Along with a freshly recruited posse of revelers, I recently embarked on the fourth annual HC&G cocktail crawl, a two-night tour of top East End haunts. Professional drinkers all, we tested some potent quaffs and fortified ourselves at each stop with tasty hors d’oeuvres.
Wednesday
East Hampton to Sag Harbor
6:30 P.M. | We sip Lady Elders (Pisco Peruvian brandy, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, fresh lime juice, fresh raspberries) in the lovely garden of the Living Room at the c/o The Maidstone hotel in East Hampton (207 Main St., 631-324-5440, careofhotels.com/maidstone). The raspberries give the strong Pisco an enchanting flavor.
7:30 P.M. | Next, we’re off to LT Burger in Sag Harbor (62 Main St., 631-899-4646, ltburger.com) for the Rated “R” Shelter Island Shake (Banks Rum, pineapple juice, coconut, vanilla ice cream). We gorge on chef Andrew Buffalino’s amazing house-made smoked jerk chicken.
8:30 P.M. | We cross the street and hit Phao (29 Main St., 631-725-0101, phaorestaurant.com) for the refreshing Midnight Lemonade (Grey Goose vodka, Domaine de Canton, ginger-infused house-made lemonade). Barman Derek Nielsen squeezes pink grapefruit to top off another creation, the Te Amo Margarita (Partida reposado tequila, fresh agave, fresh lime).
9:30 P.M. | A few steps away at Page (63 Main St., 631-725-1810), we finish off the night with a Champagne-Splashed Martini (Hendrick’s gin shaken with muddled cucumbers and a spritz of fresh lime) and Peconic Bay oysters. The bubbly lightens the mix and heightens the cucumber aromas. Our designated driver brings home four ebullient revelers.
Thursday
6:30 P.M. | In East Hampton, we groove to the lively Italian vibe at Serafina (104 N. Main St., 631-267-3500, serafinarestaurant.com). Barman Chris Messinger deftly crafts our pretty-in-pink Serafina cocktails (St. Germain, Grey Goose vodka, Veuve Clicquot Champagne and four strawberries) in tall iced high-ball glasses.
7:30 P.M. | East Hampton’s renovated Turtle Crossing America n Bistro (221 Pantigo Rd., 631-324-7166, turtlecrossing.com) has insanely good house-smoked ribs, perfect with the Doubly Dark & Stormy’s (Kraken Black Spiced rum, Myers’s dark rum, fresh lime juice, ginger brew). Co-owner Nancy Singer regales us with stories of serving celebrity diners (including Bill Clinton and Katie Couric).
8:30 P.M. | At South Edison (17 S. Edison St., 631-668-4200, southedison.com), a Montauk beach-house restaurant with colorful art, chef Todd Mitgang, named one of the “sexiest chefs” by the New York Post, serves Thai-twist cuisine. We slurp Blue Point oysters and wash them down with Tomato Water and Kaffir Lime Cocktails, made with Long Island LIV vodka.
9:30 P.M. | This year’s real discovery is Backya rd at SolÉ East in Montauk (90 Second House Rd., 631-668-2105, soleeast.com), a candlelit, hideaway beach shack overlooking a big daybed-strewn lawn, where outdoor concerts and Sunday brunches are held. Our Myles Mint Mojitos (Cruzan rum, fresh strawberries, peaches, mint) end another legendary crawl. Nine stops and still standing.
