BULLETT

A destination bar in the middle of nowhere is how Karin Stanley, co-owner and bartender at Dutch Kills, describes her bar. The Canada native has been bartending since she was in high school, and the term mixologist isn’t one that Stanley would use to describe her job. She’s a bartender who’s slung drinks at New York boozy institutions like Milk & Honey and Little Branch before opening Dutch Kills, tucked away in Long Island City, Queens. The flashing neon sign on the street marked “BAR” welcomes a varied demographic of customers into the saloon-eque, laid back atmosphere. Here, Stanley serves up the “Inn Fashion,” based on the Marilyn Monroe classic Some Like It Hot.

 “There’s that part in Some Like It Hot where Marilyn Monroe makes Manhattans. The idea is that women don’t typically drink whiskey, but this is a very easy drink to drink. It’s a drink that a sexy lady would make even though it’s a man’s drink. It’s a drink to make for a guy if you’re a woman. Or a drink to drink if you’re a woman who drinks whiskey. When you go to a table with a Manhattan and a Mojito, it’s not always the lady whose ordered the Mojito and the guy that’s ordered the Manhattan. It’s fun to see what different people like. I found it appropriate to make this drink in lieu of the Mad Men phase. At that time it was unacceptable for women to drink a man’s drink. Betty drank Tom Collin’s and Don drank Old Fashions. They would never switch drinks, ever, but now it’s like these kinds of drinks are accessible to everybody, which is an interesting way to look at it. Marilyn Monroe was making Manhattans in the sixties and was drinking them. It was cool, that’s why I like that movie.” 

“Inn Fashion”

1 1/2 oz. Inniskillin Vidal Ice Wine

1 1/2 oz. Scotch Whisky

2 dashes of Angostura Bitters

Combine all ingredients in a rocks glass with ice. Stir to chill. Garnish with an orange twist.

*The “Inn Fashion” will be available at Dutch Kills through November. 

Photography by Rose Bencher