Very interesting things happen when you take a group of bartenders, mix in some of the best spirits and cocktails in the world and then stick them in a hotel together. And I’m glad I waited until the morning to write this post because we’ve got some killer material. Whenever an Australian does a striptease to Waltzing Matilda, on a boat, […]
Month: February 2011
G’Vine Connoisseur Program: Day 1
After flying in from around the globe, a dozen bartenders plus assorted other participants have descended upon Cognac to duke it out for the title of ultimate gin bartender. G’Vine Gin has put significant emphasis on quality so some of the tests have turned out to be more difficult than some of the competitors suspected, but that’s a good thing. […]
G’Vine Gin Connoisseur Program (2010)
There are cocktail competitions and then there is the G’Vine Gin Connoisseur Program. Most cocktail / bartending competitions are relatively simple affairs that pit one cocktail against another with the winner having the best cocktail of the moment. Sometimes it’s as much luck as it is the whims of the judging panel. The G’Vine program is very different and the […]
How to Make Bitters
Bitters have been popular in Europe for hundreds of years, but in North America, they haven’t quite stayed as popular since the introduction of refined sugar. However, there seems to be a rekindled interest in bitter liqueurs and cocktail bitters. This could partially be caused by the Jagermeister shot phenomenon. Or, it could be that people just get bored and […]
How to Make Vermouth
Most aspiring mixologists love to create unique cocktails by combining an array of flavours. The use of bitters is one example of an ingredient that has become popular again. For many years bitters were left out of Manhattans and many bars didn’t even stock them. But times are changing and with the cocktail renaissance in full swing, many bars are […]
Pisco Sour
The class of drinks called “sours” are pretty standard. The general recipe is a spirit, lemon/lime, sugar, egg white and sometimes bitters. The Whisky Sour is a classic sour, which is probably the most commonly ordered one in North America. But you can have a brandy sour, a Midori sour or a Pisco Sour. Pisco is the national spirit of […]
Vesper Martini
Before James Bond latched onto the Martini, the Vesper was his cocktail of choice.
How to Make a Martini
This may be the quintessential classic cocktail. Strong, simple and elegant, the Martini is timeless.
Spirited Awards Nomination
With Tales of the Cocktail 2011 on its way, nominations for the Spirited Awards are being solicited. With that being said, I’d love to get Fix the Pumps nominated in the Best New Cocktail/Bartending Book category. I’m setting my expectations at a reasonable level, considering that it is my first book and was self-published, just being nominated would be a […]