This post is a bit late, as the Kentucky Derby was run this past Saturday, but never mind that now... the Derby marks a great start to mint season, and as such gives us a great excuse to talk about a drink that can help satisfy you (and your guests) all summer long.
The mint julep is just about the simplest recipe around that combines mint and liquor... there is, in fact, just one extra ingredient (sugar) added, but the effect is transformative. This drink is also a chance for you to show off your muddling skills (though the mint
Posts Tagged ‘recipe’
Manhattan
by Dennis Mayer on May 4th, 2012 | Cocktails, Liquor, Mixed Drinks
The Manhattan -- one of the most basic whisky cocktails we have -- sits at the core of the craft cocktail movement. While it's not the most impressive or complex drink we have, the basic appreciation people now have for the Manhattan shows that bar customers' tastes have changed for the better in the past few years.
Here's a quick history of liquor in America that should help to explain a lot about the drinks that were popular 10-20 years ago, and the drinks that are popular now:
Here's a quick history of liquor in America that should help to explain a lot about the drinks that were popular 10-20 years ago, and the drinks that are popular now:
- When the country was founded, brandy, rum, and whisky were the most popular
Brandy Champerelle
by Dennis Mayer on April 27th, 2012 | Budget-Friendly Wine Review, Liquor, Mixed Drinks
I'm always suspicious of trends, and one of the biggest trends in mixology these days is to turn back to the past and resurrect old recipes and ingredients. This isn't the worst trend to follow, but it can be a mixed bag. I've written before about how I think brandy is due for a huge resurgence as a primary cocktail ingredient, and while I'm not sure you ever need more than one bottle of bitters on your bar, I love that there are an expanding number of options to choose from. On a less exciting note, there's maraschino liqueur,
Cosmopolitan
by Dennis Mayer on April 20th, 2012 | Cocktails, Liquor, Martinis
For such a ubiquitous cocktail, the Cosmo hasn't been around for that long. A quick run-down of the drink's etymology suggests that the drink is younger than many of its drinkers (though perhaps not younger than they claim to be.) The Cosmo isn't a terrible drink, if it's made correctly, though its association with Sex and the City gives it an unfortunate link to stuck-up socialites and bachelorette parties.
At its core, though, the Cosmo is a model of the blueprint we use to create just about every flavored martini. There's a long pour of a base spirit (in
At its core, though, the Cosmo is a model of the blueprint we use to create just about every flavored martini. There's a long pour of a base spirit (in
Dark and Stormy/Moscow Mule
by Dennis Mayer on April 13th, 2012 | Cocktails, Liquor, Mixed Drinks
Back in February, when we were experiencing an early (if not sustained) rush of spring, I wrote about the Suffering Bastard as a potential season-bridging drink, for its mix of refreshing summer flavors and warm winter notes. But honestly, one ingredient in that drink fits that description all by itself. Ginger beer is a sharp, refreshing mixer that contains enough spicy heat to either warm you up on a cold day or help you sweat off the weather on a hot one.
The extra spice makes ginger beer completely different from its more boring cousin, ginger ale, but it
The extra spice makes ginger beer completely different from its more boring cousin, ginger ale, but it
