A few weeks ago, CBS news reported the 6 best bars in NEW YORK serving cognac. This is a recurrent theme these days very much dwarfed by the whisky or scotch categories indeed but remarkably growing. Cognac is the 'comeback spirit' they said, returning to New Yorkers to tantalize their energy and spirits. They recommend sipping or mixing as a way to return to the drink.
Here are the 6 Bars in New York they recommend for experiencing cognac. What I find interesting is the comeback of Brooklyn as the scene for 'nouveaux bars'...
Seduction is the name of the game on the cocktail menu at Brasserie Cognac. The “Rouge a Levre” (Lipstick) marries Hennessy Cognac, Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, blackberry jam, cherry puree, and champagne.
Employees Only in the West Village, arguably one of the top spots in NYC to watch bartenders work their magic, knows what Cognac can add to a cocktail. They mix up their signature Mata Hari cocktail. The moustached bar men combine Louis Royer Force 53, chai-infused vermouth, and freshly squeezed pomegranate juice yielding a fruity and spicy wintry libation.
Maison Premiere
298 Bedford Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
347-335-0446
- Maison Premiere Bar Brooklyn
For a take on the classic French 75 cocktail, and a supportive nod to Arnaud’s restaurant in New Orleans, head on over to Maison Premiere in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. On the menu is “Arnaud’s French 75″ (Bach Cognac, fresh lemon juice, sugar and champagne). As you sip and savor this cocktail, you’ll think yourself in the sun and exuberant streets of NOLA’s French Quarter. Pass the oysters, please.
Bar Pleiades
The Surrey Hotel
20 East 76th St.
New York, NY 10021
212-772-2600
Maison Surrenne, a small-batch family-owned cognac brand, shines through in one of Bar Pleiades’ takes on a classic Brandy Crusta. The Daniel Boulud-run cocktail lounge inside the Upper East Side’ Surry Hotel mixes the cognac with fresh lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, and orange curacao. An elegant blend, indeed, and perfect with the charcuterie platter.
At Bar Tabac in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, you can enjoy a dram of Pierre Ferrand Reserve cognac as an aperitif before plunging into their “Bistro Bites.” Take a close peek at the barrels sitting in the middle of the room, and settle into their comfy red bistro chairs to take a load off.
If VIP rooms dedicated to cognac are more your style, check out the 40/40 Club when they reopen on Jan. 19th after an extensive technological renovation. With names like “Remy Lounge” and “Cognac Room”, you’ll quickly realize what Jay Z’s spirit of choice is. Lounge on the over-sized beds and wrap-around leather couches while you whet your whistle with bottles of Remy Martin cognac. Voila!
Source:
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/top-lists/nycs-6-best-bars-for-cognac-lovers/
Photos: www.maisonpremiere.com and www.bartabacny.com
