SPEND A DAY IN COLD SPRING, NY

Cold Spring is easily accessible by Metro North, and you can just hop right off the train and walk into town. The views of the Hudson Valley are so beautiful—the foliage, the water and the mountains are stunning. There are tons of hiking trails in the area, so most people you see walking around town are wearing leggings and carrying backpacks.

The happening lunch spot is Hudson Hil’s, but if you can’t get a table there, plenty of other cute restaurants line the main street. Spend the afternoon popping into shops and just walking around. Have a coffee along the river… It’s just an incredibly pleasant and easy adventure you can organize at the last minute.

GET CULTURED AT THE CLOISTERS

The Cloisters are another one of those things that every New York transplant has on their bucket list—and with good reason. This extension of The Met is one of the hidden gems of the city and worth the long journey to get there—split an Uber with friends or take the A train all the way to 190th and then walk about 10 minutes.

Along with the oft-photographed cloister itself—containing pristine, lovely gardens and statues and fountains—the inside of the museum itself is rather incredible. Take your time roaming the medieval galleries and do yourself a favor and look up why there are so many unicorns in the artwork.

The Cloisters offer beautiful views of the Hudson River, and give you plenty of reasons to just take a seat and spend some time breathing in the fresh air and feeling the warm sunshine on your face.

STAYCATION AT THE PARKER MERIDIAN

If you’re feeling particularly indulgent and determined to have access to a body of water this weekend, why not book a staycation at The Parker Meridien? This luxe hotel pool boasts incredible views of Central Park and a tiered outdoor sundeck—so while I’d recommend spending as much of the weekend as possible wrapped in a white robe, you’ll also be able to work on your tan, sip many cocktails and take a refreshing dip without ever having to put on shoes. (Day passes for this pool are available for $150—but like for that price why not just get a room and make a weekend of it, amiright?)

BOWLING AT THE GUTTER

If you like bowling and cheap pitchers of beer, this is your spot. I definitely love both, and The Gutter is a welcome throwback to the dirty, old school smoke-filled alleys where I used to bowl in high school. (I was on the team, okay?) It’s a great option if it happens to rain this weekend or it’s just too damn hot, and you can fold it into a whole Williamsburg day with brunch at Allswell and summer jewelry shopping at Catbird. (If it is nice? Conclude your day with sunset rooftop drinks at The Ides at The Wythe.)

THE HONORABLE WILLIAM WALL

One of my all-time favorite summer activities in New York is an evening aboard The Honorable William Wall. This floating clubhouse (part of The Manhattan Yacht Club) not far from Ellis Island is accessible by a fleet of motorboats that ferry out from downtown Jersey City. $22 gets you a ride to and from the clubhouse, and once aboard, drinks are relatively inexpensive. My advice? Pack a picnic (there’s no food served) and head out in time for sunset. Grab a spot on the top deck that looks back at the NYC skyline and get tipsy while enjoying the cool breeze that can be hard to find within the sweltering city.

DAY TRIP TO FIRE ISLAND

After my first experience on Fire Island a few summers ago, I couldn’t quite believe how lovely it was, nor could I believe I hadn’t been before. I was told, “Don’t tell anyone.” So I won’t mention the beautiful beaches that feel like a cross between Montauk and The Shore, the $5 Long Island Iced Teas you can find in Kismet or the gorgeous pathways shrouded in sea grass and the lack of cars… Not a word.

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We feel the same way about whiskey: It is the foundation bottle around which your whole bar can be stocked. If you’ve found your way here (well done, by the way), we’ll go ahead and assume you’re not looking for justification regarding that bottle of Jack Daniels you buy every two weeks. No, you’re looking for something more refined—something to set you apart from the Calvin Klein clones and Hugo Boss bros—in a glass.

The good news is you don’t have to be living at the level of champagne wishes and caviar dreams to drink like a goddamn sophisticate. Whether you’re spending $200 or more than $2000 on your suit, building a wardrobe or investing in basics, we’ve got an expertly-chosen whiskey you can proudly display on your bar.

IF YOUR SUIT IS: Express Men (or Topman, Zara, etc.), $100 to $300

STOCK YOUR BAR WITH: Corner Creek Bourbon, $25 – $35

If you’re shopping for suits at fast fashion establishments and probably only spending between $150 and $300, it’s safe to say you’re probably just starting your professional life, and probably not living alone. With roommates, limited funds and the metabolism of your early 20s all in play, don’t waste your hard-earned disposable income on an 18-year scotch your buddy Kevin will inevitably mix with Coke at 4 a.m. next Saturday.

Keep a bottle of Corner Creek Bourbon on the bar. This is a whiskey that tastes great on its own, but won’t shame you to see your girlfriend mix it with a ginger ale. We consider this to be the ‘workhorse’ of bourbon, one so good that it might even change Kevin’s mind about drinking his late-night whiskey neat.

IF YOUR SUIT IS: The J.Crew ‘Ludlow’ suit in navy wool, $650

STOCK YOUR BAR WITH: Willet Family Estate Rye, $45 – $60

A classic starter suit you can wear year-round? What’s not to like about that? J.Crew changed the game when they debuted their Ludlow suit a few years back, and you can now find it in a range of fabrications and colors, but the navy Italian wool is timeless and incredibly versatile. It’ll set you back a cool $650, but that’s okay because you’re at the point where you’re investing in the wardrobe you’ll have for the next ten years at least. You live on your own, and when your buddies come over, you should be able to offer them a smooth-drinking whiskey on the rocks or throw together an Old Fashioned on the fly.

Your move here is a bottle of Willet Family Estate Rye. This rye is the perfect balance of pepper and spice—it stands well on its own but also shines in simple classic cocktails like the aforementioned Old Fashioned or a Manhattan. Buy it now, thank us later.

IF YOUR SUIT IS: The Bonobos Foundation Linen suit, $450

STOCK YOUR BAR WITH: Balcones Texas Single Malt, $80-$95

Bonobos’ collection of foundation cotton and linen suits are in that sweet spot of pricing that’s not cheap but not bank-breaking expensive, either. At about $450, this is the summer wedding suit you add to your rotation once you’ve got the standard navy wool on lock. It goes without saying (at least to us) that if you own more than one suit, you should have more than one bottle of liquor—and most definitely more than one whiskey—on your bar.

To add a little diversity to the game, we suggest Balcones Texas Single Malt. American single malts are an increasingly popular genre of whiskey these days, and on the top of our list of people who do it right are Balcones. This Waco, Texas-based distillery brings what we’d call ‘BIG Texas flavor’ to this delicious offering, and it’s one that will set your home bar apart from the pack.

IF YOUR SUIT IS : SuitSupply’s grey wool ‘JORT’ suit, $999

STOCK YOUR BAR WITH: Charbay III, $400-$500

If you’re spending just south of $1000 on a grey patch-pocket Italian wool suit with flat-front cuffed trousers, it’s safe to say you’re not fucking around. Your bar shouldn’t be either. With a taste level this obvious—you need a whiskey with a little bravado. Along with a standard high-quality bourbon and a nice scotch you can sip on, invest in a bottle of Charbay III.

This rare release from the good people at Charbay is extremely unique. It all started in 1999 with a micro-brewed pilsner from Northern California, 20,000 gallons of which was hand-distilled to produce just 24 barrels. This, the third release, was aged for six years in French Oak and another eight years in neutral vessels. Yeah. This whiskey is more complex than a Robert Frost poem.

IF YOUR SUIT IS: Gucci, Canali, Zegna, or bespoke, $2000 and up

STOCK YOUR BAR WITH: Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon, $75-$95

If you’re buying suits from Savile Row establishments or getting a custom fit from Canali, Zenga and the like, congratulations and welcome to the big leagues. Custom suiting and a perfectly tailored fit aren’t about being a showoff, so don’t even think about stocking your bar with the most expensive bottle at your local liquor store just because you can. You’re about subtle elegance, my friend. You like the kind of perfection that walks up behind you and taps you lightly on the shoulder before wordlessly shaking your hand, silently signaling a mutual understanding and unbreakable bond.

If we could bottle up that feeling and pour it into a glass, we’d go with Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon. We don’t want to describe this one too much, but let’s just say it’s smoother than a Sade song. Trust.

Much like your best suit, your whiskey of choice is a calling card, and one that can change, elevate and evolve right alongside your wardrobe. Don’t be afraid to try something new, take a few risks and for God’s sake… Hide the good stuff from Kevin.

Creative Credit: Griffin Moore and Ryan Mcelwain

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The post How To Stock Your Bar Based on Where You Buy Your Suits appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.