otherworldly spirits

Our Story

Ektoras Binikos and Simon Jutras, the creative minds behind Harlem's acclaimed Sugar Monk cocktail bar, have recently launched Bitter Monk in March 2024. This new cocktail bar also serves as a tasting room for their micro-distillery and spirits brand, ATHERAS SPIRITS, located in Industry City. Since opening Sugar Monk in 2019, Binikos, a renowned mixologist and visual artist, and Jutras, a photographer and designer, have gained recognition for their unique approach to mixology. Their cocktails are inspired by art, history, and music, and incorporate house-made elixirs crafted from foraged plants, roots, and flowers—many of which are often overlooked yet offer intriguing flavors that connect their drinks to the natural world.

The addition of a micro-distillery at Bitter Monk will allow Binikos to expand on his innovative work at Sugar Monk. "I've always considered cocktails to be works of art, designed to evoke emotional responses and take guests on a journey," Binikos explains. "I bring this same philosophy to creating my amari, liqueurs, and bitters, and I'm thrilled to have a dedicated space for exploring captivating flavors. Our goal is for guests to savor our products both on their own and within cocktails, while we share insights into the production process."

Originating from Ikaria, a beautiful Greek island in the Aegean Archipelago, Binikos finds inspiration in the Atheras mountain range, which towers at 1,037 meters (3,402 feet). The mountainside, especially its ravines, is abundant with wild herbs and shrubbery that Binikos uses for his Amari and various herbal elixirs. In honor of this magical landscape, he has named their brand Atheras Spirits.

Beginning in April, Binikos and his team initiated the maceration process in their production lab, with plans to have their products ready for purchase and distribution by the fall of 2024.