Way, way back in 1916, a little-known Bavarian-born bartender named Hugo Ensslin self-published a wholly unremarkable little book. Covered with stiffened, nondescript brown paper and given an unassuming title -- Recipes for Mixed Drinks -- the book contained the recipes for over 400 libations that were being mixed at bars across the City of New York. Many... Continue Reading →
Here in the U.S. we now have access to a growing number of European spirits and liqueurs that, until now, were rarely seen on these shores: Carpano Antica and Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, Zucca, Bonal Gentiane-Quina, Cocchi Americano, and Suze, to name a few of them. Then there are the numerous Italian amari and Fernets... Continue Reading →
If you didn't know already, St. Germain, the makers of the impeccable elderflower liqueur, are holding a cocktail contest, their 5th Annual Can-Can Classic. The challenge? Create an original drink using at least one ounce of St. Germain that exhibits Originality and Taste, to be judged by Representatives of St. Germain...and Martha Stewart's editorial staff (Hey,... Continue Reading →
In a word, Yes. True, I like Holeman & Finch, but it takes aim at the semi-high-spending gastropub crowd and is a tad over-hyped (I admit, I've done my share of hyping). I mean, H&F has become a destination now, lauded by the AJC, listed in Food + Wine's "Best Bars in the World/Country," and written... Continue Reading →
Search me. After a reading a number of articles on Serious Eats about all the pumpkin beers that are (or were) out and about on the market, I headed to a couple of the local booze shops to buy some. Nothin' and nada. No luck. I'm serious. No pumpkin beer! Well, maybe a few straggling bottles... Continue Reading →
Yes, it is officially Autumn, and though the leaves are turning and there's a slight chill in the air, things are still pretty green down here in Georgia. There's the 70-something temperatures, the fresh basil, the continuing crop of peppers and eggplants, the sound of lawn mowers beating the grass into submission -- life is... Continue Reading →
A little while ago, I picked up a copy of Food & Wine: Cocktails 2012 (at a local Kroger, of all places): contained within it was a drink called "Tea At Three," which infused gin with black tea and then combined it with sherry, lavender, and an assortment of berries (see p.148, if you have a copy). Reading... Continue Reading →
While the Carousel Punch was the star of our Autumnal soiree, we also put together a small cocktail menu and made drinks available on request. The cocktails featured plenty of brown booze and spice in what was a deliberate shift toward cool-weather imbibing and away from light, citrusy summer drinks. Though the libations all fell... Continue Reading →
To celebrate the Autumnal Equinox and herald the arrival of cooler weather, we held a Harvest Party at the Lauer household (incidentally, a well-timed cold front dropped the temperature by ten degrees in Georgia on the night of the 22nd). Accompanying the pulled pork, German potato salad, mac n' cheese, and quick pickles -- all of... Continue Reading →
A couple of weeks ago, the Lauer household was inundated with tomatoes. The gardens were cranking 'em out in July, and we could only consume so many of them. Our stomachs replete with red fruit, we offered them up to neighbors and co-workers, and with their stomachs replete, we had to move on to long-term storage solutions...along... Continue Reading →
Tempered Spirits 