LAUREN PAYLOR — Cognac Connection

Lauren Paylor bartends at Silver Lyan at the Riggs Hotel in Washington, DC. Born in the Bronx, she attended nursing school at Catholic University of America in D.C., where she met bartender Derek Brown, a leader in the classic cocktail movement. Fascinated by Derek’s love for the restaurant industry, Lauren began working at his Drink Company, where she immersed herself in learning about service, cocktails, spirits, and wine. She co-founded, along with Alex Jump, Focus On Health, a company dedicated to health and wellness in the food and beverage industry. Lauren travels the world consulting on cocktail programs and training bar teams. She is a nationally-ranked bartender and a finalist in the United States World Class Competition 2019 and winner of the Hardy Legends Cognac Competition 2019.