Recipe: Vieux Carré

The Vieux Carré has been a favorite of most cocktail lovers visiting New Orleans, since Walter Bergeron first concocted this spirit-forward drink in the 1930s.

Review: Redbreast 12

Redbreast 12 is the most popular expression of the “single pot still” whiskies from Midleton Distillery. The spice and pepper of this whiskey tends to make me think of cocktails that do well with a warm rye.

Recipe: Boulevardier

This cocktail is attributed to Harry McElhone, of Harry’s New York Bar in Paris. But unlike the Negroni made with gin, this whiskey-forward recipe is uncommon.

Review: Powers Gold Label

Hugely popular in Ireland, Powers Gold Label mix of pure pot still whiskey and grain whiskey stands with other better known brands as a very affordable Irish whiskey.

Review: Kilbeggan

The Kilbeggan distillery is one of the oldest distilleries in Ireland, and fairly recently (2007) celebrated it’s 250th birthday with a return to whiskey production, after a 50 year hiatus. A perfectly reasonable Irish whiskey at a very kind price, this whiskey is well suited for cocktails designed with Irish or Canadian whiskies in mind.

Review: Burnside Bourbon 4 Year

Burnside Bourbon is a new straight bourbon marketed by Eastside Distilling (formerly Deco Distilling). It’s aged 4 years, rather than the minimum of 2 for a straight bourbon. It’s an interesting bourbon for spirit-forward cocktails where the spirit will be somewhat tamed by vermouth or anise other mellowing or sweetening ingredients. Given that it’s 96 proof, you won’t lose too much proof in your cocktail from that mellowing dilution.

Review: Redbreast 15

Redbreast 15 is a single pot still whiskey, sweet, with a silky feel despite the warm and peppery flavor. It’s a wonderful whiskey that I enjoy sipping during the winter months.

Recipe: Remember the Maine

We often turn to whiskies for cocktails to take some of the chill off of the Winter months, and even though this Winter has been far milder than most, it’s no exception. Typical favorite cocktails are the Manhattan and the Sazerac, but other less familiar ones bear trying as well. The Remember the Maine recalls […]

Recipe: Bring It Home Portland by Art Tierce

One of my favorite cocktails during the Great America Distillers Festival Cocktail Competition was the winner in the final round. All the winners from the day before had 15 minutes to pick two secret ingredients and have a cocktail ready for the judges. Art Tierce walked up, took a taste of each secret ingredient, and in roughly half the time allowed, proceeded to own the whole thing.

Recipe: Ten Mile by Matt Lanning

This cocktail combines the warmth of whiskey and ginger (two tastes that go so well together) with vinegar and semi-sweet ale, which you might not normally put tgether. The whole cocktail was a nice, warm, slightly earthy, slightly spicy feel that seems to work especially well this time of year, when the days are darker and the nights are longer.

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