Classic Mixology's blog

Reading summary: Imbibe kicks off their 10-day Xmas countdown with a Mexican Drinking Chocolate. Try making your own versions of recipes from Cooling Cups and Dainty Drinks (London, 1869). Should Time's Person of the Year have been the Cocktail instead of Zuckerberg?  Weekend reading finishes with two suggestions from the Caribbean, spiced rum and Pimento Dram.

Reading summary: The Royal Society of Chemistry dedicates a few pages to the molecular mixology. Not much goes better with the holiday season than drinks made with apple brandy (included a drink created by Misty Kalkofen) and milk, although not necessarily together.  The week is rounded off with seven recommendations for winter beers and a cocktail made with ouzo.

Reading summary: Sunday, Dec 5, is the 77th anniversary of the end of Prohibition in the USA, learn more about the failed, noble experiment by reading Last Call. This is also the beginning of the holiday season, so why not starting putting Chartreuse in your hot chocolate? Speaking of culture, The Economist compares pub culture in London, New York and DC, and theorizes why London wins. Lastly, read about how hard your bartenders work and an interview with Jackson Cannon, one of our favorite mixologists in Boston.

Reading summary: Fun article published in a 1927 (during Prohibition) edition of American Mercury about the life of Jerry Thomas; Running out of rye whiskey?; Great intro to, and history of, Demerara rum from Guyana, a must read for rum drinkers; Wondering what to drink with Thanksgiving leftovers? Try a Cranberry Cobbler Cocktail.

Reading summary: Raise a glass of Pumpkin Nog, and other mixed drinks, with your Thanksgiving dinner; Punch is back and rum lovers will enjoy a reintroduction to Planters Punch, in eight different versions; Back in the days of real soda fountains you could order a Coca-Cola "shooting from the south" or a "Western", now you can make your own?; If your cocktail-alternative is a beer, here's a review of Couden Carolus Tripel, a Belgian Triple; One of ladies from LUPEC returns from Mexico a shares the recipe for La Paloma, a refreshing tequila highball from Tequilla; Lastly, if you live near Houston, TX, read about the Anvil Bar and Refuge and plan a visit.

Reading summary: We're not making this up, United Airlines creates a signature cocktail!  What do you call a mix of Applejack, aquavit, Chartreuse, vermouth and bitters?  Last week it was California brandy, now the LA Times discusses Cognac; The Fairmont hotel group updates their classic cocktail list.

Many early cocktails and drinks were made with brandy, and California brandy deserves some respect. Tis the season for eggnog, learn about regional variations. The Pisco Sour is still a new drink to many non-Peruvians, learn more from LUPEC.  What is acid phosphate and why use it in drinks?  Lastly, David Wondrich's latest book, Punch: The Delights (and Dangers) of the Flowering Bowl, was published this week.

What Charles Dickens drank on his first visit to America in 1842; Put aside the wine, The Daily Loaf recommends cheese and cocktail pairings; Alcademics starts freezing things inside homemade clear ice; DrinkBoston visits the cellers of Chartreuse to see god's work being done; Four Pounds of Flour writes about heritage pork from the days when Americans raised their own pigs.

The new cocktail menu at the "Japanese pub" Chizakaya, Chicago; Utah Mixologist gives a nice rundown on Peychaud Bitters; Alcademics article about making clear ice; a bourbon tasting at Seven Grand in LA this weekend; Recipes from the Oct 4 event at the Museum of the American Cocktail; piece on Bénédictine liqueur; Summit Sips on the new Buttercube bitters.

This Week: Summitsips presents the Diablo cocktail; the London Cocktail Guide describes London Cocktail Week; Cocktail Slut presents a recipe with Scotch and Dry Oloroso Sherry; LUPEC Boston and Eastern Standard present The Science of Taste, a workshop to benefit The Science Club for Girls; The Intoxicologist presents some lovely Halloween-inspired concoctions; Inside F&B profiles Tipsy Parson in New York City; the book release of "Left Coast Libations"; the San Francisco Examiner profiles Bar Agricole; the Dallas Observer on Jason Kosmas' thoughts on the Dallas cocktail scene.