Brandy library

[Fabienne]

I was wondering if anyone had been to the Brandy library (25 N. Moore street). The concept is interesting: bottles of various brandies (cognac, armagnac, calvados, scotches, etc) are on shelves, and can be sampled at will by customers. I think this is a glorious idea, which I hope is successful.

 

[TimelessRider]

Sounds intriguing. Should be worth a trip. It's apparently too new to show up on Citysearch. http://www.brandylibrary.com/

 

[jasonpraxis]

From the 10 January issue of the New Yorker:

"More often than not, bottles of liquor are kept behind the bar and at a distance from patrons. Not so at this newly opened outpost of after-dinner culture, where softly lit single-malt Scotches, amber Cognacs and Armagnacs, and glistening Calvados are lined up on shelves along each wall, just begging to be touched. And, like books in a library, hundreds of bottles are there to be sampled and perused at will. The intimate room has elegant round wood tables and soft leather chairs, the music is strictly twentieth-century jazz (the pianist Joel Forrester is at the upright on Monday nights), and there are high end bar snacks available. It's a space designed for lingering; the owner, Flavien Desbolin, a native Burgundian, says he'll often sniff a glass of Armagnac twenty times before taking the first sip."

My curiosity has been piqued.

 

[Andrew V.]

Sounds nice.

 

[Kevin]

I'm a bit confused by this concept, probably because it seems way too good to be true.  So I can just stroll on in and start tasting XO Cognacs without making a purchase?  Is there some sort of a tasting fee at the door?  I've been planning a trip to NYC for a while, and the Brandy Library may just have moved to the top of my itinerary.  If anyone does go and visit there, please do remember to post a follow up.

 

[drizzt3117]

According to the NY Times article, you pay by the pour. http://www.brandylibrary.com/images/...s11-24-04G.gif

 

[AvariceBespoke]

Originally Posted by Fabienne

I was wondering if anyone had been to the Brandy library (25 N. Moore street). The concept is interesting: bottles of various brandies (cognac, armagnac, calvados, scotches, etc) are on shelves, and can be sampled at will by customers. I think this is a glorious idea, which I hope is successful.

I was there last night and it is a great place. My friend and I actually sat next to Kelly Rutherford and her friend and chatted them up over some drinks. Look forward to visiting the Brandy Library again.

 

[King Francis]

Originally Posted by Fabienne

I think this is a glorious idea, which I hope is successful.
+1 So long as they don't buy up all the limited-supply scotches and rums on the market.

 

[Huntsman]

Unlike many of the other discerning top spots in NYC (not top spots in hipster world, but for serious people) I have not heard anything but positive reviews for the Library. You do buy drinks as in other establishments, but the goal is edification and enjoyment.

 

[bc78]

I went there about a year ago when I started becoming interested in scotch. Their scotch flights are really helpful in getting to know more about the subject.

 

[KBW]

horribly overpriced...A fighting cock shot for $10 is absolutely insane when you can buy 1.75 liters of it in South Carolina for $12. I like bourbon more than anything else and their bourbon prices are all outrageous.

 

[Morgan]

It's a very nice drinking establishment in Tribeca - of course their prices are somewhat inflated. The proprietor is generous and really cares about helping the customer figure out what brandies or whiskies suit them them best. I've done a calvados and a scotch tasting there and had a great time doing it.

 

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by KBW

horribly overpriced...A fighting cock shot for $10 is absolutely insane when you can buy 1.75 liters of it in South Carolina for $12. I like bourbon more than anything else and their bourbon prices are all outrageous.
For NYC? You need to be aware of the scale. Also, who drinks fighting cock in the Brandy Library? I'm not really surprised it's expensive.... ~ H

 

[AvariceBespoke]

Originally Posted by KBW

horribly overpriced...A fighting cock shot for $10 is absolutely insane when you can buy 1.75 liters of it in South Carolina for $12. I like bourbon more than anything else and their bourbon prices are all outrageous.

South Carolina? You can buy a 3000sq foot home there for like $100,000 on 0.5 acre.
This is the Brandy Library in Manhattan, NY - the center of the universe.

 

[AvariceBespoke]

Originally Posted by Morgan

It's a very nice drinking establishment in Tribeca - of course their prices are somewhat inflated. The proprietor is generous and really cares about helping the customer figure out what brandies or whiskies suit them them best. I've done a calvados and a scotch tasting there and had a great time doing it.

I will do this next time. I look forward to going again.