And who would have thought I’d find Martin of Forbidden Island, Eric Seed of Haus Alpenz, and Matt of Rum Dood at the carousel bar? After some great conversation, a Vieux Carre, and a Pimm’s Cup, it is time for the good Penguin to get some sleep before the a.m. rum judging in the [...]

My trip to Portland last year included several visits to Powell’s book store. For those who don’t know of it, imagine a used book store that stocked 5-10 new used cocktail guides nearly every day. Seriously. Cocktails for Two caught my eye, and unsurprisingly so. The cover features a Manhattan poised [...]

Bourbon, caressed by a hint of Galliano and doused with aromatic bitters; juice from a plump, ripe orange, cognac and the sweet herbalness of Benedictine; sweet creme de banane sedated with cognac and prodded with orange bitters; a generous helping of reposado tequila and Barbados rum, tightened up with grapefruit and pineapple juices; a [...]

It’s not often you come across a cocktail that so successfully combines six liqueurs, and especially not one that does so with equal measurements. I somehow graced over this daring conglomeration on my first … ok, 50th time through The Gentleman’s Companion Vol. II, but I sure am glad I found it.
I would expect [...]

When I began looking through my library for references to the Singapore Sling, it immediately became apparent that I could easily turn this article into a recipe comparison. The variety of recipes was astounding. So astounding, in fact, that I’ve decided to save the comparison for another time. Instead, I’d like to marvel at [...]

When I first saw this cocktail, I grinned. Not because it was so similar to one of my loves, the Rob Roy, but because I recognized the name. My grandfather is Robert Burns. It just so happens that he, Mr. Burns, worked much of his life as an executive for a nuclear [...]