New Scotland Spirits Tasting Room

Nadie Gressine

An amazing place for an excellent cocktail in a relaxed , warm, and homy atmosphere. Grady is a consummate bartender. His cocktails were excellent, and he went beyond the menu with improvised recipes. Rachel, the manager was so welcoming and friendly. They made us feel at home. This would my go to place for a relaxing time with friends was I from the neighborhood.

Erin McFadden

Great vibe! Drinks were fantastic- especially the Queens Old Fashioned. Flights are a nice sized pour. We called ahead to ask if we could bring a small child with us and it was no issue. Excellent music, clean place as well!

Kim

Test your brain power and find out just how much useless knowledge you have at the New Scotland Spirits Tasting Room. The Capital Region’s latest trivia installment happens Sundays at 5p. As a bonus, you’ll hang out with Rachel, the rockstar boss who keeps things from becoming too unhinged, and Neil, the bartender, who will dazzle you with his array of cocktail making skills. See you there!

Renard Mathes

Wonderful environment here. Music choice is on point. Great conversation and recommendations from the lovely bartenders. Loved the woody man cave appeal of the set up there. Service was superb especially since it was my friends 24th birthday! 10/10 overall experience From one of the “3 guys”

Bart M

Great spot. Great drinks. Great atmosphere. Cosy and warm with a great staff. Neil nailed the drinks. Definitely coming back. Ask about the secret menu.

Raiza Rivera

If you're in the area I highly recommend you make a stop here!! The spot is super lowkey, I love the layout/theme. It's small but spacious. The prices are reasonable and the service is amazing!! I went recently and had Rachel and Nash taking care of me and they were amazing. Rachel is so bubbly and radiates happiness! Their drink menu is pretty big, they are an "open" bar but the liquor they use is made locally so they only use one brand so in that way you are limited BUT the drinks are still delicious. I had the Lady's Limoncello which is featured in the photo I posted. They do give you complementary trail mix (not sure what to call it - can also be seen in the background on the photo) and I think that's amazing. They don't have a food menu so it's nice to have a little snack while you drink. I came from out of state and I would love to go back. Loved the experience and the staff! Also Rachel makes an amazing pina colada shot!!! It was my friend's birthday and she made us a couple of shots and they were so yummy!!

Deborah Johnston

This is one of the coolest bars in the area. Always have the best drinks!!! Can’t wait to go back. And the manager is awesome 💖

Jason Perlmutter

Queen Rosemaría was incredible! Her bartending skills were top notch! The drinks are amazing, the atmosphere is fabulous, Victorian, and classy, and the overall experience is just exemplary. This is a new regular watering hole for me. 10/10 will recommend!

Drea B

Miss Rachel was incredible! It’s a beautiful restaurant! 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ 🌟 ⭐️ ⭐️

Gennaro Flori

A adorable little spot on Lark street, worth stoping in if you want a real cocktail. Plenty of whiskey options, they also produce some easy drinking vodka. They also have some local beer and cider options if you so desire. The bartender Maxwell was great, he even did a modified version of the old fashioned I asked for. All and all a great little cozy spot to check out

Amazing time here with my group of friends, Noah is hands down the best bartender and deserves highest tips

One of the her eatery finds in Albany! Awesome interior and Neil makes an amazing cocktail! Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a good spot!

Wandered in on a Saturday afternoon with my husband, niece and her partner. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and our bartender, Neil, was terrific! He regaled us with some of the history of New Scotland Spirits, as well as providing excellent info about some of what can be found in Albany. We are visiting from Connecticut and hope that we will get back to New Scotland Spirits again!

We have been to this cocktail bar several times, and have always had an amazing experience. Neil, the bartender is super friendly and makes an amazing cocktail! 10/10 recommend!

I was part of the big dog group tonight and the bartender was super sweet and the Manager was really nice! The drinks were fantastic! This is my new favorite hole in the wall in Albany!

One of my favorite places to stop by! The New Scotland Spirits Tasting Room isn’t just people-friendly, it’s dog-friendly too. The staff have gone out of their way to help desensitize my pup by giving her treats and making her feel welcome, which means so much to me as a dog owner. Every visit has been lively, warm, and full of great energy. On top of that, the drinks are excellent and the atmosphere is always inviting. It’s the perfect spot to relax, socialize, and know both you and your four-legged friend will be treated with kindness. ❤️🐾

Great experience... friendly staff, great options of New York distilled spirits, local beers and wines. Loved finding this little gem

If you’re looking for a unique and genuinely cozy place to grab a drink, this is the spot. It is very thoughtfully modeled to replicate a prohibition-era speakeasy. The atmosphere is authentic without feeling overdone. The cocktail menu is creative and clearly represents the owner’s love for the city. I had the Orgy on the Plaza, which seems to be the closest I will get to Sex on the Beach in Albany. This is the kind of place where striking up enjoyable conversations - with other patrons or the bartender - is part of the experience (Thanks, Neil and Tim!). The tasting room can be great for an intimate date night, or a casual meet-up with friends. Lark Street is lucky to have another great bar. Will definitely be back!

Smashing good fun; Capital idea. The service was exemplary. Drinks were expertly made. Atmosphere was just right. Lighting is choice. Try the Corning Tower— it glows like a magic potion (tastes great, too). Genuinely friendly bartender and affable regulars as well. Dozens of bespoke, imaginative, and well-made drinks. Very welcoming vibe. Will be returning, most definitely.

I came here for the first time with a friend of mine. The vibe and atmosphere was really cool. You had people of all ages, all different backgrounds and all walks of life socializing and getting along, and I thought that was veary cool. And the drinks were also so veary good!! We will definitely be back

Emilia Sainato

If you’re looking for a unique and genuinely cozy place to grab a drink, this is the spot. It is very thoughtfully modeled to replicate a prohibition-era speakeasy. The atmosphere is authentic without feeling overdone. The cocktail menu is creative and clearly represents the owner’s love for the city. I had the Orgy on the Plaza, which seems to be the closest I will get to Sex on the Beach in Albany. This is the kind of place where striking up enjoyable conversations - with other patrons or the bartender - is part of the experience (Thanks, Neil and Tim!). The tasting room can be great for an intimate date night, or a casual meet-up with friends. Lark Street is lucky to have another great bar. Will definitely be back!

Vanessa J.R. Long [Paulman]

Great experience... friendly staff, great options of New York distilled spirits, local beers and wines. Loved finding this little gem

Jules DeAngelo

I was part of the big dog group tonight and the bartender was super sweet and the Manager was really nice! The drinks were fantastic! This is my new favorite hole in the wall in Albany!

Lori Machansky

One of the her eatery finds in Albany! Awesome interior and Neil makes an amazing cocktail! Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a good spot!

Sarah Preston Britto

Wandered in on a Saturday afternoon with my husband, niece and her partner. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and our bartender, Neil, was terrific! He regaled us with some of the history of New Scotland Spirits, as well as providing excellent info about some of what can be found in Albany. We are visiting from Connecticut and hope that we will get back to New Scotland Spirits again!

Johanna Piusz

We have been to this cocktail bar several times, and have always had an amazing experience. Neil, the bartender is super friendly and makes an amazing cocktail! 10/10 recommend!

Cole Harmon

Rachael took amazing care of us. Super kind and friendly. We just had drinks. But they were delicious and reasonably priced. Great atmosphere too

Nari Lewis

One of my favorite places to stop by! The New Scotland Spirits Tasting Room isn’t just people-friendly, it’s dog-friendly too. The staff have gone out of their way to help desensitize my pup by giving her treats and making her feel welcome, which means so much to me as a dog owner. Every visit has been lively, warm, and full of great energy. On top of that, the drinks are excellent and the atmosphere is always inviting. It’s the perfect spot to relax, socialize, and know both you and your four-legged friend will be treated with kindness. ❤️🐾

Andy Velez

Our bartender Rachel was you notch. Warm, friendly, able to make a fun mixed drink from scratch, and great conversation. Drinks were fantastic as well. Would recommend anyone to come here.

Josh Knox

Rachel and Nash are incredible! So welcoming and friendly! The atmosphere of the bar is very Old Money while retaining a modern, comfortable atmosphere. The drinks are perfectly curated and mixed, with a great selection of classics, cocktails, and cocktails. Highly recommend.