Damon's Departure

I have been a fan of Brooklyn Heights' Jack the Horse Tavern and its gifted lead bartender Damon Dyer (pictured abovd), ever since it opened its doors back in 2006. From the moment I first sipped one of Damon's Manhattans, I realized that I had found my new neighborhood hang - a hang that came with the added benefit of a friendly mixology geek behind the bar with whom I could wax poetic about Chartreuse, bitters, Rye Whiskey and alike.

But as of last night, an era has come to a close. Damon is moving on. Where to, he doesn't exactly know, but he thinks its time to expand his cocktailing horizons.

So, I sidled up to the bar for one more of his cocktails before he hit the road...

I sipped my Broken Max slowly - a well-balanced mix of gin, Chartreuse, pineapple juice and muddled rosemary - watching him shake, stir and muddle for the throngs at the bar. I couldn't help but wonder if this was the last drink by Damon that I would ever imbibe...But happily, before I left - with a wink and a nod - Damon insisted it wouldn't be.

Will he open his own hot spot in the nabe? Will he join the ranks of barkeeps at Julie Reiner's new Clover Club?

Stay tuned.

Comments

[Maxwell]

I know many of you are disappointed to see Damon on his way as am I. But i must assure you that is no reason to turn your backs to Jack the Horse Tavern. I have been a friend of Damon’s for close to two years, a co-worker of his 1 and a half years, and his protégé in that time. I have studied very closely with him and many other bartender greats of the city, and I will do my best to honor his name and the cocktail itself. I am sad to see him go, but honored to be given this opportunity. Our cocktail menu will always have the “Man of Leisure”, as it was conceived at Jack the Horse, a landmark cocktail of the restaurant. I am delighted to inform the patrons and aficionados of cocktails that the menu has also got a lot of new drinks, using innovative recipes based off of the original models of cocktail conception, as well as couple of my own creations. So please come and join me at Jack the Horse for a cocktail or three and know that though personality has changed behind the bar, our drinks will remain true to our customers. I man the stick tuesday, wednesday, friday, and saturday evenings, I look forward to shaking your Man of leisure’s, and stirring your manhattans.

-Maxwell
Principal Barkeep
Jack the Horse Tavern

p.s. Damon created the Broken Max because he was stuck behind the bar everyday of the week for about a month due to a broken back I got from a car accident.

[The Vamp]

I would like to heartily confirm Maxwell's posting. The bartending staffers at Jack the Horse Tavern are more than keeping up the tradition of first-class cocktail shaking and stirring begun by Damon. Definitely shake or stir yourself over to their bar to take advantage of one of the finest cocktail lists in Kings County.