When you publish a website, you often leave yourself open to public scrutiny, which often leads to “Fan Mail” as I like to call it. Most of the time I ignore it, but sometimes I feel compelled to reply. This is one of those occasions. Now, the topic is High Fructose Corn Syrup, again, but it has become a kind […]
Author: Darcy O'Neil
A Story About Whisky
The subject of whisky is one of those topics that can go on forever. There are magazines and websites dedicated to just one particular whisky region, there are zealots who defend their brand with the same heart one would defend a country. Then there are those who scream blasphemy at the thought of adding anything to a single malt scotch, […]
Bartending Pet Peeve Number One
When you work behind a bar, there are many things that the customers / guest don’t get to see or don’t understand. Sometimes we don’t want you to see things, it is part of the magic, other times we would like to let you know about something. Here’s one of those things that everyone should know. When you come to […]
High Fructose Corn Syrup Pt. II
What is it about High Fructose Corn Syrup that makes it different from other sugars, like common table sugar? Obviously, the sugars come from two different plants corn and sugar cane/sugar beets. But the key factor and the one that causes the most discussion is that the sugars produced from corn are products of a multi-stage enzymatic process that breaks […]
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) Part I
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is all the rage these days. Actually, its more likely to cause opinionated rage, at least on the Internet. In the summer of 2006, I was going to discuss this topic but got distracted by all the boozy goodness. Then Scott, at Scott’s Rum Pages, brought up the point about HFCS in the Rum and […]
Spirit Resources
Resources for evaluating the price of old unopened bottles of whisky, rum, cognac and other spirits.
Cholera Bitters
This recipe makes a “Stomach Bitters” essence which was obviously thought to aid people afflicted with cholera. Having a case of cholera is unpleasant and has many nasty side effects which results in severe dehydration. It is very unlikely that this recipe would help. Cholera Bitters Recipe: Cinnamon Bark ¼ lb Angelica Root ½ lb Gentian Root ¾ lb Zedoary […]
Hartz Bitters
Not much is know about this aromatic bitters recipe. Hartz Bitters Recipe: Nutmeg 3 oz Ginger 5 oz Cinnamon Bark 8 oz Cloves 8 oz Cascarilla Bark 1 lb Gentian Root 1½ lbs Bitter Orange Fruits 2 lbs Calamus Root 4 lbs Instructions Combine the ingredients in a mortar and grind to a coarse powder and then pack in a […]
Italian Bitters
This recipe creates an Italian-style aromatic bitters. The source of this recipe groups aromatic bitters with things like Benedictine and Chartreuse. Cocktail type bitters would be called “Strong Bitters”. Italian Bitters Recipe: Rosemary Leaves 2 oz Thyme 5 oz Sage 5 oz Majoram 5 oz Cloves 7 oz Cinnamon 8 oz Orris Root 12 oz Wormwood 12 oz Fennel 12 […]
Seamens Bitters
The preferred bitter of the sea-going captains or possibly just a name. This recipe is classified as a “strong bitter” and is in the same category as Angostura, Calisaya and Hop bitters. Seamens Bitters Recipe: Cardamom 3 oz Nutmeg 5 oz Coriander 8 oz Cinnamon ½ lb Cloves ½ lb Allspice ½ lb Caraway ½ lb Calissaya Bark 1 lb […]
Vanilla Liqueur
Malta Knights’ Bitters
Presumably this is a bitter named after the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem founded around 1023 as the Knights Hospitaller and eventually just the Knights of Malta. In 1119 the Knights Hospitaller and the Knights Templar were formed, but when the Templars were disbanded in 1312 most of their assets went to the Hospitallers. After being […]