April 25, 2020
Yes, you read that right: Chocolate Chip Cookies. And no, this is not a goofy shot recipe. (As an aside, are any of you old bartenders like me who remember when every shot was some sort of attempt to replicate the flavor of a dessert item? The Girl Scout Cookie Shot, the German Chocolate Cake | Read More
August 4, 2019
Hey Jeffrey I used to frequent Pépé Le Moko a few years back when I lived in Portland, my go-to drink was always the blue Hawaii. I always stop by for several when I’m in town. I have been trying to recreate it for my girlfriend’s upcoming tiki-themed 21st birthday party, and I have tried | Read More
January 25, 2019
This is the time of year we’re all supposed to be reading about low-proof cocktails, right? Well, move over Spritzes, because this one is possibly my favorite. I’ve talked about the French 75 in great detail over the past many years. But to be honest I’m writing about it now for a few reasons: I | Read More
November 27, 2018
As you probably know, the main reason why I have this website is to share what I’ve learned in the bar world with you, the people who actually read this junk 😉 But one other small reason why I record my findings here is that is serves as a record for when I need to | Read More
August 8, 2018
I’ve always had a pretty serious dilemma with the Gimlet. On one hand, I’ve never really been in love with fresh lime juice Gimlets. There, I’ve said it. But for me, they’ve always lacked this bracing, bitter, tart edge that a Gimlet made with Rose’s Lime has. Those qualities have always stuck in my head | Read More
July 12, 2018
The Michelada is a weird drink. It’s a beer cocktail, but a strange one at that. It has no history, so we can’t point to the “first” instance of the drink and try to replicate that. It has no recipe or standard set of ingredients, it’s just… beer with some stuff of your choice mixed | Read More
July 2, 2018
Only a month late for Negroni Week! I’ve been asked for this recipe and method for a couple of years now in person and on Reddit, and have finally gotten around to writing it down. Thanks for bearing with me. This wasn’t supposed to be a drink that I ever shared, it’s just been my | Read More
June 17, 2018
Whiskey can be a challenging ingredient in cocktails. Gin is kind of the workhorse of the cocktail world; it works in pretty much everything and fails in almost nothing. But whiskey is a fickle thing. There aren’t a ton Irish whiskey cocktails, because Irish whiskey has a pretty unique profile. Cocktails made with smoky Islay | Read More
April 19, 2017
How come nobody ever talks about orange blossom water? It’s like, “Hey, welcome to the internet. Here’s a thousand articles about a bunch of bitters that you’ll never use, and no information on orange blossom water.” Okay, sure. There’s really only one classic cocktail that calls for orange blossom water, the Ramos Gin Fizz. But | Read More
June 14, 2016
Man, there are few things out there more polarizing to people than creamy drinks. And it’s funny, you know, because I think it’s a pretty universal thing that our mouths just water at the sight of a creamy cocktail. Look at a properly made Ramos Gin Fizz. Or a White Russian. Or Egg Nog. How | Read More
February 24, 2016
You know what I love? Horchata. There is nothing in the world like a giant Styrofoam cup filled with pebble ice and sweet horchata while you nosh on greasy tacos from a street truck. Having been born and raised in California, it is one of life’s great pleasures. And since I’m obsessed with all things | Read More
February 7, 2014
Here’s a fun little game you can play. Go ask someone – preferably someone not wearing arm garters or quoting Jerry Thomas – and ask them what’s in a Hot Toddy. The more people you try this game with, the better, because you’re going to get a lot of varied answers. But I’m going to | Read More
November 11, 2013
Last year, my boss came to me with some very tragic news. News that shocked me to my core, and left me standing there, unable to speak, barely able to breathe. “We’re going to start serving brunch on the weekends.” Now, brunch is a tough prospect for any bar manager. The crates of oranges that | Read More
April 10, 2012
For a little background info before you read this post, you can watch me ramble on in front of a camera below. If 7you don’t want to listen to my nonsense, skip it and read on. In my opinion, one of the greatest triumphs of the cocktail renaissance is the rediscovery of the classic | Read More
March 13, 2012
I’ve said this before: I’m a lazy guy, and yet I’m a perfectionist. I want my cocktails perfectly-prepared, but I’d really rather not work too hard. With that in mind, I present my latest in perfectly-prepared cocktail ingredients for slackers like you. A couple of years ago, like so many other bartenders around the world, | Read More
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