Whiskey Sour

A little sour, a little sweet, and a lot of whiskey. What’s not to like? For this recipe you’ll need: 2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey (use something that’s good quality, but you don’t need to break out your most expensive bottle for this cocktail) 1/2 ounce lemon juice 1 teaspoon sugar ice 1 candied […]

Gin and Tonic

Gin and tonics are my favorite summer cocktail. The key to a good G & T is to use good quality tonic.  The supermarket brands are blah and flat tonic is frankly gross.  I suggest buying your tonic in small bottles and drinking it the same day you open it.  The gin, on the other […]

Vodka Martini

Sometimes the classics are the best! The key to a great vodka martini is to make it really cold.  Decent quality vodka helps too but you don’t have to break the bank.  If you store your vodka in the freezer you can make a cold martini in seconds.  A frosted glass is even better. For […]

Gin Martini

You have to really like gin to like a gin martini.  Cheap gin is terrible so don’t bother with this cocktail if you don’t want to splurge on the good stuff. For this recipe you’ll need: a splash of dry vermouth 2 ounces cold gin lemon peel or martini olives for garnish Pour a splash […]

Happy New Year!

Goodbye 2013. Hello 2014. I hope your new year is full of good luck and happiness.  Heck, I hope my new year is also full of those things! I’m going to celebrate with something fizzy.  Of course you can drink the stuff straight, but why not add something fruity and fun?  Here are a few […]

Manhattan

The Manhattan is one of my favorite winter cocktails.  This cocktail is only worth making with good ingredients otherwise it will taste like cheap booze. If you serve Manhattans at your gathering I guarantee your guests will be in the mood to party! For this recipe you’ll need: 1 1/2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey […]

Nihombashi Cocktail (Persimmon Manhattan)

Why call it a Nihombashi Cocktail?  It’s hard to grow persimmons in New York, so I had a hard time calling this a Manhattan.  Nihombashi is the Toyko neighborhood where the Japanese stock exchange is located (thus a bit like Manhattan) and persimmons are common in Japan.  Plus, Nihombashi is just fun to say. Leave […]

Persimmon Syrup

This is actually a cross between a syrup and a puree.  This sweet syrup can act as a base for a variety of persimmon  cocktails.  You can use either ripe (firm) or very ripe (liquidy) Fuyu persimmons in this recipe. For this recipe you’ll need: 4 cups water 2 pounds persimmons peeled, cored and cut […]

Gift Ideas for Mixologists

Do you have a mad bartender in your circle of friends and family?  Here are some gift ideas that should pay you back in cocktails for years to come. Fun with Chemistry I haven’t tried this out yet, but doesn’t it look like fun?  This $80 molecular gastronomy kit includes ingredients and recipes.  Cue thunderclaps […]

California Manhattan

What’s more Californian than pomegranates?  This cocktail is just a hint sweeter and fruitier than an traditional Manhattan.  It’s worth splurging on the good booze for this cocktail. For each drink you’ll need 1 1/2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey – I like Maker’s 46 1/2 ounce Antica Formula vermouth 1 teaspoon pomegranate molasses 1 […]