Sasha Petraske (1973-2015)

[Rafa]

Terrible news. Sasha Petraske, who founded Milk & Honey and helped usher in our current renaissance of fine drinking, has died. 

 

Anyone who enjoys a well-made drink in 2015 is indebted to Petraske. At Milk & Honey, and at all the bars started by him and his acolytes, he re-introduced imbibers to jiggered, deeply researched, craftily made classics, both old and new. Going to one of his bars was a special occasion: memorable, mysterious, unapologetically adult. His staffs were as professional as they were hospitable, as serious as they are fun. He elevated the craft. He raised the bar.

 

I never knew him, but as a cocktail bartender I owe him so much. He helped create the environment in this city, among bartenders and guests alike, that makes so much of what we do possible. Like many, I got my first education in classic drinks through Milk & Honey's official app, Bartender's Choice; I still use it as a reference to introduce people to the ratios and recipes of the classics. 

 

Rest in peace. 

[FrogPrincesse]

That's awful news. My thoughts go to his wife, his family, his friends.

He did so much for the cocktail community and left such an incredible mark. So many great bartenders were trained in his bars. I am really in shock.

[scratchline]

This loss can't be overstated.  I'm going to put down the lack of comment here to shock.

 

Although I never met Sasha Petraske, I drank happily at many of his bars.  And at many other bars that never would have existed without him.

 

The man described here

 

http://www.grubstreet.com/2015/08/sasha-petraske-obit.html?mid=twitter-share-grubstreet

 

is a very rare person of principle and vision.  And a dedicated craftsman.  That he achieved all that he did while largely eschewing a celebrity/social media identity is remarkable.  In this Trump and Kardashian driven world, he and what he created are unusually fine.

 

Heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.  

There will be a memorial daiquiri hour for him on August 31st:

 

http://www.ravenwood.org/sasha/

 

Lift a glass if you can.

 

-Mike 

 

 

[Adam George]

I was in Milk and Honey LDN the day before he passed.  That place is the reason I ever wanted to carry on in this job.

 

I don't really know what else to say.  It's odd feeling a connection to a man you didn't ever meet.

[Hassouni]

I was in Milk and Honey LDN the day before he passed.  That place is the reason I ever wanted to carry on in this job.

 

I don't really know what else to say.  It's odd feeling a connection to a man you didn't ever meet.

 

Agreed. I never went to Milk and Honey, but I used to go to Little Branch every time I went to NY - it was probably the first serious cocktail bar that I went to and definitely the first I fell in love with, and a huge inspiration. Nothing complicated, just simple classic drinks executed PERFECTLY. I haven't been in about 2 years but I still place it in my top 3 list for any city I've been to (Death & Co, Little Branch, and the defunct but reopening Passenger in DC).

[Craig E]

A nice conversation among bartenders about Sasha Petraske has been posted at Punch.