A while ago I ordered a copy of Left Coast Libations, a cocktail tome I had seen mentioned once or twice in the Blogosphere and had paged through while sitting at the bar at Merchant. While I still recommend it to anyone interested in craft cocktails (you gotta love Ted Munat's devil-may-care sense of humor, the meticulously researched recipes,... Continue Reading →
It was bound to happen: a neighborhood cocktail club is in the works and nearly set to debut (one week to go). I hate to keep such a thing exclusive and secret, mainly because I believe that good drinks are something that everybody should be able to experience, hence my slight lack of fondness for "speakeasies" like... 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 →
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 →
"There comes a time when all the cosmic tumblers have clicked into place, and the universe opens itself up for a few seconds to show you what's possible." - Field of Dreams, 1989 OK, so that might be a bit of over-enthusiastic hyperbole, but I can't help but praise Leon's Full Service in downtown Decatur.... Continue Reading →
After heading to downtown Atlanta and meeting up with my good buddies Jack and BK, we decided to check out a few bars in the area which, partially by chance, partially by design, are on my list of recommended Atlanta bars and restaurants. The current list is based on the March/April 2011 issue of Imbibe ... Continue Reading →
Happy 4th of July! In keeping with the spirit of the holiday, it's time to drink American...liquor, that is. Though this next cocktail tosses in a few European additions, the base spirit is good ol' American apple brandy. What could be more apropos than cultures coming together in the form of a cocktail? Newark 2... Continue Reading →
Today we'll take an in-depth look at the history and recipe of a particular cocktail: The Martinez. First, a bit of history. Is it a precursor to the Martini? A cousin? A variation? And what about the Manhattan? The truth will likely never be known, though we can safely assume that the Martini and the... Continue Reading →
My cocktail curiosity was first aroused, I think, back in the Spring of 2007; more exactly, my 21st birthday. "Of course!" you might be thinking, "He went out and got bombed on shots of Jägermeister, Jack Daniels and cheap beer!" Well, no binge-drinking, beer-pong party pour moi. Instead, I headed past Tech Square and over to... Continue Reading →
Tempered Spirits 