The Shanty

Sometimes you don't want to compete for the bartender's attention. Sometimes you don't want to stand cheek to cheek with a hundred other people, shouting at your friends to be heard above the music and the crowd. Sometimes you just want a good stiff drink and a pleasant conversation with your drinking buddies-- and maybe to make a new one. For those occasions, I highly recommend The Shanty. It's a little off the main Williamsburg drag, which means that even on a Friday night it tends not to get claustrophobic. The atmosphere is an impressive combination of no frills and high class. I know it's all the rage now for bars to look like speakeasies or Victorian brothels, and I'm not going to bash that aesthetic because I do like it, but there's something refreshing about the warm cleanness of The Shanty's design. It's about craftsmanship more than showmanship, and that goes double for their drinks. You see, The Shanty is connected to New York Distilling Company. You can actually look right into the distillery through a window in the wall to see where the boozy magic happens. They distill two kinds of gin on site-- Dorothy Parker and Perry's Tot-- and work them and other spirits into an array of delightful (and strong!) cocktails that changes seasonally. They have a smallish but respectable selection of craft beers, and $8 will get you a Brooklyn Lager and a large shot of their house pink gin (I suggest sipping rather than shooting, but to each his own). There's also a snack menu-- very considerate, since it's a good idea to have some food in your stomach if you'll be staying for more than one round (which you'll want to).