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Highly-anticipated new restaurant brings a piece of Brooklyn to Montrose — ands'mores too

Brooklyn Athletic Club opened its doors this week in the space formerly occupied by Zimm's Little Deck in Montrose. According to co-founder and general manager Shepard Ross, who's also managing partner at Glass Wall, "Brooklyn Athletic Club is about being social, creating a sense of neighborhood and most of all, slowing down and having fun."

Ross' grandparents grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and belonged to social clubs where they ate drank, and socialized with neighbors. As a kid, Ross — who lived in suburban Long Island — would visit his grandparents and watch them play bocce ball, badminton, dominoes and cards while knocking back cocktails and beer.

Thus, the concept for Brooklyn Athletic Club was born. It's a blend of Ross' fondest childhood memories and his love for food, wine, cocktails and beer.

With Brooklyn Athletic Club, Ross again collaborates with co-founder, chef Jeff Axline. The two have worked together at Glass Wall and BRC Gastropub and their business ties span more than 12 years.

Of Axline, Ross says, "His southern cooking roots are balanced with his time spent cooking in Seattle and his love for varied global cuisine. Jeff's desire to find the freshest ingredients and infuse his unique perspective, make our menus, both exciting and delicious."

It's a blend of Ross' fondest childhood memories and his love for food, wine, cocktails and beer.

Brooklyn Athletic Club has two sides which combine to give an overall chic but laid-back feel. The first is the ClubHouse. It's an upscale diner that features fare like steaks, chops, seafood and pasta.

The second side is the patio area that continues full service dining, but also offers mini croquet, putting cups, and fire pits for warmth and making s'mores.

We stepped behind the bar inside the ClubHouse, which showcases specialty cocktails, artisanal wine and craft beer, and also doubles as a "Chef's Counter" where you can watch the kitchen staff work their magic.

For tips on making one of Ross' favorite specialty cocktails from Brooklyn Athletic Club's drink list, the G'Vine, Lillet & Croquet, see the video above. Get an inside peek of the new venue as well.

In the works: The "BACyard" large lawn area with grill-type menu items like burgers and hot dogs, boxed-in gaming lanes for horseshoes and bocce ball, badminton, croquet, darts, ping pong, and dominoes is on the way. Additionally, picnic tables will abound and you'll be able to order a tasty beverage and picnic-style fare from a bar/equipment shack.

Currently Brooklyn Athletic Club is open only for dinner. Check the restaurant's Facebook page or call 713-527-4440 for updates and more information.

Cheers and Bottoms Up! from CultureMap and Brooklyn Athletic Club.

G'Vine, Lillet & Croquet Cocktail Recipe:

2 ounces Lillet Rouge
1 1/4 ounces G'Vine Gin
2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice
Sparkling wine
Lemon wheel or fresh berries

Combine Lillet Rouge, G'Vine Gin and fresh grapefruit juice in shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a champagne flute and top off with sparkling wine. Garnish with lemon wheel or berries.

cheers to that

Texas bourbon named one of 2024's top 10 whiskies

Still Austin Whiskey Co. Red Corn Bourbon Whiskey

Still Austin Whiskey Co./Facebook

Now if only we could snag a bottle...as a Christmas gift, of course.

Three cheers for Still Austin Whiskey Co.! The distillery's Bottled in Bond Red Corn Bourbon Whiskey was recognized as one of Whisky Advocate'sTop 20 Most Exciting Whiskies of 2024.

Every year, Whisky Advocate's expert panelists rank hundreds of whiskies based on their quality, availability, value for the price, and "X-factor," meaning an excitement-inducing component like a unique flavor or an innovative idea. An international panel also reviews contenders through several blind taste tests without knowing each whisky's producer, origin, age, or price.

The magazine ranked Still Austin's five-year Red Corn Bourbon No. 7 on the list with a prestigious score of 94 points. The Red Corn whiskey, which was released in June 2024, has mash bill consisting of 36 percent Jimmy Red corn, 34 percent white corn, 25 percent rye, and 5 percent barley.

According to panelist Shane English, tasting notes start big and bold with cracked pepper, dusty leather, and cocktail cherries, before moving on to a palate of chile pepper, caramel, and buttery cornbread.

"Each sip is electric — the pepper gives this whiskey a zing balanced by poundcake and glazed doughnuts," English said. "Charred oak fades to chocolate, coffee, and pecan pie on the finish."

Still Austin had the only Texas product on the list, which was fitting given the brand's recent boasting that it could match any Kentucky Bourbon. As a game day stunt when the Texas Longhorns played the Kentucky Wildcats in November, Still Austin refilled empty Kentucky Bourbon bottles with its own Cask Strength Bourbon for just $1.

When the brand isn't playfully antagonizing Kentucky fans, its Red Corn Bourbon sells for a retail price of $85 per 750-milliliter bottle, falling nearly in the middle of the price category out of all 20 bourbons on the list, with eight others priced for less.

For additional context, none of the top five bourbons fall under a $100 price tag. In fact, the most expensive bottle on the 2024 list is the Angel's Envy 2023 Cask Strength Port Wine Barrel Finished Bourbon, which ranked No. 12 and retails for $230 per bottle.

"Our top 20 whiskies represent a curated collection that deserves your attention. Each whisky on the list stands out for its superb taste, representing the pinnacle of a year filled with remarkable tastings," said executive editor David Fleming in a release. "This list features whiskies offering exceptional value, leaders in their respective styles, and superbly made expressions that are well worth seeking out."

Whiskey Advocate's 2024 Whiskey of the Year is Laphroaig Elements 2.0 Cask Strength Scotch Single Malt, which earned 95 points and retails for $165 a bottle.

whiskey bourbon distilleries awards lists

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