It’s not every day that we New Yorkers associate the subway system with a cocktail–no, not even when the forbidden juice is dripping down on us from the ceiling. Actually, scratch that. That’s exactly the time we associate the subway system with a cocktail, because that’s about the exact moment we need one. And though we never thought the day would come, the MTA has now been conceptualized into a themed cocktail menu, and we must admit: our interests are piqued.
Beloved Boerum Hill cocktail haunt Grand Army is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and as we all know they love a themed menu. Thus, they recently proudly introduced their latest theme for spring/summer 2025: the MTA. Very fitting as the team’s first themed menu was Trains and Railroads back in 2015.
The ode to the NYC transit system features 10 new cocktails (including a frozen, perfect for the hotter than usual summer that’s heading our way), two new shots, and two new non alcoholic concoctions to quench guests’ thirst all spring and summer long after waiting on the system’s notoriously toasty platforms.
And though the one that’s sticking out to us the most isn’t necessarily MTA themed, it’s certainly worth a shoutout. If you’ve eaten your fair share of dirty water dogs in NYC and for some reason thought to yourself, “I wonder what this would taste like in drink form?”, not only would Anthony Bourdain likely be so proud, but you’d find yourself in luck!
One of the cocktails rolling into the station is the Dirty Dog Martini, inspired by the proprietary broths that hot dog street vendors make and store their dogs in to keep them warm. The cocktail combines gin, dill aquavit, blanc and dry vermouth, bay leaf, and pickled tomato into a cocktail that actually sounds pretty damn delicious.
Additional drinks include the G-Train, taco truck-inspired negroni riff with the slightest hint of green made with Mexican gin, cilantro, poblano, blanc vermouth, and gentian (may or may not take 20 minutes to arrive after ordering), the Mind the Gap, giving milk punch chocolate orange espresso vibes and made with mezcal, aged rum, amaro, orange, cacao, and soy clarified, and the Showtime, a refreshing gin cocktail with mint syrup and a touch of glitter (because the performers are all stars) made with gin, herbal liqueur, lime, banana, and mint.
For shots you can choose between the Local Shot, a jazzed up M&M (their house shot) made with mezcal and Montenegro, or the Express Shot, a boozier, smokier version–you know, it’s a little higher in alcohol, so it’s running express.
If you’re wondering, this isn’t the first time the bar has rolled out a fun themed cocktail list. Head bartender Patty Dennison is constantly brainstorming the bar’s next theme because, while Grand Army makes seriously good drinks, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s a stance we can certainly get behind.
Previously they made an entire Mean Girls-themed menu, which was so fetch, as well as menus focused around the Spice Girls, Scandinavian heavy metal, gemstones, Cats…not the musical, and state parks of Oklahoma, just to name a few. Learn more about the bar on their website.
📍 336 State St, Brooklyn