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 →
High West Distillery Whiskies
Yes, it's time for Part Two of the Southwest Booze Roundup: Yeeeeeee-haawwwwww!! Sorry. This second offering comes from the High West Distillery, located in Park City, Utah, just outside of Salt Lake City. No, Matt, Jack, and I didn't manage to make it that far North. We spent our time in and around Bryce Canyon... Continue Reading →
High Spirits Prickly Pear Vodka
After a two-week trip to the American Southwest, you didn't think I'd come back without some form of liquor, did you? Silly you. No, there's no new tequila on my shelf, but a set of three whiskies and, believe it or not, a vodka, and it's a flavored one, to boot! How uncharacteristic is that? After Las... Continue Reading →
Viva Las Vegas! Part 1: Frankie’s Tiki Room
At the beginning and end of our recent Tour de Southwest, Matt, Jack, and I spent some time in Las Vegas, the City of Kitsch. Well, maybe it deserves a little bit more credit than that. Regardless of your opinion of Vegas, it's unique. Nobody can deny that. It also happens to be home to... Continue Reading →
Tonight’s Drink: The Millionaire!
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 →
Booze Get! Old Sugar Distillery Ouzo, Honey Liqueur, Freshwater Rum
Yes, I know this post is a long way behind the actual visit, but traveling takes up a lot of time. Besides, I haven't had a chance to sit down and really taste their booze until now. So here it is, a post on our second distillery visit in the Upper Midwest! On our second-to-last... Continue Reading →
Tonight’s Drinks: Ramos Gin Fizz, Sloe Gin Fizz, Basil Cherry Collins
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 →
Tonight’s Drink: The Interesting Cocktail
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 →
Tonight’s Drink: The Lion’s Tail
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 →
Past Nights’ Drinks: Ding Ho & Bitter Mai Tai
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 →

