As other cocktail bloggers begin writing about the approaching spring and hay fever, I’m still stuck in the great white north deep freeze. It’s warmed up a good five degree’s since my last post, so, with the wind chill, it’s a balmy -19. Even though I don’t mind that temperature, as long as it is sunny, I still feel that […]
Author: Darcy O'Neil
Hpnotiq
Hpnotiq is one of those modern liqueurs that graces the shelves of trendy bars around the world. It has an alluring, hypnotic blue colour, and a sleek and sexy bottle. It has a unique brand name, and spelling, that hits the mark with younger drinkers. It also has the price tag to match. It is often enjoyed by those who […]
Lochan Ora Scotch Liqueur
For the last week, I’ve been fixated on the Olympics. I was thinking of taking a look at the Olympic cocktail, but it is a pretty boring drink and doesn’t even come close to be as epic as the Olympics. It’s just brandy, triple sec and orange juice. You might as well put Grand Marnier in a glass of OJ. […]
Lillet Blanc
What is Lillet Blanc? Lillet Blanc (pronounced Lee-Lay) is an aperitif from the Bordeaux region of France that was created in 1887 as a tonic for whatever ailed you. It comes in white or red versions, the red version being created in the 1960s, and is in the same family as vermouth, but it has subtle differences. The formula for […]
Orange Flower Water
The distilled spirit of orange blossoms is one of those rare ingredients in cocktails, that should probably get more attention. There are a few cocktails that use orange flower water, the most common being the Ramos Gin Fizz, but other than that there aren’t a lot of really popular cocktails that utilize this ingredient. This is unless of course, you […]
Tales of the Cocktail: Vancouver
Tales of the Cocktail is on the move and is headed to the great white north, well Vancouver anyway. This the first time Tales has moved beyond New Orleans to bring some of the worlds most knowledgeable cocktail and spirit aficionado’s to a different city. If you are on the west coast it would be a worth while visit to […]
The Art of Drink Blog
In the beginning, Art of Drink was a mere sketchpad used to document bartending and cocktail knowledge, without much expectation of developing a loyal readership. As the weeks ticked by, the daily readership grew from 3 people to 10 and then 20. Exciting times. Then the idea of transcribing and publishing Jerry Thomas’ Bartender Guide occurred, which was picked up […]
Cocktail Origin Part III
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 elsewhere. The information is from 1788 and […]
Green Swizzle
The most common references you will see about the Green Swizzle, are the recipe that incorporates creme de menthe, or the quote from The Rummy Affair of Old Biffy. It has been said, many times, that the creme de menthe version is not the original recipe and that the original has been lost in history or that it never existed. These […]
Mill Street Coffee Porter
I’m often torn between a crafty cocktail or a good cold beer. Both are great, and both have a time and place. If I’m hitting a bar, at the beach with friends, it’s beer. If I’m going out for a fine dinner, it’s usually a cocktail and wine. Manhattans, or a properly made Mai Tai, seem to hit the spot. […]
Noilly Prat Original Vermouth
You know the world of the cocktail is changing when a vermouth company reformulates their product to the original recipe. This seems to be happening more frequently now that people have started to appreciate more complex flavours and less syrupy sweetness. Noilly Prat Original has just hit the airwaves in Ontario, with their rediscovered love for the past. Prior to […]
The Dawn of Tiki?
When you think Tiki, you think tropical drinks from exotic locations like Polynesia, and people such as Donn the Beachcomber. You may also know that the tiki fad didn’t begin until 1934. So, if Don the Beachcomber started the tiki trend, what were his influences? Obviously, the Caribbean and south pacific were big influences, but what exactly were these people […]