The new casual sister restaurant to Quince, Cotogna, has a drink menu designed by Lead Bartender "Buffalo" Jason LoGrasso. I stopped in for a few drinks. I started with the Cydonia Fizz (Apple Brandy, Quince, Almond, Lemon, Meringue) that was both interesting and accessible. Then I moved on to the... Read more →
A great rum mystery is finally solved! If you've had Pyrat rum, you've probably noticed its very strong orange taste- so strong that many people have wondered if something was added to the rum. Well, now we know why Pyrat tastes so much like orange. I was at the Patron... Read more →
I wrote a story for Tasting Table San Francisco on fifteen of the best cocktails the city has to offer- with recipes and bars to match. They represent the old and the new, from Pisco Punch to a hot Genever Punch, from classics like the Irish Coffee at The Buena... Read more →
In my latest set of fun experiments with ice, I created fortune ice. I'd been meaning to do this for a while, but two things made it actually happen. First, I bought a Tovolo King Cube Ice Cube Tray to make 2-inch cubes. Second, I realized I could use my... Read more →
I received a review copy of Speakeasy: The Employees Only Guide to Classic Cocktails Reimagined by Jason Kosmas and Dushan Zaric, and I can't wait to try some of the recipes in it. I was just going to review the book here, but the folks at Fine Cooking asked me... Read more →
Finally, I'm appearing in the pages of Penthouse magazine. Oddly, they didn't ask me to model. That's not me on the cover. In the December issue of Penthouse magazine, I have a two-page spread on "Advanced Level Beer Gear," including some gift items like a homebrew kit, kegerator, and a... Read more →
Under direction of Bar Manager Alex Smith (Smuggler's Cove, Thirsty Bear, etc.), nearly all the cocktails at Gitane are changing over this month. Don't go rushing into the bar expecting to try them all tonight though: Smith says they're rolling them out five a week so that the menu will... Read more →
Please check out my latest blog entry on FineCooking.com. It's about making your own grenadine and the Jack Rose cocktail. Read it here, and feel free to comment (over there) on your own grenadine or Jack Rose recipe improvements. Read more →