I just recently started working at a new spot called the Corner Store(which I will write more about in the near future), and the Bay Window is one of the drinks featured on the menu. The drink features Kappa Pisco, which is a Chilean Pisco made from aromatic Mucat grapes. We mix the the pisco [...]
I was hanging out at Beretta eating brunch and I had a copy of the Cafe Royal Cocktail Book on me, so I decided to look up a recipe they could do at the bar which would be fun to try. I ended up choosing the Queen’s Hotel because it looked like it would be [...]
I recently picked up a copy of the Waldorf-Astoria bar book, and was intrigued by the combination of ingredients in the Kingston cocktail listed under the Jamaica drink section. The drink contained a lot of typical tiki drink ingredients: Jamaica Rum, Pimento Dram(Allspice Dram), and Orange Juice. However, the most interesting ingredient listed was Kümmel, [...]
I recently told my favorite moment that I’ve had as a bartender in my interview featured in the San Francisco Examiner, but unfortunately was misquoted on this experience. As I know this didn’t do the moment justice, I felt obliged to set the record straight on this moment. I was working the day shift at [...]
The Manhattan cocktail is the definitive marriage between whiskey and wine. The most recognizable basic form of the drink is bourbon, vermouth, and bitters. While the choice of whiskey will vary, the use of vermouth and bitters should never. Vermouth is one of the most widely misunderstood liqueurs out there, but it is simply wine that is infused [...]
A great many thanks to H. Joseph Lehrmann, 2010 Nightclub and Bar Magazine’s Bartender of the Year, for hosting yet another superb cocktail clubclassroom presentation at his bar, Elixir in San Francisco. I always end up having a phenomenal time, and this was yet another truly special experience for me. On Thursday March 25, Richard “The Nose” Paterson, [...]
We were greeted at the front door of Tres Agaves(good enchiladas by the way, helped prevent hangover and too much stupidity on way home) in San Francisco and led to a small reception room where there were complimentary cocktails for us as we waited to check in. One drink was called the Silver monk and [...]
Who drinks Port anymore? Eric Asimov wistfully recounts his experiences with the fortified wine in this excellent article. He discusses pairings with food, different types of Port and occasions for drinking them, and use in mixology(largely as a vermouth substitute). What is Brandy? Jason Wilson gives you a good primer on the subject, while also discussing two [...]
I recently had the opportunity to meet with Jacqueline Patterson, former San Francisco bartender and brand ambassador of William Grant & Sons, at a small tasting for Lillet. The eponymous company was founded in 1872 by brothers Paul and Raymond Lillet. The precursor of the modern Lillet Blanc was created in 1887, and launched in 1895 as [...]
Let’s get this started with a cocktail which can be categorized as either a royale or a fizz: the Doc Daneeka Royale. They choose to use the excellent Leopold’s gin with lemon juice, maple syrup, and champagne. They garnished the drink with grapefruit(highly appropriate for Leopold’s since one of the botanicals is a similar citrus fruit in the pomelo). This post [...]
