Episode 059

Now, I’m sure there’s at least a grain of truth to this – there was a lot of illegal distillation happening during Prohibition  – but let’s also just appreciate the fact that sweet and sour just go really well together, especially when it comes to clear spirits like gin.

Cocktail Print Giveaway

I got an email from podcast listener Greg Azorsky, who was in DC for a couple days recently, and he wanted to grab a cocktail and hang out. Twist my arm, right? Well, Greg is a Kansas City based apparel and print designer, and he was kind enough to donate a couple really cool signed prints – one of a Negroni, and one of a Boulevardier – the two most iconic boozy Campari cocktails.
We’ll have photos of both prints on our Instagram the day this episode launches – July 26, 2018. And if you want to win one of these prints, you need to do 2 things:

1. In a comment, specify whether you are on Team Negroni or Team Boulevardier, and
2. Tag a couple friends who also enjoy a good cocktail.

Also definitely check out Greg Azorsky on instagram @kccool11 to see his creative designs and all the amazing cocktails he makes.

Show Notes

There are a few really important things to keep in mind when it comes to purchasing cocktails at a cocktail bar. Below, we summarize some of the economic forces that will affect your experience.

The Cost of a Cocktail

When building a cocktail menu, some of the costs that are built into each drink include:

• Cost of ingredients
• Rent
• Utilities (electric, water, etc.)
• Wages (bartender, busboy, kitchen staff)
• Markup – in other words: the profit the bar makes on the drink

How to Read a Cocktail Menu

A cocktail menu is like a resume for the bar you’re visiting. The number, variety, and price of the drinks can tell you something right away. However, there are some other elements you can look at to determine if you’re getting really high quality cocktails.

• Descriptions – how well are the cocktails described, relative to the amount of room to do so.
• Brand Names Listed – if the names of the spirits are listed, you know that they were intentionally chosen.
• Typos – Just like on a resume, typos indicate sloppiness and a lack of care.
• House-Made Ingredients – Indicate commitment to both quality and consistency

You can also glean some information from your interactions with bartenders and servers. Someone who has skill will make eye contact, serve you as quickly as their time permits, and will take time to answer your questions. A skilled bartender will also take the time to measure ingredients carefully (never free-pouring) and will keep a very clean bar.

Lightning Round

Favorite Cocktail

The Old Fashioned is something I’m a little obsessed with. I think there’s a whole lot of potential to play with it.

If You Were a Cocktail Tool or Ingredient, What Would You Be?

Bitters. To me, bitters knit a cocktail together. They bring together all the disparate ingredients and make it work, and that’s what I do as a bar manager.

Cocktail with Anyone, Past or Present

A Martini or a Daiquiri with Ernest Hemingway in Paris before the second world war – the reason being that Hemingway hung out with everybody in Paris at that time.

Influential Cocktail Books

• The Savoy Cocktail Book
• Death & Co: Modern and Classic Cocktails

Advice for New Home Bartenders

Don’t be afraid, ever. Try things, experiment, have fun. And while you’re experimenting, write things down.

CC Attributions

Featured Cocktail Background Music

Backbay Lounge Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/