Posted on June 2, 2024 — by Rachel Green 💋
So… This All Started With a Martini and a Misunderstanding
Okay. Picture this: It’s a rainy Thursday evening in Soho, and I’m wearing the boots. You know. The suede Stuart Weitzmans I Definitely Shouldn't have worn in the rain. I’d just come from a very enlightening (read: dangerous to my wallet) trip to The RealReal when I saw a small chalkboard sign outside what looked like a shuttered bookstore. It simply read:
“Tasting tonight. Ask for Charlie. Password: Rosemary.”
I don't know what came over me. Maybe it was the mist. Maybe it was the divine intervention of a dry martini calling my name. But reader—I asked for Charlie. I said “Rosemary.” And just like that, my whole night changed.
The Velvet Curtain Opens—Literally
Behind a bookshelf (yes, really—what is this, Narnia for foodies?), a woman in vintage Chanel led me downstairs. We descended into what I can only describe as a candlelit heaven of jazz, perfume, and cocktail shakers. And everyone… looked cool. Like, ‘editor-at-Vogue-who-sometimes-DJs-on-weekends’ kind of cool.
At first, I tried to pretend I totally knew what I was doing. “Oh, yes, I love mezcal—I’m such a smoke girl.” (Note: Not true. I used to think mezcal was a skincare brand.)
Then the bartender, a Dead Poets Society-looking guy named Luca, asked, “You part of The List?”
I froze.
Before I could out myself as a complete fraud, a woman with a perfect bob and Comme des Garçons loafers whispered, “She’s with me.”
I mouthed a silent, fashionable “thank you,” and promised myself two things: 1) I wouldn’t blow my cover, and 2) I needed to get loafers.
What Even Is a Tasting Club?
Apparently, once a month, this group meets to blind taste cocktails based on a theme. Tonight’s theme? The Manhattan.
Umm. Hello? I’ve lived in Manhattan for years and never truly appreciated her in liquid form until now.
We sampled six versions—ranging from the classic rye-vermouth-bitters formula to one made with black truffle bitters (still processing), all served in dramatic, chilled stemware that probably had better fashion taste than some people I’ve dated.
Here’s what I learned:
✨ The Manhattan Cheat Sheet (From a Newly Converted Expert)
- Classic Manhattan – Rye, Sweet Vermouth, Angostura Bitters. Stirred, not shaken. Like a sharp bob haircut of a cocktail—simple, effective, very Anna Wintour.
- Perfect Manhattan – Equal parts sweet and dry vermouth. Balanced, chic, versatile. Like a trench coat for your mouth.
- Smoked Manhattan – They literally set wood on fire under a glass bell jar. I didn’t know whether to drink it or propose to it.
- The “Wrong” Manhattan – Someone (Luca, obviously) added cacao and orange zest. It was like biting into a cocktail that works in beauty PR.
You vote on your favorite by placing these tiny velvet roses into glass jars numbered 1 through 6. Très secret. Très Bachelor.
I Am That Girl Now
I walked out into the haze of downtown at midnight. The city felt different—more electric, weightless, purposeful. Maybe it was the vermouth talking, or maybe it was realizing there's a whole side of New York I still haven't discovered—and I'm living here.
Being an influencer (ugh, I hate calling myself that—can we just say “curator of beautiful moments”?) so much of my day is figuring out what’s trending. But this? This club? This night? It was ageless. Like a red lip, or a slip dress, or Barbra Streisand.
So yeah. I’m a Manhattan girl now. In geography, in spirit, and in glass.
Final Thoughts (and a Tiny Bit of Wisdom)
If you ever catch a glimpse of a chalkboard in New York with an obscure word and a mood—you follow it.
“Sometimes the city shows you a different version of yourself. Let her.”
Oh! And if anyone reading this happens to know a guy named Luca with a martini tattoo, tell him I still dream about the one with the cherry foam. And also maybe him. Just a little.
Until next time, lovers.
Stay curious, stay stylish, and—pro tip—never say no to a secret club. Especially if it comes with a garnish.
xoxo
Rachel 💋
💬 What’s the most unexpected night you’ve ever had in NYC? I want to hear everything. Drop it in the comments.
👠 PS: I ordered the loafers. Obviously.
