Modern accounts of cocktail history are peppered with stories of rare and forgotten ingredients and unbelievable origin stories. It’s safe to say that many of those stories are either inaccurate or fabricated. However, occasionally a story resurfaces that has some validity. I recently found myself…
To say that classic cocktails from the Manhattan to the Martini owe much to vermouth would be an understatement. However, it wasn’t until the last decades of the 1800s that vermouth made it to America and became a cocktail ingredient. With the creation of modern vermouths…
The first thing to mention about Romantic Cocktails is how stunning the metallic red, pillowed hardcover binding is. It’s the perfect aesthetic for a book of passion-filled recipes. The corresponding photography is also top-notch, with unique setups for the showcased recipes.
Obscurity of a cocktail ingredient does not guarantee that said ingredient is good. Perhaps there is a reason a certain spirit is unknown, as opposed to it being a mysterious elixir. However, when that obscure ingredient has been around for over 150 years, it’s more than…
It’s easy to conjure the mental image of the pretentious wine snob feverishly swirling the glass, then taking a sip with an outstretched pinky.Most of us don’t fall into that category, but we might snub our noses at the concept of canned wine. It’s as…
Agave activism is necessity “Take a shot with me!” he exclaims. I grit my teeth, muster a smile, and oblige. Shots aren’t my preference, but I can’t bring myself to say no to the owner of the bar. I take the shot, and it…
Most cocktail enthusiasts are familiar with the three most iconic bitters – Angostura, Regan’s, and Peychauds. This basic assortment covers both aromatic and orange bitters, but they’re far from the only options. Countless brands and home enthusiasts sell their own formulas – I have over…