A Valentine’s Threesome

(EE-craftiness: part of a heart garland.)

I love Valentine’s Day.  I view it as an ideal holiday, and strenuously disagree with those who consider it to be over-commercialized, depressing, and all the rest.  Valentine’s is a bright spot in in the otherwise desolate month of February (at least in the Northeast).  Even before the days of EE, I [...]

Drinking Provence, or an insight into making things up

When I make drinks for people, I am frequently asked how or why I created the drink.  To me the answer seemed obvious: grab some bottles, pour, mix, taste.  Upon reflection, however, I realized that I do always have some sort of target.  The inspiration for that target can take many forms. 
A drink target could involve an [...]

Mixology Monday – Sillke Water

I’m calling this month’s Mixology Monday entry the Sillke Water.  If you’re new to MxMo, it is a monthly event where mixologist from around the world wide web contribute drinks related to a theme.  This month’s theme: vermouth.
A great many drinks involve vermouth, and I have actually written previously about the value of using vermouth [...]

Random Drink – the Pensieve

Thought I should get this one up before Halloween, because I named it after a magical device in Harry Potter: the Pensieve.
Now I’m not saying Harry Potter is limited to Halloween, but this drink also has a ghoulish yellowy hue that I associate with Voldemort (I’m not providing a link; if you don’t know, go read the [...]

Manhattan Cocktail Classic Summary Review – Employees Only edition

I was only able to participate in Saturday’s Manhattan Cocktail Classic events, but am very glad to hear that MCC will be making a full-week run in spring 2010.
EE and I attended the Employees Only “Tales From Behind the Bar” seminar.  It was spectacular.  Jason and Dushan told the entire EO tale, which they punctuated [...]

Random Drink – the Nevermake

Introducing Random Drink.
Conceptually, I began Tessin Rinpoche as nothing more than a repository for drink recipes that I concoct.  Such a repository is necessary because I don’t believe in making “drinks every bartender should know” nearly as much as I belive in creating a drink to fit the moment.  In the original spirit then, expect [...]

What I’m Having – Sizing Up a Dive Bar

“Hey, come out, a bunch of us are having a drink.”
“XYZ Class HAPPY HOUR! DIVE BAR near you!”
“There’s gotta be a bar somewhere near that subway stop, wait for me there.”
Any of the above can easily lead to a dive bar. I’m using the dive designation broadly to encompass anywhere that:

has a digital jukebox
smells pleasantly [...]

Starting Your Home Mixology Station

I’ve gotten requests to help others start their home Mixology Stations, and that is just what this post will attempt to do.  Luckily I’ve been asked to opine on this topic previously and another time the in-laws asked what was needed for a fun Christmas.  The answer was about the same…
Rude interruption from the readership rabble: “Tess, [...]