Founded by industry veterans Linden Pride, Rodrigo Leme, and Malte Barnekow, the New York Cocktail Company offers ready-to-serve variations of the Negroni and an Old Fashioned. Leme, who is also the Director of Business Development for famed cocktail bar Dante, discusses his passion for exceptional cocktails with James Lane Post.
What inspired you to start New York Cocktail Company? Can you provide some background about the brand?
New York Cocktail Company was born out of necessity and passion. During the pandemic, when bars were closed and people were looking for ways to recreate great experiences at home, we saw an opportunity. We wanted to give people access to bar-quality cocktails that carried the same care, craft, and flavor you’d expect from a world-class bar like Dante — but in a bottle. What started as a small project quickly evolved into a proper brand, and now it’s our way of sharing that New York cocktail culture with a wider audience.
We appreciate the idea of enjoying a world-class cocktail at home. Can you explain your process for creating these beverages?
Every cocktail we bottle goes through the same creative and technical process as those we serve behind the bar. It starts with flavor — we focus on balance, complexity, and drinkability. From there, we work with high-quality spirits and ingredients and test everything extensively to make sure it holds up in the bottle. Once we lock in the recipe, we scale production without sacrificing what made it special in the first place. It’s all about consistency, from the first sip to the last pour.
Can you discuss some of the brands you’ve collaborated with to create your signature New York Cocktail Company drinks?
We’re proud to work with some incredible producers, many of them based right here in New York. We’ve partnered with Brooklyn Gin and Faccia Brutto, two brands that share our values around craft and quality. When we work with spirits outside of the state — like Mancino Vermouth from Italy, Milam & Greene Bourbon from Texas, or Su Cassa Mezcal from Mexico — it’s always about choosing what’s popular among New York’s best bars and what meets our standards. What they all have in common is a commitment to quality and character. That’s the foundation for every cocktail we create.
You’ve created four variations of the Negroni, a cocktail at the heart of Dante’s menu. What makes the perfect Negroni?
For us, a perfect Negroni is all about harmony. You want the bitterness, sweetness, and strength to be in sync — nothing overpowering the other. At Dante, we’ve always loved playing with the structure of the Negroni, whether it’s adding coffee, chocolate, or making it lighter and spritzier. But at its core, it’s a cocktail that’s timeless, and we’re just building on that foundation with each new version.
Where can we find New York Cocktail Company on the East End?
You can find us at some amazing spots out East this summer — Total Wine on Long Island, Churchill Wine & Spirits and Bridghampton Wine Cellar in Bridghampton, Sag Harbor Wine & Spirits in Sag Harbor, and soon you can enjoy it at the Surf Lodge in Montauk.
