Sunday Cocktail

Meet the Martinez, the missing link

Published by admin on Wed, 10/17/2018 - 9:00am

    What do you get when you cross a Martini and Manhattan?
    This is an odd question as the two drinks have nothing in common when looking at today's recipes.
    Martinis are simply gin and dry vermouth. Manhattan's are whiskey, bitters, and sweet vermouth.
    What if I told you that there is an evolutionary “missing link” between the Martini and the Manhattan? It turns out, there is, and it's back. Meet the classic Martinez, and by “meet” I mean try one.

Pop culture revives the unforgettable Paradise

Published by admin on Wed, 10/10/2018 - 9:00am

    The International Bartenders Association (IBA) has three categories of official cocktails: The Unforgettables, Contemporary Classics and New Era Drinks.
    The Unforgettables list is loaded with iconic drinks such as the Martini, Old Fashioned and the Manhattan. Every now and again one of the lesser-known drinks on the Unforgettables list reappears in popular culture.

Get your Vitamin C with a Gimlet

Published by admin on Wed, 10/03/2018 - 9:00am

    Adding lime to Gin is delicious and will help to prevent scurvy, just ask the “limeys” aboard Royal Navy ships in the late 19th century.
    The Royal Navy battled scurvy until the 1880s when British surgeon Sir Thomas Gimlette had the bright idea to add Vitamin C to the daily rations of gin. A good sailor would surely never miss a gin ration at sea. By adding a bit of lime the sailors were tricked into taking their Vitamin C.
    This medicine turned cocktail became known as the Gimlet and has been around in many forms since it first set sail over a century ago.

How to mix up a true Highball

Published by admin on Wed, 09/26/2018 - 9:00am

    Over the last century and a half the term “Highball” has been one of the most used and misunderstood terms in mixology.
    There are Highball glasses, a Highball cocktail and the Highball family of drinks.
    In modern mixology the term has been applied to nearly everything served in a tall glass, even though the majority of drinks served as “Highballs” are not officially Highballs.
    This week we will take a trip down mixology memory lane and set the record straight on what is and what is not a Highball.

The French Connection cocktail - no connection to the movie, book

Published by admin on Wed, 09/19/2018 - 9:00am

    In 1971, Philip D’Antoni's crime thriller “The French Connection” became an instant classic. The film would eventually win a total of five Academy Awards including best picture and best actor for Gene Hackman's portrayal of Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle.
    The film is on nearly every “all time best” list and holds the distinction of being the first movie with an R rating to win best picture. After a 104-minute thrill ride chasing criminals through the Big Apple, you are going to need a night cap.  

Acquire a taste for Scotch

Published by admin on Wed, 09/12/2018 - 9:00am

    Many lovers of Scotch whiskey will tell you that scotch is an “acquired” taste. If scotch is in fact an acquired taste, how does one acquire the taste?
    Fall is the season for holiday parties, family gatherings and many other “scotch worthy” occasions. Are you looking to acquire the taste?
    I figured this week I would offer some tips to ensure that you have a proper introduction to my favorite whiskey.

End the summer with a Bahama Mama

Published by admin on Wed, 09/05/2018 - 9:00am

    We are rapidly running out of summer. Before you know it pumpkin spice will be everywhere, Christmas décor will adorn stores, and your favorite football team will have broken your heart all over again.
    Not so fast, fall. The calendar does not officially turn to fall until Sept. 22. That leaves us time to toast the summer with at least one more tropical drink. Fire up the blender. I'll bet it has been awhile since you have had a Bahama Mama.

The official cocktail of Washington, DC

Published by admin on Wed, 08/29/2018 - 9:00am

    The Gin Rickey has been a mainstay of American mixology for over a century and if you have ever had one, you know exactly why.
    Simple, understated, a bit sour but smooth, yet simple enough for anyone to make. Every time I fall in love with a “namesake” drink I make it a point to learn not only the story behind the drink, but also the story behind the person.
    It turns out that the Rickey was not a gin cocktail at all, and that Colonel Joe Rickey was quite the character.  

The Collins - Tom or John?

Published by admin on Wed, 08/22/2018 - 9:00am

    The Tom Collins is one of the most iconic cocktails in any category, a favorite of gin lovers all over the world.
    The “Collins” has become a staple of mixology by combining the complex botanicals of gin with a sparkling lemonade. We all know and love the Tom Collins.
    A few weeks ago a friend asked if I had ever heard of a John Collins, which I had, but assumed that it was the same drink as a Tom Collins.

Are you experienced with the Purple Haze?

Published by admin on Wed, 08/15/2018 - 9:00am

    Over half a century ago a young James Marshall Hendrix and his band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, released their debut album “Are You Experienced.” The album was an instant critical and commercial success thanks in large part to the opening track of the album, “Purple Haze.” Most bartending schools teach some form of a Purple Haze cocktail. This week we will serve up two of the most popular versions.