With a growing population of award-winning bars and distilleries, the Hudson Valley is big on spirits — especially when they’re straight from our backyard. This November, the region’s bar scene is getting a new week-long celebration of all things bars, bartenders, and spirits during New York Bartender Week. The seven-day celebration runs from November 18-24 and intends to honor the bars, bartenders, bar owners, and locally produced spirits that make this state so great.
Launched by award-winning multimedia PR and marketing agency Hanna Lee Communications, New York Bartender Week is part consumer festival, part tourism initiative, and part educational symposium that celebrates storytelling as the common thread that ties the community and drinks together.
View this post on Instagram
Beyond the Big Apple, participating Hudson Valley towns and cities for the week-long event stretch from Westchester County to the Capital Region. While consumers are invited and encouraged to visit their favorite local bars as a part of the initiative, bartenders are invited to showcase their creativity in exciting new cocktails that highlight at least one local ingredient, and Hudson Valley spirits producers have an opportunity to connect with new bars, restaurants, and hotels for inclusion on menus and in drinks.
“To celebrate our agency’s 20th anniversary, as proud New Yorkers we decided to launch New York Bartender Week to show our love for our city and state,” says Hanna Lee, President and Founder of Hanna Lee Communications. “This annual event will inspire New Yorkers and visitors alike to expand their travel destinations and explore the amazing hospitality scene across all of New York State. We will also encourage consumers to visit their favorite local bars and support their beloved bartenders and bar teams. Our mission is to bring bars, tourism, and economic development together to spotlight our wonderful state and the people who make it special. It is also to salute bartending as a noble career path and celebrate its craft.”
View this post on Instagram
While participating bars are required to craft cocktails that are made using at least one New York State ingredient, bartenders are also encouraged to create recipes that are full-proof, low-proof, and zero-proof so that all levels of spirits enthusiasts can be part of the celebration. Not only does New York Bartender Week seek to show appreciation to local bars and bartenders, but the initiative intends to drive tourism across the region and state as it encourages the use of New York State-produced products.
Participating Hudson Valley bars and restaurants:
Albany County
677 Prime, Albany
Toro Cantina, Albany
Sea Smoke Waterfront Grill, Green Island
View this post on Instagram
Columbia County
The Hereafter, Hudson
Klocke Estate, Hudson
Quinnie’s, Hudson
Dutchess County
Current Cassis, Rhinebeck
Meyer’s Olde Dutch, Poughkeepsie
Paul Brady Wine, Beacon
Greene County
Matilda, Hensonville
Orange County
Dobbins Tavern, Goshen
Jayne Street Distilling Co., Florida
Orange County Distillery, New Hampton
Rockland County
Hudson’s Mill, Garnerville
Ulster County
Butterfield, Stone Ridge
The Dutch, Saugerties
Inness, Accord
Lola, Kingston
Lone Wolf, Kingston
Mirador, Kingston
The Parish Restaurant, New Paltz
Westchester County
Copperhead Club, Peekskill
Crawdaddy’s Creole Kitchen, Pleasantville
Heritage 147, Larchmont
Micheline, Scarsdale
The Raconteur Bar & Kitchen, Pleasantville