Death

In 2006, Death & Co opened its formidable, steam punk doorway on East 6th Street in New York, and seats at this little bar quickly became some of the city's most coveted spots from which to sip inventive cocktails. Founded by David Kaplan and Ravi deRossi, it was where "startenders" like Phil Ward, Joaquín Simó, Jillian Vose, Jim Kearns and Eryn Reece honed their talents and created modern classic recipes-Naked and Famous, Oaxaca Old Fashioned, The Conference-that now appear on drink menus all over the world. Many of the mixologists who worked at Death & Co have moved on to manage and/or partner in other high profile cocktail bars.