Lone Wolf Bar and Restaurant in Kingston NY

Lone Wolf Builds Community Through NY Bartender Week and Beyond

By Melissa Esposito | November 21, 2024

Our region is replete with artisan distilleries and small-batch spirits producers offering high-quality products made with locally sourced ingredients. While many deserve a spotlight on their intricate processes, unique histories, and top-flight beverages, it’s often difficult for smaller operations to compete for the attention grabbed by the large marketing budgets of corporate spirits brands. That’s where New York Bartender Week (NYBW) comes in.

The inaugural event runs November 18 through 24 as a way to connect New York-produced spirits with craft beverage enthusiasts by introducing brands through bars with exciting mixology programs. Although roughly 200 bars are participating across the state, just a handful have signed up to represent the regional beverage industry—and among them, only one will be featured at the event’s (invite-only) opening gala: the aptly named Lone Wolf of Kingston.

“New York Bartending Week aims to put a spotlight on New York State spirits producers by presenting their products in a meaningful way,” explains Anton Kinloch, owner of Lone Wolf. “Many don’t have the budget for large marketing or PR programs, so this week allows producers to collaborate directly with bars as a way to showcase their spirits in a unique format.”

Pan Asian food and drink at Lone Wolf Bar and Restaurant in Kingston NY

Although the kick-off gala is not open to the public, by representing both Lone Wolf and the greater Hudson Valley region at the event, Kinloch will have the opportunity to concoct craft cocktails alongside other world-class movers and shakers. Lone Wolf was among the first three businesses to sign up for NYBW. That early enthusiasm, plus his reputation as a bar owner, cocktail specialist, and bar consultant/educator, helped him to obtain this spot.

“It’s a thrill being a part of this week as a whole, but especially being the only bar from the Hudson Valley that’s part of the opening gala—most are from NYC, so I’ll be side by side with top names and major press like the New York Times, Time, and Forbes, and it’s humbling to be among titans of the industry,” he says. “And with so many amazing places around here, I want to take every opportunity to bring awareness to our local businesses.”

NYBW runs in a format similar to long-established themed weeks like Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, where multiple businesses offer specials in their own style but as part of the overarching event. Over seven days, the NYBW participating bars will serve a specialty cocktail made with at least one NYS-produced spirit while sharing information about the producer. The goal is to encourage consumers to not just default to popular corporate brands but to confidently explore the breadth of options made around the state or even in their own community.

Food and drink from Lone Wolf Bar and Restaurant in Kingston NY

For NYBW, Lone Wolf is collaborating with Isolation Proof Gin, which is made in Catskill. “I’ve admired their work for a long time, and we’re going to offer a special cocktail made with their mushroom gin, which is incredible,” Kinloch says. “We’re doing a riff on a French 75, so it’s a cocktail that’s light and effervescent and very unique, also made with locally sourced maple syrup from Corey’s Sugar Shack in Highland. The goal is to not only showcase flavors but also to allow the Isolation Proof brand to gain awareness. New York is often known for its whisky distilling, but we’re also really good at producing gin. So for the week, we wanted to showcase a less familiar spirit. “

Although Lone Wolf has only been open for just over a year, Kinloch has deep ties to the regional beverage industry, especially in the fields of cocktails, bar management, and consulting. A CIA grad, Kinlock jumped into working beverage operations at a casino after college, which gave him firsthand experience in the world of cocktails. He also worked as a consultant to help open spaces in Rockland and Westchester before eventually taking on his own enterprise with his wife, Lisa Dy—the nationally recognized Fuchsia Tiki in New Paltz, which ran 2019-2023 before the pair opened Lone Wolf in the fall of 2023.

“The first year has been great; we were met with a lot of positive support and feedback from the start, both from the community and the industry,” Kinloch says, the latter of which they aim to support through monthly educational events.

These free programs are open to hospitality workers and offer resources ranging from skill-building to marketing to mental health awareness. “It’s our way of giving back to the community and helping other people in the industry level up their teams,” he says. “A lot of bar programs don’t have the resources to give ongoing education to team members, so these events are geared toward more than just spirits education, but also how to work with brands, advocate for oneself, deal with burnout, network with other bars, and more.”

Earlier this month, for instance, they held a rum education event open to the general public with lessons on the history and production of rum. Upcoming industry events are listed on their website, as are public events; look for an exciting New Year’s Eve party with legendary jazz singer Kristina Koller performing, or check in on Sundays for a weekly Fuchsia Tiki concept pop-up.

“The NYBW event aims to encourage awareness and conversation, but Lone Wolf is the type of spot where we want to offer that experience all the time,” Kinloch says. “Come in, try a new brand, have a conversation about a product with anyone on our team, and learn about some incredible smaller producers doing really cool things.”