Pouring Ribbon's Thoughful Cocktails - NYC

There are plenty of places in this city to find a carefully crafted, bittered-up, hard-shaken drink.

There is perhaps no place, though, shaking with as much forethought and grace as Pouring Ribbons in the East Village.

The bar is the new home base of the Alchemy Consulting boys, responsible for some of the country's most exciting cocktail projects, including The Violet Hour and The Catbird Seat.

The experience starts with a visual menu matrix that tosses cocktail lists organized by spirit type to the curb. Instead, the menu at Pouring Ribbons delineates four categories: comforting to adventurous and refreshing to spirituous.

Ease into the evening with the mai tai-esque Dueling Banjos (all cocktails are $14)–equal parts refreshing and adventurous with two bourbons, lemon, curaçao and corn milk over crushed ice. Or tackle the adventurous-to-the-max Hagar & Helga, a mix of aquavit, curaçao, cumin syrup and cinnamon bitters.

And do not stumble into the night without ordering from the full page of vintage yellow and green chartreuse.

Drinking at Pouring Ribbons ends with you being presented with a postcard on which you can jot down the bartender's name, the glassware employed and the type of ice used. Repeat visit ensured.

Pouring Ribbons, 225 Ave. B (at E.14th St.); 917-656-6788 or pouringribbons.com