BartendersTour.blogspot.com

One of the things I have found over my years of learning about the spirits business is that there are some basic rules when it comes to mixing a great party cocktail. Stirred, not shaken 1 - Use the proper method to make the drink. You might be surprised when I explain that shaking a martini, for instance, has a negative impact on the outcome. Stir it. The same applies for almost any other cocktail. A number of things require muddling, such as Old Fashioneds and Mojitos. You have to muddle firmly to release juices, and a gentle muddle will result in muted flavors. And adding ingredients in the improper order can also impact things - always add soda or sparkling water last, for instance. You don't want to agitate carbonated drinks...trust me. So many choices, so much expense 2 - Don't automatically use top-shelf liquors as your base, particularly if you're making drinks for a number of people. Some top shelf brands will suffer with the addition of sugars and/or fruit flavors...

  The world is full of thousands of cocktails, likely even into the tens of thousands. I’m not talking about the nuances, such as vodka martinis with olives versus a lemon twist, I’m talking about basic solid standalone drinks with their own personalities and flavors. From Long Island Iced Teas to Screwdrivers, Black Russians, Daiquiris and more. Some are as individual as the bartender who created them, or as common as margaritas in Mexican restaurants. But as much as there are as many cocktails as there are bar menus, there are a few which are universal and classic. These are the drinks which, even if they’re not on a menu the bartender can make them. They’re the first things we learn and likely the most popular we serve. For purposes of sticking to cocktails, straight spirits sippers, neat or on the rocks, are omitted from consideration. These are all mixed drinks. Here are the top, imperial classic cocktails which stand atop mixology. In their own way they define their categori...

Elvis’ Fried PB and Banana Sandwich!  (A sweet treat for the rock ‘n roll elite! Hunka, hunka (lightly) burnin’ love!) 2 1/2 oz @skrewballwhiskey Peanut Butter Whiskey 1/2 oz  99 Bananas liqueur 3 drops Scrappy’s aromatic bitters Build in a rocks glass, ice optional

I received a survey email from a bartending newsletter, asking me some questions about my passion for mixing drinks as a career. As I was responding to his email it occurred to me that the responses go a long way towards explaining some of my thinking processes on why I ditched a long career in telecom to pursue this as a new direction in life. My thoughts (in bold) as follows: Why do you care about craft cocktails & mixology?  Originally it began as a fascination - and then obsession - with finding the best martinis on my travels. This became the concept for a book entitled CHASING MARTINIS, which is still not yet finished. But my interest peaked when I realized that to be a true authority on the martini that I ought to be a trained bartender and not just a consumer. I've since completed a hundred-hour education in Mixology, learning 200 different drinks and the necessary techniques for each one. What was originally a passion is now an avocation. - Are you t...