The last TDN before Tales! The undisputed ruler of the Land of Orange Liqueuria will be holding court, and we’ve been invited to create original cocktails for her royal armada. Cointreau also happens to be one of few high-quality liqueurs you can still find behind nearly any bar. And as I’m sure it’s behind your […]

The deluxe revised edition of Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails arrived in the mail today. Why it’s exciting: Lots of new recipes I’ve never heard of An entire section on cocktail bloggers (KP and a host of CSOWG members included) The unadulterated panache you expect from Dr. Cocktail, which means loads of new history and […]

Upcoming TDN – Bad Names Scour the internets and you’ll find cocktails of every sort; few will prance around like sexy beasts of palate-quenching, while most are hellish abominations of deceit and despair. Kind of like guitar tabs. There is also no shortage of awful, offensive names for drinks, often shots served in college towns […]

The Fernet Old Fashioned may be the best drink I’ve ever created. I know what you’re thinking: Every drink with Fernet is Rick’s favorite drink. And though that is harsh and false mostly true, this potion of utter joyment surpasses all others. Though Fernet is clearly delicious on its own without ice, I wanted a […]

Upcoming TDN – Martin Miller’s Gin Thursday Drink Night has had a love affair with gin lately, and I’m pleased to say it’s ending on a sultry note. Martin Miller’s gin is like the triple cream offering on the cheeseboard. You save that last cracker and dot of kumquat-vanilla jam for the final remaining sliver […]

What I’m about to say may surprise some people. > Don’t make ginger syrup. My caravan of spirit-loving Fremen embarked upon a journey last night. Confidence was high, the winds were right – it would surely be a brief quest, and one that ended in caches of water a tasty cocktail. We began our trek […]

Upcoming TDN – Muddled Just-picked, ripe strawberries, crushed until their red satin juice stains your muddler. A few slices of ginger, mashed into a stringy lattice of spice. Two basil leaves, delicately pressed into some simple syrup, imbuing it with aromatic delight. A dash of bitters, a jigger of booze, and you have an original […]

Such exciting news! Martin is fantastically talented, and I for one am filled with uncontrollable anticipation for his new rum bar. This fall, San Francisco will become home to Smuggler’s Cove, a new bar designed to celebrate the incredible diversity and versatility of the world’s most exciting spirit: Rum. Smuggler’s Cove offers a whole new […]

Upcoming TDN – Bols Genever Genever may be my favorite new spirit of the year. Combining the coniferous lure of juniper with a proper gentleman’s dose of malt, Genever manages to taste like gin and whisky at the same time. If only other spirit flavor profiles combined in such quizzically alluring ways… like rum and […]