Cocktails

Although I often drink whiskey neat, I do like a good cocktail. There is nothing better than a good Manhattan cocktail made with Michter’s US1 Barrel Strength Rye. I also like other cocktails such as a Paper Plane, Bourbon Ball Old Fashioned or even some gin cocktails such as a Gin and Tonic or Aviation. So where do I go for recipes for cocktails? There are several sources for recipes.

In this day in the world, social media videos are where the younger generation like to start. I particularly like the YouTube videos posted by Steve the Bartender from Australia. He has a very good YouTube channel where he mixes many interesting new and classic cocktails. I admit that he is my favorite channel, but there are other videos worth watching. An early favorite is How to Make Cocktails – The 1930s Way on (unexpectedly) the English Heritage channel. It has Clayton Hartley making several cocktails from the 1930s at the historic Syon House in England. It is worth watching for the Art Deco rooms used as the backdrop at this historic house.

I have several books that are also go-to resources for cocktails. My favorite is The Bartender’s Bible by Gary Regan. I knew Gary for many years and always liked his writing. Another favorite is by Steve the Bartender titled Steve the Bartender’s Cocktail Guide. It has many great recipes and is well written and organized. You can’t talk about cocktail books without mentioning Imbibe! By David Wondrich. The book not only has great cocktail recipes, but a brief history of each cocktail. Another favorite is Handcrafted Cocktails by Molly Wellmann, an excellent book by Cincinnati’s favorite mixologist. I have many cocktail books and books with cocktail recipes in my library. I have reviewed most of these books over the past decade.

Cocktails are an excellent way to enjoy spirits. They can be refreshing on a warm summer day or comforting on a cold winter’s night. What are your favorite cocktails and where do you go for recipes?