Ah yes, Campari. That bitter liqueur we Americans just can't seem to love...but that's OK. Even if we can't bring ourselves to drink Campari on the rocks (try giving it to your friends without telling them what it is -- quite entertaining, but they may never trust you again), we can mix it to great... Continue Reading →
Somehow, cocktails that are simple, elegant, and timeless get overlooked. More often than not, these drinks involve simple mixological maneuvers that, once performed, seem obvious under the scrutiny of 20-20 hindsight, but had simply never been done before, and never recorded. Somewhere, sometime, somebody must have thought, "You know what? I'm going to add some... Continue Reading →
Well, as usual, I'm getting impatient. Fall is entirely too far away; it's fresh, cool air and brightly colored leaves, which contrast with the oh-so-necessary crystal-clear blue sky, make it my favorite season. There should be a faint hint of woodsmoke in the air and a jacket over your arm. Curiously enough, what you'd like to... Continue Reading →
This one comes directly from Ted Haigh's Vintage Spirits & Forgotten Cocktails, accompanied by the maxim, "Recipes are not sacred." Indeed. Everybody from David Embury on down has realized this fact at one point or another. Mix a drink to your taste. In fact, mix this drink to your taste, though it's already an excellent one: Millionaire (#4,... Continue Reading →
Huzzah! Huzzah! The soda siphon has arrived! Time for a round of Fizzes and Collinses! First up, one of two quintessential New Orleans cocktails, the Ramos Gin Fizz, also known as the New Orleans Fizz, depending on whom you ask. According to David Wondrich, New Orleans was experiencing an enormous boost in tourism in the... Continue Reading →
Every now and then you come across a drink that is, well, interesting, but maybe isn't quite there, doesn't quite add up to what you expected, or doesn't match your taste. This one is a candidate for all three: The Interesting Cocktail 2 ounces Silver Tequila (Regan recommends Partida, Milagro, Don Julio, or El Tesoro)... Continue Reading →
A truly exquisite little drink, the Tip Top is one of those well-hidden gems that deserves to be known better. Don't be afraid of the amount of vermouth in this one: Tip Top 2 ounces Dry Vermouth (Noilly Prat Original Dry) 1/4 ounce Bénédictine 2 dashes Angostura Bitters Stir with ice and strain into a... Continue Reading →
While pondering what to mix, and seriously considering a Lucien Gaudin, I heard my Dad call down from upstairs (the liquor supply occupying a wall in the basement), "Hey! Are you mixing a cocktail?" "Uh, yeah? Would you like one?" "Yeah! Something with bourbon in it! I'm not a gin guy." Well, that settled it... Continue Reading →
While recovering from the Wisconsin trip, I have neglected the blog for about a week. What that means, of course, is that we're behind on our cocktail cataloging! Wednesday night's dinner? Shrimp scampi. The pre-dinner cocktail solution? Something semi-tropical, certainly with lime, but something different. Oh, and if it could use my new batch of... Continue Reading →
Ah, my first (official) Mixology Monday! For those of you not in the know, take a look at the MxMo site. The host this time 'round is Frederic over at Cocktail Virgin Slut, so head to his site and the announcement post for all the necessary info. Be sure to check out the roundup (like... Continue Reading →
Tempered Spirits 