The New York First Company - Impeccable Gifts and Unique Wonders

The exclusive, one-on-one Cocktail Masterclass takes place at the famed World Bar located inside the Trump World Tower (conducted during off-hours to ensure privacy). The 1 1/2-hour experience begins with a history of cocktail making, a study of vintage cocktail books, professional etiquette, use of terminology, and a guide to the layout behind a professional bar.

It's a bartender's unique knowledge that makes him or her stand apart from the rest of the flock, explains Jonathan, as he teaches the anatomy of classic and contemporary cocktails, overview of spirits, tools, mechanics, and the harmony of flavors -- even the importance of ice and proper serving temperatures. Then, give your hand a try as you concoct a range of drinks (and taste for quality control) under the direction of the master bartender. Before you're finished experimenting, you will collaborate with Jonathan to create an original recipe for (and attach a name to) your very own personal cocktail. You take home the "signature" recipe as a memento of the experience.

The private lesson is tailored to the participant's level of interest. It's for the accomplished bartender in pursuit of "bar chef" artistry. It's also for the novice who wants to impress friends with a display of fabulous new skills. The lesson provides an immersion technique similar to a foreign language class. You'll be fluent in standard bartending procedures by the end of the lesson.

PLEASE NOTE: Participants must be at least 21 years of age. Samples poured will not be full serving size. Expect to sample about 1 ounce per drink. (This Experience Gift is also offered for small groups, please inquire).

About Jonathan Pogash
A precocious student of Master Mixologist Gary Regan, Jonathan began his career behind the venerable bar of Warner LeRoy's Russian Tea Room. Upon RTR's closing, he was taken under the wing of Albert Trummer, "bar chef" extraordinaire, at Town inside the Chambers Hotel, where he was introduced to handcrafted concoctions made with fresh fruit purees. When Albert moved on, Jonathan followed, assisting the Trummer brothers open their summertime bar/lounge on the North Fork of Long Island, Trummer Home. In the off-season, Jonathan bartended at Flute, a Champagne lounge in the Gramercy Park neighborhood. In 2003, Jonathan began consulting, aiding the Trummers in promoting Navan, a vanilla-infused cognac from the house of Grand Marnier. Since then he has stinted behind the bar of celebrity chef David Bouley's new venture, Upstairs @ Bouley, where he absorbed some of the chef's fanaticism for fresh ingredients. He currently serves as Director of Cocktail Development for Hospitality Holdings, owner/operators of some of the most prestigious cocktail lounges in NYC, including The Campbell Apartment, Bookmarks Lounge, The Carnegie Club, and The World Bar.