A first date at the fancy-pants Brandy Library
October 18, 2016 12:42 PM   Subscribe

 
What a great story. Would love to get feedbacks on this place from mefites who have been. I do know I'm stopping in when next in town.
posted by Malingering Hector at 12:53 PM on October 18, 2016


Wonderful, the story and the writing.
posted by ericost at 12:54 PM on October 18, 2016 [1 favorite]


Would love to get feedbacks on this place from mefites who have been.

I love that place. I was first led there by a Bulgarian scientist who lives in Santa Fe who kept telling me it is the best bar in the world. Now I take visiting out-of-town colleagues there, but only if I like them.
posted by overhauser at 12:56 PM on October 18, 2016


Aw. Lovely. That made me smile.
posted by rogerrogerwhatsyourrvectorvicto at 12:58 PM on October 18, 2016


I have my own personal designation for Best Bar In The World, but for less serious reasons than this. Brandy Library wins.

I'm still callin' my place Best Bar In The World tho
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:07 PM on October 18, 2016 [4 favorites]


Really warms the heart. Thanks for posting. I will share.
posted by olopua at 1:10 PM on October 18, 2016


Wine & cocktails? Tiny foods? Social justice? In a library type of setting? This place sounds like nirvana.
posted by Bob Regular at 1:22 PM on October 18, 2016 [21 favorites]


Clearly I have a new drink destination.
posted by Artw at 1:27 PM on October 18, 2016 [1 favorite]


Artw: Clearly I have a new drink destination.

Seconded.
posted by SansPoint at 1:39 PM on October 18, 2016


A Brandy Library? Why? She's been all downhill since Never Say Never. The room's gotta be tiny, too. Even if you included the Moesha box sets, she's only put out six albums total.
posted by leotrotsky at 1:40 PM on October 18, 2016 [15 favorites]


I freely admit that this paragraph makes me happy, I'm not sure why:

I grew up where rural New Jersey meets suburban New Jersey, so my idea of a fancy date was driving to Cheesecake Factory at the Bridgewater Commons Mall and then running through some farm field at 2 a.m. back home in Hunterdon County, probably. I lived in a haunted former bank in the Financial District and she lived uptown at the corner of Luke Cage and In The Heights, so she came downtown to meet me at the Brandy Library.

I think it's because "so she came downtown to meet me at the Brandy Library" sounds so good somehow. It has a satisfying concluding quality in the sentence and a sort of reassuring solidity, like "of course that's what people do".
posted by Frowner at 1:47 PM on October 18, 2016 [2 favorites]


I'm saying a little prayer right now that my daughter, who lives near this establishment and could well find herself in a similar situation just about anywhere, is watched over by allies like these. Also, I have a new bar to add to that bucket list.
posted by skippyhacker at 1:49 PM on October 18, 2016 [3 favorites]


Tales of the Cocktail (The BIGGIE re: cocktail conventions) recently published this article on 7 Ways Bartenders Can Prevent Sexual Harassment and Assault.

I once sent a guest upstairs to wait for the cops while I locked out her tindr date who didn't take no well. She lived walking distance from the bar and didn't want him following her.

I served him 2 beers, and she had 2 Navy Grogs, and he went off the fucking rails. Started hurling himself against the glass door after I locked him out. Dunno what else he had that night, but they took him away in an ambulance.

*PBZM POURS HIMSELF A FERNET-BRANCA, TAPS THE GLASS ON THE TABLE*

A toast to the The Brandy Room; Well done.
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 2:07 PM on October 18, 2016 [11 favorites]


I love Brandy Library! I live close by and have always been a huge fan. My partner and I are big scotch lovers and developed our own collection so haven't dropped by lately but this story makes me think we should stop by more often. XOXO
posted by ichimunki at 2:10 PM on October 18, 2016


As a big whiskey (or whisky if you prefer) fan, who occasionally (alright, regularly) slips into being an unselfconscious asshole, it is important to share these stories.

note: I'd never get in your face about your gender, race, or sexual orientation rather it would be your fashion sense, cologne, or that stupid dog you brought to a public human place, all depending on how much Talisker was involved. Also, the staff would be correct in tossing me out, regardless the reason.

Perhaps I should rethink consuming things that turn me into an asshole in a public space.

Now who all's going to Mefite Quiz Night at the George and Dragon tonight? They have Jameson there...

posted by Slarty Bartfast at 2:19 PM on October 18, 2016 [3 favorites]


The Brandy Library is one of my favorite places in Manhattan. Also love their sister bar in the LES, Copper and Oak, which is the same thing, only with a deeper focus on whisky.

The Brandy Library holds something like forty people. Copper and Oak has only eight seats. Both are fine, sedate places for conversation and trying something rare. Kudos to their staff for keeping things civilized for all.
posted by poq at 2:33 PM on October 18, 2016 [1 favorite]


I haven't been myself, but I'm a dyed-in-the-wool whisky nerd and I've heard nothing but great things about the Brandy Library from other dyed-in-the-wool whisky nerd friends of mine.

NYC meetup destination, maybe?
posted by Itaxpica at 2:59 PM on October 18, 2016 [3 favorites]


This place is on my 'to-visit' list next time I have a chance down in NYC. It comes very highly recommended by several friends with good tastes in upscale booze. This story makes me even more happy to go check them out.
posted by rmd1023 at 3:11 PM on October 18, 2016


Another day (or evening) in the bar biz. It all sounded very familiar, from the jerks to the protective staff. I will mention as an aside that if a female customer wishes a safe place to imbibe, don't overlook a C&W dance hall. Cowboys, urban or real, are still very much into the chivalry thing. Almost every fight I had to break up was over someone being discourteous to a female customer. That or offending one of the black rodeo cowboys (a real thing) that frequented our bar. Bar folks are folks too...
posted by jim in austin at 3:11 PM on October 18, 2016 [1 favorite]


I loved the Brandy Library! Although in a pinch I'd probably choose the Burp Castle instead, were I in Manhattan. They're both close enough to Pommes Frites to make an evening of it however.
posted by lefty lucky cat at 3:14 PM on October 18, 2016


Wow. People are awful. And more people are great. Definitely going there next time I'm in town. Thanks!
posted by eotvos at 3:22 PM on October 18, 2016


Awesome.
posted by turbid dahlia at 3:39 PM on October 18, 2016


NYC does have superheroes.
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:55 PM on October 18, 2016 [4 favorites]


My wife was just there a few days ago, and specifically mentioned how much she enjoyed it. I haven't been there in a while, but always had positive experiences.
posted by Guernsey Halleck at 5:13 PM on October 18, 2016


Been to Brandy Library many times. Great place. Although I should hasten to point out that the same treatment and care would apply at any of the top cocktail and spirits places in NYC. I've seen buffoons 86ed from plenty of 'em.
posted by slkinsey at 5:55 PM on October 18, 2016


Aside from the story, I also liked her very accurate description of early-stage queer dating.
posted by zokni at 6:27 PM on October 18, 2016 [4 favorites]


Wish I'd known about this place a couple weeks ago...will definitely make it a destination on my next NYC trip. (Though Copper & Oak mentioned above is just down the street from Rockwood Music Hall, so I may end up there instead.)
posted by jferg at 6:42 PM on October 18, 2016


I can confirm that The Brandy Library is fantastic.
posted by deanc at 6:59 PM on October 18, 2016


I loved the heroic aspects of this story, and the narrative.
posted by Oyéah at 7:07 PM on October 18, 2016


I saw the pull quote and was prepared for some snarky fluff about mixologists and was instead hit with a really touching and significant article, so thank you for bringing it to our attention, Hot Pastrami!

"Tales of the Cocktail (The BIGGIE re: cocktail conventions) recently published this article on 7 Ways Bartenders Can Prevent Sexual Harassment and Assault."

I started reading this and was into it, and then saw partway through that it was written by local bartender and all-around nice guy T. Cole Newton, and was like, "oh. Of course." He's by far the most progressive cis-het bartender / bar owner that I know of, and I really respect him for that, and respect him even more after having read this. If you're interested in more of his thoughts on the subject I think this article is a good place to start.

Anyway, the ultimate point is: this is the kind of thing that makes me want to go and throw money at a business. It'll be a few months before I'm back in NYC but I will absolutely be checking this place out on the strength of this story alone.
posted by komara at 7:37 PM on October 18, 2016 [4 favorites]


That was a wonderful piece, and I look forward to visiting the Brandy Library the next time I'm in New York. Thanks for posting this!
posted by rtha at 8:47 PM on October 18, 2016


That was all it was cracked up to be. I only regret that I have but one favorite to give to the FPP.
posted by mark k at 10:35 PM on October 18, 2016


Old white cis male here who really appreciated this story on many levels, mostly what was said above. Don't get into the city much anymore to drink my whisky, but my daughter lives near there and hope she asks to borrow $50 so she can go and have a drink and a tip.

I love how they treated the author and her date, as well as how they treated the lout and his date. I only hope they made him pay for his when they threw him out. Wouldn't want the guy to think he can get a comped meal if he...well...acts like himself.

Thanks for posting this.
posted by AugustWest at 10:39 PM on October 18, 2016


First of all, not one, not two, but THREE employees rolled up on this dude. One was a woman. It was like a very refined food service gang. Then, everybody behind the bar watched like, “Just make one move, fool, I swear to fucking God…”

Holy fuck, THIS!

The bartender is supposed to stay behind the bar. That's their primary responsibility.

But there IS a level of disruption that pushes the Oh, HELL NO button that draws the bartender out from behind the stick. And the closer it comes to pushing that button, the more direct attention from the bartender the situation draws.

And the "very refined food service gang"?

That's totally a thing. They've all got wine tools in their pockets, and most have lock-back folding knives as well.
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 10:51 PM on October 18, 2016 [1 favorite]


I did not think I could love The Brandy Library and its staff more than I already do but this story embiggens my heart three sizes today.
posted by KingEdRa at 6:01 AM on October 19, 2016 [1 favorite]


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