07-15-2024

This is an original of mine inspired by the Donna Summer cocktail created by my friend Emily Pavela at Hattaway’s (Walla Walla, WA). This creamy cocktail has rich herbal notes, a touch of smoke, and fruity apricot sweetness that is balanced by fresh lime juice. Cheers y’all!

07-14-2024

This drink was featured on Imbibe and originally created by Tyler Beckstead for The Longboard (Sullivan's Island, SC). These specs are slightly modified by my friend Pranthik Samal (@parttimemixologist). My best margarita riff this summer. Cheers y’all!

07-13-2024

This drink comes from Milk & Honey (NYC; now closed) and was published in the late Sasha Petraske’s book, “Regarding Cocktails.” This one is a riff of the modern classic Penicillin, which is a riff of a Gold Rush. There are so many great cocktails that came from this era, and this is no exception. Cheers y’all!

07-12-2024

This rum old fashioned is something I came up with for a friend’s party that I will be bartending next weekend. It’s a simple rum old fashioned that I wanted to introduce some tropical vibes too. The sweetener is passionfruit and to create a smooth mouthfeel I washed the age rum with some coconut oil. Add any combo of citrus oil! Cheers y’all!

07-11-2024

This cocktail is by Tyler Zielinski (@bon_vivantito), which I found through my Instagram friend Sam Patel (@coventrycocktails) after sharing yesterday’s original Infante. This one introduces coconut rum and banana liqueur, turning it to the tropical side. It is just so good! Cheers y’all!

07-10-2024

This margarita riff was created by Giuseppe González (@giuseppe_gonzalez) in 2009 (New York) and named after singer/actor Pedro Infante. Though the build is simple, there is a lot of depth here with flavors that are refreshing, nutty, and floral. Fun fact: González also created the Trinidad Sour, which he is not a big fan of. Cheers y’all!

07-09-2024

This cocktail is by the amazing Justin Sajda (@thirstywhale_). This one is similar to a Kingston Negroni with some extra layers of flavor. What many folks dislike about Negronis is the bitterness — coconut fat washing helps tame those bitter notes. Fresh nutmeg and crushed ice help make this feel more tropical. Cheers y’all!

07-08-2024

This cocktail is by Phil Ward who created it in 2007 for Death & Company. This one is packed with spice from the rye (Ward used Overholt) and ginger, and freshened up with raspberries and mint. This is another one that you’ll love sipping on outside this summer! Cheers y’all!

07-07-2024

This drink was created in 2007 by Ted Kilgore at Monarch Restaurant (Maplewood, MO; now closed). Kilgore designed this cocktail to be a pick-me-up, though it reads and tastes like a nightcap. He combines two herbal French liqueurs to complement the spiced rye base. You get a sweet honey note from the Bénédictine and a burst of herbs from the Chartreuse. Cheers y’all!

07-06-2024

This drink was created by Kyle Davidson in 2008 when given a “Dealer’s Choice” ticket while bartending. It read, “a bitter drink with rum.” Davidson liked how the Chartreuse and Cynar fight for the last word. The mint and lime add some needed freshness. A great template for riffs. Cheers y’all!

07-05-2024

This low-ABV tropical cocktail by Matthias Soberon has been perfect to battle this summer heat. He uses white vermouth (different than dry) as the base, which is swizzled (mixed) with the other ingredients. You can easily have a few without feeling sloshed. This has become a staple this summer! Cheers y’all!

07-04-2024

The Saturn is by far the most popular gin-based tiki drink (and my partner’s favorite). Here, I follow Jean-Félix Desfossés’ (@jfdesfosses) recipe, where he adds half the gin post-clarification to maintain those delicate botanical notes that are usually lost during clarification. He used Empress gin, but I instead added color with B’lure flower extract. Rum is not usually included in a Saturn, but here it helps increase the ABV and ease the clarification process. Serves three. Cheers y’all!

07-03-2024

This drink was created in 2018 by Brian Tasch at Pouring Ribbons (NYC; now closed). A London dry gin is a solid base that holds up to the chocolate and cinnamon. The bright lemon, curaçao, and fortified wine bring balance. Happy 4th of July! Cheers y’all!

07-02-2024

This is another original of mine that I created after making my Cognac competition cocktail (see: Co-Co-Coffee). This one utilizes much of the same flavors and ingredients, but reimagined as an espresso martini instead of old fashioned. You’ll be in dream land with this one. Cheers y’all!

07-01-2024

This is an original of mine I made with some ingredients that reminded me of summer. I used three spirits/liqueurs here, which paired with the burlesque bitters (hibiscus, sour berries, and a hint of peppery spice), gave rise to the name of the drink. Cheers y’all!

06-30-2024

This drink was created by Brian Maxwell (@shakerofspirits) and shows you that there are tropical/tiki drinks that can use whiskey and mezcal. This one is a flavor bomb worth trying (depending on your palate, try upping the lemon and reducing orgeat). Cheers y’all!

06-29-2024

This drink is an absolute banger! Despite seeming simple, it is so complex on the palate. The fresh passionfruit introduces a wonderful tang. I’ll be making these all summer so long as I have fresh passionfruit. There’s also something so beautiful about garnishing with half a passionfruit. The specs I used are via Difford’s Guide. Cheers y’all!

06-28-2024

This drink is by Ryan Magarian, who made it for the now closed bar Hamlet. This drink screams summer and you know I’ll be making these all season. The saltiness of the prosciutto complements the very bright, refreshing, and crushable cocktail. Don’t be afraid to dip it in! Cheers y’all!

06-27-2024

This modern classic by Phil Ward was created in 2009 at Mayahuel, an agave-centric bar in the East Village of New York (now closed). This is a slight twist on the famous Last Word; some may say it is like the Naked & Famous, though this predates the 2011 modern classic. Ward named this after the Pink Floyd album. Cheers y’all!

06-26-2024

This drink is by Matthias Soberon (@servedbysoberon), who created it during his “pirate drink making era.” This one is jam packed with tropical flavors, but rest assured it is not overly sweet. Soberon says, “This drink ain't for the faint of heart!” Cheers y’all!