Robert Simonson

Contributing Editor

Robert Simonson writes about cocktails, spirits and bars for the New York Times. He is the author of The Old-Fashioned: The Story of the World's First Classic Cocktail (2014), A Proper Drink (2016) and 3-Ingredient Cocktails: An Opinionated Guide to the Most Enduring Drinks in the Cocktail Canon (2017).

Cocktails

In Search of the Ultimate French 75

We asked 13 of America's best bartenders to submit their finest recipe for the French 75—and then blind-tasted them all to find the best of the best.

story: Robert Simonson
photo: Daniel Krieger

Cocktails

Bar Review: The Shake Shack of Christmas Bars

With 95 locations worldwide, the Christmas-themed craft cocktail pop-ups, Miracle on 9th Street and Sippin’ Santa, have become holiday juggernauts. But are they all created equal?

story: Robert Simonson
photo: Lizzie Munro

Cocktails

The Top 15 Cocktails of 2018

Contributing editor Robert Simonson shares the best cocktails he drank this year.

story: Robert Simonson
photo: Dylan + Jeni

Places

At Lucy’s, There’s Only Lucy

The eponymous East Village dive famously has only one employee—she’s tended bar there for nearly three decades.

story: Robert Simonson
photo: Eric Medsker

Cocktails

The Unofficial Bartender Uniform of the Early 2000s

How a hashtag unearthed an era of bartender attire defined by one item of clothing.

story: Robert Simonson
photo: Instagram

Cocktails

Four Trailblazing Cocktail Books Get an Update

In a spate of new releases, Dale DeGroff, Gary Regan, Jeff Berry and Wayne Curtis update their seminal texts, first written in the early days of the cocktail revival.

story: Robert Simonson
photo: PUNCH

Cocktails

Drinking With William Grimes

The acclaimed author reflects on the early days of the cocktail revival, drinking at the Rainbow Room and his tenure as the restaurant critic for the New York Times.

story: Robert Simonson
photo: Daniel Krieger

Cocktails

Bar Review: The Making of American Aperitivo

Since opening in a 100-year-old landmark, Dante has brought new meaning to the Italian-style cocktail, and reaffirmed the iconic space as a New York City mainstay.

story: Robert Simonson
photos: Lizzie Munro

Cocktails

In Search of the Ultimate Last Word

We asked 12 of America's best bartenders to submit their finest recipe for the Last Word—and then blind-tasted them all to find the best of the best.

story: Robert Simonson
photo: Daniel Krieger

Cocktails

Is Today National Fuzzy Navel Day?

The story of one man’s quixotic attempt to create his very own national cocktail day.

story: Robert Simonson
photo: Lizzie Munro