LocalBozo.com correspondent Link Cromwell vowed to have a drink at every bar in Hoboken before running the 2011 New York City Marathon. With every bar visit in the “Sixth Borough” now completed along with a successful race now finished, it’s time to reel our reporting back toward the City. And as such, every single Friday we’ll be taking over where Link left off, showing you distinctive bars in each borough perhaps for the very first time, perhaps to refresh your memory of a fun place you’ve ducked into, or perhaps to suggest a new spot for you to check out. You can follow our travels as we approach each weekend on Friday mornings with LocalBozo.com’s “Drink Here Now.”

Pouring Ribbons
225 Avenue B, 2nd Floor, East Village, Manhattan
917-656-67883
Getting There: L to 1st Avenue

Avenue B has its fair share of hideaways and cocktail themed joints. But the “Drink Here Now” crew is all about efficiency. We therefore love to combine these two aforementioned flavors into one delicious joint for you to hit and start your weekend off on the right foot. It’s Pouring Ribbons, a recently opened cocktail bar specializing in classic and new wave drinks that satisfy an increasingly critical nightlife community. It’s somewhat hidden location in Alphabet City provides an extra level of excitement to each visit, especially the first.

On a recent Thursday, the crew and I met in front of the Avenue B location. A small green awning presents the joint’s name in a classic font while a hulking doorman with an ear piece guards their lime green door. Although we were granted access quickly and easily based on our happy hour arrival time, this might not be as possible during peak hours. This rings especially true since just a few days ago Pouring Ribbons was the proud recipient of a “Time Out New York Food & Drink Award.” We quickly ran up the steps into the open, well lit second floor space and moments later we were seated at a rather long light colored wooden bar.

Right off the bat we noticed the huge variety of great liquors, bitters, fresh fruits and cocktail muddling tools. A few seconds later a smiling, well-dressed in a vest bartender approached us to take our drink order. Pouring Ribbons’ large menu specifically separates the cocktails in terms of flavors and strengths. And since we were in the mood for old school flavors we opted for the “Manhattan” ($14) made right before our eyes like a science project. From the Rittenhouse Rye to the sweet Vermouth, the bartender carefully added each crucial ingredient with meticulous precision. At the completion of the prep he slowly poured the beverage into a chilled glass with a dark cherry garnish. The first sip yielded a pleasant bouquet of perfectly mixed spirits sending us into an early evening state of bliss.

The bar is perfect for up close and personal cocktail imbibing with a few friends, but the large main seating room will be our choice for future visits. We highly recommend seating directly next to the half moon window providing great people watching and views of the nighttime sky. After our virgin visit it was easy to understand why huge publications like Time Out New York and the Twitterverse are giving Pouring Ribbons so much well deserved love.

Bar Type – Speakeasy style cocktail lounge with modern day know how and charm.

When to Visit – If you don’t like waits like us try to go during off-peak hours. Sure, all the action of a jumping joint may be lacking but at least you will be able to get a seat and a drink at a spot that is extremely popular right now.

Value – Pouring Ribbons is all about cocktail perfection. Therefore, don’t look for drink deals or cheap cans of PBR. There are plenty of places down the street to satisfy that need.

The Lowdown – Each visit to a cocktail bar should be special and unique. With so many similar joints opening and closing each year, a bar has to define itself quickly. Pouring Ribbons is a perfect example of an establishment that knows who they are and what their patrons want. Each sip of one of their handcrafted cocktails will show you how much detail goes into each drink down to the last gulp.