It’s getting hot out there (but not here; SF always gets colder during summer). The Bourbon Coke Float is a great way to cool off and forget about the heat. Mexican coke is preferred because of its real cane sugar and a lighter, spicier bourbon like Elmer T. Lee or Blanton’s with orange bitters adds …
Category Archives: Spirits
Old Old Fashioned
I saw the band Frightened Rabbit last night at the Fillmore in San Francisco, and their latest album just happens to be called “The Winter of Mixed Drinks,” so I can justify referencing the concert here. One of my favorites of their songs is “Old Old Fashioned,” which brings to mind the distinction between the …
Bacon Cocktails
Saturday was BaconCamp in San Francisco, and in addition to being on the judging panel, I gave a brief presentation on proper use of bacon in cocktails. The trick is to use every part of a pound of bacon. 1. Bacon Swizzle Stick: nobody wants a limp, soggy strip of bacon dangling over the edge …
Basil Gimlet
Everyone has a basil gimlet on their menu right now, and the topic keeps coming up in conversation, so I thought I should address it. It also makes a great pitcher drink for a party (the recipe is on my Labels for Batching Cocktails pdf on the Print page). A classic gimlet is 2.5 ounces …
Bay Area Distillery Tour Photos
I took a day off from the ol’ grind last week to visit two great Bay Area distilleries, St. George and Charbay. All but the last two pictures are from St. George, because my hosts at Charbay graciously welcomed us into their home, so I wasn’t about to start snapping pictures. The pink drink is …
The San Graal of Simple Sangria
Some people have a magic touch, and TSB‘s furtive fingers mix the meanest sangria I’ve ever tasted, but she also makes the process quick and simple, despite the complexities that other sangria masters claim the drink requires. The following are her recipes, for which I can take no credit other than my role taste testing …
My New Scottish Rental Property: Timeshares Available
I just received my membership confirmation from the Friends of Laphroiag, the most brilliant beverage marketing program ever conceived. Every member is given a lifetime lease on a one-foot square plot on the island of Islay (pronounced “aye-la”), where the Scotch is made. The deal is, the distillery “pays you rent” in the form of …
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Bloody Mary Batch Instructions
Apparently, the Bottled Bloody Brunch Batch is a hit, and I’ve gotten good feedback on it from industry pros and friends alike, so I thought I would make the recipe more portable by creating a half-sheet, printable PDF. This recipe for making a half-gallon of great Bloody Mary Mix right in the bottle now includes …
Programmable Vodka Bottles?
This is how Bukowski would have tweeted. I fight the urge to declare that vodka is all marketing, but Medea has taken it to an extreme. Their website barely mentions the spirit itself, but focuses almost entirely on their in-bottle programmable LED display with images, video, and a whole page devoted to programming instructions. You …
Back In The Press
Behind the Tasting Panel, my latest article for Drink Me Magazine just posted to their website. Read my behind the scenes coverage of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition on the Drink Me Magazine website, or pick up a copy of issue 7, out this weekend.