “A” Fancy, the other half of that publishing team, Jon Hammer made this genius movie starring my recently acquired Gumby bag versus my arch-enemy, cardboard box man. It’s a chilling and high stressed film, so don’t say I didn’t warn you, it’s not for the weak-hearted! Thanks for making this, Jon! Too cool!
32 Comments
Reader Comments (32)
This is a great idea, can't wait to see more swizzle sticks! The Gumby movie deserves an oscar! LOL!
Okay, I LOVE “Swizzle Stick Swag Night” that is awesome! And that double gin and tonic looks FRIGGEN delicious!!
Cardboard box man was spooky as hell. That shot of the Balvenie single malt in red is a classic, as is the little red lamp on the bar top, Love this bar.. I really miss those dark bars from last year. Your drink looked so cool and refreshing, good gin? Remember the Sidebar and Brandy Alexander he made last time?
Brandy...you're a fine girl....but you got me so drunk I sat on my glass swizzle stick collection and broke them all...DAMN!
Alex Trebek: “His fingers smell like BBQ sauce.
You know where they’ve been.
Yikes”
***Rings In***
Harry: Who is Hubert H. Humphrey, Alex?
Alex: Yes!
Harry: Can I have: 60’s Assholes for 2,000 please Alex?
Alex: It’s a Smell-O-Vision Daily Double!
Nice score on the swizzle stick and coaster, Marty!
Did the guy standing next to Josimar in the photo captioned: “Tonic and a lemon wedge are added...but where's the swizzle stick?” just do a line? While I’m on the subject: take a close look at that swizzle stick from Alliance Restaurant.
I’m looking forward to a Gumby vs. Cardboard-box-man sequel!
@Barfly: I agree with you on Jon's movie! I just hope this blog get some kind of mention in his Oscar acceptance speech!
@Meleah: It was the best gin and tonic ever. They know their stuff there!
@Al: I do remember those drinks, delicious creations! And you're right about the film, I'm going to have nightmares tonight!
@Jaws: Yikes, you better go see a proctologist stat!
@Harry: Ha ha ha! And I think he did do a line, but it was margarita salt, so it's legal. And that swizzle stick could be a handy coke snifter as well, nice observations!
Nice photos Googla. I also miss the dark, wooden bars from last year.
Does Karen's Club Piccadilly stick say "Stolen From"? Nice touch :) Nice bit of intense cinema there Jon.
Awesome Gumby vs Box face!!!!! oh ya!
archie macphees has awesome swizzle sticks but all plastic...
@kari: I think it does say that, maybe Karen will confirm it.
@Gidgie: That movie really made me laugh and scared me all at the same time! Yes, glass swizzles are hard to come by, I wonder if I'll ever find one at a bar here.
When i think of swizzle sticks, I think of a notorious bus passenger we had here in Milwaukee! He was called the " Honker" He was deaf and would Honk like a goose. He was every drivers nightmare because he would get hammered every night and ride the bus and just be a pain in the ass to all. The tell tale sign of how big a pain in the ass he was going to be on any given night was how many swizzle sticks were in his mouth! On a different note......I noticed a new bar on my bus route....It's called Gumbys and i thought of you. I have to check it out and see if there is any Gumby shit in that bar. If I find a Gumby swizzle stick....I'll send it your way! Rock on Marty Dude!
http://www.mcphee.com/shop/products/Pink-Elephant-Swizzle-Sticks.html
if i lived in Seattle still i'd go get them for you...
and these are really cool for plastic
http://cgi.ebay.com/5x-HELP-ME-Stick-Stirrer-Stir-Bar-Cocktail-Drink-/390302974845?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5adfdec37d
@Professor Dungpie: That guy sounds like a true honky! If there is Gumby shotglasses or anything in that bar, let me know and I will fly there and get hammered with you. No shit, what a post that would be! Let me know and I'll make arrangements. Here's your honky's theme song: http://twe.ly/rEjb
@Gidgie: Thanks for the links, I'll buy something and post a picture. I'm at work now and it's a real horror show. Be back in a couple hours!
Gumby Episode 2: Attack of the Box-Man is in development. James Cameron is on board as producer and we're talking full on three-D. Variety is predicting BIG B.O.
love this swizzle stick episode idea! looking forward to more. and the gumby movie lol!! great!
That movie changed my life, and I'm not sure if it was for the better. The horror, the horror.
Whatever happened to the good ol' days when Wild Turkey and Stoli were just north of well? Now, you've got to pay top shelf prices for those motherfuckers! HONK HONK HONK!! ANYhoo...I like this new swizzle me dizzle action. I'll keep my eyes peeled for some good stir-sticks here. This will inevitably require me to visit higher quality establishments, which means I may have to do some dressing up. Does anyone know where I can get my paws on some patent leather Birkenstocks?
Cardboard Man wins !
Goggla's photographs are incredible - I'm a huge fan. And the movie is classic. Wow, it's really swizzle frenzy on MAD - now I'm a little anxious about my own offering. BUT I think I might have access to some 70's DC ones (plastic) & possibly swizzle sticks from Vietnam. That will have to wait for a bit though - they're in another state.
@Von Stroh's-heim: Big B.O? It sounds like it might stink! Just kidding, the movie was the hit of the day, thanks for making it and I can't wait to see the sequel!
@csp: I don't think I'll sleep tonight! Beer might help though.
@Biff: "Does anyone know where I can get my paws on some patent leather Birkenstocks?" Ha ha ha! You still gots it, Bifferoonie!
@GENE: For now, but I think Gumby may win out in the sequel!
@onemorefoldedsunset: Please don't be anxious, even if they're paper straws I appreciate the effort, very nice of you!
@MAD: Nice collection you've got building in there, Mate. It would be hard to find glass swizzle sticks in bars these days because they're expensive and so much fun to steal.
as for the Gumby sequel....Gumby bag opens...Gumby eats giant cardboard man not realising he's a hug acid tab....Gumby smiles normally then goes on an epic trip around Manhattan...
Sometimes I scratch my head and think about life....man, this shit's rough! My eye's buggin' outta my head and shit...churn the butter churn the butter churn the butter....
I LOVE swizzle sticks. I love them so much, it's almost weird. I used to sometimes put them in my purse and bring them home. For WHAT? I have no idea...my favorite one I ever got had a little lobster on the end. That lobster did a lot of bar hopping.
I'd love to see the guy who did this video do the Gumby vs. Cardboard Man sequel!
http://youtu.be/playnmJB_TI
@Clacky: Great movie idea and I love that quote from my favorite YouTube video. Well, second favorite now!
@SuzRocks: It's funny how everybody's into swizzle sticks! I love it!
@Jaws: Good film, but Jon's will be better, just wait!
hell's bells...the addition of “Swizzle Stick Swag Night” has created quite a stir here at MAD...nice addition!...
a toast or three to "Grade A" for the double bonus...
both goggla and nadie se conoce's photos are definitely worth a view or two,,,MAD got a couple too...
Children usually do not blame themselves for getting lost.
Anna Freud
rr
oh yeah...me think pete best is a little full of himself...i mean "the man who put the beat in beatles"
I'm rooting for Cardboard Man to destroy Gumby !
@GENE Possible mutual destruction?
@csp: Cardboard Man is to shifty to be fooled by a Gumby !
@rr: "he addition of “Swizzle Stick Swag Night” has created quite a stir" Ha ha ha! Nice one! Great quote as always! And I hear you about Pete Best!
@GENE: Fuck the cardoard box man, his ass is going down in flames, just you wait and see!
@csp: Don't EVER put up a link like that again! I'm tearing up over here!
@csp: That's hilarious!!
@Clacky: Don't encourage him!
Kudos on finding the swizzlers...and those glass ones with the paper inside are fantastic!
@Goggla: Thanks, and yeah, Karen has a cool swizzle collection!