Reunion Time with Amy & Billy
I remember the excitement of stepping into J.B. Percival Co for the first time. I was walking in to meet Amy and Billy O'Shea, owners of this cozy cocktail lounge. It was my first interview— ever! The second I walked in I was inspired. There was so much thought put into every detail, from the illuminated framed photos from Moore Precision Tool, to 1934 Lithographs from Bridgeport Brass, a metal grate from the Hubbel factory, to a bowling alley bar top, only to name a few. It was, and is, my kinda place. So let's catch up with some old friends who not only pour a mean cocktail, but they do it in style.
J.B. Percival Co. | Cocktail Lounge
Amy & Billy O’Shea. Founders of J.B. Percival Co.
IAFM: Before we get going, let's remind our readers where it all began! What is J.B. Percival Co and how did it come about?
JBP: In 2019 we had the crazy idea to open Fairfield's first and only proper cocktail lounge so we found a space, developed a concept and Billy built it! On January 10, 2020, 9 weeks before the pandemic closures, we opened J.B. Percival Co=. We envisioned a cozy lounge to relax after a long day, meet before a concert or dinner or just catch up with friends. We feature a unique and carefully procured selection of spirits, wines, craft beers and small bites to accompany them.
IAFM: If someone came into the lounge for the first time, what drink would you recommend?
JBP: Without a doubt - the Smokeshow. It's a perfect balance of bourbon, vermouth, bitters, agave and lemon with mezcal for a hint of smokiness.
IAFM: Since we last met, how has your menu evolved? Any new drinks? Any favorites?
JBP: Our cocktail menu is constantly evolving with new and seasonal cocktails while keeping our signature classics. We love experimenting with new spirits and sharing new discoveries - especially from our travels. As we head into the warmer weather (finally), we will be adding several rum cocktails which were very popular last summer.
IAFM: Since we last met, how has your menu evolved? Any new drinks? Any favorites?
JBP: Our cocktail menu is constantly evolving with new and seasonal cocktails while keeping our signature classics. We love experimenting with new spirits and sharing new discoveries - especially from our travels. As we head into the warmer weather (finally), we will be adding several rum cocktails which were very popular last summer.
IAFM: What's your process when creating your drink menu and selecting the brands you like to work with?
JBP: We are always trying new spirits and are often inspired to create a cocktail based on a particular flavor profile. Then we keep mixing and tasting until we achieve the right balance. We also make sure that our cocktail menu has all of the spirit bases covered - vodka, gin, rum, tequila, bourbon, whiskey ... but it's also important to us to feature some lesser known spirits such as different liqueurs and amaros. We love supporting small businesses so we have a lot of spirits from smaller distilleries.
IAFM: What's your favorite thing about owning a bar?
JBP: We love educating people on spirits and wines. Our Tasting Tuesdays are a great opportunity to learn about and try something new.
IAFM: Is there anything top secret that we can uncover today? Like a secret drink only you make... but it's off menu and only a few people know about it?
JBP: We are actually in the process of developing a secret menu. Stay tuned...
IAFM: What do you want to be when you grow up?
JBP: This is it! We both had a passion for creating something new and creative and this was the perfect project that we could do together.
IAFM: You two lead such busy lives. What do Amy and Billy do for fun?
JBP: We love to play tennis and hunt for more fun vintage pieces for JBP at places like Monger's Market and Elephant's Trunk. Like our menu, our decor is constantly evolving. When we can get away we love to ski and scuba dive.
IAFM: What is your favorite memory of the past year?
JBP: I think our favorite part of the last year has been seeing everyone slowly emerge from their pandemic isolations. We meet so many new people every night who are so excited to be back out and are even more excited to find a "new" place.
IAFM: What about the future are you most excited about?
JBP: We are excited to host more tasting events and we are developing a really fun new concept for the summer.