Those of you who have been reading this blog for a while might recall the amaro comparo we did a while back, Amari Throwdown. In it I stated that Fernet-Branca was, “awful . . . just awful.” So you might be surprised that I’m posting about a drink that uses it. As it turns out, […]
Valentine’s Day Cocktail – The French 75
February 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Here at The Consumatorium, we’ve been on a roll mixing drinks dominated by Rye and Bourbon. In our defense, it’s been damned cold outside, Polar Vortex and all, and we needed a little help getting warmed up. But Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and it’s time for us to mix some cocktails that […]
Monkey Gland
January 4, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Continuing with our Classics series, I mixed up a Monkey Gland the other night. It’s a fine cocktail, probably more appropriate for spring but that didn’t stop me from consuming every last drop. It has its origins in the 1920s, first served at a New York style bar in Paris. It is an easy drink […]
Classic Martinez
December 28, 2013 By 1 Comment
I tried a few times to make a Martinez for our Classics series, and each time I messed up and made the Modern Martinez instead. This is because most recipes now use the modern ratios (much stronger), and you have to look specifically for the classic recipe. The Martinez is best known as the predecessor […]
The Last Word
December 16, 2013 By 1 Comment
Never fear, loyal Consumatorium readers, we are not shutting down. No, The Last Word is a prohibition-era cocktail that was rediscovered and popularized about a decade ago. It’s tasty and tart, and while the first sip is a little overpowering, it goes down very easily after that. The lime juice, while significant, is balanced well […]
Tequila Sunrise
November 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment
It’s another tequila sunriseStarin’ slowly ‘cross the sky, said goodbyeHe was just a hired handWorkin’ on the dreams he planned to tryThe days go by Here at the Consumatorium, we frequently make lemonade out of lemons, or in this case, a great cocktail out of some Mandarin oranges that really weren’t sweet enough. It’s an […]
Cuba Libre
November 5, 2013 By Leave a Comment
As part of our Classics series, I recently tried the Cuba Libre, an ancestor of the Rum & Coke likely invented in very early 20th century Havana as a way to promote Bacardi. I have to admit, this is not my favorite highball. Maybe it’s that I don’t usually drink soda pop in the evening; […]
Jack Rose Cocktail
October 6, 2013 By 1 Comment
I was recently told that we’ve been posting too many gin recipes. Fair enough: summer is over and it’s time for something more hearty. And what could say autumn better than…Apple brandy! The Jack Rose is a classic from the 1920s and 30s. Laird’s Applejack, the primary ingredient, has been made in America since colonial […]
Margarita
July 9, 2013 By 5 Comments
As Will points out, a true classic Margarita won’t taste like what you get in the average bar, because they often use sour mix or even Margarita mix to save time. And those mixes, among other differences, are sweeter than the straight ingredients. Here is how you actually make a Margarita. Prep by putting a […]
Classic Martini with Modern Brands
May 31, 2013 By Leave a Comment
[Note: for our one-stop-shop of Martini preparation info, check out our Classic Martini post] You might be surprised by the appearance of this Martini. Where’s the olive? What’s with that color? It turns out that the Martini most people know: gin, a touch of dry vermouth, and a pimiento-stuffed green olive – is a variation […]
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