"At Run for the Roses, you’ll be presented with a list of seasonal and large-format cocktails; a reserve list of about 12 drinks showcasing rare and vintage spirits; a several-page wine list; and a deck of cards, each of which is printed with a classic cocktail—52 in all, of course. (Whew.) That said, the simple answer is to start with one of the seasonal offerings: Maybe you’ll go for a sweet-and-sour sensation like the Good Magic starring vodka, vermouth, and sage-infused melon liqueur, maybe a punch-packer like the Atswhatimtalkingabout, combining two types of Scotch, artichoke amaro, and peppered pineapple puree. Once you’re confident of their abilities, you might take a deep breath and blow anywhere from $50 to nearly $100 on a single trophy cocktail, such as a Zombie featuring rums from the 1960s and 1970s. Or you might switch to a bottle of wine—the selection here is no afterthought. The level of the drinks along with the fact that Run for the Roses is open Thursday through Sunday nights underscores a larger point here: This is not a place you just casually drop by." - Ruth Tobias
