Spicy bitters don’t need to be a mystery. Learning how to use them can be a fun exercise in experimenting with both flavor and mouthfeel. They can be so firey just a drop can be detected in an 8 ounce drink. Or they can be a subtle addition that adds a subtle increase in heat […]
How-To
Everything You Need to Know about How to Stir a Cocktail
Looking like a pro behind your home bar is easy once you learn how to stir a cocktail. Part of the mystique of a great craft cocktail bar is the sight and sound of great bartenders stirring drinks in mixing glasses. That tinkling sound of ice brushed against the interior of the mixing glass or […]
Everything You Need to Know About Making Simple Syrup at Home
One of the most basic skills you can master for at-home bartending is how to make simple syrup for cocktails. While many recipes instruct you to heat the water and sugar on the stove, you can create simple syrups without heat if you prefer. I generally create them by using very warm water, then adding […]
Sip Your Cookie in a Cocktail with this Gingerbread Syrup
I’ve got a delicious and fun gingerbread syrup for cocktails in winter. I love to eat gingerbread, but I don’t love making it. The array of spices, that slight heat of ginger, the clove and molasses, all those flavors just epitomize the season. I just don’t have the patience for cookies, but give me a […]
Make Your Manhattans Merry with this Mulled Christmas Vermouth
We mull wine all the time, so why not create some mulled Christmas vermouth for use in cocktails like the Manhattan, Negroni, Boulevardier, Americano, Martinez, Old Pal, Vieux Carre, Hanky Panky and more! Instead of heating the wine, we’ll opt for a long, chilled infusion to set the flavors in the vermouth. This is one […]
Best Christmas Syrup for Cocktails. Ever.
Give all your drinks a little holiday spirit with the addition of this Christmas syrup for cocktails, mocktails, and all things cheery! Awash in flavors of citrus and spice, this easy-to-make and delicious holiday simple syrup will brighten up the flavors in your bourbon cocktails, gin drinks, and vodka tipples. Because it’s made with whole […]
7 Stellar Flavors for Your Christmas & Holiday Syrups at Home
No matter what holidays you celebrate in December, you’re likely to have favorite flavors and aromas (and favorite dishes you associate with this time of year. Adding those flavors to your holiday syrups can be easy to do to add those seasonal flavors to your favorite cocktail. As I was putting together this week’s article […]
Pumpkin Spice Syrup Takes Fall Cocktails to the Next Level
Fall means pumpkin spice everything, but I’ve got a simple way to add fall flavors to a pumpkin spice syrup you can use for cocktails and mocktails at home. Some people like to make their own pumpkin pie spice, but if you’re like me, you’ve got some pie spice in the spice rack that needs […]
Easiest Method Ever to Batch a Cocktail for Your Next Party
Learning how to batch a cocktail isn’t rocket science. And I’ve got a way for you to do it that doesn’t require a lot of math or a calculator. It’s so easy my Mom now uses it for all of her favorite cocktails. And I use it as an easy thank you gift to a […]
Four Easy Ways to Smoke a Cocktail at Home
If you’re a whiskey cocktail lover, you’ve likely ordered a smoked cocktail out at an establishment, but there are easy ways to smoke cocktails at home. Some require nothing more than what you already have, while other techniques require some special tools to get that lovely smoked aroma into your cocktails. (Post may contain affiliate […]
Top 8 Places to Find Inspiration for Your Next Cocktail
Every cocktail journey starts with a single sip, and beginning to create your own cocktails from scratch can seen intimidating. But with a little knowledge of some great places to find cocktail inspiration, you’ll be well on your way to mastering mixology at home. One of the most frequent questions I get from other cocktail […]
A Whiskey Lover’s Guide to Vermouth
Every great bar has quality vermouth, but what is vermouth, and what are some popular whiskey and vermouth cocktails? Let’s set the record straight so you know what vermouth is, how it’s used in cocktails, and most importantly, how it works so well with whiskey (because you know I love talking about a great Manhattan […]
Does Bourbon Belong in the Freezer?
As a whiskey cocktail creator I spend a lot of time answering questions about whiskey and one I get fairly often is, “Can I keep my bourbon in the freezer?” Generally, when I’m asked this, it’s by someone who is relatively new to bourbon and has a family member that keeps whiskey or liquor in […]
How to Choose the Best Whiskey for a Highball (And Other Highball Mysteries)
You’d think for a cocktail with just two ingredients, choosing the best whiskey for a highball wouldn’t be that difficult. On the contrary, with so few ingredients, everything about the preparation of the highball, from the temperature of the ingredients, the type of glass to the whiskey you pour in the drink matters. But, the […]
What’s the Difference? Negroni Vs Boulevardier
Ever wondered what the difference is between a Negroni vs a Boulevardier? One of the first craft cocktails outside of the common whiskey cocktail canon people explore at a craft cocktail bar is the Boulevardier. With the substitution of bourbon for gin, the flavor profile varies wildly from the Negroni. Let’s take a closer look […]
The Secret to a Great Fall Old Fashioned: Homemade Fig Syrup
Fresh figs elude me in Kentucky – the best I can source is Trader Joe’s fresh figs for a two-week period in late August and early September so putting together a homemade fig syrup for fall cocktails from dried figs is perfect for my location. Because I’m using dried figs instead of fresh figs, I […]