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The bright lights of the Great White Way can’t compare to all the star power in the building during the Tonys — but they were perhaps second to the sparkling glasses being topped off behind the award ceremony’s most exclusive party of the night.
Tucked inside one of the Art Deco balcony lookouts of Radio City Music Hall, Baccarat and Dewar’s Scotch Whisky opened up an ultra-exclusive speakeasy for one night only, offering a luxurious escape from the red carpet frenzy of the Tony Awards. Not just anyone could snag a ticket (it’s easier to get one to the many Tony-winning shows of the night), and the bar was instead conceived as a “hidden jewel” for nominees, presenters, and distinguished guests to raise a crystal coupe and take a breath. But the space quickly became a stage of its own — especially when host Cynthia Erivo made a radiant entrance into the intimate space, turning heads and commanding the room in a sculptural gown.
Bathed in Baccarat crystal, and wrapped in warm, whisky tones (accented by the French luxury house’s unmistakable rouge palette), stars like Brooke Shields, Julianne Hough, and Charli D’Amelio dipped inside to mingle amidst sculptural vases and towering floral displays, sharing stories under the golden glow of sparkling chandeliers. While Dewar’s and Baccarat have long shared a working partnership, their collaborative space for the Tony Awards was already successfully channeling a soiree from the golden era of Broadway — something indulgent and glamorous, but still full of all the joyful (and jittery) energy of pre-show excitement.
“At Dewar’s, we’ve long believed that great stories are meant to be savored,” said Brian Cox, Global Vice President of Scotch Whisky at Bacardi in a statement. “The Tony Awards represent the pinnacle of live storytelling and true artistry, and we’re honored to toast the people and moments that make Broadway unforgettable. It is a pleasure to mark the continuation of our collaboration with Baccarat.”
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Guests were also treated to an elevated drinking experience far beyond the plastic cup Proseccos that other Tony attendees were drinking down below. Bartenders shook up three elevated, whisky-based cocktails in the speakeasy, served in elegant Baccarat glassware, of course. The Golden Cue (a bright, fruit forward drink) and Act One Aperitif (a layered cocktail with notes of banana in an absinthe-rinsed glass) were developed by Dewar’s in-house mixology team, while The Revival (a smooth serve with notes of vanilla and sherry) was made by Brandon Barnes, the Beverage Director at the Baccarat Hotel Bar New York.
And yes, the whisky matched the setting — all the bespoke cocktails were crafted around Dewar’s Double Double 21 Year, a blended Scotch whisky made with a unique four-stage aging process and finished off in Oloroso Sherry casks. We were able to taste it neat and on the rocks, and found it had a long, surprisingly silky finish, with notes of blackberry and just a touch of baking space. Shields was even spotted slipping a bottle of Dewar’s into her gown with a wink, declaring she “wasn’t heading into the ceremony empty-handed”.
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Peel back the red velvet curtain further, and there were plenty more moments that turned the speakeasy into a dazzling pre-show playground where old friends and new could share a celebratory dram. Before the curtain rose, the original Hamilton cast members gathered inside the speakeasy for hugs, laughs, and a quick catch-up before heading into the telecast. Sadie Sink and Tituss Burgess lit up the speakeasy bar with an impromptu fangirl moment — beaming, gushing, and swapping compliments over crystal glasses. Bob Odenkirk even raised a glass and toasted in celebration of his Tony nomination, and his Broadway debut.
While this VIP speakeasy might have closed its doors for now, the event’s signature cocktails are now available to the public, exclusively being served up at the Baccarat Hotel New York Bar through June 15th. If you’re in New York, go try a taste of what the stars were sipping, or pour out your own glass of Dewar’s at home and feel like Tony winner yourself.
