The Margarita is most likely the number one requested summer cocktail. The problem is that very few people actually enjoy a genuine Margarita. Early in its history it was a simple drink--related to the Daisy class of alcoholic drinks--which consisted of tequila, triple sec, lime and salt. Sadly, over the last 30 years, this poor cocktail has been maimed and beaten into a drink that tastes similar to a 7-Eleven Lime Blast Slurpee, through no fault of its own. The fact is the Margarita is a simple drink, with a simple recipe. The problems happen when people teach from a bad foundation. The Skinny Girl Margarita recipe is a perfect example.

The origin of the word “cocktail” is one of those persistent little mysteries that many people would like to solve, but information doesn’t come easily. I’ve looked at this a couple of times, basically putting my spin on previous information. But today, I’ve come across some additional information that I haven’t found referenced else where. The information is from 1788 and doesn’t completely solve the mystery, but might be an important piece. It also has nothing to do with horses, Aztecs, roosters, barrel dregs or war widows.

If you are looking for a properly made classic cocktail then Germany is the place to go. When touring around some of the bars in Germany the cocktails are a striking collection of properly crafted classic cocktails. Obviously, this doesn't apply to all the bars in Germany, but classic cocktails seem to be a specialty here. Even better, the cocktails are created with the typical German precision and attention to detail.

Posting has become rather slow here, but since Paul has decided to go mad with his posting frequency, there should be lots to read. The weather has been extremely nice, so those outdoor projects that I've been promising to do, for years, are actually getting done. Plus, in less than a week, I'll be in Germany (and other parts of Europe) for the Bols Bar Coaching sessions. That required a little preparation on my part. I should have some posts while in Europe, since ten out of the eleven days I'm there I'll be on a train or plane with nothing better to do than sleep, read and write.