Alcademics.com

Hey Bartenders! Last Week to Enter Disaronno's Mixing Star Competition

Bartenders, how'd you like to win a free trip to New York to compete in the Mixing Star competition during the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, with a grand prize of a trip to Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans if you win? Read more →

Wild Times at the Reykjavik Bar Summit

A report from the first annual Reykjavik Bar Summit. Read more →

Recap: Jessi Lorraine Wins the SF Papa's Pilar #PilarCocktailShowdown

Jessi "Mess" Lorraine of Reed & Greenough took home the prize for the first Papa's Pilar rum Pilar Cocktail Showdown, held at Woodbury in San Francisco. The competition was interesting in that not only did bartenders have 60 seconds to grab their ingredients in each round of competition, but after they had everything collected a secret ingredient was revealed to them that they also had to incorporate into the drink. Round 1: Blended Daiquiri All eight competitors went into the first round. They competed in pairs, with the secret ingredient changing every pair. The first two bartenders were Rick Dobbs... Read more →

Recap: Brian Means Wins SF Regionals of Bombay Sapphire Most Imaginative Bartender Comp 2014

Last night I helped judge the Bombay Sapphire Most Imaginative Bartender competition for San Francisco. The winner, who was Brian Means of Dirty Habit, will go on to the national finals in Las Vegas. Read more →

Salt, Sherry, Savory, Vinegar: Trend Report from the Bombay Sapphire Bartender Comp

Common techniques and ingredients chosen by bartenders in an international competition, despite their diverse backgrounds and locations. Read more →

A Cocktail Meant to Taste Like Money

The winning cocktail for the Bombay Sapphire Most Imaginative Bartender competition contained homemade paper syrup meant to reference the government bank notes that were once printed at a mill that is the future home of the gin distillery. Read more →

The Cognac D'USSE 2014 Culture Cocktails Competition

Last week at the bar 67 Orange in Harlem, New York, I helped judge Cognac D'USSE's annual Culture Cocktails competition. The contest pulled six competitors from local Harlem bars and they, friends and neighbors packed into this tiny cocktail bar for the competition. And I do mean packed - the bar's capacity is about 35 people and there were over 60 in the room at one point. Luckily, I had a good view from my barstool along with my co-judges, blogger Paola Mathe from FindingPaola.com and model Diandra Forrest. I was definitely helping balance out all that beauty. The number... Read more →

A Cool Trick for a Hot Infusion in a Hurry

A trick to make a hot infusion in little time, as witnessed in a cocktail contest. Read more →