NEW YORK, NEW YORK

BY: KRITY SHRESTHA

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Love beer, bourbon, or BBQ? Better yet, love all three? Well, this food and drink festival is for you! 

On a chilly winter night, I headed over to the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival excited to try new special beers, well known bourbons, as well as some of NYC’s finest BBQ and Southern cuisine restaurants. The minute I walked in, I could smell grilled barbecue in the air. It was mouthwatering! 

I first started off sampling their beers including; Bronx Brewery, Kronenbourg Blanc, and the legendary Guinness. My personal favorite was the Bronx Brewery because it was light yet flavorful.  

Impressed already by their selection of beers, I figured it was time to try the BBQ. I started off with meatballs wrapped in bacon. YUM!! The meatballs were soft and juicy. Plus, the crisp bacon wrapped around it was the perfect touch. 

After checking off beer and BBQ from the list, we headed to the final stop; Bourbon! I have never had bourbon and was excited to try it for the first time. The Four Roses bourbon cocktail was the perfect start. The drink was delicious, sweet, and had a smooth warm kick. I definitely recommend trying this cocktail concoction at home. Follow recipe below:

1.5 oz. Four Roses Yellow Label Bourbon
.75 oz. Honey Syrup (half honey, half water)
.5 oz. Lemon Juice
.5 oz. Grapefruit Juice
2 Dashes of Angostura Bitters 

As the night progressed, I tried every type of BBQ at the festival. Everything from wings, ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, brisket and many more.   My favorite was the pork sausage wrapped in a blueberry muffin by Handsome Devil. My taste buds were in heaven! I never thought a combination like that would work, however, it was a wonderful blend of salty and sweet! Hungry yet?

As we nibbled on savory BBQ, we took in the atmosphere. Everyone was lively, happy, and welcoming (I’m sure the beer & bourbon had something to do with that).

I met a group of gentlemen who were having a great time and we began discussing their favorite booths at the festival. What I found most interesting was that everyone in the group came for something different. One loved beer, the second came strictly for the barbecue, and the third attended the festival to try all the bourbon. It was their second year coming and they already knew they were going to be coming back next year (as will I!).

If you’re a newbie to bourbon like I am, I recommend the High West Distillery from Utah’s Double Rye. It was a blend of cinnamon, anise and honey. The double rye bourbon is the marriage of a 2-year-old high rye with a 16-year-old smooth rye. If you see this on a shelf near you, it’s definitely worth a try!

Tips: The venue was pretty warm so dress in layers and something light. I made the mistake of wearing a chunky heavy sweater. Also, pace yourself and drink plenty of water through the night. Bring cash- you will need it for coat check and to purchase cigars and additional food if needed.

We were invited guests to this event, however, the opinions are our own.