Did you know that cognac is named after the region it’s produced in? Located in the southwest of France, the area of Cognac stretches across thousands of acres and is responsible for producing all of the cognac expressions known and loved across the globe.
This month, the Cognac Classic Crawl is here to bring the delicious, complex world of the famed French spirit to LA. If you’ve ever dismissed cognac as an old-fashioned drink—only consumed after dinner as a digestif—prepare to be amazed by its versatility and flavor.
Working with five of the best bars across LA, the Cognac Classic Crawl will introduce the ties between the French spirit and mixology through modern twists on classic cognac cocktails, some which date back to the 1800s.
Want to try the cocktails for yourself? Tickets are now on sale, and include a special cognac cocktail at each of the five locations, which you can visit across one delicious evening or throughout the whole month. What’s more, 100% of the proceeds will go to LA Kitchen, which uses reclaimed healthy food, trains homeless and foster youth, and provides healthy meals to LA locals. Shaken or stirred, here are the contemporary Cognac cocktails to look forward to tasting.
Offering up an impressive selection of premium spirits, Bar Clacson matches their relaxed, colourful space with even more colourful, delicious cocktails. Classics and hard liquor are given the stage, with a warming food menu to pair them with.
Bartender: Dustin Newsome
Ingredients:
2 oz Cognac V.S.O.P
Absinthe rinse on the glass
.5 oz Amaro Cio Cairo
Garnish: Lemon twist
Located in downtown LA, Broken Shaker delivers a touch of beach life with its light wood décor and healthy food menu. The cocktail menu features an assortment of herbs, homemade concoctions, and exotic ingredients.
Bartender: Christine Wiseman
Ingredients:
2 oz Cognac V.S.O.P
.5 oz Clear Creek Apple brandy
.5 oz Apple cinnamon shrub
Pinch of salt
1 Dash of Angostura bitters
Garnish: Orange twist
Led by famed chef Timothy Hollingsworth, contemporary restaurant Otium delivers a unique culinary experience. The drinks menu is carefully curated to match the amazing food, with a curated selection of wine, cocktails, and spirits.
Bartender: Ryan Silva
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Cognac V.S.O.P.
.5 oz Lemon
.75 oz Chai-coconut curaçao
Garnish: Whipped maple marshmallow rim
Built within the former rectory building of the Vibiana Cathedral, Redbird is worth visiting for its design alone. The cocktail and drink menus, match the surroundings with reimagined classics and balanced spirit-forward concoctions.
Bartender: Tobin Shea
Ingredients:
2 oz Cognac V.S.O.P
.75 oz Dolin Dry Vermouth
.75 oz Calisaya
Garnish: Orange and Lemon twist
Housed within an old storage room in one of the oldest public houses in LA, The Varnish brings drinkers into a dark, classic setting, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Bartender: Bryan Tetorakis
Ingredients:
2 oz Cognac V.S.
2 bar spoons Cocchi Barolo Chinato
1 bar spoon maple syrup
1 dash Angostura bitters
1 dash Peychaud’s bitters
Garnish: Lemon twist
