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Whiskey cocktails, such as this Sazerac from Sable Kitchen & Bar, can make the spirit more approachable and beginner-friendly for customers who are not used to drinking it. shaped like a pot still and etched with Sable's logo. Customers can purchase the glasses to take home as souvenirs. Whiskey Cake Kitchen takes cool care of its spirits. Bartenders choose from three kinds of ice—balls, slow-melting cubes and shaved—depending upon the drink, while specialty glassware is used for neat shots. A blackboard displays off-menu, limited- run whiskies. "There is a certain draw to rare and unusual whiskeys, and American, Canadian, Scottish and Irish styles side by side. The bar also holds monthly tastings in a private room, at which industry professionals share their knowledge with customers and staff. At Sable Kitchen, Ryan once donned a Mexican wrestling we want to offer products no one else has," explains Elliott at Whiskey Kitchen. Exotic isn't enough, however, he cautions, quality has to be in the bottle, or it won't sell. The restaurant offers 1-oz.- and 2-oz. shots; the first is a tasting portion, and the second the standard pour. "That allows customers to try more whiskeys without too much of an investment," says Elliott. Flights include three 1-oz. pours; guests can choose from any three on the list, which is discounted 10%. Whiskey Wednesdays at Sable means a curated flight of four For beginners, Prendeville recommends first exploring mask to spar with Kimpton's master sommelier Emily Wines in a Whisky versus Wine event, which paired a six-course dinner with selected whiskies and wines. "It ended in a tie," recalls Ryan. Besides Sable's regular tastings and dinners, an upcoming Winter Whiskey Wonderland program will devote the drinks menu to whiskey cocktails from all over the world. EXPANDING IMPORTANCE The world of whisky keeps expanding, in terms of customers' ¾-oz. pours for $25, which includes take-away informational cards. Flights focus variously on styles, distilleries, grains, production methods and other arcana. "With so many whiskeys, the list can be overwhelming for some customers," says Prendeville at Barrel 44, speaking of the venue's four-page book. "Our staffers are educational ambassadors to help customers explore their preferences." That includes custom flights of any whiskeys on the list, as well as set selections. www.cheersonline.com appreciation, operators' selections and import options. Even though Japan has crafted fine whisky for decades, only now is it appearing widely in this country. India is now making a splash in the U.S. market., and more examples from France, Sweden, Germany and other countries will be debuting here as well. "We are going to see an even wider range of choices [as] Thomas Henry Strenk is a Brooklyn-based freelancer who writes about all things drinkable. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012 | 31 whisky is being produced in just about every country in the world," says Ryan at Sable. "It's going to be amazing."