We recently met bartender Nick Strageway at San Francisco’s Tick Dog to learn about his new line of all natural vodkas, Absolut Craft. Created by a master bartender, Absolut Craft was made specifically for bartending pros. …Read More

A unique thermos thirst quencher to ward off the winter blahs, Pop’s Milk Punch, created by Eric Johnson, the cocktail wizard developing the bar program at San Diego’s highly anticipated Sycamore Den cocktail lounge.

A number of years ago, we ventured down to New Orleans for the early parts of Mardi Gras and a tour of New Orleans drinking spots.  We loved the dog parade but didn’t really love New Orleans.  It wasn’t really what we expected.  I had romantic notions of New Orleans.  I pictured myself sipping cocktails at historic bars and restaurants and gazing upon Mardi Gras parades.  I wasn’t expecting that Bourbon Street would be like … Read more

When most people think of St. Louis they think of baseball, beer, the Gateway Arch and…gooey butter cake. At least St. Louis natives or anyone who has spent any time here knows of and has enjoyed gooey butter cake.

Gooey butter cake, invented in St. Louis, tastes exactly how you would expect given the name.

The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis has brought the delicious treat to life in cocktail form known as the Gooey Butter Cake … Read more

The Tempest Bar in San Francisco was the site a Jerk Off competition, a Soda Jerk competition.  Given the sad decline of the soda fountain in the United States, we can only imagine that it was the first soda competition that has happened since the 1950′s when soda fountains were in there full glory.  We can only hope that the Jerk Off is a harbinger of things to come because the sodas at the Jerk … Read more

I was recently immersed in the story and process of creating Grey Goose Vodka. I am sure you are thinking at home, “creating vodka is simple, why tell us about it?” Admittedly, that was kind of my initial reaction. What are they going to show me but a huge industrial distillery and some slick marketing. …Read More

Nestled in the picturesque countryside of northern California, south of Geyserville just off the 101, two iconic glass spires glow vividly against the deep blue sky framed by vine studded rolling hills sweeping off into the distance. …Read More

This past week marked the 10th installment of New Orleans mixology orgy, Tales of the Cocktail. It is by far the largest celebration of cocktail culture in the country. Tales (as it called by ‘vets’) is a who’s who of bartenders, journalists and brands. It is a wonderland for up and coming barterers and enthusiasts. …Read More

This week’s drink was is an original creation of mixologist Ben Smith of 15 Romolo in San Francisco. In his words:

“It’s kind of a play off a Trinidad Sour. Which is 2 oz Angostura bitters and 1 oz lemon. The New North Beach is a contemporary version with hints of vanilla from the carpano and light notes of cinnamon and spice from the amaro balanced with the acid of lemon, all rounded out by

… Read more