The Tony Awards are just days away, and New York City is practically fizzing with anticipation. The prestigious annual ceremony that recognizes excellence in live Broadway theater is a true mainstay of the awards calendar, standing toe to toe with the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys.
Having never been invited to any of these events, one can only assume it’s an enjoyable evening. That being said, pretty much anything beats spending the night living the vicarious celebrity dream and tuning into one via the television.
If I were to be invited, and I’m sure this article is not increasing my odds, after growing tired of clapping (I’m only good for around three minutes these days) I’d probably get up and try and find a drink.
Thankfully, I’d be in luck as at this year’s Tony Awards, scotch brand Dewar’s has teamed up with fabled French glassmaker Baccarat to create a speakeasy experience. And it seems I’m not the only one who tires easily, as organizers are expecting an attendee list of nominees, presenters, Hollywood icons and past winners.
I’d squeeze through the Hollywood elite, spotting an Ozempic-induced gap in the crowd, and secure a spot at the bar. After grabbing the barman’s attention and ordering a Negroni, I’d likely be told “Silly Englishman, this is the Dewar’s X Baccarat Speakeasy at the Tony Awards, we don’t do Negronis”.
A great shame, but the whisky’s good and the odds are it’s going to arrive in a nice glass, that will cost substantially more than my cab home, so I’d get over it.
The speakeasy has three cocktails on offer, each featuring Dewar’s Double Double 21 Year Old Oloroso, so named thanks to its double ageing process and the fact it is finished in Oloroso Sherry casks. All that extra effort must count for something, given this drop won world’s best blended at the 2021 World Whiskies Awards.
Anyway, despite each cocktail being based around the same spirit, there’s an impressive amount of variety on show here. Comfortably showing the versatility of not only Dewar’s Double Double 21 Year Old, but also Baccarat’s enviable crystalware.
On the list my eyes would be drawn to the Act One Aperitif, which looks a bit like a Negroni, and after four or five, I likely wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
I’d enjoy the rest of my evening tucked in a quiet corner of the least secret speakeasy in New York, you’d think the authorities would have shut the place down by now, but perhaps the owners got mob connections.
Having successfully avoided making a fool of myself (unlikely), I’d head outside, hail a cab like a real New Yorker, and check the results on the way home.
Ingredients
— 1.5 oz Dewar’s 21 Year Old Oloroso
— 0.5 oz Oloroso Sherry
— 0.75 oz Tempus Fugit Crème De Banane
— 1 Bar spoon Golden Syrup
— 1 Spray Absinthe
Method
Spray a chilled rocks glass with absinthe. Stir all ingredients over ice and strain into the absinthe-rinsed glass.
And finally, remember that both clapping and cocktails should always be enjoyed in moderation.
