A Holiday Wishlist & Ideas for a Cocktail Enthusiast

Are you or anyone you know interested in improving their cocktail game at home? Well lucky you! In honor of “Cyber-Monday” I’ve compiled a list (partially for myself ) of essentials for creating your best cocktails at home.

Included are some of my favorite bar-ware items that I own and recommend. I list several options and prices. Luckily most of these items are easy to find or order online! Joy oh joy.

Glassware

Can I just tell you how much I LOVE cocktail glassware?! Usually when I browse through my Instagram feed I gush more about the glass a cocktail is in that what is in it. Keep in mind, these are just personal use recommendations but all these glasses are extremely versatile!

Low Ball – Everyday cocktails, sippers (Old Fashioned’s), and neat/on-ice spirits

1. Working Glass via Crate&Barrel – Put your sangria in here! Great price under $20 for set of 4.

2. Harry Rocks Glass via Crate&Barrel – I own these and love them. A beautiful dome perfect for that large square ice. Hand wash only and under $30 for set of 4.

3. Gold Feather Double Old-Fashioned Glass via Target – $12 Each. Hand wash only!

4. Minner’s Vintage Lace Double Old-Fashioned Glasses via Williams-Sonoma – Beautiful lead-free crystal that looks like lace! Set of 6 for $70.

5. Mixed Cut Double Old-Fashioned Glasses via Williams-Sonoma – Can’t decide on a style? Get a variety set in more lead-free crystal. Set of 4 for $70.

6. Tour Glass via Crate&Barrel – Gorgeous shape but the mouth could be a problem for your jumbo ice. $8.95 each.

High Ball – Spritzers, muddled drinks (Mojitos), “bar drinks” (Long Island’s)

1. Copper Rim High Ball Glasses via Williams-Sonoma – Stunning! Looks even more amazing with some greenery like mint leaves or rosemary sticking out of it. They also come in low ball size! Set of 4 for $60.
2. Nile Highball via Crate&Barrel – Something about soda-bubbles and a metal straw sticking out of this is just perfect. $7.95 each.
3. Direction (Collection) 12 oz. Highball Glass – Your mojitos or gin+tonics will look insane in these. Million dollar cocktail. $10.95 each

Fancy – Things that get shaken (Whiskey sours), things made with your homemade ingredients (herb infused simple syrup, LINK to easy recipe and great gift idea(s) as well!)

1. Coupe Cocktail Glass via Crate&Barrel– More than classic, you could even serve champagne in these. Good price of $4.95 each.

2. Josie Double Old-Fashioned Glass via Crate&Barrel – Did someone say gimlet? More use out of these than the metal version… A margarita would do fabulously in one of these as well. A steal at $3.95 each.

3. Minner’s Vintage Lace Martini Glasses via Williams-Sonoma – The lace…how could you resist not “ooooh-ing” if a drink is handed to you in this? Set of 6 for $80

4. Schott Zwiesel Bar Collection Coupe Glasses via Sur la Table – Lovely shape that compliments any drink not needing ice. Also a bubbly wine alternative! Set of 6 for $65 or $12.95 individually. #win: These are advertise as highly break/crack resistant!

5. Murano Tumblers via Target – Put your margaritas in here and serve them on the porch! Great price for set of 4 for $15

6. Footed Rocks Glass via Crate&Barrel – Anything, honestly! Ice, no ice, bubbles, or flat. Make it happen. $4.95 each.

Bar-ware

I don’t care who you are, everyone needs an extra bartender stirring spoon and a good mixing glass.

Accessories – You might not think you need it but once you have it you will never go back. I’ve had this argument with my husband about the spoons. I totally won (in my mind).

1. OXO ® Jigger via Crate&Barrel – This is my favorite jigger and while I admit it isn’t the most aesthetic, it’s the most technical with both sides marked on several pour lines by oz. A shot glass will never be good enough once you have one of these. Make it a stocking stuffer for $8.99.

2. Bar Spoon via Sur la Table – My FAVORITE cocktail spoon. The twisted handle is smooth, it has good weight to it. Regardless of the style this is a must-have accessory, especially if you want to make more than a single serving with your Mixing glass (see below!). $12 and comes in copper or silver.

3. Rubbermaid Cooler, 10 qt. via Amazon – Are you making beautiful clear-ice at home yet? Truly up’ing your game and impressing your friends is only $16 away! Find your 5 minute tutorial here at Apartment Bartender‘s site. He made a GREAT VIDEO that’s easy to follow…and easy on the eyes.

4. Stainless Steel Reusable Drinking Straws via Amazon.com – Join the revolution and begin using reusable straws. You can find various sizes and sets on Amazon that usually include their own pipe cleaner. Stainless steel and dishwasher friendly! Linked set of 6 for $8

5. Walnut Muddler via Sur la Table – My favorite muddler. It’s the right size (length and width) and even comes in several wood types. Personally I prefer a wooden muddler over plastic and metal. $15 each.

6. Stainless Steel Lemon Squeezer via Amazon.com – Please tell me you aren’t still squeezing lemons by hand? I can’t live without mine and it serves for more than just fresh cocktail citrus, it gets used every other day for lemon on salads and sauces. Reduce the carpal-tunnel for $19.95 (On Sale)

Mixing….Glassware – Should these have gone in the above category? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

1. Cocktail Mixing Glass via Crate&Barrel – I own this one and there isn’t much else to say except it’s perfect. Not fancy but exactly what you need for mixing 1-4 cocktails as a time. Very reasonable price of $14.95 a glass.

2. Corning Pyrex Glass 600mL Beaker via Amazon.com – Quirky and efficient, experiment with cocktails using your science lab beaker. The lowest cost option at $9.95 a glass.

3. Diamond-Cut Mixing Glass via Sur la Table – Timeless elegance, classy and fancy! $30 a glass.

Ingredients

Prices always range especially if you can find some locally-made ingredients. These type of items can make excellent gifts because they aren’t things we might choose to buy for ourselves but would love to try or use.

1. DashFire Old Fashioned Bitters via France44.com – Support local MN business by picking up these incredible bitters. If you are local you can find an incredible variety of flavors like cinnamon, hibiscus, and Sichaun. I use these and only these for my old fashioned’s. $16.99 for most flavors/bottles.

2. Griottines Morello Cherries in Liqueur and Kirsch via Amazon.com – Are you a fan of Manhattan’s? Indulge by replacing your everyday maraschinos for a more intense and chewier cherry that isn’t drowning in syrup. Reviews don’t (usually) lie, order a 11.8 oz jar for $23.

3. Tru Smokin’ Mary Mix via their online shop– My absolute favorite bloody mix. I’d say it’s a “Medium” on the spicy level unless you are a true Minnesotan then it might be on the very spicy side. Perfect thickness, a light smokiness and not chalk-full of pepper lingering at the bottom waiting to choke you on first sip. $6.99 a jar.

4. The Twisted Shrub Craft Cocktails via their online shop– Fine, I understand you may come home from work and NOT want to squeeze those lemons or peel an orange skin. For those days you can choose to support another MN local and buy The Twisted Shrub‘s excellent already-made mixes. Just add booze and you are set. Check out their SITE for some really tasty recipes and a ton more mixes/flavors! $12 a bottle.

5. Best Maid Spicy Bloody Mary Pickles via Amazon.com – Have you heard a Bloody Beer or is that just a MN dive bar thing? Basically it’s pouring a shot of bloody mix into your light beer. Adding these or just snacking on them is an excellent idea. A 24oz jar for $16.95

6. TRUE Tonic Syrup via their online shop – A better gin & tonic, a tastier pimm’s? Make it happen with specialty syrups. See their SITE for recipes! A 375mL bottle for $15.

I hope you were able to get an idea or two from this list. I already sent a few of the above items to my husband. 😉

Images are all credited via description/links directly to vendor/stores.

Portland, OR – Part 2

Here it finally is, the rest of my adventure in the beautiful and crafty Portland, Oregon.

Let’s get straight to it.

Teardrop Lounge was recommended to me by the bartender at Hamlet. Interestingly enough I found it very different from almost every other place I visited in town – It was much more urban-chic vs. the urban-indie I’d observed so much in my small time there. What do those two even mean… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I may have made them up and I can only hope you are getting it.

The look of the place reminded me of a brand new swanky hotel bar. Not necessarily in a bad way except for the extremely loud club music. My colleagues that joined thought perhaps it was their method of attracting the happy hour crowd walking by. Definitely something I could see being done (and working) in Uptown Minneapolis. Do I not seem impressed?

The Cocktails

Personally I found their offerings quite nice in range of liquors but not extravagant to the point you have no idea what’s going on. The most complex ingredient I found was “Pear-Chamomile Shrub.”…What the… *Insert Thinking-Emoji here*.

A worthy note is they include a very friendly “Glossary of Terms” in the back of their menu which is a thoughtful and inviting opportunity to understand what on Earth you are about to drink. I did not however find out if what a pear-chamomile shrub was.

It was a warmer day and the brisk walk over had me in the mood for something refreshing. I saw the “Dutch Nemesis” on the menu which consisted of gin, lime, pineapple and sparkling brut. Sounds tart and refreshing right?

img_20160927_163450 Ok I guess…so where the hell is my paper umbrella? It tasted a little sweeter than expected but it’s presentation caught me off-guard.

Due to my colleague’s growing headache and the club-mix playlist (possible reason for the headache) this was the only drink I tasted. I didn’t not enjoy my experience and I do wish I could have tried another of their cocktails.

My last note on this place is that I did not see both at the bar or on their menu, any higher-end options for neat drinks. Their business seems to be smalls plates and cocktails, period.

Pépé le Moko is a close contender for my 2nd favorite (between this and the Multnomah Whiskey Library reviewed HERE). Not hard to find from the elegant logo on the window and a little flashy neon light advertising “Fresh oysters”. LOVE.

An important note is I was visiting on a weekday night, so the crowds in downtown were slim. Their site (see link above or below) advertises their phone number for taking reservations. This place is small, and if full there is NOWHERE to wait except outside.

You see, when you walk in the first thing you come face to face with is some guy slicing fresh baguette or shucking those fresh oysters over a large bowl of crushed ice. You have about 3 feet between the two of you and directly to the left is a dark, steep staircase leading to a basement.

A waitress came up almost immediately and offered to seat me.

As I followed her and descended down the stairs into what felt like a war bunker with peeling paint on the concrete walls and a curved ceiling, I have to admit I felt like one of the cool kids.

I can’t rave enough about how much I loved this space…..but wait for it: You sit down and they bring you home-made corn nuts?!?!?! DEAD.

The Cocktails

Oh yeah, they have cocktails. Their menu is small and consists of classics like negroni’s, amaretto sours, and of course old fashioned’s. I went for the old fashioned and was not disappointed. The bartender gave such care to his craft with the diamond-clear ice and perfectly twisted orange peel. The flavors came together for that warm, sweet and smokey taste of rye bourbon (they use Woodford Reserve).

I couldn’t stay for long, though I wish I had and I deeply regret not trying their “Grasshopper” which looked more like a burger-shop malt than a drink. Yes, it has ice cream. But when you see them being made all night and for a whole table of 4 you have to suspect that you might be missing out on something good.

Aside from all that gushing it was actually the bartender here that helped me find my favorite spot in Portland (Spoiler, The Bible Club see below), #winwin. I can’t say anything more except GO HERE if you are in town. Take it all in and feel so, so damn cool.

Finally the best for last: The Bible Club.

UGGGGHHHHHHHHHH. Ok I just had to get that out because this place blew my damn mind.

img_20160928_215944 Let’s start with the love, time, and OCD that went into putting this place together. As the bartender and co-owner told me, 95% of everything here is original antiques from the 1920’s-30’s. The crystal glasses, the art, the tables and chairs. This is one of the most legit speak-easy bars I’ve ever been to. My images just couldn’t capture everything there and I apologize for the low-quality.

Ok, when you look it up on Google the image of the place looks like your neighbor’s house. Seriously there are no signs and you half expect to try the front door only to find it locked and an angry home owner to bust it open and threaten you for trespassing. It’s all part of the speak-easy feel.

img_20160928_213056 This place is about 10-15 minutes East of downtown which I found out from my lovely Lyft driver is a jaunt to Portlanders. Don’t listen to them, just go make the “trip”.

The Cocktails

Their list of curated drinks are great for their names and exciting for the creative ways the spirits have been mixed. I first enjoyed the “Penicillin” consisting of single malt scotch, ginger, honey and lemon. Perfect.

img_20160928_213108 I also tried the “Monkey Gland” because it contained Absinthe which always intrigues me. Side note: In my personal experience NOT MANY bars do absinthe right….or even well. Bible Club did though and the bartender Jessica made magic happen.

img_20160928_223740 BTW, did I mention they only carry Peruvian Pisco? As everyone should.

To be completely honest with you, after that 2nd drink I shamefully don’t remember the next two drinks – Except that I enjoyed them, ordered some foodgasm-worthy homemade mac & cheese, and then my phone died.

Like always, I could drone on about what and how much I loved this place but you really should go enjoy it for yourself. This place is my favorite mainly because of it’s incredible personality, the space, and of course it’s step-up in creating craft cocktails. The passion is evident in the menu and staff.

This concludes my long-winded post(s) about Portland and I hope you enjoyed or got something from them. Please feel free to comment or ask any questions….as you can tell, I’m full of opinions and sometimes answers.

Locations in the above images include:
Teardrop Lounge
Pépé le Moko
The Bible Club

WTF is ___ Series – Episode 1: Vermouth

Oh hi! If you’ve read my About Me you’ll know an original intention of mine was to have occasional “educational” posts and this is exactly what you are looking at. I want to provide insight on those ingredients we commonly see in craft cocktail menus (and maybe even use at home) but don’t exactly know what they are or how to use them. I will aim to keep these on the shorter side rather than bore you with a history lesson because if you truly want some nitty-gritty I have faith you can dig through the wonderful-world-wide-web for more. So if this might be your kind of thing, please please read on!

We see it constantly in craft cocktails like martinis and negronis…But it took me a couple years before I (yes a cocktail enthusiast) bothered to learn about it. Before we move on, repeat after me: [ver-mooth] Nice! You know, in case you were worried you might be pronouncing it wrong, or were and now I’ve helped your friends tolerate you more.

Alright, wtf is vermouth?

Let’s start with the basics of what it is: It’s a concoction all on it’s own starting as an “aromatized” wine with herbs, roots, and/or bark that can range from common chamomile to the more exotic wormwood. It is also “fortified” with a spirit (usually brandy). Just like you might suspect, starting off as wine means it can come in a red or white variety that can both sit in the different categories of dry or sweet.

What does this all mean?

It means that after a time (shorter than the typical wine) of aging it is mixed and stirred with the dried ingredients until they are absorbed into the wine. “Fortifying” means it is basically spiked with brandy which helps it’s shelf-life. At some point cane sugar or other natural sweeteners can be added to create those vermouths that fall into the “sweet” category.

You may wonder with it’s simplistic yet creative making why it is not a drink on it’s own. Well it definitely is in some parts of the world like France where it can be served with an orange wedge. More commonly in Europe it’s served as a (more on this later) apéritif. Its bitterness and versatile flavor created by those dried herbs is what makes it such a fantastic mixing ingredient. Its popularity here in the states is definitely on the side of using it as a mixer with other spirits outside it’s usual partners gin and whiskey.

How can/should I use it?

First of all you should definitely take a sip on it’s own and see what flavors you can identify. Smack your lips a little, rinse it around your mouth and see where it takes you. Do you like your cocktails on the dryer side? Then add to almost any cocktail you make at home for a slightly lower alcohol content and herbal flavor.

Bring it into the kitchen and use it as a substitute for almost any recipe that calls for wine! The only bad news here is that as a “wine” it’s still met with a short life-span of up to 3 months once opened. 😦

How can I substitute vermouth?

This is a tough one simply because of rarity-of-flavor but like anything it can be done! Think dry wine like a sherry. I also found a suggestions for water+lemon juice but have never tried it. Since vermouth is special in it’s qualities of dryness (usually) and aromatic flavor there are other liquors considered to be in the “bitter spirits family” like Aperol and Cynar.

Well that’s all I have for you, I hope you enjoyed the first in this series. If you have any suggestions or idea please let me know! Also, share with me how you use vermouth!

Locations in the above images include:
"MARTINI AND ROSSI" By Marcello Dudovich via Art.com
Volstead's Emporium

Portland, OR – Part I

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I got a chance to visit Portland a few weeks ago due to a business trip – Lucky me! I knew ahead of time I was in for a treat as this”hipster” town has fantastic culture for food, beer and craft cocktails.

I sought out sites like Thrillist that usually keep updated lists of the most popular locations. It didn’t disappoint as you’ll soon read it lead me to places like Multnomah and the Bible Club which were definitely two of my favorites! Read on…

Let’s start with The Mulnomah Whiskey Library. The location is hidden around-and-back from a small front-bar along the street as “The Green Room“. The unfamiliar tourist like myself walked right by it the first time without noticing.

The Green Room space is lovely; high ceilings, a long communal table down the center with librarian lamps. Emerald-green tile line the bar walls that cause a glow from the shelve lights.

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Gorgeous right? Oh just you wait…

Since I was on my own that night and it was a Monday I did not have to wait to get in. Once you enter you are met with an impressive wall of never-ending bottles which I found out consists of over 1200 whiskeys from around the world.

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That chandelier, the white marble bar… Seriously elegant shit right there.

The massive fireplace, the red brick wall, red-leather bar, green-leather tufted booths…UGH! I can’t forget to mention the mini-history lesson found in their menu of historical whiskey lovers. I still can’t get over this place.

The Cocktails:

I enjoyed their Old Fashion, an Aviation, and the Deshler Cocktail, and lastly a half-pour of 17 year Old Pulteney. It was a long night. I sadly did not get a chance to try any of their food (Google reviews say nothing but good things about their menu).

The old fashion was well balanced with Old Forest. It was thick and fragrant served in a traditional high-ball with a large-ish lemon wedge folded in half and held in place by seriously the most perfect ice-cube I’ve ever seen. These guys (and I soon found out many of the cocktail bars in Portland) get bubble-less, clear ice cubes/blocks shipped in from a local maker.

The Aviation was the favorite in my “refreshing” cocktail category with the delicate creme de violette sitting at the bottom. Most satisfying to gently stir it into a storm and blend the tart fresh lemon and Aviation gin. I would most highly recommend this one if you want something that isn’t whiskey based.

The Deshler had a surprising kick with it’s pepper-rye whiskey and Grand Marnier. It was much more potent and sweeter than the old fashioned and personally not my favorite.

This place is a MUST if you are in town – Be warned that it gets busy and hard to get into later in the week. Even if you have to wait, it would probably be worth it. They are so respectful of their space that they do not allow standing bar, meaning if there isn’t a spot for you to sit you are not getting in. In my opinion this is great, you get to enjoy the bar’s beauty and not have people standing around crowding you.

The next place I visited was The Imperial which boasted some highly regarded food. The cocktails included an interesting range of classic to….weird? Like I usually do, I asked the bartender what I should be having if “I were to never visit the place again” so…..

The Cocktails:

I was recommended “A Radish Walks into a bar…”, a vermouth and gin concoction with radish gastrique. It was tart and had that naturally sweet flavor you get from root vegetables. It was a unique experience but I would not choose to have another one in the same sitting. If you are adventurous I would recommend you to try it.

I did truly enjoy the “Hausu #1” made of whiskey and vermouth with a gentle touch of pear. Well balanced and nicely tart, it is something I plan on trying to recreate at home.

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I wish I would have captured a better picture for you but the small blue led light you see was an ice table where I watched the bartender carefully HAND-SAW through one of those perfectly clear ice blocks for high-ball cocktails. Legit.

I didn’t feel the cocktails stood out as much for me but the food definitely made up for it. (See above the Fig Caprese, Roasted Mushrooms, and Duck Meatballs). I would recommend it for a fabulous dinner.

Lastly, we have Hamlet. I absolutely loved this place. It’s a small space with those fantastic high-vault ceilings, beautiful tiled walls, dark hard-wood floors and and overall homey-industrial feel. I loved it.

They boast a fantastic menu of craft cocktails and for food it’s everything-pork. You can ask for their “Not-so-secret Menu” as well which is a binder-filled collection of classice and vintage cocktails. Kind of fun to page through.

They have beautiful large chunks of cured meat sitting on the bar, ready to be sliced into at your request. In the low evening light I was not able to capture a good image of the space so I’m going to recommend you head to Google’s photo-gallery which does it justice.

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The Cocktails:

Look at the adorable logo! Alongside it is the “whiskey-smash” made with a Kentucky bourbon, a lot of fresh-squeezed lime and some simple syrup. A little more on the tart side but still very well rounded. I could throw these back all night long. Easy.

The second one I tried was the “Meat vs Melon”. Now I have to mention that I’m never surprised to see meat in a drink, I mean I live in the midwest where there is bacon in almost everything. So “THANK YOU” Portland for giving me one of the things I love most: Prosciutto.

img_20160926_190709

Yeah, fuck bacon. This was such a treat, it’s made with gin, lemon and honeydew juice, and of course a slice of air-dried prosciutto. Much sweeter drink than I usually prefer but none the less a must-try-once.

I also have to mention that I enjoyed their “ham and cheese” sandwich which consisted of fresh smoked ham, fresh mozzarella, basil oil and aioli! I almost died in it’s hot-melty-hammy heavenliness. Oh gawd I’m so hungry now.

Anyways, Hamlet is one of those bars that I would frequent if I lived in Portland. I had hoped badly to try out more of their cocktails and food. But this is just another reason to visit again.

Thank you for reading and come back soon for Part II of my craft-cocktail experience in the fantastic Portland, Oregon.

-M

Locations in the above images include:
The Multnomah Whiskey Library
The Imperial
Hamlet

Ah, the smell of new blog.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out the brand new blog!

I’m excited you’re here and I’d like to use this “first post” opportunity to talk about the blog’s mission and goals.

Mission:

To use the blog and other social media outlets to share and educate about craft cocktails.

Goals:

To be honest and genuine with reviews and opinions
Always give credit where credit is due
Minimum of weekly postings consisting of one of the following topics:
- Bar (local or travel) review
- Education post on cocktail-related topic
- Recipe or how-to for crafting at home

*The above will make their way to the “About” section as well.

Once again, thank you for taking your time to read my post. Your comments are always welcomed as long as they are appropriate and/or constructive. (more…)