Time again to get up close (read: nosy) with bartenders from all walks of New York City life to learn what the people pouring your drinks
really think about you. This time, we kicked it bar-side with Shawn Sugrue, an outgoing, seasoned bartender at the Meatpacking District's swanky steak joint
STK. Apart from giving us a glimpse into the mind of the working bartender, Sugre spilled about dumb drinks, rock 'n' roll, cheap swingers—and nurtured our newfound love of gin.
Do you live around here?I live in Brooklyn. On the border of Bushwick and Williamsburg.
What made you become a bartender in the Meatpacking District?I was a bar back at
Vento and
Level V and wanted to make money. I trained with Eben Klemm, who’s still a good friend.
What’s the bar crowd like here? Seriously. You know, it really depends. It’s a big mix—people in their 20s, finance and bankers, big groups of women.
So, I know Tenjune is downstairs. You must hear a lot of plotting to get in. All the time. People will tell me they’re going [there] and I ask if they have a table. They say, "Oh, we don’t need a table." They leave and 10 minutes later they’re back. People have asked me to take them through the back door. And some think this is actually Tenjune.
What's something people order that really makes you cringe? Mojitos. They’re not satisfying and the work it takes [to make it] is inversely proportional to the effort it takes to drink it. I hate mojitos.
On your off-time, where do you like to chill?This neighborhood spot,
Harefield Road. A lot of restaurant industry people hang out there...I'll drink Makers on the rocks.
I heard you’re in a band? What's your sound?Yeah, it's a rock band [called] Serial Obsession. Kind of like Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver–type stuff. But I don't think we actually sound like anyone else.
You’re pretty cute—I take it you're the front man. Yeah.
Where do you gig? We have a residency at
Snitch, but plan to move to bigger venues as soon as we've got a a bigger fan base.
We ask every bartender: Have you had any really riduculous or insane customers? Two couples came in and they were, you know, drinking, dancing, making out. They ran up a $250 bar tab. Three quarters of the way through their visit, they switched partners. Then they got rowdy, so we cut them off. They weren’t happy, one of the guys says "we’re done here!,” gathered up his crew, closed out and left no tip. Cheap swingers.
I'm trying to get into gin. Can you mix me something?[
The result is Lillet Blanc, St. Germaine and Bombay]. It's called a Nordic Tease because it's made with Norweigan vodka, but I made it with gin, so I don't know what it would be called.
And lastly, what's your secret to curing a hangover?
The best way I know is to take a shot of Amaro. Fernet Branca works well, too, or even Jaeger if you’re desperate. Follow that by sipping a lot of ginger ale though a straw. I’m not going to lie, it makes you burp, but it works like a charm.
STK
Little W. 12th St.
between Ninth Ave. and Washington St.
646-624-2444
stkhouse.com
Photo: Perrie Samotin
