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Brooklyn’s Wandering Barman aims to make cocktail industry sustainable and profitable with pre-mixed drinks on tap

Wandering Barman is a cocktail brand that aims to make it so customers never have to wait for a cocktail ever again. Co-founded by Roxane Mollicchi, Julian Mohamed, and Darren Grenia, the trio has been a part of the food and beverage industry for several years and previously owned and operated the restaurant Dear Bushwick.

“In the running of these businesses, we always found that the cocktail program was a tough part for us, either from just constantly changing the menu or training staff on the menu. We had a great menu at Dear Bushwick, we got written up by the New York Times,” said Mohamed. “But we just couldn’t keep up with the speed of service on the weekend evenings. We were always slipping behind and ultimately we needed a solution to that if we were gonna like make money because often alcohol is the most profitable part of any restaurant business.”

After Dear Bushwick’s closure, the trio wanted to get into the business of batching cocktails. What came of that was Wandering Barman, a proof of concept in Bushwick that sells pre-made cocktails to cut down on wait times.

Inspired by bars in the U.K., Wandering Barman’s first taproom (located at 315 Meserole St.) officially opened for business in 2021, offering 20 of their pre-made cocktails ready to serve right from the tap, no mixing required. The bar has their staple eight cocktails, classic cocktails we all know and love and four non-alcoholic options as well.

“When we opened our cocktail bar, we wanted to do it in a way that was moving the cocktail industry forward, so we decided to put all of our cocktails on tap,” said Mohamed. “We figured that would solve the solution of training staff speed of service, consistency, all the issues that we had in a normal cocktail program. The speed of service is amazing, we would get crazy busy but we would have one bartender and they were able to clear a bar that was like three people deep in no time.”

Wandering Barman offers an array of classic spirits, such as vodka, tequila and rum, and cocktails that they put their own spin on, including the La Nina Margarita, a date-infused Old Fashioned (Swipe Right), a Rose Gin & Hops Sling (Iron Lady), and the Burnt Maple Old Fashioned (Boomerang).

“We really like to try to provide something for everyone,” said Grenia. “So we have plays on some of the classics, things that are familiar, but with sort of water environment twist. We like to keep things interesting.”

“Normally it’s sort of clear spirits in the hotter months and the darker spirits in the warmer months. But there are exceptions to that rule,” said Grenia. “Our margarita is our number one seller. We also have a smoked old-fashioned bourbon cocktail called the Boomerang that is surprisingly popular year-round.”

“If there was one really doing poorly, we would replace it and try to switch it up. But we’ve seen that throughout the year, they all kind of even out which is kind of fun,” said Mollicchi.

Given the success of the taproom, the next step for Wandering Barman was bottling their signature cocktails.

“We decided to bottle pre-made cocktails and send them to bars and restaurants, initially on a small scale. We just focused on the Bushwick area, which is where our restaurants and bars were, and just our friends just to see if this had legs,” said Mohamed. “Within a year, it was amazing. The response has been amazing. We had a friend that had a dive bar, he was taking the cocktails on as a favor for us. That night, he had ordered three cases, but by the end of that night he had told us to say look up already sold these.”

Given that the beginning operations of the Wandering Barman took place during the height of the pandemic, the team noted that they were able to use the time to really build out the business. Since they were considered an essential business, the Wandering Barman team could really sink their teeth into the operations while most of New York City was closed up.

“We were actually lucky to still be able to prepare ourselves and have a business. The supply chain was really hard and we got to a point where it was hard to get all our packaging and prices were quite inflated because of that. But beyond that, we were the lucky ones, we never really stopped working,” said Mollicchi. 

What really sets Wandering Barman apart from other New York City cocktail brands is the homegrown aspect of it all. The team uses locally sourced materials and ingredients as often as they can, and produce and batch all of the cocktails in-house.

The brand also takes immense pride in its packaging, making it stand out on shelves and in stores. But ultimately, the team says that Wandering Barman is trying to be a solution in the food and drink industry.

“As a bar, we’re focusing on being sustainable and efficient and profitable as much as possible. And then when we’re providing the service to other bars, it’s the same thing, right?” said Mollicchi. “We’re not just trying to be another product on the shelf, we’re really trying to bring ease to the bar manager or the bar owner and make sure that when they have our product, it’s helping them with profitability, speed of service and consistency.”

Wandering Barman products are currently available in eight states throughout the country, and currently the team is working on launching a virtual speakeasy app for New Yorkers. Going forward, Wandering Barman is looking to expand into the rest of the United States and is also eyeing the potential that the brand has internationally.

“We have a lot of prospects were working on new collaborations with different venues, we’re gonna be launching a new format this year. For our national growth, we’re in eight states, we’re hoping to double that quickly and then hopefully be available in all states very soon,” said Mollicchi. “We’re actually working on expanding to Japan. International in the very near future is something we didn’t think would happen right away, but they’re very into our product and it seems we could have a strong market out there.”

About the Author

Emily Davenport

Emily Davenport is the Digital Editor of amNewYork Metro. She covers entertainment, business and things to do stories around New York City, both in writing and through video. Outside of work, you can find her exploring the city or hanging out at home with her cranky bird.

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Inside Wandering Barman, the World’s First Cocktail Brew Pub

The newly opened brooklyn haunt offers 40 taps of craft on draft, from original pre-fixed cocktails to local beers and wines, in luminous digs by crosby studios..

The pandemic has done a lot to erase the stigma of pre-mixed tipples, but even before lockdown changed consumer habits, Wandering Barman was earning fans thanks to its tasty recipes and suave bottle design with artful labels that eschewed the less-than-sophisticated reputation of pre-fixed cocktails. Now, the beverage purveyor founded by Roxane Mollicchi, Darren Grenia, and Julian Mohamed is settling into its first permanent home—a cocktail “brewery” in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  

The brand enlisted local firm Crosby Studios for the fantastical interior, which radiates contrasting hues of orange and pink that mimic the colors of Wandering Barman’s draft cocktails. A giant lightbox illuminates the bar area featuring a floral composition on one of the walls backlit by a zig-zag of orange LEDs. The color was new for Crosby Studios founder Harry Nuriev, who has become known for devising interiors marked by bold use of monochrome. “I wanted to work with a new color, orange,” he tells Surface . “It’s always a challenge to develop a new relationship with a color, especially ones that are so strong and vibrant.”  

Visitors can order drinks while peeking through circular rose-tinted windows behind the bar directly into the brewery, where Wandering Barman develops, tastes, and manufactures its bottled cocktails. “I love to combine different surfaces, textures, and forms of lighting to create futuristic environments,” Nuriev says. “This is my sexy take on an industrial warehouse or factory, which are so common in the neighborhood.” Thanks to reconfigurable furniture, the cavernous 40-seat brasserie can transform from a tasting room to an open space for gatherings and events.

In addition to the fresh concept, Wandering Barman goes against the grain of its New York City peers by offering up a modestly priced menu. Purchasing ingredients at wholesale prices and pre-mixing in bulk helps keep prices down, meaning most of the drinks—including the FOMO, a vodka cocktail infused with green chiles, and the Boomerang, a smoky maple syrup old fashioned—won’t run you more than $11.

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Wandering Barman Cocktail Laboratory and Tasting Room

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315 Meserole St

Brooklyn, NY 11206

Waterbury St & Bogart St

East Williamsburg

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Wandering Batman, better known as those premixed cocktails you find in wine shops, has a whole bar in Bushwick that's pretty fun. It has a weird ambiance, iridescent plastic sheets dividers with neon signs and a concrete bar -- feels like it belongs in a Nicolas Winding Refn movie. I've only ever been here at happy hour (in part because it's like $5 a drink at happy hour!!! Best deal in town!!) when it's super dead but even then I honestly enjoy how chill it is. The drinks are all pretty good, theyre all premixed cocktails on tap -- I'm partial to the mezcal or gin based cocktails myself. I do sometimes wish they offered just well drinks but respect the fact that that doesnt make sense given their brand. The bartenders are chill... i dunno, it's just a nice easy going place. PS, in the AM they sell good coffee.

Happy Hour deal was good. Used to drink their cocktails during pandemic, pretty boozy.

while wandering around Williamsburg, found this oasis of a craft-y bar that happens to serve a coffee menu...in a nowhere zone of East Williamsburg. an unusually warm day in October got me in need of chilled caffeine. the modern interior with spaces of color is really spacious with some seating options, but most of the setup is really for a mingle-y bar space as opposed to a coffee shop vibe. the coffee menu has the basic covered -- ordered an Iced Americano and the quality of the coffee was good and did its job--cooling and caffeinating. definitely would come back again for another coffee or an adult beverage BUT it is more of a destination as the immediate area does not have much going on as it feels fairly industrial though I am sure that is changing via gentrification, development, etc. the service was friendly.

See all photos from Ruwan J. for Wandering Barman Cocktail Laboratory and Tasting Room

My relationship with Wandering Batman has been unlike any other Bar. Period. This place is the secret gem that I don't want to share, but deserves nothing but recognition. Let's set the mood: we've got a chill & cozy dimly lit cement poured countertop establishment. They have some of the best lighting featuring real hand blown neon and plant leaves on their wall panels. They have 40 taps with 12 house cocktails, 4 non-alcoholic cocktails, 10 beers, 3 wines, & spirits. You can also add a shot to any drink +$4, (+5 mezcal). My favorite secret: 4-7 happy hour everyday of the week for $5 a drink. No cap Fam, you won't find a better deal. $5! That's the best price you can find anywhere innit. There is absolutely no other place that has seltzer for serve on draft. Such a gem The service here is impeccable. They take care of you, making you feel like the master of your abode. You will feel heard and loved. Coworker told me to swing by during the day and we came across a music/ dance performance as we were served delicious coffee. The barista that says recognized my homie and was ready with his drink as soon as he walked in. That's special. You don't get that type of service at Starbizzle.

See all photos from il'ya S. for Wandering Barman Cocktail Laboratory and Tasting Room

Stylish place. I came here for an event and the ambiance was nice . There's only premade drinks but they were ok .

Great bar with a beautiful vibe and background music! All the drinks are on tap so the bar has a very minimalist feeling which is nice in NY. Our bartender Ian was great and walked us through the best drinks to order

I honestly only came to this place for the drink menu. Spacious bar my kinda style. Service was outstanding. I had order two drinks and they where delicious wasn't water down. The area is industrialized so you honestly don't want to walk alone.

Spacious bar and lounge located in a industrial part of Brooklyn. Came here with a large group and they handled our group extremely well. Service was quick and excellent throughout the evening. Nice selection of draft beers and cocktails. Beers were mostly craft with a good, local representation. Two restrooms; both were spacious and gender neutral; one was handicap accessible. Interesting bar menu. They got a few pizzas, some vegetarian options, and a canned dish section. Seems fitting for a bar in what's now called East Williamsburg.

I can't believe I get to be the first to review this great place. Great drinks, an inviting space, a knowledgeable and personable staff. Check it out!

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Wandering Barman Innovates with Bottled Cocktail Line for Bars

The premium, packaged mixed drinks are finding a place on menus in Brooklyn and beyond

written by Kara Newman

published March 7, 2018

Yours Sincerely , a bar in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood, made its name by being the first bar to focus exclusively on cocktails pulled from a tap. The entire business model was built around prebatched cocktails that could be assembled in a flash for thirsty, impatient guests. Now the team behind the bar has taken this flowing form of instant gratification a step further. In December 2017 they rolled out prebatched, bottled cocktails under a new label: Wandering Barman .

Julian Mohamed co-owns Yours Sincerely with Darren Grenia, and the two, with Roxane Mollicchi, the bar’s former manager, cofounded Wandering Barman. Mohamed says that they were able to test the proof of concept at the bar. “We were able to see, would customers care? Do they need to see a bartender shaking the drink?” The conclusion? Not always. “They care about the taste of a product,” he says, “and getting [a drink] in a timely fashion.”

Now the group wants to extend the prebatched cocktail concept to other bars—including spots not ordinarily known for craft cocktails. Their current client list—12 venues in all—includes Bushwick dive bars, such as Archie’s and Three Diamond Door ; restaurants better known for beer or wine offerings, like Roberta’s and Le Garage ; and concessions at New York City music venues and outdoor spaces, like Elsewhere , Maria Hernandez Park , and Heckscher Playground .

The process of building the business began about three years ago. “At Yours Sincerely,” says Mohamed, “we had perfected batching of cocktails and putting them on tap. We figured out preservation and how to have drinks be shelf stable.” The group’s original game plan — selling kegged cocktails to bars — was shot down by regulators (something Mohamed and his team hope to “change down the line”), but bottled cocktails were a go, and a commercial production facility separate from the bar was set up.

Currently, Wandering Barman makes three bottled cocktails. The first two conceived were The Socialite, a gin-based sipper with cucumber, elderflower, and celery bitters, and Swipe Right, an old-fashioned-style drink made with date-infused bourbon and aromatic bitters. In mid-February, Miss Casanova, a spicy hibiscus daiquiri, was added to the lineup.

Mohamed expects the bulk of sales to come from venues that don’t traditionally offer craft cocktails. “They don’t want to train up their bartenders with cocktail expertise—that can be time consuming,” he says. “We provide their cocktail program.”

Down the line, Wandering Barman hopes to expand to outlets such as music festivals, sports arenas, airlines (the 3.4-ounce bottle is permitted on flights), and boutique hotels.

Speed of service and convenience are notable advantages of the bottled cocktails and are particularly important at the live performance space Elsewhere. “At music venues,” explains Elsewhere cofounder Jake Rosenthal, “patrons tend to approach the bar all at once when an artist finishes their live set and before the next artist is about to perform, so our bar has to move quickly to keep up with the rush.” Bottled cocktails “make cocktail prep as quick as pouring a beer.” Rosenthal says he doesn’t know the exact sales figures for the Wandering Barman offerings at his venue. But, he says, “we’ve definitely been reordering cases on a regular basis. So far we’ve gotten good feedback from customers on the quality.”

Nicol Reddington of Roberta’s has seen similar success. “The Wandering Barman premixed cocktails are perfect for our outside Tiki bar,” he says. “We do so much volume focused on beer and simple cocktails, like margaritas or basic mixed drinks. But when it comes to something more complicated, it can really hold up the line. Even the fastest bartenders get completely crushed on a Saturday night outside.” As for how well they’re selling, Reddington says, “They’re straight up flying off the shelf.”

Yet Wandering Barman’s client list also includes some venues that offer made-to-order cocktails, so what’s the draw there?

For starters, an attractive profit margin. Most bar owners mark up the bottled cocktails three to five times the wholesale cost, selling them at prices in line with made-to-order cocktails.

Grenia also insists that bottled cocktails don’t detract from existing cocktail programs. “It’s an addition, an enhancement,” he says. “ We’re not looking to take over the place. We’re adding to an experience that already exists.”

For example, Rachel Allswang, the owner of Le Garage, a French restaurant that has a traditional cocktail program, reports that customers are intrigued by the colorful presentation of the bottled cocktails and usually order more than one. “They’re always complimenting the packaging,” she says. “On slow nights it’s a good conversation piece to start — a way to create a bond with the customer.”

Two months in, Wandering Barman has sold nearly 1,800 bottles (150 cases, at 12 bottles a case) and claims a reorder rate of 100 percent. The first run of Miss Casanova was completely spoken for before the drink was even batched and bottled.

Word of mouth among local business owners has helped with sales within Bushwick. And it doesn’t hurt to be seen as supporting a local business, Mollicchi points out, “ which is cool for Brooklyn.”

Looking forward, however, Wandering Barman aims to expand its bottled-cocktail biz farther afield in Brooklyn and across the East River to venues in Manhattan and beyond. Expansion, of course, presents a new set of challenges. The team is already hunting for a bigger space where they can R&D and roll out new flavors in the months ahead (next up will be a vodka-based cocktail). They’re currently seeking investment to support these efforts.

Will a single-serve bottle and a colorful label (and no intimidating “mixologist”) help make craft cocktails more accessible to a wider audience? Wandering Barman hopes so. “In the end, it will always be about the drink and how people experience it,” Grenia says. “Whether they’re drinking it at a bar or somewhere else, that’s all we care about.”

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Kara Newman  reviews spirits for  Wine Enthusiast  magazine and is the author of  Shake. Stir. Sip. ,  Nightcap ,  and   Cocktails with a Twist   (Chronicle Books).

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The Wandering Barman: Inside the New York cocktail bar with a special Irish connection

The Williamsburg bar prides itself on serving the perfect pint

• 16:15, 21 MAY 2023

Behind the bar at The Wandering Barman, a futuristic cocktail bar in Brooklyn, there is an impressive line of draft cocktails and wines that match the minimalistic vibe.

However, one thing that you may not be expecting when you walk into this trendy Williamsburg spot is a great pint of Guinness, but perched proudly beside the perfectly crafted cocktail line-up is a tap labeled 'Irish Juice.'

The bar operates as a cocktail tasting room, while behind the bar is a vast space where their cocktails are made, bottled up, and distributed around the US.

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Owned by Roxane Mollicchi, Julian Mohamed, and Darren Grenia, most of the construction work to open the space up was done by Roxane's husband, Andrew Stokes, an Irishman from Dublin.

One of the conditions in his help building the bar was that there would be a permanent Guinness tap, with the bar priding itself on making sure they always sell the perfect pint at an affordable price.

"People are usually shocked to see we have a Guinness tap," Roxanne, who is originally from Corsica, told IrishStar.com.

"But it's very popular - we get a lot of people coming in who will have a couple of cocktails then switch to Guinness. We have so many Irish friends because of my husband.

"We trained all the staff to pour it the right way and understand it, which was very important to us. It's a big part of the Irish crew coming in - making sure they enjoy it.

"All the other beers we sell are local and minority-owned, but it felt right to have a Guinness tap, it's part of our story too. The build-out of the bar was done by my husband, it was a way to pay the crew who helped us.

"We make sure it's always good and we pride ourselves on it being a good pint. Our friends aren't shy so they'll tell you if the pint isn't right.

"All of Andrew's friends, whether they're New York friends or Irish, and a lot of people he grew up with call in to see us here. I also have a lot of French friends too so it's a nice mix."

The Wandering Barman prides itself on making unique cocktails that are accessible to all, and Roxane said when it comes to offering Guinness, it's a way of "making sure we can cater to everyone in our world."

And the origins of the cocktail brand are thanks to spending time in Irish bars, too, and struggling to find a perfect drink to order.

"I've tried so many times, but I'm not a big Guinness fan," Roxane laughed.

"So if I'm in a pub, I never know what to drink. I'll have a Magners or two, but I don't drink beer or Guinness, then a lot of bars don't really do great cocktails. I love the environment of an Irish bar, but I'm always kind of stuck with what to order."

Looking towards the future, Roxane said their Irish connection will always be upheld at The Wandering Barman, but they have upcoming projects to keep things going further for their brand.

They currently have eight cocktails they bottle up and distribute, with plans to increase this distribution to more and more States in the near future. This week, too, they're also launching their ninth cocktail in association with the iconic Village jazz bar, The Blue Note.

The bar will also be opening its own coffee bar in the next week, opening during the day and offering desk space for people to work.

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Wandering Barman Opens a Cocktail Brasserie

By dispatch editors on wednesday, november 17th, 2021 at 1:30 pm.

The Wandering Barman opens a “cocktail brasserie” on Meserole Street.

The prepared craft cocktail brand has opened a physical location to offer cocktails on Meserole Street.

The new tap room has 40 seats in a lounge like atmosphere.

The Wandering Barman started off as a bottled cocktail brand. They launched in 2016 , long before COVID sent restaurants looking for take away cocktail solutions. Their beverages were available on tap around the city at various bars, or in pints to-go. Those are still available on their website .

The cocktails are modern versions of old classics, like the Boomerange, a maple old fashioned, or the FOMO, a vodka and pineapple sling.

The goal with all the pre-mixed cocktails is competing with mix-to-order, and generally the Wandering Barman series of on-tap mixed drinks have been successful.

Located at 315 Meserole Street, the new lounge sits at the epicenter of the most recent late-night district to emerge in the city. Meserole Street has become a party destination over the last few years with numerous dance and performance venues like 3 Dollar Bill and Now and Then.

Just down around the corner from the Montrose L, the warehouse district of East Williamsburg is becoming an increasingly crowded nightlife district.

The bar’s instagram shows off the space and some cocktails.

Happy hour is back, with discounts on drinks.

Wandering Barman Cocktail Brasserie 315 Meserole Street

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Wandering Barman Wins BevNET’s Inaugural Cocktail Showdown

Wandering Barman found victory in BevNET’s first ever Cocktail Showdown pitch competition today, emerging as the champion among a field of 10 ready-to-drink and ready-to-pour cocktail brands.

The New York-based brand sells seven varieties of cocktails with multiple base spirit options and varying alcohol content, including La Nina Margarita (tequila and bitters with marigold and kaffir lime, 20% ABV), Swipe Right (date-infused bourbon Old Fashioned, 34% ABV), Iron Lady (rose gin and hops sling, 20% ABV), FOMO (a vodka pineapple sling, 20% ABV), Socialite (an elderflower gin Old Fashioned with cucumber, 26% ABV), Boomerang (burnt maple bourbon Old Fashioned, 30% ABV) and Miss Casanova (spicy hibiscus Daiquiri with rum, 18% ABV). Each drink is sold for $5-$8 per 100 mL flask in retail.

Wandering Barman was spun off from Yours Sincerely, a New York draft cocktail bar that specializes in pre-made, pourable drinks. Founded by Julian Mohamed, Darren Grenia and Roxane Mollicchi, the company first began bottling its concoctions to sell to other bars and restaurants before later making the leap to the off-premise market.

“In the beginning when we were self-distributing we put zero energy into securing off-premise accounts,” Mohamed told the judges during the competition. “But after experiencing our cocktails in their favorite bars and restaurants, consumers were asking their local wine and liquor stores about our products. Before long those stores were contacting us to carry us.”

Judges during the competition included Heidi Dillon Otto, managing director of Distill Ventures – North America; Molly Horn, manager of cocktail strategy at Total Wine & More; and Tony Abou-Ganim, owner of The Modern Mixologist.

The judges praised the brand’s complex craft formulations, refined labels and its strategy of initially targeting on-premise accounts before expanding into retail.

“The recipes, the cocktails, the form, the bottle, the artwork just delivers something unique,” Otto said. “I think consumers are looking for elevated experiences, they’re curious about ingredients and they want to have really interesting choices across the board. We’re seeing that more and more and you guys have really nailed all three of those.”

Wandering Barman competed alongside nine other RTD cocktail brands, including Brody’s Crafted Cocktails, Fishers Island Lemonade, DRNXMYTH, Drifter Cocktail Co., Griffo Distillery, Loverboy, Plain Spoke Cocktail Company, Post Meridiem Spirit Company and Tip Top Proper Cocktails.

The inaugural Cocktail Showdown reflected the influx of new entrants into the fast emerging ready-to-drink cocktail space. The competitors showcased a wide range of cocktail types from classic concoctions like Negronis and Daiquiris to easy-to-sip spiked teas to rich, craft recipes.

As the winner, Wandering Barman will receive an engraved trophy, a $10,000 ad package from BevNET, and highly coveted bragging rights.

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• NYC Restaurant News

A ‘Brewery’ Dedicated to Bottled Craft Cocktails Is Headed to Williamsburg

Wandering Barman will make batch cocktails on site, serve it on tap, and sell bottled versions at local stores

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Bottled cocktails are by no means the height of sophistication, as far as their craft cocktail reputation goes. Over the last year few years however, they’ve been steadily carving a respectable niche in the market with eye-catching illustrations on bottles and a growing presence in bars and restaurants in New York City and beyond.

One of the companies leading that charge is Wandering Barman . The Brooklyn-based bottled cocktail brand — with its colorful, playful branding — launched in 2018 and has quickly developed a solid following in the last two years. It’s now available in more than 123 locations in city, including reputable venues like Roberta’s, Marlow and Sons, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Buoyed by that success, the team behind Wandering Barman is set to debut a first of its kind cocktail brewpub in Williamsburg this summer called the Wandering Barman Cocktail Laboratory and Tasting Room . And while there are plenty of bars in NYC selling cocktails on tap, this new brewpub at 315 Meserole Street, near Bogart Street, will go one step further by producing batch cocktails on site — making them available on tap.

Julian Mohamed , Roxane Mollicchi , and Darren Grenia , the trio behind Wandering Barman, developed their craft at the popular Bushwick cocktail bar Yours Sincerely, which they recently sold to focus on their new venture. “People said you can’t put cocktails on tap and make them good,” says Mohamed, “but we’re shifting perspectives on batched cocktails.”

Drinks at Wandering Barman include a date-infused old fashioned called Swipe Right; a spicy daiquiri called Miss Casanova; a pineapple, vodka, and turmeric creation called Fomo; and a margarita infused with makrut lime leaves called La Nina Margarita. All of the cocktails will be priced between $10 to $11, but people who took part in an ongoing fundraiser for the bar will get a discount ($8 cocktails). The brewpub will also have a rotating menu of to-be-determined small bites.

The bar and production facility are located on the ground floor of a large three-story office and retail development that’s currently under construction. When the cocktail spot opens on July 1 this year, it will seat between 50 to 60 people and have standing room for more. Customers visiting the bar will be able to sign up for tours to watch the cocktails being made by hand there, and everything made in the back will be available on tap in the front. Bar goers won’t, however, be able to purchase bottles on site — liquor license rules prevent that, and the owners prefer it that way.

“We really wouldn’t be around without the support of local business, and we really want to push our customers who are interested in buying bottles to go purchase them from those stores,” says Mollicchi.

The cocktail production facility and bar is a culmination of a multi-year effort. Following their success with batch cocktails at Yours Sincerely, the trio began bottling their cocktails out of a facility in Ridgewood, Queens. Soon, restaurants and liquor stores throughout the city were stocking their goods.

The cocktails are particularly popular at music venues like National Sawdust in Williamsburg and the Blue Note Jazz Club in the Greenwich Village; in fact, music venues account for the largest portion of their sales, presenting an option for people who don’t want a beer, says Mollicchi. They’re also popular at several bars where they’re often a way for bartenders to save time and serve more customers.

NYC — and the rest of the country — is home to plenty of bars selling batch cocktails, like East Village’s Amar y Amago and the Wayland. Bottled cocktails have been around for years , but with the rise of craft cocktails, the bottled versions became less romantic and took a backseat.

But bars like Yours Sincerely are part of a small group of bars in the city that have re-popularized them in recent years. Next month, Wandering Barman will begin selling its bottled cocktails in the nation’s capital and five different states: New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Georgia. California and Colorado are set to follow in the second quarter of 2020, which is also around the time the cocktail brewpub will open in Williamsburg.

Wandering Barman Cocktail Laboratory and Tasting Room

Pho ga is having its nyc moment, the winning cocktail that’s breaking records at the u.s. open, danny meyer-backed salt & straw pops up ahead of its first nyc location.

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Brooklyn-bred, industry-proven. We are bartenders, waiters, managers – and now owners – with decades of experience serving New York City. Every cocktail is handcrafted at our lab in Brooklyn. Stop by next time you’re in the neighborhood.

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Bushwick Entrepreneurs Tap an Open Market with Handcrafted Bottled Cocktails

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Cover photo by Adam Kasper

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