Echo Lake Brings Rum Revolution to Brooklyn with a Hidden Speakeasy

A new rum bar called Echo Lake has opened in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Owned by cocktail experts Chloe Frechette and Paul McGee, it offers creative twists on classic rum drinks. Below the main bar, a hidden speakeasy called Undercurrent features rare and vintage spirits. Echo Lake serves cool, clean takes on traditional rum cocktails. Guests can try the Seaweed Daiquiri or a grown-up Piña Colada. The bar specialises in rum, including varieties from Oaxaca, Mexico, known for their unique flavours and potential crossover with rhum agricole.

Undercurrent, located in the cellar, provides an intimate, candle-lit setting. Here, Frechette and McGee share their expertise through tastings of their vast spirits collection. The selection includes a 1935 Bacardi Carta Oro and a 1963 Trader Vic Mai Tai rum, alongside a British Royal Navy rum from 1955 with notes of dark molasses, bitter coffee, mushroom, and cinder toffee. Vintage amari, such as a 1970 bottle of Cynar, are also available. Both Echo Lake and Undercurrent are situated at 357 Grand St., Brooklyn, NY, 11211. The venues offer a chance to explore rare spirits and expertly crafted drinks. Their collections and tastings aim to educate and delight rum enthusiasts.