Coffee is huge these days. Consumers are regularly blending beans at home. Artisan coffee shops are popping up on seemingly every corner. Restaurants are paying more attention to their coffee service. And bars are exploring the synergy between coffee/espresso and…
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July 14th is Bastille Day. Which means that our drinks are donning striped shirts and berets to celebrate. This Bastille Day-inspired cocktail features all French spirits. It has equal parts liberty, equality and fraternity. Plus lime juice. So get out…
Read More**Editor’s Note: Please welcome Ian Reilly — bartender, writer and new Cocktail Enthusiast contributor. For his first post, we threw him into the fire. With Akvavit.** Let me start by addressing the uninitiated akvavit/aquavit drinker: this is one bizarre tipple….
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With the Kentucky Derby falling on May 5th, our collective inbox is filled with a confusing mess of cocktail recipes. We’ve got the requisite mint juleps, of course, plus a handful of tequila cocktails for Cinco de Mayo. Then there…
Read MoreOver the past two months, Nolet’s Gin has sent us a trio of packages as part of it’s Cupboard to Cocktail Program. This program encourages bartenders and home enthusiasts to utilize ingredients found in their cabinets, with less reliance on…
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With spring in the air and warmer weather upon us, let’s drink some seasonal tequila cocktails. Many people associate tequila with warmer weather – cue the margarita – and put the spirit away during winter months. That’s a shame, of…
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Let’s raise a glass to Leap Year, and let’s fill that glass with booze. In this case, the gin-based Leap Year Cocktail, a fitting drink for the once-every-four-years day of February 29th. The Leap Year cocktail was created by Harry…
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Cynar is perhaps my new favorite ingredient for crafting cocktails. I’ve been drinking the stuff, usually straight, for several years, but it’s only recently that I’ve begun to really experiment with Cynar cocktails. While the bottle prominently features an artichoke,…
Read MoreValentine’s Day is upon us, and with it comes a slew of romantically-inclined drink recipes flooding our inbox. Some are sickeningly sweet, chocolate-fueled disasters, while others are quite drinkable. Here are a few in the latter set. This first drink…
Read MoreFile this under the I-can’t-believe-this-is-a-real-holiday-but-I’m-sure-glad-it-is category. January 17th marks Hot Buttered Rum Day, and as with all drinking holidays, we’re happy to partake. Hot Buttered Rum is one of our favorite seasonal drinks and is a nice change-of-pace from egg…
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The Brandy Crusta was perhaps the pinnacle of 1800s cocktailing. First created around 1840 or 1850, the Brandy Crusta modified the classic cocktail template — spirit, sugar, water and bitters — with some fresh lemon juice and a dash of…
Read MoreLet’s ring in 2012 the way we left 2011 – with a nice buzz. New Year’s Eve calls for Champagne, but if you want to augment your drinking with something more than a bottle of bubbly, try some easy-to-make Champagne…
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Fernet, that most bitter of Italian amari, has reached cult-like status in recent years. It’s a favorite shot for bartenders, a popular digestivo in San Francisco – Northern California accounts for nearly 40% of all Fernet Branca’s U.S. sales –…
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Hendrick’s Gin has been busy this holiday season, having recently unveiled its Enchanted Forest of Curiosities in San Francisco and Brooklyn. The snowy indoor scene was brought to life with trees, woodland creatures and bizarre performances – think ukulele bands…
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The holidays are approaching, which means our inboxes are being inundated with holiday cocktail recipes. We’ll include some of the better ones below and will continue updating this post as drinks roll in. Here’s to happy and festive drinking this…
Read MoreHappy Thanksgiving, fellow drinkers! If you’re looking for some holiday-appropriate libations, we’ve got you covered. Check below for Thanksgiving cocktails, and give thanks for what’s in your glass. Of course, if an eating binge makes cocktail crafting too complicated, no…
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Scotch Whisky doesn’t get enough love in cocktails. Sure, we prefer to sip it straight more often than not, but a well-crafted Scotch cocktail is something special. And there’s just something about the holidays that makes us crave them. Thankfully,…
Read MoreHalloween’s coming, and with it, another excuse for thematic cocktails. Whether you’re hosting a party or simply occupying the front porch and turning the hose on neighborhood kids, try the below cocktail recipes for a good time. Note that we…
Read MoreThe entries are in, and the results show that booze is in fact a suitable breakfast. October’s Mixology Monday focused on morning drinks, a subject near and dear to us here at Cocktail Enthusiast. While bloody marys, screwdrivers and mimosas…
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This month’s Mixology Monday focuses on morning drinks, the kind of boozy beverages that jumpstart your day and pair nicely with breakfast. I created a tasty libation, dubbed Dad’s Juice Box, that pairs fresh orange juice with egg whites for…
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