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 […]
How-To
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 […]
Manhattan vs Old Fashioned Cocktail: What’s the Difference?
I’m often asked the difference between a Manhattan and an Old Fashioned. The two classic whiskey cocktails seem widely different to me, but I’ve tasted hundreds of them. To someone new to the whiskey or cocktail space, Manhattan vs Old Fashioned seems mysterious, because there really are a lot of commonalities between them. Both are […]
How to Judge Whiskey: What Happens at a Whiskey Competition
Judging at a whiskey competition sounds like a cushy gig until you realize a whiskey judge evaluates and provides specific notes and feedback on 50, 70, or even 100 spirits. But there’s a seriousness to it, and while drinking whiskey may be fun, judging it can be hard work. After my first experience judging at […]
You Can’t Screw Up this No Cook Strawberry Syrup for Fantastic Cocktails
There’s an easy way to infuse syrup with the flavor of fresh strawberries: this no cook strawberry simple syrup. It’s so simple you really can’t screw it up. (Did I just hear “challenge accepted” from the interwebs?) Just like my grandmother used to sprinkle sugar on her strawberries and let them sit out on the […]
You’re Making Your Watermelon Syrup All Wrong
Stop cooking your watermelon syrup! I’m here to tell you I have an easy, hands-off way to get the flavor of fresh watermelon into an infused fruit simple syrup that is bursting with the same juices you find in each bite of that perfect summer watermelon. If there is one thing you take away from […]
How to Make Chocolate-Infused Whiskey Like a Boss
Add that deep, rich flavor of dark chocolate to your cocktails with this fast and easy DIY chocolate-infused whiskey. With just two ingredients, your next cocktails will benefit from this chocolate-flavored whiskey as a way to add the bitterness and earthiness of chocolate without additional sugar (unless you decide you prefer it that way). Whiskey […]
11 Delectable Two Ingredient Bourbon Cocktails – Easy Summer Cocktails Anyone Can Make
Spend time sipping with friends rather than behind your home bar making cocktails this season with these easy two ingredient bourbon cocktails for summer. While your bourbon fans may just want a bourbon on the rocks, the bourbon curious in your life will love you more if you add their whiskey to a mixer. There’s […]
Bourbon for Beginners
If there’s a class that I could teach in my sleep it would be Drinking Bourbon for Beginners. As someone converting cocktail drinkers to whiskey lovers every day, it’s a passion of mine. Around any major holiday, I get emails and messages from non-whiskey drinkers asking for help selecting a bourbon or answering basic questions. […]
Easy Hot Toddy Warms All Your Toes
If you’re feeling under the weather, or just need a warm comforting tipple, this easy hot toddy is your cold cure for what ails you. Growing up near Louisville, Kentucky, I learned early on the powerful healing benefits of a hot toddy. That little bit of citrus, the soothing taste of the honey, and the […]
How to Make Jam Cocktails
One of the easiest ways to add a boost of fruit flavor to your next cocktail is to use a little jam or preserves to make a jam cocktail. Running out of simple syrup or flavored syrups doesn’t have to be a tragedy in the house. Simply use some jam or preserves to add that […]
DIY Champagne Cocktail Kit
Why gift someone a bottle of Champagne when you can give them a DIY Champagne cocktail kit to make their own celebratory cocktails? When it was time for a socially distant New Year’s Eve celebration, I wanted to put together a little gift/kit for my friends I’d usually be spending the evening with. Creating a […]
How to Buy a Bourbon Gift When You Don’t Drink Bourbon – Bourbon Gift Guide
It’s that time of year when every whiskey enthusiast starts getting frantic emails and messages, “My Mom (Dad, Uncle, Best Friend, Niece, etc.) loves bourbon and I want to get them a bottle they’ll love. Where can I buy a bottle of Pappy (Blantons, Weller, Henry McKenna, Antique Collection, Parker’s Heritage, Michter’s 20, Birthday Bourbon, […]