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 […]
Recent Posts
Beachcomber’s Rum Barrel
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Trader Vic’s Rum Fizz
Most drinks classified as fizzes are pretty straight forward. They usually contain a spirit, club soda, some citrus juice and sugar. They are served in a highball glass with lots of ice and garnished with a lemon or lime wedge. They are a simple classic summer refresher. But once you introduce Trader Vic into the equation, all sorts of things […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
Trois Pistoles
When you say beer, most people think lagers like Molson Canadian, Budweiser, or Heineken. Even if a person thinks ale, they’ll be thinking of a pale ales or amber ales. But there is so much more the beer world has to offer. There is of course the stout category which most people have tried, but there is also a very […]
Brooklyn Lager
It seems like the fight between David and Goliath, but in reality, it’s just a battle between beer brewers. Obviously, there are the megabrewers like Anheuser Busch and InBev which generate beer as a branded commodity and target the mainstream market. Then there are the smaller brewers who craft their beers more as an art and target people who appreciate […]
Jack and Coke Recipe
Learning from the century-old Rum & Coke recipe, making the best Jack & Coke is easy if you follow a few simple steps.
Salty Dog Cocktail
Grapefruit juice is a relatively common ingredient in cocktails, with the perennial favourite being the Greyhound, but the Paloma is better. Unlike a Screwdriver, the Greyhound isn’t nearly as sweet and even has a pleasant bitterness that is imparted by the grapefruit juice. There are people who do not enjoy the bitterness of grapefruit juice, so those people tend to […]