Damon's Departure

I have been a fan of Brooklyn Heights' Jack the Horse Tavern and its gifted lead bartender Damon Dyer (pictured abovd), ever since it opened its doors back in 2006. From the moment I first sipped one of Damon's Manhattans, I realized that I had found my new neighborhood hang - a hang that came with the added benefit of a friendly mixology geek behind the bar with whom I could wax poetic about Chartreuse, bitters, Rye Whiskey and alike.

But as of last night, an era has come to a close. Damon is moving on. Where to, he doesn't exactly know, but he thinks its time to expand his cocktailing horizons.

So, I sidled up to the bar for one more of his cocktails before he hit the road...

I sipped my Broken Max slowly - a well-balanced mix of gin, Chartreuse, pineapple juice and muddled rosemary - watching him shake, stir and muddle for the throngs at the bar. I couldn't help but wonder if this was the last drink by Damon that I would ever imbibe...But happily, before I left - with a wink and a nod - Damon insisted it wouldn't be.

Will he open his own hot spot in the nabe? Will he join the ranks of barkeeps at Julie Reiner's new Clover Club?

Stay tuned.