First Look: The Passenger

A bar patron's ability to develop a relationship with his bartender will invariably dictate a better imbibing experience, whether it's at a fancy cocktail place or the local dive bar. That is perhaps what makes the name of the much anticipated new bar from brothers Tom and Derek Brown, The Passenger, particularly apt. Going back to a time when travel wasn't about being corralled through metal detectors like cattle, The Passenger, which opens tonight at 5 p.m., is trying to put some first class luxury and leisure in your drinking journey. This is apparent throughout the decor, which features church pews, intricate wrought iron tables, and the building's original floors.

This is not a race to the finish with a simple two-ingredient gin and tonic or rum and coke. The expectation (though who knows what it will be like when the joint is actually busy) is for you to relax and have a complex cocktail that is crafted to your specifications. This experience will also extend to the back, the Columbia Room, a separate reservations-only 20-seat bar that will be served by Derek Brown. It is still undergoing construction, with the hope that it will open sometime in January. The private room is meant to ensure an unhurried evening that isn't necessarily guaranteed in the main bar.

There is no cocktail menu at the Passenger, so when ordering one, you'll be asked to specify a base liquor and further detail on whether you like a drier or sweeter drink. This is the part where it's important to develop that relationship with your bartender and have a real conversation. It will enable you the opportunity to learn more about what you prefer, and to learn about new things. You may discover that you like vermouth; the dry, rouge and blanc Dolin vermouths are highly quaffable on their own.