Blacktail

Blacktail is a bar at 851 6th Ave, New York, NY 10001, and it was ranked No. 32 on the World's 50 Best Bars list. This immersive tribute to the well-known American bars that flourished in Cuba during Prohibition offers an authentic escape from contemporary luxury.

The visionary duo behind The Dead Rabbit, multiple winners of World's Best Bar, conceived Blacktail as homage to the "Black Tail Fleet," seaplanes that ferried New Yorkers to Havana's decadent bar scene. Their research included sourcing Cuban artifacts and literature, creating a focused tribute to cocktail history. This dedication to authenticity earned critical acclaim and helped establish Blacktail's reputation in New York City.

Blacktail's cocktail program showcases both classic Cuban libations and innovative creations inspired by the era's golden age of American bartending in Havana. The menu reflects Muldoon and McGarry's commitment to historical accuracy while incorporating premium spirits and contemporary techniques. Signature cocktails celebrate the period's creativity, from perfectly balanced daiquiris to complex rum-forward innovations that honor Cuba's rich distilling heritage.

The premium craft cocktail experience emphasizes quality ingredients and theatrical presentation worthy of the bar's immersive concept. The design authentically mirrors grand Havana bars of the Prohibition era, featuring 300 original Cuban photographs by Vern Evans displayed throughout the space. The lobby evokes a well-traveled colonial intellectual's study, filled with Cuban antiques and vintage books, while the main bar transports guests through period details that avoid kitsch in favor of genuine historical atmosphere.

Staff in guayabera shirts and fedoras enhance the theatrical yet professional service style. Blacktail's attention to detail includes a 310-page hardback book cataloging the bar's wall art. Blacktail offers a distinctive setting for cocktail culture's glamorous era.