New York City Cocktail Tour

From Prohibition to the present day, enjoy the complicated story of the American cocktail

Tour Details

About the Tour

Category: Cuisine, Newly Added, Context Classics
Duration: 3 hours
Location: New York

Photos & Highlights

You'll learn about America's unique cocktail culture, with a drink or two in hand
Led by an acclaimed spirits journalist or historian, we'll spend time in the city's most famous bars
St. Regis King Cole Bar, Rockefeller Center, PJ Clarkes, and St Patrick's Cathedral

Tour Description

Before, after—and notably, during—Prohibition, New York City’s bartenders have been the heart of American cocktail culture. During this 3-hour New York cocktail tour, we’ll trace the history of the American cocktail and visit some of the most historic bars located in Midtown Manhattan. While looking at the larger social themes that have shaped drinking in America, we’ll also consider the aesthetics of the cocktail – including the bars where certain drinks were invented, the barware, and boutique ingredients that created the idea of cocktail culture.

Midtown Manhattan's Best Bars & Local Legends

Our adventure begins with an old school bar, P. J. Clarke’s, referred to by the New York Times as "the Vatican of saloons," where we'll get an immediate feel for old New York and its drinking culture and enjoy either a local beer or an American whiskey. From there, we'll proceed to an iconic hotel bar, where we'll discuss the rise of the great American hotel bars in the early 20th century, which served as incubators for some of the world’s most famous cocktails. We'll learn quickly that fact and fiction frequently collide in cocktail history. The St. Regis’s King Cole Bar, for instance, claims that their French bartender Fernand Petiot invented the Red Snapper, known today as the Bloody Mary, in 1934. But Harry’s New York Bar in Paris also claims to have invented the drink. Over a classic Bloody Mary, we'll look at how these claims and counterclaims build the idea of the cocktail over time.

Prohibition and the Cocktail Craft

Our walk will continue down Fifth Avenue and will stop outside one or two of New York's most famous and upscale speakeasies, including one that dates from the 1920s but is named for the 1890s, a brilliant illustration of how nostalgia and a sense of history have informed cocktail-making and -consuming at critical junctures of the story. We'll talk about the rise and development of these illicit drinking establishments during Prohibition and how they negatively impact the high art of the American cocktail.

Enjoy A Nightcap

Finally, with the story of the cocktail firmly laid out, we'll retire to a standout craft cocktail bar and enjoy an expertly made drink that reflects the current cocktail renaissance that the U.S. and the rest of the world have been experiencing for the past 20 years. It will be the experiential cap to a very rich exploration of the American cocktail through history.

Recommended reading: Dry Manhattan by Michael A. Lerner

For more history-filled eats and drinks, take a look at our Food Tours available in New York City’s Chinatown and Little Italy.

FAQ

Where do we meet? Where does the walk end?
Our tour begins near the intersection of 52nd St and 3rd Ave. It will conclude in the vicinity of Rockefeller Center.

Why isn't this tour available on weekends?
Because these famous bars become so crowded on Friday and Saturday evenings, we do not operate this tour at those times. Additionally, several of the bars we visit on this itinerary are closed on Sundays.

What if it’s raining?

Tours operate rain or shine. But in the case of inclement weather, your guide will modify the itinerary, so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.

Is this a walking intensive tour?

We do cover extensive territory on this walk. Please contact our team with any mobility concerns; we can advise if this tour will be appropriate for you.

Does this tour involve any venues besides the bars?
Yes, while they will be viewed from their exteriors, your expert will share with you the ties between the New York cocktail narrative with the history connected to various landmarks throughout your tour, such as St. Patricks's Cathedral and Rockefeller Center.

What does the tasting fee include?
This can vary depending on your expert, typically you'll have some half-pours as well as a full cocktail to finish the tour. We recommend you have something to eat prior to your tour to ensure you can enjoy the tastings throughout the 3-hour cocktail tour experience.

Is this tour good for kids or teenagers?

Due to the subject matter, we are not able to offer this tour to anyone under the legal drinking age.

Where You'll Start

Tour Experts

Diana

A former Latin teacher, Diana traded in the classical world for classic cocktails after she earned a master’s degree from NYU in Food Studies. She is the co-founder of Night Owl Hospitality, a cocktail catering company on the Jersey Shore, where she also runs a whiskey club. Diana has returned to NYU to teach a graduate class on the history, culture, and politics of drinking. An avid traveler, Diana fulfilled her goal of visiting a total of 50 different countries by the time she turned 50.

Kendra

Kendra Dawsey brings her years of experience in both teaching and performance to help create an immersive and engaging tour for you! Kendra received a B.A. in Ethnicity, Race and Migration at Yale in 2014 and then spent the next few years teaching gardening, nutrition, and culinary history to grades K-12. Also, Kendra leads tours in some of New York's most beloved sites like Radio City Music Hall and Central Park. Kendra's academic background and diverse experiences give her the ability to contextualize the history and diversity of New York in a way that is accessible to visitors. Kendra has family roots in New York City and was born just an hour away, allowing for frequently trips to see family and friends. These visits helped her to develop a map and history of the city that never sleeps at a young age. Kendra's love of New York shines through all of her anecdotes and tales about the city. She also is a professional performer and will ensure that you are both educated and entertained.

14 Reviews – (4.89)

Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.

Diana was fabulous. She’s so knowledgeable and personable.

Sari

Dec. 7, 2022

Our guide, Diana, was informative, personable, and fun. We were impressed by the breath of her knowledge and her communication skills. Our group of 4 ranged in age from 30 - 60. Even though we have different interests and expectations she truly impressed each of us. At the end of the tour she left us all feeling lucky that she was our guide. Kudos to a job very well done Diana!

John

Jan. 7, 2020

Perfect in every way. Been using context before you were context. Excellent guides!

Georgia

Oct. 25, 2019

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