The best drink menus in the city share a common problem: you can’t order “one of everything” without being kindly shown the door.
There is a solution to this problem. You know it as a flight.
Originally the domain of wine bars and Napa tasting rooms, the recent boom in craft beers and spirits has given birth to a new breed of flight-friendly establishments all over New York.
From woody whiskey snugs to cavernous brew halls, we took to searching for the best ones our fair(ish) city has to offer. Consider it the grown-ass man’s answer to “Line ‘em up.”
Whiskey and Single Malt
Soho Cigar Bar
Where the Expense Account Flight will run you upwards of two bills. In addition to seven distinct whiskey and Scotch flights, they also offer a very reasonable Champagne Flight.
Highlands
Named one of the Best Whiskey Bars in the States by Whisky Magazine, West Village gastropub Highlands claims one of the most extensive single-malt rosters around. Taking a Scotch flight here also entails a staff education on the unique flavor profiles and regions you’ll be sampling.
Loosie Rouge
This one is a private matter. New hot haunt Loosie Rouge offers customizable tastings and flights from their dizzying off-the-menu private whiskey collection. Arranged in advance, a flight of seven selects with food pairings will run a group in the range of $300 a head mainly due to the 23yr Pappy pour. Pro tip: keep an eye on this locale, as whispers on the wind tell us they may be starting their very own Whiskey Club soon.
Tørst/Luksus
Tørst is the all-world rare-beer hall that Danish beer laureate Jeppe Jarnit-Bergsø opened in Greenpoint in 2013. Luksus is the seated backroom restaurant he opened shortly after. Their 21 taps are fed through a “flux capacitator”-esque cooling system (one of three in the world) and feature some of the world’s rarest brews. Hit one of Luksus’s nightly seated dinners ($125). Beer pairings will run you $55 more. No brainer.
The Jeffrey
We can’t technically dare you to try 30 beers in a night. But that’s how many taps there are at The Jeffrey, and with a few wingmen by your side, we’re not saying it would be entirely irresponsible to attempt it. They’ve also got an experimental cocktail bar in the back and some of the best pub eats in the city.
Good Beer
This East Village craft beer shop also has a small seated area for German bites and beer flights. Their stock — built on roughly 80% American microbrews and 20% imports — includes 11 taps that rotate regularly.
Tequila
Cascabel
Founded by two restaurateurs with a serious adoration for Mexican street food and lucha libre street art, this casual outpost also brings to the airstrip three flight offerings of beer, tequila and mezcal, with prices easy on the eyes at around $30.
Añejo
Without being 100% certain on how many varieties make for a phenomenal selection of tequila, we’re going to go out on a limb and say 65 will do just fine. Añejo offers their range of biting blends via singular tasting or flight. Though, with 65 to choose from, why go for just one?
Sake
EN Brasserie and Shōchū Bar
Like its sister spot in Japan, EN is rooted in tradition but sports plenty of contemporary charm. The Nama Sake Flight offers a seasonal selection of draft sakes, shōchū and sake distilled from sweet potatoes. Don’t pass up the Junmai Daiginjo Flight, which they tout as “the best of the best.”
Shigure
With sake stacked high to ceiling, Shigure and its extensive and rare collection has played a key role in the growth of sake converts in NYC. Nibble on snacks, take off on a flight and don’t forget to request the highly coveted Junmai Daiginjoshu.
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