What Makes a Great Bar?

Recently we helped judge the Spirit Awards at Tales of the Cocktail, and several of the categories awarded bars for excelling in certain ways: best drinks selection, best classic cocktail bar, best new bar, etc. Bars like Zig Zag, Bourbon & Branch, Cantina, Vessel, Pegu Club and Flatiron Lounge were nomintaed in the various categories, and it was interesting to see why each place was nominated. And it got us to thinking more about the formula for a great bar and why we frequent certain places more than others. What is it that keeps you coming back to your favorite bars? Is it a certain drink, a bartender, the atmosphere, the crowd?

Also, a quick shout-out to our buddy Paul Clarke who got some kudos in a recent piece on Salon—check it out.

And welcome another Imbibe friend, Chuck Taggart, who for some weird reason is just now making it onto our blogroll. Chuck’s blog is highly entertaining, and we always learn something new and interesting over there. And make sure you try his fantastic pimento dram recipe in the current issue—delicious! And a final welcome to The Thirstin’ Howl, another fun blog and new addition to the roll.