Death and Company
Since the church-like doors first parted last winter, Death & Company has been the place for worship-worthy cocktails in the East Village. Personally, I love how the electric candlelight glows off the wood-planked ceilings, the way the charmingly-vested bartenders do some serious chucka-chucka-chucka shaking of the silver tumblers, and of course, the extensive drink list, loaded with artfully paired ingredients. This low-key haunt would probably be my pick for my Last Cocktail on Earth.
Here’s a few things I’ve learned over the past year, all key to enjoying your visit:
Don’t fear the wait list. Death & Co only seats about 50, and the friendly gatekeeper is there to make sure you’re not fighting through a drunken mob, unable to edge toward the bar. Put your name down and grab a cheap drink at divey Cherry Tavern or neighborhoody Joe’s. They’ll call when they have seats.
Sit at the bar. That way, you can chat up the bartenders and watch them work their magic. For the most part, they’re quite knowledgeable, ready with recommendations, and happy to indulge questions.
The ice cubes are that big on purpose. The ice is designed to be bigger and colder than normal cubes so it can’t melt and water down your drink. Or something like that. Of course, I did pout the first time I saw an iceburg clogging up my glass, but I’ve learned.
Try as many cocktails as possible. Death & Co. is not known for its food–although I haven’t had anything bad, the drinks are most enjoyable. I lean towards bourbon-laced drinks like the Seelbach (bourbon and chamagne) or the 19th Street Special (bourbon and muddled tangerine). The 19th Street Special has disappeared from the menu of late, but I’m hoping they’ll hear my plea: I want my muddled tangerine!
Yeah, the drinks are $12. But would you rather have an excellent drink in a mellow, swanky place or a couple watery beers in a scenster den with sticky floors?
OK, just do both.
433 East 6th St. Sun-Thu 7pm-1am, Fri-Sat 7pm-2am