Locavores and Upstate New York cocktail lovers in general, this sweet vermouth is especially for you. In post-World War II United States, vermouth was one of the most under-appreciated and therefore under-used beverage categories behind the bar; blame that on Prohibition and on the millions of GIs, sailors, Marines, and airmen who came home from … Continue reading Method Spirits Sweet Vermouth: A kiss from the Finger Lakes
Vermouth
The Old Pal
Harry MacElhone (the Harry of Harry’s New York Bar in Paris) credited his “old pal,” journalist William “Sparrow” Robertson, with the inspiration for this drink. As the sports editor for the New York Herald in Paris, Robertson frequented the New York Bar enough for Harry to mention him in his 1922 ABC of Mixing Cocktails. … Continue reading The Old Pal
The Dead Poet
My Facebook posts about this cocktail always elicit comments about or quotes from Robin Williams' iconic performance in Dead Poets Society, but I can't prove on paper that there's any connection between the drink and the film. Likewise, with the tequila and mezcal front and center, one might expect this was a tribute by some … Continue reading The Dead Poet
The Sensei Martini
I discovered this Martini in December 2021 for a spirits tasting event I poured at Pinnacle Wine & Liquor. I say "discovered" because it wasn't my creativity as much as a happy coincidence that we were featuring Suntory's Roku Gin, and Pinnacle also carries Japanese Bermutto (a rice-wine based vermouth) and Japanese bitters (I have … Continue reading The Sensei Martini
Gin & It
Caught in a short break between a wine tasting and dinner, what does one do for a simple cocktail? Something like this: The "Gin & It" - "It" is short for Italian. As in vermouth. The sweet, flavorful, red kind. Equal parts gin (this time, Sipsmith VJOP - very high test at 57.7% alcohol by … Continue reading Gin & It
The Libation Lounge 