06-05-2024

Nicole Lebedevitch created this now modern classic in 2010 while at The Hawthorne (Boston). I read that she came up with this for a regular that loved Manhattans, but also appreciated some bitterness. This stirred drink was applauded by Robert Simonson (@robertosimonson) as being one of his top cocktails in 2017. Cheers y’all!

06-04-2024

What better way to celebrate National Cognac Day than with a Cognac Mai Tai? This drink originates from Roquette (@roquettesea) in Seattle, where Erik Hakkinen took a Mai Tai to France by using French Brandy (Cognac) to balance overproof Jamaican rum. Cheers y’all!

06-03-2024

The sidecar is a lovely classic cocktail consisting of cognac (French brandy), an orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and sometimes sugar in the form of simple syrup and/or sugar rim. I recently received some fig syrup from Liber & Co., and thought figs would work beautifully with cognac. I wasn’t disappointed with this one! Cheers y’all!

06-02-2024

This one comes from Liber & Co, an excellent high quality cocktail syrup company. This drink is made for summer and being out on your patio, or wherever. It is like as if a Last Word became a porch pounder. Cheers y’all!

06-01-2024

This one is by Simone De Luca (@cocktailsinrome) who made it at High Road House Club (London, England). This should stick out to you as a Last Word riff, both by the specs, as well as the Spanish translation of the drink meaning “Last Word.” The pineapple here makes this oh so smooth. Cheers y’all!

05-31-2024

Move over espresso martini, the Carajillo will be your new favorite coffee cocktail. The Carajillo is one of the most popular drinks in Mexico. Sometimes you see it layered, recently you see it shaken (who can say no to that foam?!). This is my take on it where I add smoky mezcal and pineapple syrup (coffee + pineapple = dream combo!). Cheers y’all!

05-30-2024

I had to make a drink to celebrate yesterday’s victory. A daiquiri is my go-to cocktail and I’m always shaking up variations. Pineapple and rum are a dream duo. Bitters and absinthe add depth. Of course, had to add orange. Cheers y’all!

05-29-2024

This drink is by Ryan Gannon at Cure (New Orleans). I’m lucky to have visited Cure a few times while in town for conferences. Now, I make their drinks at home from their cocktail book (a must have!). This one is described as a tiki drink that won’t knock you on your ass. Cheers y’all!

05-28-2024

This drink comes from Chris Vanderginst of Mutiny Bar (Detroit, MI). This tiki drink uses tequila as the base spirit, which is non-traditional for the rum-centric genre. "I think this drink is a great example of where tiki is and where it's headed," he says. Cheers y’all!

05-27-2024

This Last Word riff was created in 2020 by Matthias Soberon (@servedbysoberon). I have so many cocktails saved on my phone (thanks to drinkstagram) and I’m finally working my way through reshaking them. It is similar to a Nuclear Daiquiri, but falernum is subbed out for two types of syrups. Cheers y’all!

05-26-2024

This drink was created by Sother Teague (@creativedrunk) for a Doom Tiki’s pop-up (New York City). This tiki drink is packed with flavor. The cachaça is crisp and the amaro and Chartreuse bring a nice richness. Cheers y’all!

05-25-2024

To be honest, I love clarifying cocktails. The science behind it is fun. They are shelf-stable. It’s easy to do. You get a nice mouthfeel from it. Clear ice is lovely. Cheers y’all!

05-24-2024

This revamp of the classic Carajillo is by Nicholas Torres of True Laurel (San Francisco, CA). In this version, Torres adds scotch, which brings a slight smokiness that plays well with the Spanish spiced vanilla liqueur (Licor 43). The scotch does not dominate, so don’t be afraid to try this! Cheers y’all!

05-23-2024

This drink was created in 2015 by Peter Hill (@miesvanderdro). The drink and its name was inspired by a trip he took to Toronto (which he says he had no expense account). This equal parts sipper has molasses, apple, and spices. Absinthe and orange oil invite you to take a sip. Cheers y’all!

05-22-2024

Today was my 4th commencement as a college professor! Let’s celebrate with a Chartreuse cocktail! This cocktail comes from Andrew Volk of Hunt + Alpine (@huntandalpine) in the other Portland (Maine). This Last Word riff subs out maraschino and takes it down the sour route. I love how gin forward this variant is. Cheers y’all!

05-21-2024

This daiquiri riff is by Matthias Soberon (@servedbysoberon). I can count on one hand how many drinks I’ve had with kiwi in it, and this needs to change! As Matthias says, the only downside here is a clogged strainer. You could make a kiwi syrup, but there’s something fun and tangy about muddled fruit. Give the hairy skinned fruit a chance. Cheers y’all!

05-20-2024

Barlow Gilmore (@theweekendmixologist) posted this Piña Colada riff and I had to make it. A timely post as I finish year 4 of being a professor. The absinthe and Chartreuse add layers of complexity and herbal notes, which helps with grading. Cheers y’all!

05-19-2024

This classic cocktail is a twist on another classic: the Sidecar. Named after the popular tourist destination in Paris, this cocktail was first featured in the 1925 book, “Drinks - Long and Short,” by Nina Toye and Arthur H. Adair. Perfect after dinner and worthy of breaking out that Chartreuse for! Cheers y’all!

05-18-2024

This drink has circled the internet for a while, but I stumbled across through Justin Sajda (@thirstywhale_). Justin describes this as the bourbon cocktail made for folks who say they don’t like whiskey. This is perfect for summer entertaining! Add an optional pinch of salt to make the flavors pop. Cheers y’all!

05-17-2024

This drink is by Brett (@mvspeakeasy) and is everything you want in a summer cocktail. He brings all of the tropical tiki flavors (banana, coconut, pineapple, passionfruit) to one drink. The base is a pineapple rum (I’ve used both Doctor Bird higher ABV and Plantation). Cheers y’all!