Named after a luxury train that ran from New York to Chicago, the 20th Century is a classic cocktail that sounds rather strange on paper. Made of gin, Kina Lillet, white creme de cacao, and lemon juice, you might be tempted to run. Juniper, with chocolate? Blasphemy! And yet, somehow, it really just works… 20th […]
Not every ingredient you keep in your bar is designed to be a beautiful, sippable tipple. In fact, some ingredients I’ll suggest you add to your bar are things I’d never recommend you pour in anything other than a cocktail. Despite that, some of these items are wonderful when you trying to bring out a […]
Google Barbara West Cocktail, and you’ll learn two things: No one has any idea why this cocktail is named Barbara West Most people don’t find this cocktail particularly memorable. Like many obscure cocktails, these aren’t exactly positive signs. So what goes in to this classic cocktail, and should you bother making one? Barbara West Barbara […]
As mentioned last fall, finding some whiskeys can be a real challenge. Depending on your state, you may not be able to Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, E.H. Taylor, Weller, or a whole host of other well respected bourbons. Among bottles you’re likely to find is Maker’s Mark, and sitting up range from their base offer […]
If there is any cocktail that Irish whiskey is clearly linked to, it’s Irish Coffee. It’s a simple drink, but one that depends on the quality of it’s ingredients to make it really shine. Fortunately, most of the ingredients are readily accessible and probably around your home right now. Irish Coffee Whether you’re looking to […]
Looking to find a test vehicle for Irish Whiskey led me to pore over many of the cocktail books in my collection. The result was barely a handful of drinks, over half of which were Irish Coffee. However, at least two books called out a Blackthorn (Irish Version). Although there seems to be no consistent […]
Let’s say you want to class it up for St. Patrick’s Day. Something in a fancy glass perhaps? Aside from the Blackthorn and Irish Coffee in a fancy glass, there aren’t a ton of options. To remedy this, I decided to try to emphasize the nutty and caramel notes I see in Irish whiskey, and […]
The Busker Triple Cask Triple Smooth has an incredibly long name for an entry level bottle. The first Irish Whiskey brought in from Royal Oaks Distillery in Ireland, this blend features grain whiskey finished in Bourbon, Sherry, and Marsala casks. Disaronno is helping to bring it over stateside. So should it earn a place on […]
St. Patrick’s Day is almost upon us again, and to celebrate a bottle of Irish Whiskey seemed in order. As I mentioned in last years discussion of Jameson, Irish Whiskey doesn’t receive a lot of love on our shelf. In fact, other than this time of year, we don’t reach for it, and have a […]
If you live in a state-controlled liquor authority state, and you are deeply in love with cocktails and exploring their flavors, you will inevitably find yourself denying your state the revenue they seek to extort from you by driving somewhere else to bring home something you can’t find on your own shelves. Although not available […]
In and a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails Wayne Curtis* describes Grog as follows: “Pour two ounces of RUM into an eight-ounce glass. Fill with WATER. Add a touch of fresh LIME juice or BROWN SUGAR to taste.” This proto-cocktail precedes the Daiquiri and was more of an […]
One of Ann Marie’s favorite cocktails is a Margarita. They’re simple enough that you can order one in any respectable bar, but also have a depth of flavor that belies their simplicity. Needing only four common ingredients, you may have all the necessary things to make one of America’s favorite cocktails laying around your house […]