Off-Focus » Spirits

Absinthe Tasting & Cocktail Workshop

John Martin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:54:24 +0000

November 8, 2009

Join a group of Absinthe experts and aficionados as we taste absinthe from various producers, test some cocktail recipes and, in general, just have a good time.

Presenting:

Jay Hendrickson, Legendre Herbsaint historian/collector
Damian Hevia, Absinthe aficionado and photographer
John Martin, Certified Specialist of Spirits

This event is open to all who will imbibe, but please RSVP so we’ll be able to accomodate all comers. There will be plenty of free tastings and light snacks, but be prepared to buy additional drinks.

Avantgarden will be holding a much larger Absinthe event on December 5, 2009. That event will include presentations by several Absinthe luminaries including Ted Breaux from Lucid.

The November 8th event is a preliminary tasting and recipe testing, in part to prepare for December 5th.

Here’s a copy of my handout.

The Classic 25 Drinks Every Bartender Should Know

John Martin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:58:23 +0000

I don’t know how many times I’ve had a bartender ask me, “What’s a Negroni?”

Any bartender who really wants to understand the basics of the craft should pay the $45 and take the four online training modules at www.BarSmarts.com.

Here are the 25 classic drinks that BarSmarts thinks every bartender should know:

Aviation Cocktail. Gin, Maraschino, lemon juice.
Bellini. White peach puree, champagne.
Blood and Sand. Scotch, cherry liquor, sweet vermouth, orange juice.
Bloody Mary. Tomato juice, vodka, spices.
Caipirinha. Cachaça, lime, sugar.
Collins (Tom, John or Vodka). Gin, bourbon or vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice.
Cosmopolitan. Citrus vodka, orange liquor, lime juice, cranberry juice.
Daiquiri. Rum, simple syrup, lime juice.
Gimlet. Gin, Rose’s lime juice.
Gin Fizz. Gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, club soda.
Irish Coffee. Irish whiskey, brown sugar syrup, coffer, whipped cream.
Mai Tai. Rum, lime juice, orange curaçao, orgeat syrup.
Manhattan. Bourbon or rye, sweet vermouth, bitters.
Margarita. Tequila, orange liquor, lime juice, simple syrup.
Dry Martini. Gin, dry vermouth, orange bitters.
Mint Julep. Bourbon, sugar, mint.
Mojito. Rum, lime juice, simple syrup, mint, club soda.
Negroni. Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth.
Old Fashioned. Bourbon or rye, sugar.
Pisco Sour. Pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, bitters, egg white.
Rob Roy. Scotch, sweet vermouth, bitters.
Sazerac. Rye, Peychaud’s bitters, absinthe, simple syrup.
Sidecar. Cognac, orange liquor, lemon juice.
Stinger. Cognac, white crème de Menthe.
Whiskey Sour. Bourbon or rye, simple syrup, lemon juice.

Full recipes are online, plus there’s a video that shows Dale DeGroff, David Wonderlich and others making each of the drinks.

Mixologist or Bartender?

John Martin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:07:34 +0000

These polls are unscientific and don’t mean a thing.

Here’s the poll from Imbibe Magazine: Which term do you prefer?

Personally, one who stands behind a bar and makes drinks is a bartender. One who finds or creates recipes and uses those recipes to help make drinks is a mixologist. That’s two different things altogether.

Tales of the Cocktail 2009

John Martin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:15:19 +0000

July 7, 2009

July 12, 2009

It’s that time of year once again.

This will be my third trip to “the Spirited Event of the Summer.” Five+ days of adventure in New Orleans as more than 15,000 people explore the world of cocktails and fine spirits.

I’m on the “Founder’s Day Pass” so I’ll be at almost all the big events.

I’ll be posting regularly on my twitter feed. Follow me at http://twitter.com/jm9900.

I’ll have fries with that

John Martin — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:00:54 +0000

Hmm. I’m not sure if this is real or a joke.

The McNuggitini.

Spec’s is Wine Retailer of the Year

John Martin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:43:50 +0000

Wine Enthusiast magazine has named Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Food Retailer of the Year for 2008.

Spec’s beat out some of the biggest names in wine retailing. These fine organizations were also in the running:

Astor Wines & Spirits
PJ Wine
Trader Joe’s
Zachys

Dining Out Club at Inka Restaurant

John Martin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:40:24 +0000

August 5, 2008

Love eating out? Looking for new places to try and new people to share the experience?

I’m the organizer for Dining Out Club/Houston! We’re a growing bunch of dedicated foodies, all wanting to find exciting places to meet and eat. Once or more each month we go to different restaurants somewhere in (or near) Houston. I’m anxious for you to join in the fun!

There are no club fees!
Each attendee pays their own food bill.
This meeting starts at 7pm and lasts about two hours.
Some people stay around after the meal to enjoy the venue and the company.

Click here to check out
The Dining Out Club / Houston!

Interested? Sign up and RSVP for our next meeting. Come every meeting or come when you can!

FYI: We use www.meetup.com as our RSVP/Membership tracking tool. It’s free for you!

This Meeting

Entrees from $12/person.

Inka Restaurant

Inka is a Nuevo Latino cafe with a casual vibe and some really outstanding cooking. Chef/owner David Sanchez, a Culinary Institute of America grad, describes the fare as “South American-inspired,” but his Nuevo Latino menu aims for excitement over authenticity. Try some ceviche or one of the excellent seafood dishes.

On Westheimer, outside the Beltway and way outside the loop!

Chef David Sanchez (formerly of Artista, Julia’s Bistro, Grotto & Ninfa’s/Antone’s) has now incorporated an American touch to the already tasty cuisine. This sparked the adaptation of spelling to the name INKA. INKA Restaurant’s refreshed take on all Latin Cuisines has proven to be the next evolution of culinary experiences.

Inka South American Cuisine
12225 Westheimer Rd Ste A
Houston TX 77007
(832) 379-1717
www.inkahouston.com

Tales of the Cocktail 2008

John Martin — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:27:07 +0000

My wife and I went last year and had the spirited times of our lives.

This year, I’m going alone (since my wife has other out of town obligations). I’m on the “Founder’s Day Pass” so I’ll be able to attend all the big events.

I’ll be posting regularly on my twitter feed. Follow me at http://twitter.com/jm9900.

Spirited Dinner at the Bourbon House in New Orleans

John Martin — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:15:24 +0000

July 17, 2008

Join John Martin at the very special “Spirited Dinner” of “Tales of the Cocktail.”

Executive Chef: Darin Nesbit
Chef: Neil Mockovak
Special bar chef: LeNell Smothers

More information: Bourbon House Spirited Dinner (PDF).

Bourbon House
144 Bourbon Street
New Orleans LA 70130
www.bourbonhouse.com

The Great American Cocktail

John Martin — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:09:31 +0000

Here’s a little ditty I found in Google Books.

The Great American Cocktail

Since Dionysius blithe and young inspired old Hellas air
And beat the muses at their game, “with vine leaves in his hair;”

Since Wotan quaffed oblivion to Nieblungen gold,
And Thor beside the icy fjord drank thunder-bolts of old;

Since Omar in the Persian bowl forgot the fires of hell
And wondered what the vintners buy so rare as that they sell —

What potion have the gods bestowed to lift the thoughts afar
Like that seductive cocktail they sell across the bar?

Perhaps it’s made of whiskey and perhaps it ’s made of gin;
Perhaps there’s orange bitters and a lemon peel within;

Perhaps it’s called Martini and perhaps it’s called, again,
The name that spread Manhattan’s fame among the sons of men;

Perhaps you like it garnished with what thinking men avoid —
The little blushing cherry that is made of celluloid;

But be these matters as they may, a cher confrère you are
If you admire the cocktail they pass across the bar.

page 480
Beverages, Past and Present: An Historical Sketch of Their Production
by Edward Randolph Emerson. Published 1908