best bets

Best Bet: Crystal Clear

Scotsman Brian McGrory has noticed two things about our local drinking habits: One, the brown-booze boom is still going strong, and two, nobody is adequately translating Scotch into English. (All those consonants!) He’s addressing the latter at Highlands (150 W. 10th St., nr. Waverly Pl.; 212-229-2670), the new West Village Scottish gastropub, where McGrory directs novices toward more accessible malts like Spice Tree by Compass Box, pictured here ($12 for 2 oz.). It’s slightly sweet, lightly citrusy, and has that comforting liquid-gold look — especially when it’s inside a Steuben Glass crystal tumbler ($170 at 667 Madison Ave., at 61st St.; 212-752-1441). For more gorgeous drinking vessels, click here.

The Best Bet [NYM]

Best Bet: Crystal Clear