Ah, synergy. On the heels of this afternoon’s announcement that the Astor Center will be debuting an expanded space in time for the NYCWFF, the Feed hears that former AC worker bee Lesley Townsend is organizing a festival of her own.

A preview of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic is planned for October 3 and 4 (the weekend prior to the NYCWFF) and will feature panels and discussions with some of the country’s greatest bar talent. You know the names: Dale DeGroff, Sasha Petraske, Julie Reiner, Dave Wondrich—it’s like a micro Tales of the Cocktail without the po’ boys! (Bummer—everyone loves a po’ boy.)

The best news of all: That dude with the malfunctioning mustache should find it much easier to tame in autumnal New York.

The legendary Dale DeGroff makes a rare behind-the-bar appearance, showing those young'uns how it's done. (Photo: Michael Anstendig)

Probably unbeknownst to you, yesterday was the 203rd anniversary of the birth of the cocktail, and what better way to celebrate than by downing terrific tipples mixed by nearly two dozen top mixologists like Dale DeGroff, Gary Regan, Dave Wondrich, Audrey Saunders and other boozy luminaries. The bacchanalian extravaganza took place at Pranna, with the proceeds benefiting the Museum of the American Cocktail in New Orleans. Read more »

Creme Yvette, a lost ingredient of many classic cocktails, is now back in the bottle. (Photo: Michael Anstendig)

In response to the badgering of cocktail historians like Dave Wondrich, Rob Cooper—the mastermind behind the now-ubiquitous St. Germain elderflower liqueur—has resurrected another long-lost spirit. This time, it’s Crème Yvette, a violet-infused liqueur that perfects classic cocktails like the Blue Moon, the Aviation and the Pousse Café. The liquid has been stealthily making the rounds at New York’s famed speakeasies, but WSWA was the first official launch of the elixir. Read more »