Botanica at Widow Jane

We stopped in for a couple of drinks and flights. I've been a big fan of Widow Jane 10yr bourbon, but I haven't had the chance to try many others in my area. I tried a flight with Lucky 14, Decadence and The Vaults. All were good, but by a landslide I lived The Vaults. It's a blend of their oldest bourbons and aged a second time. Everyone with me enjoyed their cocktails. It's a cool space with a cool and knowledgeable staff.9

I really enjoyed my evening of cocktails at Botanica. The location is spectacular, and the staff is even more so. The cocktails are fun and creative, and there’s nothing better than enjoying some cocktails down by the sunset in Red Hook. I recommend the old-fashioned, especially if it is a chilly day.

Cocktails here are incredible. I’m not even a whiskey drinker, but everything I’ve had is delicious. The bar is nice, but I’d prefer being able to drink in the actual distillery.

Wow wow wow. Where there’s a Will there’s a way! Thanks Will!!! Our cocktails were made to perfection. There’s something to be said for taking your time- it yields the best results. Can’t wait to come back!!! Will what nights are you tending bar?!

amazing cocktails and amazing staff. I had a clarified prickly pear margarita.

Delicious cocktails! We got lucky and a table opened up just in time for us to enjoy a couple drinks. We also got the pickles which were surprisingly fantastic.

If you love Widow Jane's ryes and bourbons then their Botanica bar attached to the distillery will not disappoint. Stop in for a flight of some of their harder to find spirits or enjoy one of their excellent cocktails (they have other spirits, beer, and wine even if you aren't super into whiskey).

It was very loud and small inside, they have a wide variety of drinks, especially ones with their house spirits which is cool.

While in the area, we stumbled across this bar which was right up my alley. They have a great selection of whiskey and most of their cocktails are whiskey-based as well. The vibes are classy with an entire wall of bottles lit up for a nice ambiance. Since we had our pup with us, we sat in the patio. I ordered the Rye Tea Punch ($16) while the boyfriend got the 10 Year Old Fashioned ($16). It was so cute how my drink came in a little clear teacup, which was a nice touch. The only thing that was disappointing was the slow service. We had asked for the check, but it never came around after waiting 15 minutes. We had reservations to get to, so the delay was annoying. I ended up walking up to the bartender to close out the tab since we never got our check.

We stopped in for a couple of drinks and flights. I've been a big fan of Widow Jane 10yr bourbon, but I haven't had the chance to try many others in my area. I tried a flight with Lucky 14, Decadence and The Vaults. All were good, but by a landslide I lived The Vaults. It's a blend of their oldest bourbons and aged a second time. Everyone with me enjoyed their cocktails. It's a cool space with a cool and knowledgeable staff.

Service is insanely slow here. And staff if actually sassy when you asked them about it. Vibe and drinks are good but not worth it.

No food, just tasting and some snacks. Service was good and the ambit was excellent. Nice place for a drink and relax. Need to park in the streets.

I came here for my birthday for some drinks after dinner and at first the vibes were uncertain. The reason I say that is because I was wearing the pinkest Barbie-core dress and walking into this place it was giving Wednesday Adams. Nevertheless they had great drinks and the playlist was lots of Frank Ocean which is always great. I believe they are known for their Whiskey which they make in house and I'm not a whiskey girl, but my friends that ordered it loved it. I had one of their cocktails called "The Spider" which includes Tequila Ocho Plata, Passion Fruit, Grapefruit and Cynar. It was really good I had two. The server was told that it was my birthday and they surprised our table with free shots of tequila or whiskey. Such a lovely place, will have to return soon !

Stopped by after the Formula E race just a couple min walk away. They were definitely seeing a lot of post-event business but were great in trying to accommodate all the groups they could. They have large french doors that they leave cracked open so it's a nice place to enjoy warm weather while being "indoors." I am not big in brown liquor but I tried some whiskey cocktails while there and they did not disappoint! Their tequila cocktail was great as well.

My friend sent me a message on Saturday afternoon saying Hey we should go to Widow Jane distillery after tasting a bottle at her sister's house over the Thanksgiving holiday. As a lover of all the whiskies, of course I would check out all the offerings in this local maker. We arrived and found parking right out front (this would change after our tasting) and there was a cordial, lone bartender and a few people in the bar, sipping on short glasses of clear, bronzed liquid. The decor itself is vintage and minimal, with micro touches of yesteryear and the technology of today. We decided to try a flight each, consisting of four, 0.5oz shots of the 12 year, both ryes and the Baby Jane. We also ended up sampling a 91 proof, 10 year named Decadence, a velvety indulgence..... a strong contender for the group fav. The longer well mulled and discussed the flavors, the more relaxed the bartender became. Of the tasting board we liked the Applewood & Oak Rye and of course, the smoothness of the decadence. To challenge the flavor profile, I always place a sliver of lime in the glass to see how it may create depth, and the transformation was spectacular. Due to the space being short-staffed, we had to wait for a group to return from their tour in order to purchase stocking stuffers for relatives from the gift shop (chocolate bars and bourbon barrel syrup). The I will surely be back to try some of the signature cocktails and hopefully get a chance to buy the 50ml bottles for mini gifts next time.

Visited Botanica At Widow Jane on Friday evening. A cool concept, attaching a stylish cocktail bar to a distillery, but in terms of service and drink execution, there was a lot to desire. Quality: After passing by several times over the last few months, finally saw the doors open at Botanica. This cocktail bar attached to Widow Jane Distillery has a cool look that immediately grabbed my attention. Unfortunately, the drinks and the service were not quite up to par. The menu is simple, with eight classic whiskey cocktails, three tequila based cocktails, a whiskey flight, and few other beverages made elsewhere. Not feeling up for a whiskey flight, my girlfriend and I both ordered a whiskey cocktail. She went with the Paper Jane, which had the 10-year bourbon, aperol, vigo amaro, and lemon peel. I always feel aperol takes over a drink, and here it was no different, not really giving a showcase to the whiskey. I selected the Soured Widow, with their American oak rye, lemon, simple syrup, egg white, and bitters. Something just didn't sit right with it, I think it may have been over-sweetened and it clashed too much with the rye. Neither drink left us eager for more, and I left without a true sense of the alcohol they make. Quantity: A bit disappointed with the strength and size of the pours. Value: $16 for Whiskey Cocktails. Ambiance: Botanica At Widow Jane is a cool little cocktail bar attached to a distillery in Red Hook. It is in a the bottom floor of a large red brick building. Tall glass windows, that fully open line the bar space, flooding it with light. On cooler days I'm sure tables spread to outside, but with the sun still out the tables were bunched in the shaded indoor area. A wood bar lines the far wall, with the different alcohols on display. They also had an industrial fan inside to keep the air moving. Crowd: It is a pretty small space and not somewhere you just stumble upon. Unless they add some food items or host events, I have a hard time imagining it too busy. Service: They had three people working and only five total guests, so there was no excuse for how long it took to get our relatively simple cocktails. Parking: Plenty of street parking in this relatively deserted area of Red Hook.

We found this hidden gem while exploring Red Hook on a Friday evening. The ambiance lured us in immediately! The turquoise walls, mirror gallery wall, exposed shelves with bottles of whiskey and oversized doors set the mood. Oliver took the time to walk us through the history of Widow Jane, a distillery crafting some tasty whiskey! We look forward to taking a private tour of the distillery and learn more about this beautiful craft right in our backyard. Highly recommend this experience.

A trip to RedHook requires a nightcap here. Ambiance, Service, Delicious Drinks.. Definitely plan to make another visit

Great place in Redhook. Servers are very attentive. Nice place to relax and have a drink. The light snack are good. Flights are wonderful, but the mixed drinks are fantastic. They have made a fan of whiskey out of me! We try to go at least twice a month, as locals it is a fun spot. To bad they are not open every day of the week.

Lovely service and drinks. I adore the atmosphere and friendly vibe here. I come to Botanica often even though I don't drink alcohol! Last time I sipped on some mulled cider, snacked on their rosemary roasted nuts, and read a book. They have some good non-alcoholic cocktails too.

Passed this place last night. Looked lovely. I am fond of widow jane bourbon. So we stopped in and I ordered the Rye. Excellent. The staff was extremely friendly. Will return.

Shocked this place didn't have more folks on a Saturday night. Their loss. My win. I had the most wonderful time and bartender in Stephen. The cocktails and conversation were dope. Seriously. And if you don't want a cocktail on the menu (although The Magnolia and Hot Toddy are delicious, and you'd be sad to not order them), he can make you something off the cuff based on your preferred spirit and taste. So, You're Welcome! Enjoy!

Super cool spot. Beautiful decor, great vibe, cool crowd, great music, and most of all great drinks. The bartender did this cool thing where he lit some absinthe on fire and then poured the flaming liquid on the bar top, which happened to be a better light show than the "art exhibit" we just came from around the corner. Overall great spot. Would come again.

Botanical at Widow Jane is a lovely venue. Jacob the bartender/manger is amazing! Looking forward to my next visit.

Wonderful, friendly staff!! Had the best time. Cocktails were delish! Will def go back next time we're in Red Hook.

"Simple syrup is a staple here. It's in most drinks". Said the server. This is why I'll never return. I had been here in 2011 and I remember it being fresher - and I also remember them touting their fresh fruits and ingredients... How they made their craft cocktails like scientists. But now - sugary syrup is their staple and default. It's clear in the drinks. Save your money.

Very cute, intimate, off the beaten path. With vegan juices etc by day, and fancy cocktails by night ( all fresh fruits, veggies, herbs, etc) open air, and very romantic! Would have 5 stars, but no good food selection. Tapas, empanadas, but not for a hearty meal, if that's what you're looking for! I bet the food is excellent, but I did not try it!

We literally waited twenty minutes before someone took our drink order. I get that they only had two bartenders working, and I get that it's a popular place. But it wasn't even full (Sunday between lunch and dinner), and one of the bartenders was the one to seat us outside, so she definitely knew we were there. We watched other people walk in, grab a table or a seat at the bar and get served before us. Sat down a little before 7, ordered at 7:15 and finally got our drinks at 7:30. I mean, I know Red Hook is a chilled out neighborhood, but even I have my limits. We really wanted to try multiple cocktails, but ended up settling for one each because the service was so bad. I got the gin gin mule, which was made with gin, ginger peppercorn and mint. A decent drink for $12, but not worth half an hour's wait. If you're coming here, I suggest sitting at the bar. I do have to say that the space is really nice. There are floor to ceiling windows that open out all the way. There are a handful of tables outside. And the inside has high ceilings with a chandelier. I just wish the service was better.

This place looks stunning, like somewhere tropical. We got there around 11pm on a Friday, there was only one other couple and when they left we had the place to ourselves. The woman serving the cocktails talked me through them, then when I found the one she made too bitter, did a fine job of adding citrus/sweetness to make it to my taste.

My sister and I stopped here for a quick drink before going to This is Real. Great hand crafted cocktails and friendly bartender. I liked the vibe it reminded me of Miami. Ordered the green negroni, it did not disappoint.

Cuban-Hemingway style cocktail bar unique location. Nothing around it. Quiet and relaxing with great cocktails.

When our waiter came over, at first I thought he was strung out on cocaine. He swaggered over, leaning dramatically through the large open windows, and we had to repeat our order to him at least 3 times. After we left, we laughed and started taking odds on if our order would actually arrive. However, to our simultaneous relief and disappointment, it did. First note: the drinks here are outrageous. These guys know how to mix a good cocktail. Second note: the empanadas are crack. Pure. Crack**. Get 'em. There's no better place in Red Hook to start your evening. Go get your drink on. ** Perhaps the waiter was doing a little ole "one for you, two for me" with the crack.

The unreasonably loud music in this place really prevented my group from enjoying this place. Early on a Sunday evening and it was blasting obnoxious pop music. We heard from another patron that it's always like this. You could hear it down the street. It's not fun to have to yell to be heard in conversation. Too bad, this bar had potential.

Very delicious Martina's and I would absolutely come back. The bartenders were very welcoming to us. We came by when they were almost closing and they still served us! I appreciate the hospitality and delicious drinks.

DISASTROUS. We had a bridal shower here and the staff was unsophisticated and the owner impossible to deal with. The measly food portions were cold and overcooked. The chicken skewers were so tough a steak knife couldn't break through. They continuously pushed their cocktails on guests - overpriced and underwhelming - and charged an exorbitant amount of money for the space and their "services". I will NEVER return and I've made sure to share my feelings with friends and neighbors. This place needs new ownership STAT. It's clear they're barely treading water and are in dire financial straits to charge upwards of $14 a drink. I wish them nothing but a swift bankruptcy.

Hells yeah, I'm a fan and don't really get the haters. Pretentious? I think not. In fact, there's something very earnest about this unassuming spot that is kind of rare in these days of reservations being a "must" at cocktail lounges. Or, in the event that a place is too exclusive for reservations, one may even find herself waiting on line to be allowed inside (we're not talking about me, of course). Then again, Red Hook isn't exactly Wicker Park or the East Village (yet... hopefully never). So, here we have Red Hook's very own swank cocktail lounge. Good cocktails at a very reasonable price. I mean, $10 for an expertly mixed cocktail is unheard of. I wouldn't say what I ordered was anything mind-blowing (that's what happens when you order something on the sweet side. I'll have to go back and try something a bit more dry). No matter, sometimes you don't need mind-blowing and I wouldn't base my review on one cocktail alone. Rather, it's about the entire experience, which, I'm happy to report, is quite sublime here. I absolutely adore the ambiance. Those enormous metal and glass doors thrown open to allow in the rainy late summer evening breeze, for example. It has its own unique appeal (this is the first I've even been to a "Venetian-inspired cocktail lounge"). Botanica oozes that appeal, from the curled-up vintagy wall paper to the chandelier to the aforementioned huge doors opened up to a sidewalk area with several tables. I think it's kind of perfect, actually. I can almost hear the water lapping at the shoreline. Are we sinking? There's more to this place, though: there's the distillery (not yet in use) and chocolate factory. Go on and peek in the windows next door. I don't know what more they can do to make this place more fantastic, besides maybe heat and air conditioning so that it's open more than just six months a year? Though I do recall on a trip or two to Venice that not many places had central air either.

I love this place!! It has such a romantic feel to it. The drinks are very unique and well crafted. The bartender was great. I like to sit here on a rainy day and have a cocktail. It gives the place such a nice relaxing atmosphere.

Botanica, you still suck. You're still terribly inconsistent. And if I wanted all my cocktails to be that sweet, I'd go get a real dessert. Plus, if you're going to knock off cocktails, do it well.

This place is unnecessarily stuffy. But it can boast a pink crystal chandelier in the shape of an octopus and beautiful large windows. And when the sea breeze skims over the cobblestones on summer nights, I pretend I'm somewhere in the West Indies.

If you've never been, you're seriously missing out. It's a really vintage looking lovely open airy bar with beautiful views of Red Hook's cobblestone streets. I've never seen more than 5 or 6 people in there - it's a little understated and like another poster pointed out, the schedule seems to be a little weird. I was told that they're open usually from 5/6pm to around 11pm or so. It kind of depends on how busy/quiet they are, which is understandable given the location. Honestly though, you won't find a better place to just chill out and enjoy Red Hook during a sunset while sipping a solid cocktail with local booze. The bartender, Mike, is awesome - we had so much fun chatting with him and he really knows his booze but is not at all pretentious about it either like some asshat "mixologists" - I really had difficulty choosing but ended up going with the Hemmingway which was insanely perfect. My husband got the Blood and Sand which was also very good - both were equally balanced and tasted like entirely new concoctions - not one ingredient stood out above the others. Whoever designed this menu really knows what they're doing.

Creative and delicious cocktails in a tranquil setting. The bartender was very attentive. However, I would not recommend ordering food here. I passed by the kitchen which is located next to the bathroom. The kitchen door was opened and unattended. There were mosquitos flying around and open containers of hummus, pretzels and strawberries. Nothing was refrigerated.

This review is only pertaining to cocktails. Upon entering Botanica my party of 5 was immediately seated. The waitress was very kind and offered her suggestion on some awesome cocktails. The cocktails are about $11 each and are on the smaller side. The good news is that Botanica uses fresh ingredients and their cocktails pack a punch. They also have freshly made carbonated cocktails as well. They seal them on site in these cute glass bottles. This is a very open outdoorsy place. It is not air conditioned but I enjoyed that. The setting is nice and even though you are in a huge city it felt very quaint. If you are in the Red Hook area and want a cool place to sit down and sip a cocktail made with absinthe, try Botanica!

Small plates and fresh cocktails. If you are like me and have never walked by this place, it is definitely worth finding. Located next to a chocolate maker deep in the parts of Red Hook, you'll find this open airy corner cocktail spot. Not many menu food options, but lots of great cocktails with all uber fresh ingredients. I got the personal favorite summer drink thus far: otro clavo. Basically a grown up soda of aperol, st. germain, pineapple, almond tincture and carbonation. Served with a slice of grapefruit rind. Refreshing. The wife got the stiletto...an absinthe rinsed prosecco cocktail with strawberry shrub, campari and lunazul blanco. Not sure what half the ingredients were, but both drinks were awesome. The place is really great for drinks. The menus are laser etched into wood. Really cool. We discovered this place totally by accident after our kayak adventure down by the park. Looking forward to the next time I can get here.

Oh botanica...if only. I saw this space when I originally came to Widow Jane/Cacao Prieto next door and thought it was just gorgeous with it's open windows and sidewalk cafe-tables. So when I made a special trip to come back for a cocktail, I was extremely disappointed with the HORRENDOUS service. Not only did it take an eternity to track down someone to take our drink order, it took even longer to get our drinks, and even longer still to get a check once we were done. And this was around 6pm. On a Sunday. A not-particularly-busy Sunday, I might add. Also, I appreciate quality of liquor and don't need a cocktail as big as my head (no, no, I do not want to go to Chilis for the all you can drink $5 margarita special...) and while the mismatched vintage glassware was lovely, it just....doesn't hold much, and the drinks are standard prices. I also don't really understand their erratic hours.

The natural tendency for all human beings when they experience something for the first time, aka, something they have never known, or never seen, is to hate on it... Now, I don't mean that they "hate on it" for zero reasons, but I mean that we are wired to look for all of the faults in something, whenever we see it for the first time, as opposed to just loving it until it lets us down... Make sense? I approached this beautiful criminal with extreme caution. I too have been fooled many times before by a beauiful exterior with a shallow interior, but NOT this time... Or, at least that's what I thought in my mind. One way or the other, this place wrapped its charm around me and I am loving it. The energy the decor during and after sunset, the lighting. Come by, sit outside, order a cigar and some whiskey, and enjoy life.

Watery drinks. Little and Weird food. HORRIBLE service as in we had to ask multiple times to get service and multiple times to get the check. All around awful.

Just great! Refreshing and unpretentious! Ultimate service!

Their bourbon Manhattan is great. They also house both a peacock and a wolfdog next door. Be sure to ask your server about it.

Aaaamazing place and drinks!!!!! You get the best bartenders everrr... and you don't only get one bartender but 3 and an awesome manager!!!! If you haven't visit this place you are missing out!!! The drinks are amazing and they will make up something to your taste if you request it!!!love this place and will be back really soon!!!

Red Hook desperately needed an upscale bar with good cocktails, so when this one opened up, I was more stoked than Jeff Spicoli. My girlfriends and I went here one night and we were treated like the true classy broads that we truly most definitely are. The owner served us champagne with strawberries! His eagerness to please us was dumbfounding. But his eagerness to get this place up and running including all of the physical work he put into it himself, made me like it even more. Plus he's a fellow hooker, not some douche that just moved in trying to make a buck off of the block. The decor is perfect for the neighborhood. The interior is light, airy and spacious. It has huge floor to ceiling glass doors that open up onto the sidewalk. It's a large wide-open rustic space with a Parisian vibe. The water is only a block down the street about a hundred steps down the cobblestone street to the pier. The bar was lined with fresh fruit in martini glasses. I felt like I just went "uh duh yum" and pointed and i was served the drink of the year: a fresh blueberry martini. Soon they will have burlesque shows and music on the weekends. I can potentially see this becoming my new hang. This place deserves us. We will be back for sure.

Ugh. Overpriced and pretentious. Not at all what this neighborhood needs. Haven't tried their food yet, but don't plan on going back.

I really want to like this place, but there is something very off about it. The guys that own it seem genuinely nice and interesting people, but the people they have working for them annoy the piss out of me though. Very awkward service and just plain odd. The prices are a little out of whack for what this place is, where it is located and what they serve. If I am going to pay $14 for a glass of prosecco that comes from a $11 bottle, I certainly do not want it to be flat. I still haven't decided if it really adds anything at all to the neighborhood. You can get infused cocktails now at Hope & Anchor btw.

Great. I mean I gave it 5 stars. Great cocktails and a wolf dog lives next door. The waiter laughed at all of my jokes, which made feel at home (because I know not all or them were hilarious). But seriously, my friends and I (all from NY) really had a genuine good time.

Sadly, this place is open so irregularly that I hardly try to go anymore. I don't understand why they can't run a successful bar in this location because it has all the basics: good location, nice atmosphere, decent drinks and service. If they would just OPEN, and STAY open on a REGULAR schedule, like every other bar or restaurant, I am sure they would do well. Memorial Day has come and gone and several more beautiful weekends, but it's still not open. This weekend there will be hundreds if not 1000's of people walking around the neighborhood, but I guarantee you they will not be open. It so frustrating because it's one of my favorite places...when it's open.

Great cocktails, pleasant service and the multiple opening french doors to the outside are amazing. Great place.

This is a solid place. I showed up here at 2:30 am on a Friday night, and all of the curtains were closed. (The facade is consists of floor-to-ceiling windows). I knocked persistently for a good 2 - 3 minutes, and finally the curtains parted and I was ushered inside. Fast-forward an hour: well-plied with liquor, supplied in generous amounts by the extremely agreeable manager and bartender, and having cavorted with two upstanding Iadies - one a burlesque dancer! - I was on my happy way. Cool vibe, friendly people, good music, strong drinks.

Great place, fantastic staff, cool atmosphere. Only reason I only give 4 stars is there is NO food on weekdays. None at all not even a chip ... All that alcohol at least some snacks or nuts would be great...Still we love it and its a great addition to our neighborhood.

I'll admit I have a soft spot for Red Hook establishments, and without that bias this place might only get three stars. But I kind of enjoyed the "diamond in the rough" aspect of the joint, not to mention the tasty cocktails and jovial barkeep.