The Holy Grail of Neighborhood Joints: The Sackett

Your neighborhood bar is probably a five-minute stroll from home—the logical choice for a post-work beer or a nightcap. But in a city where proximity reigns supreme one thing holds true: convenience muddles judgment.

At the thought of short travel time, a joint filled with lame people, loud music and mediocre drinks is sugarcoated as "decent." It’s only after a man who is covered in cat hair begins whispering sweet nothings in your ear that you realize you should have gone somewhere else.

Not to worry, your new nightlife columnist has sniffed out the holy grail of neighborhoody joints: a cozy side street cocktail joint named The Sackett.

A cramped sidestreet hangout on Sackett Street just off Fourth Avenue, The Sackett comes complete with exposed brick walls, subtle golden wallpaper, a backyard porch, and a carefully curated jukebox. It is “Cheers”-esque without the cheese, an establishment with fantastic nonchalance and a deliciously close proximity to the Union Street subway. Co-owners Ann Jhun and Michael Ragolia deserve kudos for transforming their predecessor's bar—which was shut down by the Drug Enforcement Authority—into a place of class. In my last visit, I spotted no remaining evidence of the Latin American Cafe’s glazed, double-paned windows or seven surveillance cameras.

Looking to meet the need for tasty spirits in the Slope, Jhun and Ragolia offer a selection of inventive cocktails that change with the season.

“We’ve hung out at most of the bars in the neighborhood and just felt there was great beer, but not a lot of cocktails,” Ragolia said.

Most of their creations are updated versions of better-known classics. The bar’s eponymous crown jewel, for instance, is a fancified version of a simple amaretto-scotch drink dubbed the Godfather. Their version mixes Johnny Walker Red, Cointreau, amaretto, and orange bitters, resulting in a toasty citrus concoction that I imagine is best enjoyed on an fluffy alpaca rug next to a crackling fireplace. Though I suppose the back corner of the bar isn’t so bad, either.

New drinks for spring include a gin, honey, lime juice and grapefruit juice blend affectionately named the GG Allen ($9) and a tequila, agave, ginger beer number known as the Big Pink ($10). Some Sackett experiments work and some don’t, so check with the bearded bartender if you’re sensitive to sweets and sours. And if you’re one of those yearlong Dark & Stormy kind of guys (or gals), they’ve got you covered with a solid selection of classics, too.

Beer-wise, the pickings are slim but tasty. “I get bored easy, since there are only four taps,” Ragolia explained. “So after two or three kegs, I’ll switch it up.”

At the moment, you can grab a $6 glass of Sly Fox Irish Red, Sixpoint pilsner, Southern Tier IPA or Southampton Bière de Mars—a light spring ale with notes of caramel and cinnamon that I’d highly recommend. Pair any of these brews with a fresh, $5 empanada delivered from Bogota Bistro, and your evening will go from pleasant to devastatingly spectacular in a few swift bites.

Like any good hub for locals, The Sackett is a hotbed for boardgamers too. Personally, nothing gets me like a good round of drunk Jenga (I’m a sucker for the chaotic crash of it all). For all those Jeopardy fanboys and girls out there, the Sackett also holds Tuesday trivia nights, hosted by quizmaster Dave Scher, who will give you quite the run for your money.

Oh, and did I mention they have a mounted goat’s head? Not a lion, or a gazelle or the disembodied skull of some equally majestic animal—a goat! Extra points for being ironic—just like I like my taxidermy.

Editor's Note: Not only has The Late Shift moved to Thursdays, we've got a new columnist! Check back on the first and third Thursday of every month to see what our gal Alyssa Bereznak is drinking.