It’s also kind of true in San Francisco and LA. You don’t see it in New York, because it’s fucking a lot harder. Everybody’s kinda friends with each other and hangs at each other’s bars. I mean, it’s expanded from when I kickstarted it 25 years ago. It’s not the size of New York City.ī: Everybody knows each other in the cocktail bar scene.
I imagine the size of Boston has a lot to do with it. L: Seems that, even if bars are competitive, there’s a lot of camaraderie. So, Jackson calls them an Uber and sends them over and John has drinks already made for them and a reserved sign waiting. “Have you been here or here or even here?” There’s a famous story where Jackson Cannon had some guests at The Hawthorne who were getting ready to go to Drink and Jackson texted John Gertsen-who was then General Manager of Drink-saying I have two guests who are coming over and told him what they had been drinking with him. So, what makes Boston stand out compared to other cities?ī: The aspect of hospitality here really is something that has been in the forefront with people, for instance, steering guests toward other bars. LOREN BORNSTEIN: Thanks again for meeting with me, Brother Cleve. If you want, sip on an Americano cocktail, like we did, as I share with you some of Brother Cleve’s and Boston’s story: Recently, I got to sit down at the Silvertone with one of Boston’s most well-known legends, Brother Cleve, and he regaled me with stories of his own entry into craft cocktail-dom as well as a history of Boston’s part in bringing the craft cocktail back to life. When you visit a cocktail bar, chances are you’ve either encountered a few of the local legends or someone trained/influenced by one. (Images provided by and courtesy of Brother Cleve.) Ever since the late 90’s, Boston has been one of the go-to cities for cocktail renaissance and revolution.