Cocktail of the Week (National Bourbon Day Edition): Prospector No. 2

Presented by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor One of my favorite bourbon cocktails of all time This Friday (June 14) is National Bourbon Day—a perfect occasion to spotlight one of the best bourbon cocktails I’ve come across in the past year or so. Prospector No. 2 is a full-bodied, bourbon-forward cocktail with contributions … Continue reading Cocktail of the Week (National Bourbon Day Edition): Prospector No. 2

Cocktail of the Week: Holy Joe

Presented by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor For those who observe, the 2024 season of Lent—40 days of preparation for Easter (not including Sundays)—began yesterday, so with a wink and a nudge we offer the Holy Joe cocktail. And in that spirit, I also humbly announce that I’m giving up … vodka … … Continue reading Cocktail of the Week: Holy Joe

Cocktail of the Week (Valentine’s Day Edition): “Boys on the Side”

Brought to you by Cooks’ World and Pinnacle Wine & Liquor What should a Valentine’s Day cocktail be? It should definitely be rich and decadent, and it should probably involve chocolate, right? Here you go, with a tip of the hat to the “Cocktail Contessa,” Heather Wibbels—a kindred spirit in Kentucky who delights in creating … Continue reading Cocktail of the Week (Valentine’s Day Edition): “Boys on the Side”

It’s almost Thanksgiving—a holiday made for “Drunk Uncles”

The old adage says, "you are what you eat." Or, in my case, "you are what you drink,” and I do have a dozen nieces and nephews. I can’t think of a better holiday than Thanksgiving to enjoy a cocktail named for a tipsy uncle. One description I found calls this cocktail a "Scotch Negroni." Ehhhh … Continue reading It’s almost Thanksgiving—a holiday made for “Drunk Uncles”

Less alcohol and fewer calories, but I’m not “Bitter, Giuseppe”

I know some of my friends are wisely on the more-sober, more-healthy path with their cocktailing, so tonight we go into the low-alcohol/low-calorie cocktail zone. The readily accessible ingredients of this one put its net alcohol by volume at about 16 percent—in the neighborhood of a vermouth, port, or sherry.  What is Cynar? You can … Continue reading Less alcohol and fewer calories, but I’m not “Bitter, Giuseppe”

Yes, I’m pushing “The Panic Button”

This is a great mix for the kind of in-between weather we’ve been having in Rochester for the past couple of weeks—a bourbon cocktail with interesting bitter and sour notes, served on a big old rock. This is the "Panic Button," which Imbibe magazine credits to the Living Room Bar at Charleston's Dewberry Hotel. THE … Continue reading Yes, I’m pushing “The Panic Button”

The Monte Whiskey Sour – and Egg White Technique

"Sour" cocktails, among other categories and styles, frequently involve egg white in some form, so this is a good time to bring up the matter of egg-white technique. Pay close attention: Breaking the shell isn't the messiest thing you can do with an egg Why use egg white? Because egg whites lend creamy texture to … Continue reading The Monte Whiskey Sour – and Egg White Technique