A Toast to Death & Co
Maxim|May - June 2022
The founders of Manhattan's iconic cocktail mecca break down the rules of mastering mixology
By Jared Paul Stern
A Toast to Death & Co

Ask any true cocktail enthusiast to name the top ten bars in the world, and Death & Co will surely make the grade. Opened on New Year's Eve 2006/2007 in Manhattan's East Village, it quickly became the standard-bearer for the newly emerging classic cocktail and mixology renaissance, which was given a massive boost when a quirky new show called Mad Men premiered later that year.

Death & Co has since opened equally alluring locations in Denver and Los Angeles, and has spawned a blue-chip hospitality group called Gin & Luck, along with two essential cocktail books-Cocktail Codex, which won a James Beard award, and Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails—which has now been joined by a third volume capturing the current cocktail zeitgeist, titled Death & Co: Welcome Home, by co-founders David Kaplan and Alex Day with author Nick Fauchald.

“Death & Co's approach to cocktails has always been driven by a dual dedication to quality and elegance. Kaplan writes in the book's introduction. Our drinks are rooted in classic cocktails, with honest, direct flavors and compositions. We welcome innovation, of course, but it is not our driving motivation. Most of all, we want our cocktails to elicit a response that's not ‘Hmm, that's interesting, but Wow, that's fucking delicious!

This story is from the May - June 2022 edition of Maxim.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May - June 2022 edition of Maxim.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MAXIMView All
150 YEARS of SUPERYACHTS STYLE
Maxim US

150 YEARS of SUPERYACHTS STYLE

Here's why Benetti's expensive-but-worth-it vessels have been favored by the beautiful people, from James Bond to Donald Trump, David Bowie and Jay-Z

time-read
5 mins  |
May - June 2024
KING of the PRANCING HORSES
Maxim US

KING of the PRANCING HORSES

The extremely sought-after Ferrari 250 series-including the sales record-setting 250 GTO-are the most valuable cars that money can buy

time-read
5 mins  |
May - June 2024
LUST for LIFE
Maxim US

LUST for LIFE

French photographer Philippe Shangti's world of lush, sometimes lurid seenes isn't always what it seems

time-read
3 mins  |
May - June 2024
A CENTURY of MOROCCAN STYLE
Maxim US

A CENTURY of MOROCCAN STYLE

The legendary La Mamounia in Marrakech unveils a multimillion-dollar renovation on the occasion of its 100th anniversary

time-read
5 mins  |
May - June 2024
SPRITZ & SPREZZATURA
Maxim US

SPRITZ & SPREZZATURA

Everything you need to know about the evolution of the spritz, which has gone beyond bitter into vibrant, refreshing and eclectic

time-read
4 mins  |
May - June 2024
APEX PREDATOR
Maxim US

APEX PREDATOR

Driving the new GT 63 supercar across the hills of Spain reveals Mercedes-AMG only made a great supercar better

time-read
4 mins  |
May - June 2024
HAPPIEST ANNIVERSARIES
Maxim US

HAPPIEST ANNIVERSARIES

When it comes to fine smokes, \"anniversario\" blends just keep getting better with time

time-read
4 mins  |
May - June 2024
THE RAZOR'S EDGE
Maxim US

THE RAZOR'S EDGE

Collectors are taking note of William Henry's nextlevel pocket knives, the ultimate in luxury cutting tools

time-read
3 mins  |
May - June 2024
LIGHTS, CAMERA ,ACTION!
Maxim US

LIGHTS, CAMERA ,ACTION!

A conversation with Emmy-winning cinematographer and director Keyan Safyari

time-read
2 mins  |
May - June 2024
ROLLIN' THUNDER
Maxim US

ROLLIN' THUNDER

Malaysia's Rollin Machine crafts a world-class tribute to the Royal Enfield Interceptor

time-read
4 mins  |
May - June 2024