high-proof preacher

It’s a simple process and recipe, but it really is the little details that make or break a quality Old Fashioned. Because there are so few ingredients, it’s even more important to be attentive to the details; like the type of sugar, the proof of the spirit or expressing the orange oil over the top. Poor quality ingredients will obviously make for a sub-par cocktail, but even too much (or too little) of the right ingredients can diminish the overall experience. Making cocktails is all about adding different elements together to create unique and balanced flavors, and a well-made Old Fashioned is likely the best example of the craft.

Consisting of just whiskey, lemon juice, sugar and often (not always) egg white, a classic Whiskey Sour is always a crowd pleaser. It’s simple, delicious and easy enough to make a good one at home. However, if you’re feeling a little creative, it’s also an easy drink to upgrade.

Rum is hands-down the most diverse spirit in the world– and I’d fight anyone who says otherwise. A big part of why it’s so incredibly diverse is because there aren’t many rules around how to make it. Basically each country (and in some cases, different regions within the same country) will have their own methods and traditions for producing rum.

I came of age during rise of the "coffeehouse culture" and espresso counters of the 1990s. Starting at age 17, I found my way into barista jobs where I learned about drink quality and coffee preparation techniques. When I turned 21 the microbrew movement was a part of Portland culture, and I fell in love with learning about beer…

Welcome to Bible Club, a speakeasy-esque Portland bar that is often described by both the staff and regulars as a swanky Prohibition-era museum that you can drink-in. There isn’t a sign out front but don’t let that deter you, simply walk right up to the door of this little 1920’s house in a SE Portland neighborhood. No need to knock or utter a secret password, just step inside and you’ll feel like you’ve entered into a black and white photograph.

Portland, OR has no shortage of cool craft cocktail bars. However, this new spot that’s slinging frozen daiquiris and Cuban bar food has been a packed house ever since opening their doors in April 2018. Initially it might sound a bit out of place for the rainy, Pacific Northwest but Palomar could be just what the Portland bar scene has been missing.

“Like most (but not all) of the cocktails on the menu at Deadshot, the Diplomatic Prince is inspired by a classic,” Robinson explains. “Some of our cocktails are a bit more obvious as to which classic was the inspiration, but for this one it was inspired by the Negroni. It’s not quite as bitter as a classic Negroni but does have all of the original components

“Going to the library” probably isn’t what most people think of when describing plans for an exciting evening out. However, what if all the shelves were filled with different styles of whiskey and various spirits from all around the world? That may sound too good to be true, but in Portland, Oregon such a place does exist.

What people ask for the most is just one, simple post about what bottles they should get for "starting out." I'm afraid it's not very simple but here you go! Here you can find a fairly stripped down version of what I recommend for a budget home bar.

Some of the best cocktails are relatively simple, but you'll need a little more than just spirits to make properly balanced drinks.

Let's go over some of the basic building blocks for crafting good drinks at home...

One of my favorite aspects of cocktail making might sound kind of basic; but I love the process of balancing different flavors and ingredients to create something new. Just swapping out one ingredient or changing the measurements slightly can result in a completely different result. Basically, when it comes to creating cocktails the possibilities are endless… there is just always more to discover and learn. To take that even further, even the individual spirits and liqueurs used in most cocktails all have their own histories and recipes behind them. One such ingredient with a fascinating history is Amaro Lucano.

This tiki-classic is made with Green Chartreuse as the base spirit. It might sound a little weird at first but this French herbal liqueur combined with pineapple, lime and Falernum, is just one of those special combinations. Add a few dashes of absinthe or maybe even a 1/2 oz of overproof rum for some extra fun.

Don’t be disappointed when you try squeezing a lemon peel over your drink! Just take the peel in your hands and gently squeeze. You should see a very light mist of fragrant citrus oils that will rest over the top of your finished cocktail.

For whatever reason I’ve been on a big rosé kick lately. So naturally it’s been finding its way into more and more of my cocktail creations. One evening, I threw the tale end of a bottle of rosé wine in a sauce pan with some sugar and made a simple syrup. I had this idea of using my new syrup to make a Rosé Margarita. But I didn’t want it just to be a marg with rosé syrup in it. It had to be different and kinda “elevated.”

The origins of the Sazerac go way back to the early 1800’s, so the exact specs have undoubtedly changed in that amount of time. Early on it was made with brandy or cognac before bartenders started subbing in rye whiskey (which was a little more plentiful in the US). Lately, I’ve been enjoying splitting the base and using both cognac and high-proof rye.

Sotol has to be the weirdest spirit I’ve ever come across. This incredibly vegetal spirit is made from Dasylirion or “desert spoon plant.” It primarily grows wild in Northern Mexico. Sotol is transparent, earthy and basically tastes like the desert from where it came.

Judson Winquist is an industry veteran who has been hard at work building out Normandie’s beverage program. He was willing to share this recipe for one of their most popular cocktails. According to Winquist, it drinks like a smoky Old Fashioned, featuring a split base of high-proof rye whiskey as well as mezcal.

People have been spiking their coffee with booze since the dawn of mankind… or something like that. Point being, throwing a shot of something into your cup of joe isn’t exactly an exciting cocktail. But hey, if you feel like making things a little more interesting and showing off for your friends a bit, make a Spanish Coffee.

There are a lot of orange liqueur options out there, so I can’t blame someone for just randomly picking a bottle off the shelf. However, liqueurs are often used as sweeteners in cocktails but the problem is that many of them are way too cloying & overly loaded with sugar. So the name of the game is finding a balanced orange liqueur that provides sweetness as well as a sophisticated flavor.

It doesn’t matter where you’re at, if you order an Empress Gin cocktail, it’s going to turn some heads. There’s just something so mesmerizing about that color. I always have a deeper appreciation for a spirit after meeting the makers & seeing the where & how it was made. After visiting Victoria Distillers in BC in Sept. 2018, it’s been fun using their naturally indigo gin in various cocktails like this one.