What started as a pandemic daydream over cocktails and cookies has blossomed into one of Park Slope’s most beloved community hubs. This month, the co-owners of Whisk & Whiskey, a café, cocktail bar and event space tucked into a once-forgotten storefront, celebrated four years of mixing culture, creating experiences and cultivating a space where everyone feels like home.
Without ever planning to start a business, Chandra Touch and Secoyah “Chef Coy” Brown began making dishes, cocktails and desserts for their inner circle in 2020. The idea, Touch recalled with a laugh, was born from what she called “a margarita thought.”
“Would it be fun if we did this with an open space and could party with our friends and dance all night?”
The answer, four years later, is a resounding yes.
Blending their Cambodian and Trinidadian roots, Touch and Brown set out to create a welcoming, inclusive “living room” for Brooklynites of all backgrounds. Their mantra? “It’s not just a place you visit, it’s a place where you belong.”
On June 7, they marked their fourth anniversary in style, hosting a celebration that Brown described simple as “four fire emojis.” The festivities included four DJs (including Touch), complimentary spirit tastings, cake decorating classes and a packed restaurant full of longtime regulars and newcomers alike.
“Sometimes when you’re going through the day to day, you forget how many impacts and connections you make,” Brown said. “Seeing everyone that we’ve met through the years come support us and fill us with love was just amazing.”
For Touch and Brown, one of the most meaningful parts of the journey has been offering something that Park Slope didn’t have before: a space that spotlights West Indian and Cambodian flavors and traditions.
“There were no true West Indian or Cambodian spots in Park Slope particularly,” Brown said. “We’ve been able to infuse our culture through our cocktails, baked goods, small bites and our overall vibe.”
Their chemistry as co-founders is unmistakeable — so much so that people often mistake them for a couple.
They both laughed, “We’re not!”
But their partnership runs deeper than most. They’ve weathered long hours, leaky roofs, three floods, financial uncertainty and the constant grind of owning a small business.
“We looked at each other before we opened and said, ‘Are we really going to do this?” Touch, who was then working in event sales in New Jersey said, while Brown was in finance. “We haven’t looked back since.”
Brown was previously working in finance and Touch worked in event sales in new Jersey at the time. They say they “haven’t looked back since.”
Through every setback, they’ve pushed forward. “We’re like Marvel superheroes now,” Brown joked. “We’ve picked up plumbing, roofing, everything. Google and YouTube have become our best friends.”
As for the next four years, the pair has aspirations to take the business nationwide.
“Every neighborhood deserves a Whisk & Whiskey,” Brown said.
“Just imagine having a chance to go have a nice dessert made in-house with intentions with recipes created by someone with love and care,” Touch said.
For those who haven’t discovered them yet, the message is simple. It’s not just a place to eat or drink, it’s a place to belong.
“This is a safe space,” Brown said. “You can come here and work on your laptop. You can come for a date. You can bring your grandma, your girlfriends, your whole family. You’ll get artisan cocktails, gourmet baked goods and a team that makes you feel like you matter.”
