We found ourselves at 17 Cornelia St. in Manhattan. Smells of skirt steak and cigars wafted from the balconies above while we waited for Scott. Not only had Scott suggested I come to rum fest, he invited me to a gathering the night before with the promise of meeting fellow tiki lovers and trying more […]

It would be fitting to say that rum was the highlight of rumfest, but for me, it was meeting all the people who make it, blog incessantly about it, and are more passionate about this mystical elixir than I could ever imagine. Where to begin? Let’s start with some stats. Tasted over 40 rums Met […]

[ed. A question about green cocktails was posed during one of the panels at Rum Fest yesterday which just happened to coincide with Blog Action Day, so I’ve consulted our resident environmentally friendly forest creature and connoisseur of fine exotic cocktails, Adam. Adam provided the deliciously green photo above as well.] Yesterday was Blog Action […]

(glass provided by the fine folks over at Cocktail Vibe) A comforting red hue fills my glass. Aromas of raspberry, ginger, and vinegar waft into the air. It’s not cool enough yet for gins and whiskeys to start taking the place of rums and juices, but tiki season is fading. For some reason this drink […]

I have little doubt that one or more of our illustrious group of cocktailians will plunge headfirst into the the history of the gin fizz. If not, Eric Felten does more than a fine job of detailing its origins and downfall in How’s Your Drink? which should be hitting shelves before yuletide. For those of […]

I am totally amazed how the Test Pilot has evolved since my post about it over a year ago. The first time I made it, I used the following recipe: Test Pilot 1/2oz lime juice 1/2oz falernum 1/2oz Cointreau 1 dash Angostura bitters 1/8t Pernod 3/4oz light Puerto Rican rum 1 1/2oz dark Jamaican rum […]

It seems that everyone has been posting up lists of their spirit bounty for all to admire and gawk at. Such posts have even prompted me to rearrange my cabinet, devoting the entire lower portion to rum. This has brought me much joy. But this post will be different. I won’t list all of the […]

I don’t think I can adequately convey how excited I am for Tales of the Cocktail. I’m going to get to meet all the fine gentlemen and ladies whom I’ve been sharing my love of mixology with for over a year. We’ll be eating at delectable restaurants and cocktails will be around every corner. The […]

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 beautifully […]

I had the opportunity to try Old Raj gin this past summer at a bar in Ithaca, NY. Though after browsing the cocktail menu and watching the bartender, I knew that I had better play it safe. So I decided I’d ask for a martini with tons of vermouth; “way more than you would ever […]