Croton Reservoir Tavern NYC.. what can I say.. I walked passed this place too often on my way to and from work and never batted an eye about going inside. You know how it is, the hustle and bustle of a busy walk in midtown, let alone during rush hour, it’s downright awful. Luckily it was one of those days last week and I needed a place to escape for a few hours and have some mighty tasty drinks. My girlfriend and I decided to make it a date night, because it’s always a good idea to have date night!
So I personally did not know much about Croton, besides that a few of my work friends mentioned they have quite a nice whisky collection… and well that’s good enough for me!
First walking in it did not really feel like a tavern, more like a sophisticated bar and then there it was, the wall of heaven as I like to refer to it.
The wall was enough for me to say to my girlfriend.. I hope you’re ready for an awesome night!
Croton boasts a whisky collection of over 150 different expressions. The overall size of the collection may seem modest compared to today’s mega-whiskey bars which sport thousands of different bottles. But the 150+ single malt lineup here is studded by rare gems, that you’ll have to see for yourself, when you stop by and check it out for yourself.
The co-founder and General Manager Chad Gaudet’s vision for this bar was to offer a collection for both a beginner looking to get their feet wet and the whisky connoisseur looking for a nice 40 year old malt to enjoy on a cold chilly NY night.
But wait there’s more. Croton is not just about the whisky, although that should usually be enough for anyone looking for a getaway on a random night. This place also features some tasty dining from spinach artichoke apps to crab cakes with corn and mahi-mahi entrees. We did indulge and were pleasantly surprised at how good the food was.
We saved the best for last. The best whisky bar is not only about the food or the types of spirits you carry but it’s also about the service, the staff and the bartenders making those fancy cocktails. I’ve always said “You’ll know a place is quality if they can make a perfect old fashioned”. Why? Because you’d be surprised how many Old Fashioned we had that were just downright awful. Whether it be heavy handed pours of unmeasured whiskey, or the extra bitters, or the ultimate favorite of mine — mashing a bunch of fruit with club soda at the bottom of the glass and then serving it over crushed ice..neither of these experience will yield the perfect old fashioned. But I’ll tell you what, the Croton was one of the few places that made both the Old Fashioned and its sister cocktail the Manhattan with extreme precision on both the presentation and the taste. It was downright phenomenal. Great balance of bitters to the whiskey.
I almost did not want the night to end, but alas it was only a Wednesday and Thursday was on the horizon. What I took away from my experience was:
- Always try new places, sometimes they will surprise you greatly
- Not all bars will price gauge you, Croton has pretty good prices when it comes to whisky, affordable and a great quality to quench anyone’s thirst
- Talk to the bartenders when you can’t decide what to drink, they are a great knowledge database for you to tap into.
Whether you’re in the market for some elevated pub fare, whisky cocktails or whisky neat, this spot has you covered.
