With the holidays fast approaching and cold weather already here (for most of us, at least), you’re going to need something to shield you from both. In such times, a hot toddy typically does the trick. The warming elixir of…
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As you may know, bitters are essences of powerful flavors that are used to enhance cocktails and, sometimes, to season food. As bitters continue to gain more prominence in bars around the world, we’re able to experience flavors and combinations we never thought were possible. Exciting times…read more →
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SPONSORED POST For the past couple months we’ve been playing with PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur. Tasting it, mixing with it and generally exploring its all-natural pomegranate juice-vodka-tequila profile. At a modest 17% ABV, it’s a solid stand-in for vermouth and grenadine…
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We love fall. The weather. The leaves. The abundance of fall-inspired cocktail recipes on menus across the country… On that note, we’ve decided to sift through the myriad recipes that have been inundating our inbox since Labor Day, and we’ve…
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We first became acquainted with “To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion” at Tales of the Cocktail. The book was nominated for a Spirited Award, and the author, Philip Greene, was a regular presence at seminars and events…
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During the fall, drinkers often turn to spirits like whiskey and rum. And for good reason–they’re warming, delicious and pair nicely with fall ingredients like cinnamon and that third slice of pumpkin pie. But don’t sleep on gin. With a…
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September is National Bourbon Heritage Month, so we’ve been doing our best to celebrate. Last week we went to Kentucky to meet the new Woodford Reserve Double Malt Selections. Then we cracked open a bottle of Hudson Baby Bourbon for…
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“Handcrafted Cocktails: The Mixologist’s Guide to Classic Drinks for Morning Noon & Night” is the new, lengthy-titled tome from Molly Wellmann, a Cincinnati-based bartender, bar owner and general cocktail aficionado. Like every cocktail book ever, it begins with an introduction…
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SPONSORED POST Whether you’re a working bartender or a home enthusiast, stocking your bar with some essential ingredients is key to serving a variety of quality drinks. Obviously you’ve got your base spirits like whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, vodka and…
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Upon some recent rummaging through a friend’s liquor cabinet, I stumbled upon a bottle of Beluga Vodka. The spirit hails from Russia, where it’s produced from malt alcohol and purified water at Siberia’s remote Mariinsky Distillery. It’s billed as a…
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We get a lot of books sent our way. Biographies of distillation pioneers. Tomes dissecting a particular spirit. And of course, recipe books. Some are solid (“Punch”). Many are not (“Martinis for Moms”). So when “The New Old Bar: Classic…
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It’s not that you ever need an excuse to drink rum. It’s just that August 16th is National Rum Day, so now more than ever it seems appropriate to break out a bottle and whip up rum cocktails. You could…
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The mint julep is a classic cocktail that’s just perfect for summer. Typically comprised of nothing more than bourbon, sugar and mint, the refreshing combo is poured over crushed ice and served en masse everywhere from the Kentucky Derby to…
Read MoreCarbonated cocktails took off in bars a couple years ago, and since then we’ve seen many great applications, including carbonated Americanos, Negronis, Palomas and many more. Anytime you directly carbonate a cocktail, rather than just topping it with soda water,…
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Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist is a new book by Tim Federle. And as you might have discerned from the name, Tim’s got quite a predilection for puns. This book’s geared toward literary enthusiasts, and features 65 drink…
Read MoreEarlier this month, Tony Abou-Ganim (author of the Modern Mixologist, ubiquitous champion of cocktails and all-around solid guy) came through town as part of a Shellback Rum series called All Hands on Deck. Tony worked a room of rum aficionados…
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Valentine’s Day… Yup, it’s happening. Again. Which means you’re probably either stressing to find a perfect gift/dinner reservation, or you’re holing up inside your house with a stiff drink. Then again, if you’re a bartender, you’re probably working. But regardless,…
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And now, a five-pack of wine cocktails from our pals at Wine Investment. For quite awhile, there was a rigidly held belief in the world of drinksmanship that wine and cocktails go together like chalk and cheese. Thankfully, this outdated attitude…
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Ah, Halloween. Good times. But as far as cocktails go… it’s a bit lackluster. Too often we see candy corn garnishes, plastic spiders and other such horrors. Point is: it’s a rough day for serious drinkers. Which is why so…
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You may remember our recent experiences with Knockeen Hills. They distill a mighty fine Irish poteen at a whopping 180 proof as well as an easy-drinking heather gin. Well, it turns out they also make a less-fiery 120 proof poteen…
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