Cognac and Your City: New York

New York’s vibrant city culture has long served as inspiration for the cocktail world, dating back to the days of Jerry Thomas whose pioneering book, How To Mix Drinks: A Bon Vivant’s Companion, put many now-iconic cocktail recipes in print. From the Brandy Crusta and Sidecar to the Julep, these Cognac cocktails are still riffed on today and celebrated by bartenders around the world, including by New York City’s Ms. Franky Marshall.

Marshall’s résumé includes stints at many of New York’s best bars, such as Clover Club, Dead Rabbit, Monkey Bar, Holiday Cocktail Lounge and Le Boudoir, and over the past six years, she’s visited Cognac seven times and developed a unique passion for the spirit, even becoming a Certified Cognac Educator in 2014. Cognac is “good for your soul,” she says.

In the video above, Marshall talks about why New York is such a perfect home for Cognac and what the spirit means to her. Across the city, many other bartenders are putting Cognac to impressive use in cocktails—here are five spots to check out now:

Brandy Library

Brasserie Cognac

Maison Premiere

Dutch Kills

Raines Law Room

Stay tuned for more about how Cognac fits into the cocktail cultures of Boston, Atlanta and Portland, and follow @cognacUSA for more perspectives on the spirit from four of America’s top bartenders.