On my Instagram pages I started this little thing called the cocktail thought of the day. It was a fun way for me to communicate with everyone and also give out some information about cocktails that alot of the consumers on my side of town might not have been aware of. So on a bigger scale, why not share it with my blog friends and get even more of a way to get out and help educate the general consumer that isn't in the spirit world, but still enjoys cocktails and the cocktail world. So each day I'll pose a random thought and give some insight on it. Since my mantra is Drink One Teach One why not share things with the masses.
So here we go.....
Cocktail thought of the day--
What are Cocktail Bitters?
Bitters are a variety of herbs, fruits, spices, and roots distilled in a base spirit. Bitters were a staple in the early cocktail days, and have seen a resurgence since classic cocktails have made a resurgence in the last few years. Bitters can also be used in cooking, and once upon a time, Orange bitters were favored over aromatics. Some of my favorite brands of bitters are Angostura(Iconic brand), Peychaud's, Fee Brothers, Bittermans & Bitter Truth, and of course my good friend Gary Reagan's Orange Bitters No. 6. But my absolute new favorite thing to play around with in Cocktails is Dale DeGroff's Pimento Bitters. First of all anything made by " King Cocktail" is always worth a try. But his Pimento Bitters are handcrafted by the man himself and are a blend of Allspice berries., anise, and several other herbs. These bitters enhance the taste but they dont change it so much that all you are tasting is the bitters. I put 2 dashes of these in a Daiquiri at an event a couple weeks ago, and needless to say it was a HIT!!! I suggest all bartenders try the out and give it a try as well!! So hopefully for those who didn't know about bitters, this gave you an introduction to them! Stay tuned for many more cocktail thoughts of the day each day!
Happy Repeal Day everyone. On January 16th, 1919 congress passed the 18th amendment outlawing alcohol consumption and sales. Repeal Day is the day that Prohibition ended with the passing of the 21st amendment of the United States on December 5, 1933. This year marks the 79th anniversary of this great day!
During Prohibition, people continued to produce and drink alcohol, and bootlegging helped foster a massive industry completely under the control of organized crime. Drinking in speakeasies became increasingly fashionable, and many mothers worried about the allure that alcohol and other illegal activities associated with bootlegging would have over their children. The most effective depiction of prohibition era bootlegging, in my opinion, and some of the tactics and things that were going on in this time of history is on my favorite television series Boardwalk Empire. Ironically I found out that the state of Utah(a Mormon state) was the one who ratified the 21st amendment, giving the 3/4 threshold needed to enact the 18th amendment.
So take this day today, go out and celebrate responsibly, and enjoy a classic cocktail. Ill be celebrating with some friends this evening over some Zacapa Rum cocktails. I'll leave this posting with a few visuals from Prohibition and post Prohibition... Cheers, Until Next Time Mr. Mixologist
A couple months ago I went to the annual "bartender vacation" Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. At this event there is multiple events, tastings, parties, and dinners. This year one spirited dinner stood out to me the most... "The Life and Times of Tom Bullock." We took a dinner cruise along the Mississippi River listening to fine live music, enjoy wonderfully prepared food and enjoy some very nice Four Roses Bourbon cocktails prepared by a few bartenders most notably a good friend of mine Matt Seiter of St. Louis.
Tom Bullock was the 1st African American male to write and have his own cocktail book published, The book was titled the Ideal bartender and was released in 1917. To this day, 95 years later, to my knowledge he is the ONLY African American to have a cocktail book published. Mr. Bullock was born in Kentucky in 1871. He worked at various country clubs, and eventually became a famous bartender at the St. Louis Country Club where he served government officials and other dignitaries. He passed away in 1964.
George Herbert Walker, who ironically was the Great Grandfather of George W. Bush, was a HUGE fan of Bullock's cocktails and even wrote the intro to the book. The Ideal Bartender contains many pre-prohibition classic cocktails, most notably the Ramos Gin Fizz and the Mint Julep, and even calls for many spirits that we still use today in our cocktails..
The most impressive thing to me is that he was a Black man who was born right after the civil war, in the south, and to probably not be able to enjoy certain freedoms as others he was still able to make a mark on the cocktail world. As a African American bartender this book is very near and dear to me, and also gives me motivation to keep learning and perfecting my craft. Staying in my lane and being the best at what i do. If you are an AA bartender, I strongly suggest that you take a look at this book and support a piece of our history!
Check out this great recap of the dinner that BourbonBlog.com posted....
