As many of you know, I’m currently not tending bar. This is the first time in about four years that I’ve had Friday and Saturday nights off, which is kind of nice, but I don’t know what to do with my weekends. Anyway, I’ve been browsing the “Want Ads” and there seems to be plenty of bartending jobs out there, […]
Author: Darcy O'Neil
Moral Suasion
There are many great cocktails littered throughout history, like the Manhattan and the Daiquiri, but some of the greats are forgotten and should be remembered. The Moral Suasion is one of them.
Peach Blow
Digging up old cocktails—or in this case fizz recipes—has led me to this interestingly named drink called the Peach Blow. The article is from the May 2nd, 1909 edition of the Philadelphia Inquirer. A reader asked for the recipe of the Peach Blow and the Lilac Fizz. The newspaper was happy to oblige. Over 100 years later, and right in […]
Manhattan Cocktail
The Manhattan is still widely regarded as one of the greatest cocktails ever created. Personally, a well made Manhattan is a cocktail I truly enjoy. It’s perfectly in balance, simple and I can drink this cocktail anywhere and not feel out of place. It’s as strong as a properly made Martini, but it started out differently. The Martini is based […]
Manhattan Cocktail Redux
Recently I’ve been musing about the Manhattan Cocktail and with Woodford Reserve and Esquire Magazine launching the “Craft the Ultimate Manhattan” contest, it has given me an opportunity to put my thoughts to pixels. Why? Because the recent trend in Manhattans has been to make it the most flavourful drink it can be. Flavour is great, but balance is import […]
Egg Creams
The New York egg cream started its life at the soda fountain in the 1870s and contained both egg and cream, which is much different than today.
Copyright & Cocktails
The topic of protecting ones creative cocktail works has amped up lately. After Eben Freeman’s session on cocktails and intellectual property (which unfortunately I couldn’t attend due to a conflicting event) the conversation has started to polarize and two camps are forming – for protection and against protection. Articles have been written in The Atlantic, and I’m sure elsewhere, as […]
Champagne Smash
In the world of drinks, a smash is usually a drink that contains a spirit, mint, sugar and sometimes lemon or lime. The Mint Julep and Mojito are technically smashes. From this basic recipe, you can make a wide variety of drinks that encompass a corner of the cocktail world. The key component is obviously mint, but the name eventually […]
Patron Anejo Tequila
Tequila is a schizophrenic spirit. On one hand, it is some people’s worst nightmare, on the other hand it can be regarded as a super premium spirit to be savored and enjoyed like the finest of scotches. Patron 100% agave tequila falls into the later category. This tequila is not the one from your college nightmares and doesn’t have any […]
Wiser’s Deluxe Whisky
Wiser’s is the fifth most popular whisky brand in Canada. Wiser Deluxe is also available in most US states and select market around the world. It was originally distilled in 1857 by J.P. Wiser and is aged for 10 years in oak barrels. It is a traditional Canadian blend. It is also the fastest growing Canadian whisky brand, and that […]
Top 10 Cocktails
Being in the industry I get requests for many drinks, but rarely are they unique requests. Most of the time it is for a list of classic drinks that doesn’t seem to change. Why is this the case? Well, of course, I have an opinion and you may be surprised why a list of old and tired drinks rarely changes. […]
The Big Old Boring Vodka Martini
Why do people order dry vodka martinis? Is it because they don’t know what else to order? Is it the herding effect? Or do people actually think they taste good? This is as much a study in psychology as it is in drinking trends. Remember the term “monkey see, monkey do”, that’s how I sometimes feel at the bar. People […]