Merchants Cigar Bar
On this chilly Wednesday afternoon #KULINARYATRAVELS visits its fist ever cigar bar called Merchants Cigar Bar located at 1125 1st Avenue. Cocktails and cigars are a typical NY thing to do after a long day at work.
You and your friends all suited up go to your favorite watering hole and have a few cocktails and a smoke while you converse. It’s part of the NY working culture to hang out with an old fashioned in one hand and a cigar on the other hand.
Merchants Cigar Bar recently reopened in December of last year after a 4-year hiatus. It was established in 1996 as a sleek mid century styled lounge that transports guests to another place and time. Havana High Life is the feel and vibe of the place, a time where indoor smoking was once legal, and the music went on until the early hours of the morning. Showcasing a robust cigar collection carrying names like Davidoff, Montecristo and Padron and a top shelf liquor cabinet, all key ingredients are set for a fun evening.
The cigar I chose was a Davidoff Grand Cru which was 6 X 54 and our editor chose the Padron 1926 Anniversario No. 90 Maduro which was 5 ½ X 52. Corleone’s choice was the cocktail that I started with which is with rye and bourbon. Their version of an old fashioned and the grand cru smoked perfectly with this cocktail.
Julian had the bluebird which is rum based and with curacao. He said that it tasted like a tropical paradise and the maduro was blending well with the blue cocktail.
The dry aged sliders was our starter and it was distinct with bourbon caramelized onions that gave the burger more umami and deeper flavors.
The foie gras with brandied cherries, fig jam and toast were next, and this has always been my favorite dish here. The foie gras was seared perfectly as always and cherries and jam compliment the sweet bread and rich foie.
My next cocktail was the ChiCha Morada Margarita with mezcal and jalapeño was a nice way to pair the rest of the cigar as the bold notes of the tobacco worked nicely with the spiciness of the margarita.
Finally the tuna crudo arrived which is with yellowfin, wasabi oil, yuzu and serrano chilis and it was the perfect time to have some raw fish. The fattiness of the yellowfin was perfect for the yuzu and wasabi and the crunchiness of the microgreens overall made a perfect bite.
As we slowly sip and puff the evening away you can rest assure that we will be back for more Merchants Cigar Bar in the future but for now #KULINARYATRAVELS is off for some Thai at Fish Cheeks…