30-04-2025
Why New York City's Most Exclusive Bar Refuses To Serve This Cognac
Louis XIII is undeniably superb, an icon of craftsmanship and prestige, but at Brandy Library, it's the one bottle you won't find, by deliberate design.
New York's Brandy Library has become the place to be after hours in the city, but you may be surprised to know that you won't be able to get a pour of the world's most prestigious Cognac. I spoke to Brandy Library's founder Flavien Desoblin to find out more about his exclusive bar and discover why he's banned Louis XIII Cognac from the shelves.
In Lower Manhattan's Moore Street, Brandy Library has become the go to destination for those after a quieter spot to unwind and connect. It's a carefully designed venue that glows with the ambient lighting from walls lined with around 1,500 bottles of spirit from across the world. This impressive collection has been curated by the library to offer an unrivaled opportunity to explore new and existing favourites, from whisky to cognac.
Over 1,500 bottles line the shelves at Brandy Library, offering everything from obscure Scotch and vintage Armagnac to underrated American bourbon gems.
The group sizes are limited to six—although larger groups can request to book a private party or experience—and the ambience is very much reminiscent of a library. The hushed and respectful tone revered for a selection of spirits, although you can also get a glass of wine or beer if that's your preference. You might expect brandy to be their most popular spirit, or a scotch thanks to its increasingly premium reputation, but Desoblin explains that bourbon has reestablished itself as the drink to be seen with.
'The resurgence of Bourbon started as a necessity during the 2008/09 financial crisis,' Desoblin said over an email exchange with me. 'Businessmen would come in but couldn't spend corporate money on the previous go-to Macallan 18, so they switched. What started as an act of active patriotism eventually was loved for its defining qualities. The younger generation, going back to what the grandparents were drinking, has fully embraced bourbon.'
Jordan Belfort, the former stockbroker and financial criminal whose memories were recreated in the film The Wolf of Wall Street was a regular at Brandy Library, although Desoblin says they didn't know who he was until after the movie. Despite its proximity to New York's Financial District, Brandy Library isn't solely focused on the corporate side. Desoblin explains his library setting is perfect for 'dates who want to see what's really inside each other's mind, in a quiet and calm environment when you easily lose track of time.'
I felt it was a must to ask about the elephant in the room—or lack of it—the Louis XIII Cognac. Louis XIII is arguably the pinnacle of luxury cognacs. The price of a bottle starts around $3,000 to $4,000 depending on the edition and it's the crown of Rémy Martin's portfolio. This exceptional brandy combines up to 1,200 different eaux-de-vie that are aged for decades—some reaching a century—and presented in a handcrafted crystal decanter. Despite its renowned quality and striking design, at the Brandy Library they have deliberately chosen not to stock Louis XIII.
Despite its fame and luxury status, Louis XIII Cognac is nowhere to be found at Brandy Library.
I find the interaction of luxury lifestyle and spirits fascinating, so I had to ask Desoblin what drove their decision.
'There's no argument that Louis XIII quality is superb! But I was tired of witnessing ice cubes thrown into it as it was consumed just for status. There are plenty of similarly exquisite Cognacs for a fraction of the price, so we chose to focus on those.'
Sometimes it is nice to have something you are familiar with, but equally if you have access to somewhere like Brandy Library with the selection and expert guidance it can be just as enjoyable to be steered toward something new. I asked Desoblin what he considered overlooked in their vast selection of spirits.
His answer is as succinct as his selection is vast: 'Heaven Hill bottled-in-bond 7 years bourbon and Glen Moray single malt scotch.'
Flavien Desoblin calls Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Years one of the bar's hidden gems—a no-frills bourbon that proves great taste doesn't need a big price tag.
For those that don't know, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Years is a traditional Kentucky bourbon adhering to strict requirements—100 proof, aged at least four years and produced in a single distilling season. The 7-year expression represents the distillery's commitment to their production methods while delivering a robust, full-flavored experience.
Glen Moray is a Speyside distillery that is often overlooked in favour of some of its more infamous neighbours. Established in 1897 Glen Moray creates whiskies that typically showcase the lighter, fruitier side of Speyside malts. They are also a fraction of the price of the better known speyside single malts, which can often make people a bit more open minded about trying something new!
If Kentucky bourbon or a fruity speyside scotch are the right choice for your palate the expert team at Brandy Library would be more than happy to offer a suggestion. Just make sure you book your table in advance for the full experience.
