While some of you may know Buddakan as that it spot in the Meatpacking District where Carrie Bradshaw had her Rehearsal Dinner (or maybe that’s just me?), Buddakan is also known for its majestic dining nooks, elegantly high ceilings, and perfectly layered cocktails. In a restaurant as flashy and chic as Manhattan has seen, it’s only fitting the drinks keep up. With a trendy, super stylized Asian-fusion theme and a vibe that doesn’t disappoint, the bar at Buddakan can be a great place to begin (or end) a night in New York City. We were lucky enough to catch up with fabulous bartender EV, who showed us a thing or two about creating one of Buddakan’s signature cocktails, the Longevity, in the video below. This drink could very well be one of our favorites, and is a particularly delicious mix of sweet and sour with a sharp bitter punch!
In this Stephen Starr restaurant that doesn’t steer far from a glitzy nightclub feel, guests are wooed with sizzling cocktails, sexy spot-on bartenders, and innovative Asian cuisine. The experience at Buddakan is big, theatrical and fun, with food and drinks that tastefully compare. If you’re interested in more of their creative cocktails and imaginative dishes, check out Buddakan’s website here.
Longevity Ingredients
Steps
1. Start with 1 1/2 oz. of Byejoe liquor in the dragon fire flavor. This Chinese spirit is artfully distilled in East China and used as the base in Buddakan’s Longevity cocktail.
2. Add a shot of apricot distilled brandy.
3. Add 1/4 oz. of Soho Lychee flavored liquor. The lychee nut is a rare Asian fruit that grows on trees with smooth gray bark and dark green leaves. These colorful nuts are similar in shape to the strawberry and have a bright red and textured outer shell.
4. Add 3/4 oz. of blood orange puree.
5. Add 3/4 oz. of lemon juice.
6. Add a dash of orange bitters to create balance in the cocktail.
7. Drop crushed ice into the ingredients.
8. Give it a strong shake for about ten seconds.
9. Pour into a martini glass, and garnish by rubbing an orange peel on the rim.
10. Feel free to get creative and dress up the glass with different fruits and flavors.
Head to our Guest Chefs section for more amazing videos w/ New York’s top chefs/bartenders!
Have you been to Buddakan or have another favorite Asian-influenced cocktail? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Lauren is a New York-based writer from Nashville. She’s lived in Paris and Italy, loves eating her way around new destinations, and considers herself a French fry connoisseur. She can often be found in Central Park training for her next marathon, hunting for the best homemade pasta in Manhattan, or petting dogs on the sidewalk. She loves dancing, camping, snowboarding and photography and considers coffee a major food group. Lauren resides in the East Village of Manhattan where she is working on a book about her big dog, Gizelle.
