When Art and Wine Combine: KRINK x Barossa Ink

Two of life’s greatest joys are art and wine, so when the two combine, we’re always interested. Barossa Ink is one of our absolute favourite supermarket wines, representing incredible value for money. Here, Grant Burge’s Barossa Ink Shiraz collaborates with KRINK, an iconic creative studio. New York art and Australian wine – ooh yes.

This rich, opulent wine is cultivated in Australia’s famed Barossa Valley, bursting with flavours of ripe berries, mocha, and dark chocolate, all wrapped up in a velvety, almost ink-black hue. It’s the kind of wine that stands out at the dinner table, offering layers of complexity but still easy enough to sip without overthinking it.

The beautiful liquid itself not only lives up to all the five-star reviews this wine gets, but it also lives up to the striking packaging. Craig Costello, also known as ‘KR’, is the founder of KRINK, and is renowned for his large-scale installations across the world and collaborations with brands like Tiffany & Co and Levi’s. Now, he’s bringing his signature drip aesthetic to the world of wine.

Craig Costello said: “Collaborating with Barossa Ink was a natural fit — we are both are creatively developing formulas to make something special. It was great to incorporate my drip aesthetic with Barossa Ink’s existing branding to design something visually unique.”

Barossa Ink has proved wildly popular in the UK, and this limited-edition release will surely only attract even more eyeballs. If you love the look of the bottle as much as we do, know that it’s only available while stocks last, priced at £11. KRINK x Barossa Ink is now available at Waitrose, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.

The Dead Rabbit, NY : The World’s Most Awarded Pub

If you walked past 30 Walter Street, New York throughout the 1830s, you’d have seen and smelt a dilapidated five-story townhouse, and you’d probably be witnessing the closing down of yet another failed business there.

People that weren’t prepared to give up on it however were The Dead Rabbit gang, who saw the potential of this Manhattan haunt and fought to own their poverty-stricken slum. Remembering the fighting spirit of their leader, boxer, businessman, politician and criminal John Morrissey, The Dead Rabbit opened in 2013 and has overcome a hurricane and a fire to expand and become known as ‘The World’s Most Awarded Pub’.

On the back of making The Cocktail Bar at The Merchant in Belfast the World’s Best Cocktail Bar in 2010, Sean Muldoon teamed up with Bar Manager Jack McGarry and regular customer Conor Allen to take on the most competitive drinking hub on the planet – New York.

Taking inspiration from the world-renowned craic and comfort of the Irish Pub, they set out to make an Irish Bar in New York... the world capital of Irish Bars. With the Dead Rabbits gang concept planned, focusing on authenticity, 19th century drinks and a hybrid of American innovation and Irish tradition, The Dead Rabbit Grocery & Grog finally opened in 2013, winning the Best New Cocktail Bar award. Two years later, it won the coveted World’s Best Cocktail Bar. In 2022, the new went separate ways, but The Dead Rabbit is as alluring as ever… but why?

Well, it boasts a trio of immersive experiences: The Taproom, The Parlor, and the Occasional Room. It's like having a pub for every mood swing, and that's a concept that's hard to beat.

In the Taproom, it's all about the craic. This is the place to revel in traditional Irish pub fare, top-notch cocktails, bottled punches, and, of course, the famous Irish Coffee. Every Sunday, a lively Irish seisiún awaits, making it the perfect end to the week. And whiskey lovers, brace yourselves for a back bar that's a treasure trove of choices.

Now, let's step into The Parlor, the cocktail cathedral of Downtown Manhattan that was once it’s best-kept secret. Here, 16 carefully curated cocktails reign supreme, crafted with house-made ingredients and innovative techniques. Martini, Gimlet, Whiskey Sour, Tiki, Old Fashioned… The Dead Rabbit stamp their signature all over them.

Last but not least, we ascend to The Occasional Room, where tavern traditions take hold as everything combines for a private hire space, accommodating up to 60 guests. Tailored food and drink packages await, making it ideal for swanky New York gatherings.

The Dead Rabbit stands as a testament to the spirit of Irish heritage, with a dash of New York flair, managing to stand out amongst the world’s greatest bars because it caters to whatever you want, from the best pint of Guinness in the city to the smoothest Julep cocktail, from a Sunday roast and Irish Breakfast to Guinness Braised Rib Sliders and Irish Points Oysters, it has everything. ‘Tradition, meet tomorrow’ is the perfect tagline.

30 Water Street, New York, NY, 10004
www.thedeadrabbit.com

Double Chicken Please: From Pop-Up to Best Bar

There’s nothing unusual about elegant cocktails and delicious food coming together, but there is with Double Chicken Please because of the lengths they’ve taken it to. First though, let’s turn back time to 2017 when this award-winning bar was a travelling pop-up…

More precisely, a bright yellow 1977 Volkswagen minibus, undertaking two tours of the states, notching up 10,000 miles and serving 1,200 cocktails. In the van? Faye Chen and GN Chen. They met in Taiwan working the hospitality scene, before making their own ways (Chan at NYC bar Angel’s Share, and Chen at Speak Low in Shanghai). Reconnecting when Chen arrived on American soil, they began to look for a place of their own… but with real estate at a premium in New York, they struggled.

So… they set off on a road trip, showing off their signature style – famous dishes reimagined in liquid form. Creations like Red Eyed Gravy, Beet Salad, and French Toast remain on the menu today at their Lower East Side bar. After a difficult mid-pandemic teething stage, Double Chicken Please opened with two distinct spaces; The Back Room and The Front Room.

The Front Room, a casual, industrial space offers quick-serve numbered cocktails, each listed on felt letter boards on a gallery wall: some familiar, like #1 with Aperol, passion fruit, sparkling wine, and soda, and some with more peculiar inclusions such as #9, with White Rum, Pineapple, Coconut and Curry. Signature chicken sandwiches created by highly skilled and experienced Mark Chou are also available, such as Mochi Donut with pickled pineapple, habanero, cilantro and strawberry. The menu continues like this, a whirlwind of the familiar and the unusual combined, embracing Asian flavours, cultural diversity, and experimentation.

Head to the Back Room, or The Coop, for a larger, more luxurious experience that retains the comforting warmth of every corner of Double Chicken Please. Here, drinkers can indulge in the bar’s heart and soul, with innovations like Mango Sticky Rice (rum, coconut, mango, cold-brew, coconut, sticky rice pu’er tea and wakame), Cold Pizza (tequila, Parmigiano Reggiano, burnt toast, tomato, basil, honey and egg white), and NY Beet Salad (gin, beet, pineapple, cranberry, mascarpone, yoghurt). Everywhere you look, Chan & Chen have reimagined culinary dishes with delicious cocktail outcomes.

In a city known for its bars, perhaps more than any other on Earth, Double Chicken Please has managed to stand out, earning a 6th place spot on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, earning the Highest New Entry Award for 2022. Despite the industrial décor, peculiar and often savoury flavour combos, food merged with drinks and two separate rooms, there is a universal warmth, and joy running through every part of Double Chicken Please. ‘The bar is designed to make people happy’ says Chan, and they’ve certainly done that.

115 Allen St, New York, NY 1000
www.doublechickenplease.com

How About a Hellmann’s ‘Mayo-Nog’ this Christmas?

Let’s be honest, eggnog is pretty polarising as it is so when Hellmann’s insist that their signature mayonnaise can be thrown into the mix instead of the egg, well, we don’t know what to make of it frankly.

In partnership with Muddling Memories’ Cody Goldstein, and New York restaurant Amy Fontaine’s, this experimental team is aiming to prove that it works, but how? They’ve created a Frozen Mayo-Nog as well as a Snickerdoodle Mayo Cookie with the aim of producing a Heston Blumenthal-esque milk and cookies revamp.

Unfortunately, if your mouth is watering reading this then, firstly each to their own, and secondly, you better get saving for a trip to the Big Apple, because the Mayo-Nog and the cookie are only officially available at Fontaine’s restaurant for a combined price of $24! But that includes a ‘mayo glaze’ so it’s got to be worth every cent...right?

Not willing to travel to New York to try these mayo creations? Where’s your commitment to the cause? At least you can try it yourself at home because the recipe is on the Muddling Memories Instagram. There is a hell of a lot of egg in America’s best-selling mayo, so it might not be as crazy a leap as you might initially think, as odd as that sounds. The rest of the recipe sounds very nice indeed, with dark rum, apple brandy, milk, cream, syrup, vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon, all blended with a generous helping of Hellmann’s and voila, your first Mayo-Nog...

But will it be your last? We’re desperate to hear if mayonnaise can actually substitute the egg, and if so, is it worse, or maybe even better? We may just try and whip one up on the Bring a Bottle podcast very soon to put it to the test! If you give it a go send us a picture on Instagram/Facebook and let us know what you thought!

InterContinental New York Barclay

 New York is the city of dreams and opportunities, where people flock for both business and pleasure. If you’re coming into the city from out of town, treat yourself to a stay at the InterContinental New York Barclay. Since 1926, this hotel has been a mainstay in midtown East Manhattan and was originally constructed as part of the Grand Central Terminal expansion. Back then, the notable Barclay housed individuals traveling to New York via the railroad. To keep its original spirit alive, The Barclay has undergone various renovations throughout the years to keep it in tip-top shape. Keeping as much of its historical foundation as possible is what gives The Barclay its personality and reputation. 

In style, The Barclay honors federalist décor complimented by modern upgrades to enhance the comfort of employees and guests alike. The most recent top-to-bottom renovation cost a whopping $180mil and is certainly a sight to behold. The Barclay cares about their impact and being a leader in the hospitality world; as such the renovations align with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Additionally, he hotel is involved with and supports other environmentally initiatives to ensure their environmental footprint is as minimal as possible.

Upon entering the hotel, the new open lobby area features an exquisite Carrara marble Grand Staircase. You’ll have the choice of 702 thoughtfully designed guestrooms and suits that still pay tribute to a classic Park Avenue home. The 15,000 square-foot property has made room for plenty of meeting and event spaces. Big name folks from politics and other industries are repeat visitors to The Barclay. It’s a place for gathering, for business, and for sophisticated fun. Included also is the culinary wonder of The Parlour, the onsite bar and restaurant.  

Gin fanatics especially will congregate at The Parlour. As part of its offerings, The Parlour takes inspiration from Dutch and English gin bars of the 1920s. Here, you are sure to experience and discover everything gin with classic cocktails as well as new creation to extend the gin boundaries. The Parlour is more than just cocktails; try a dish from their extensive menu. They only source their food and edible ingredients from within a 350-mile radius of New York City.

Perhaps the most important reason The Barclay draws in its guest is its central location within the city. There is something magical about being right in the middle of the city chaos. Public transportation is extremely accessible and many popular spots are easily walk-able from the hotel’s front doors. The Barclay makes it easy to feel connected to New York. 

The Wellesley Knightsbridge Hotel

For the past seven years, The Wellesley Knightsbridge Hotel in London has offered its guests a sanctuary decorated by classic adornments with chic and modern twist. Its extravagance and classic décor has wowed London’s elite since first opening its doors back in 2012. The Wellesley features beautiful rooms and amenities worthy of high praise, with attractions like live jazz music, a world class cigar selection, dedicated Rolls Royce chauffeur service for guests and (of course) the best of the best in customer service. It is no wonder that the Wellesley has catapulted itself into the stratosphere of luxury lodging.

Amongst all of these remarkable attractions however, there is one in particular that we are particularly enamoured with: their awe-inspiring crystal bar. This breathtaking lounge area features a marvellous 1920’s décor style. The speakeasy type of atmosphere, coupled with an impressive crystal display of some of the finest spirits this world has seen, makes for a awe-inspiring lounge area that calls for pure celebration.

Address: 11 Knightsbridge, London  SW1X 7LY United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 20 7235 3535
Website

Duane Street Hotel

Families, professionals and lone travellers alike will be enticed by the sophistication and worldliness offered by the extraordinary eats and comforting beds at the Duane Street Hotel. This hotel is part of The Independent Collection; a cluster of boutique establishments in residential neighbourhoods that deliver guests an authentic experience in whichever city they are visiting.

With 43 rooms, a grab-and-go breakfast station and a delicious restaurant featuring Indian flavours, the Duane Street Hotel appeals to both international guests and locals looking for respite from their busy lives. Young lodgers will delight in the complimentary iPad service. With two delicious restaurants and an in-room mini-bar, guests will be grateful for the gym passes at Equinox, located right across the street. Bicycles are available for loan giving you easy access to Tribeca, which was a hot spot for artists in the 1960s and ‘70s and is now one of the most desired addresses in New York. With each suite equipped with eleven-foot ceilings, hardwood floors and oversized windows however, it may be hard to tear yourself away from your room.

Address: 130 Duane Street New York, New York 10013
Telephone: 212 964 4600 
Website

New York EDITION

You wake up buried underneath signature imported linens and gingerly lift your head from the down pillow. Flip through the channels on the high-definition flat screen tv and enjoy full cable access, or choose a movie on-demand, while ordering breakfast from room service. After you’ve nourished yourself, flip open your laptop and begin work at the in-room ergonomically designed workspace. Forgot your laptop? Don’t worry, simply call the front desk for a complimentary iPad.

Get your blood pumping at the all-hours gym before refueling at the New York Edition’s luxurious restaurant; The Clocktower. Chef Jason Atherton serves contemporary British cuisine, using only the finest available ingredients. Foodies understand that the provisions are only a small piece of the culinary experience, and will appreciate the striking view of Madison Square Garden and vibrant Dutch-inspired décor. If a full meal isn’t what you are after, wet your palette at the intimate and elegant Lobby bar. Tourists will be enticed by the prime location minutes from Union Square, the Meatpacking District, Chelsea, Greenwich Village, Soho and Tribeca, but with amenities like these guests may choose to never leave.