As North America prepares to host its own 50 Best Bar Awards ( sponsored by Perrier) for the first time this year, New York bar Overstory has been announced as the winner of the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award.
PIN ITOverstory team
This is the first of a series of special pre-announced awards in the month leading up to the first-ever announcement of North America’s 50 Best Bars 2022, sponsored by Perrier, at a live, in-person awards ceremony taking place at Capitalein New York City on June 7, 2022 at 8pm EDT. North America’s 50 Best Bars joins market-leading The World’s 50 Best Bars and Asia’s 50 Best Bars, which provide consumers with the most reliable list of expert-approved drinking destinations anywhere in the world.
The Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award was created to recognize the importance of hospitality in the bar experience, this award is voted for by 220 gender-balanced members of North America’s 50 Best Bars Academy. These industry experts, all based in the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, are asked to name the bar where they received the single-best hospitality experience during the voting period.
Mark Sansom, Content Director for 50 Best, says: “We are delighted to roll out the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award at the historic, first edition of North America’s 50 Best Bars. As the bar world continues to rebuild, outstanding hospitality is a pivotal element in bringing guests back into bars for sublime experiences, which Overstory has honed into a high art.
“Through impeccable service, Harrison Ginsberg and the entire bar team take guests on a lofty journey where everyone is made to feel that they are the centre of attention and the bar is their very own,” Sansom continued. “With its exceptional, culinary-inspired cocktails, gobsmacking 360° views from its outdoor terrace and luxe demure decor, Overstory’s guests feel like they are on top of the world, both literally and figuratively. We salute Overstory’s well-earned win of this coveted award.”
Overstory, which launched in 2021, is a contemporary cocktail bar located on the 64th floor of a 1932 Art Deco skyscraper in New York’s Financial District. The bar is owned and operated by Chef James Kent and Jeff Katz, the duo behind Crown Shy and SAGA. This provides the bar team with unique access to the resources, techniques, and ingredients of a critically-acclaimed kitchen.
The cocktail program is led by Bar Director Harrison Ginsberg, an alum of The Dead Rabbit, which earned the No.1 spot on The World’s 50 Best Bars list in 2016. Each cocktail is served simply, without ornamentation or garnish, but the simplicity of their look belies often complex flavour combinations and labour-intensive techniques. This includes the extensive use of fermentation and infusions, with striking presentations achieved thanks to advanced clarification.
PIN ITOverstory terrace
“Since Overstory opened, our goal has been to make it a place where everyone wants to return,” said Ginsberg. “To achieve this, creating a sense of comfort and warmth is equally important as the flavour and presentation of drinks. The bar experience is about so much more than cocktails, the room and perhaps a view. A great bar should make guests feel at home, happy, relaxed and excited.
“We opened Overstory at an extremely difficult time, the tail end of COVID’s first wave, and we embraced the opportunity to bring New York back to life. To do that, we work hard every day to ensure our guests thoroughly enjoy their time at Overstory. I’m tremendously proud that our team is being recognized for their work as hospitality professionals and cannot wait to welcome the North American bar community to the Financial District in June.”
Matt Magliocco, Executive Vice President of Michter’s, says: “It is impossible to imagine a more deserving recipient of the first-ever Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award at North America’s 50 Best Bars. The team at Overstory, led so brilliantly by Harrison Ginsberg and guided by James Kent and Jeff Katz, has surpassed the highest of expectations in delivering a guest experience even loftier than the Manhattan skyline. We extend our congratulations to a wonderful team and organization.”
The countdown of the list of North America’s 50 Best Bars and the awards ceremony will be broadcast to a global audience who are not able to attend in person, and bar and cocktail lovers will be invited to join through The World’s 50 Best Bars Facebook page and 50 Best Bars TV channel on YouTube.
