Who knew the Pantone color wheel was so inspirational to bartenders? Luca Ranzuglia sent me a picture of a Cointreau cocktail menu from around 1998 that isn't so much based on the Pantone color strips but the shape of the color wheel. Earlier this year a cocktail book came out... Read more →
I first heard about beer and wine syrups years ago on Jeffrey Morgenthaler's and Jamie Boudreau's blogs, and have enjoyed them in many cocktails since then. You know what might be good? Fino sherry and dry vermouth syrups- has anyone tried them? Perhaps that will be a project for another... Read more →
My latest story for Details.com is on the many forms that the Michelada beer cocktail takes and what you can do to imitate them. Restaurants are doing wild wacky things with the hot sauce, savory ingredients, citrus, and salt. Check it out! Read more →
Let's say you're a drink nerd who has the flu. You want to work mezcal into your schedule but how can you justify it when you're sweating through your sheets and spending all day watching soap operas? Houston Eaves, of Esquire Tavern in San Antonio, has the answer. In my... Read more →
In my recent story for Details.com, I listed a bunch of new bars opening in 2013. But there were a lot more I couldn't include for one reason or another. So here are more bars we're looking forward to this year: The Regent Cocktail Club in South Beach, Miami -... Read more →
Over at Details.com, I wrote about some hotly-anticipated cocktail bars opening in the first part of 2013. They are: Raven & Rose Trick Dog Dead Rabbit Polite Provisions Attaboy Tiki Iniki Motel Three Dots and a Dash Julep Read it over at Details.com, and have a look at all the... Read more →
Fernet is finding its way into hot cocktails this year. Here are three I've noticed in the last couple of months. Rich Coffee at Rich Table, San Francisco Fernet, Creme de Cacao, Sightglass Coffee, Brown Sugar, Pistachio Cream, Gold Dust Strato at Lounge at Atera, New York Coffee, cream and... Read more →
Chris Lane, formerly of Heaven's Dog and Wo Hing General Store, took over the bar manager position at Lolinda in San Francisco in December. (The original menu was done by Lane Ford.) Lolinda is a large, modern steakhouse owned by the same folks who brought us Beretta, Starbelly, and Delarosa.... Read more →