Monthly Archives: May 2012

Sloshed: How to Make the Perfect Summer Drink Out of Anything — Grub Street New York

A well written and very helpful article. I really like the author’s idea of creating a “summer syrup” and will give it a go this season. Continue

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Summer Cocktails

I looked at a bunch of recipes and figured there are four main Summer Drink Staple Techniques (SDSTs):

  • Bubbles.
  • Some kind of citrus-sugar combo.
  • Seasonal fruits and herbs (specifically: mint).
  • A lot of ice.

Spot on.
I really like the author’s idea of creating a “summer syrup” and will give it a go this season. If you haven’t made the “summer syrup” yet and are looking for a quick and easy summer cocktail (which also lets you experiment with syrups and bitters) here’s my go-to experimental summery cocktail.

    Summery Cocktail Framework

  • 1.5 - 2 oz. spirit (I usually go for gin, but tequila is tasty too)
  • 1/2 oz. fresh citrus juice. (Lemon, Lime, Orange, whatever’s on hand.)
  • 1/2 oz. sweet. (simple syrup, honey syrup, maple syrup, Jo Snow, Royal Rose or B.G. Reynolds)
  • 2-3 dashes of bitters (This is a great way to play with a bitters you’ve been wanting to use more. Works especially well with fruit bitters).
  • Soda water, club soda, lemon-lime soda, ginger beer, champagne. You know… bubbles.

Mix all ingredients, except the bubbles, in a shaker or build in a highball glass. Mix/Shake. Top with bubbles.
Garnish. Straw. Drink.

Sometimes you’ll have to play with ratios to get the balance right. For example, if you’re using Brut Champagne vs. lemon-lime soda you might need more or less syrup to balance things out. Make a beverage than tweak it as desired.

Oh, by the way - here’s a funny bit from the article that made me laugh out loud.

To be clear: I’m not after the ultimate summer cocktail. We already have that and its called the daiquiri. I am looking for a single technique that can be called upon at a moments notice no matter what is on hand, and deployed to large groups of friends in the waning sunlight after a day spent outside. To start, I had to really think about what makes a great summer drink. Theyre refreshing, obviously, and they tend to have a smaller percentage of alcohol than more robust cocktails, since day-drinking in the sun often just leads to naps.

Please check out the whole article at Sloshed: How to Make the Perfect Summer Drink Out of Anything — Grub Street New York.

Twelve Uncomplicated Summer Cocktails - Interactive Feature - NYTimes.com

Mixing a good drink requires a bit of care, but anyone can do it. Continue

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Getting ready to start your summer this Memorial Day? Here’s a quick and decent list from Mark Bittman & the NYT on some easy drinks to sip all summer long.

Twelve Uncomplicated Summer Cocktails: Mixing a good drink requires a bit of care, but anyone can do it.

(Beware: if you’re looking for rum, this collection has none 🙁 )

via Twelve Uncomplicated Summer Cocktails - Interactive Feature - NYTimes.com.

How To Up Your Game via “Home Bar Basics” Cocktail Book: LAist

And surprise, you don’t need to drop a fortune to build an impressive home bar. Continue

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Home Bar Basics
Congrats to Dave Stolte on the great writeup in LAist on one of our favorite books, Home Bar Basics (and Not So Basics).

Fortunately, local cocktail author/longtime cocktail geek Dave Stolte took it upon himself to write, illustrate and publish Home Bar Basics (and Not So Basics), a handy-dandy guide on how to stock your home bar and which 25 cocktails to begin with. And surprise, you don’t need to drop a fortune to build an impressive home bar.

Check out the whole article here: How To Up Your Game via "Home Bar Basics" Cocktail Book: LAist.

And pick up a copy in the store or on our webstore

Stirred, Not Shaken: Local Cocktail Enthusiasts Bring the Caribbean SwizzleStik to Boston | BostInno

As the owner of The Boston Shaker cocktail shop in Davis Square, Adam Lantheaume was always interested in the swizzle. Continue

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Thanks to Lisa and BostInno for the article and support! Here’s a snippet, but check out the whole article here.

While it may sound like a silly 1950’s dance move to the untrained drinker, the swizzle is actually a delicious drink, composed of rum, lime juice, crushed ice and sugar. To stir the concoctions, bartenders use a special device called a swizzle stick, which originates in the Caribbean and is often made from a swizzle tree. The problem? The wooden sticks are nearly impossible to find in the U.S.

via Stirred, Not Shaken: Local Cocktail Enthusiasts Bring the Caribbean SwizzleStik to Boston | BostInno.

The 8 Best Airlines For Drinking | Food Republic

Next time you’re flying internationally - check out these picks from Food Republic. Continue

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Virgin Atlantic Lounge at JFK

That’s why we’ve ranked the world’s best airlines for drinking. From complimentary cold ones in coach to incredible airport lounges, from killer wine selection to the best top-shelf liquor options, these eight airlines will quench your thirst while you brave the often-less-than-friendly skies. Next time you’re booking a flight, choose wisely. Cheers!

via The 8 Best Airlines For Drinking | Food Republic.

Two recipes for faster dry-shaken cocktails | TastingTable

Click through to the original article to get two new ideas from some well respected bartenders. Continue

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Ramos Gin Fizz

I’ve always used the Hawthorne spring method, but click through to the original article to get two new ideas from some well respected bartenders.

The key to a good egg-based drink, i.e., proper emulsification, can be hard to achieve.

It is sometimes accomplished with a technique called the dry shake, in which the cocktail is shaken first without ice, then shaken once more with ice added.

Even then, emulsification can take forever, as evidenced by the Ramos Gin Fizz. The directions for this classic egg-white cocktail call for excessive dry-shaking of two or three minutes. Consider it the busy bartender’s nightmare.

So it’s no surprise that enterprising bar folk have found ways to cut corners. Here, two of our favorite tips for making your favorite fizz or flip.

via Two recipes for faster dry-shaken cocktails | Top Shelf - TastingTable.