One of the most beautiful bottles contains a marvelous liqueur: Belle de Brillet, with the taste of ripe pears combined with cognac. Add to this, Effen Vodka from the Netherlands. (In Dutch, “effen” means smooth. And FYI, it is effen good.) Next, Shrub District, a sweetly acetic grapefruit cocktail vinegar, followed by ginger lemon bitters, with a slice of fresh pear as the finishing touch. What’s not to like? Click on the link below to view the video in KEVIN'S COCKTAIL MINUTE: "A NICE PEAR" Doesn't that look good? (The question is rhetorical.)
Art Deco is one of my favorite kinds of art, architecture, & design. Also called Style Moderne, Art Deco’s raison d’être was to be modern MODERN MODERN, but ironically, it borrowed from many different styles, including ancient Greek and Roman, Medieval manuscript illumination, and Art Nouveau. And in keeping with its wide-ranging influences, I will borrow from Wikipedia: “During its heyday, Art Deco represented luxury, glamour, exuberance, and faith in social and technological progress.” And perhaps this is why it has stuck with me since I first discovered it back in College Art History class. This ever-enthusiastic look towards the future, while being grounded in the past. Luxury, glamour,
There are no harsh words with this drink. In fact, the first sip tastes of sweetness, but as the flavors linger on the palate, you experience its complexity with a dry bite on the finish, which makes you want that next sip. Inspired by the gloriously contentious debates between Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley Jr., during the 1968 Republican and Democratic National conventions, these two warriors of the spoken word battled each other for ten nights, and in the process, raised the level of public discourse. With trenchant arguments, elegant exchanges, classical allusions, witty yet acerbic wordplay, and subtle yet potent invective. Their intellect was bristling, as was their undisguised ra
What do you get when you cross a 19th century German philosopher with a 1980s hair band? Add to that, alcohol and Tawny Kitaen, and the result is this brand new signature cocktail called "HERE I GO AGAIN". (Click on drink name to view video.) "Here I Go Again"... A drink that's redder than Tawny Kitaen's hair, and is guaranteed to cure indigestion! When Friedrich Nietzsche discovers Tawny Kitaen... Also Sprach Zarathustra! Whitesnake channeling Nietzsche. "Here I Go Again" Whitesnake Video Give me strength!
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, better known as Liz & Dick, were famous throughout the world as THE power couple of the Sixties. As two of the most visible (and highly paid) Hollywood movie stars (they were married and divorced TWICE, to and from each other) they defined The Jet Set, ostentatious displays of wealth, and tumultuous relationships. Which brings us to Acapulco. In the 1940s, it was a sleepy little seaside town in Mexico, with a modest population of five thousand souls. But then came the 1950s. Like a hidden treasure, it was discovered by millionaires, playboys, and movie stars, such as John Wayne, Rita Hayworth, Frank Sinatra, Brigitte Bardot*, and the aforementioned Liz
A new, inspired variation on the classic cocktail (and my producer’s new favorite). Bulleit Kentucky bourbon (Mmm!) with the bold Italian bittersweet vermouth Punt e Mes (its name means “one part sweet, a half part bitter”) balanced with the nutty deliciousness of Nocello Walnut Liqueur, with Hella Bitters Aromatic bitters, and a cherry on top (or in the glass). Click on the link below for the video from KEVIN'S COCKTAIL MINUTE "WALNUT MANHATTAN" "Nocello... It's salubrious!" Also, check out the videos from KEVIN'S COCKTAIL MINUTE and the BLOG entries of these new, inspired variations: "MAD MANHATTAN", "I'LL TAKE MANHATTAN: THREE NEW MANHATTANS", "BADASS MANHATTAN", & "HEART OF DARKNESS"
A decade after the Wright Brothers flew the first airplane at Kitty Hawk, a drink called “Aviation” appeared in Hugo Ensslin’s 1916 cocktail compendium: Recipes for Mixed Drinks. There are a number of variations, with and without Crème de Violette (the liqueur made from violet petals), but to me there is only one way: with. Because the beautiful, distinctive color is as much a part of the drink as is its taste. See my BLOG entry of May 21, 2016 entitled “Ultra Violets: Crème Yvette vs Crème de Violette”... AVIATION 2 parts Aviation Gin ½ part Crème de Violette ½ part Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur ¾ part fresh-squeezed Lemon juice dash of Scrappy's Lavender bitters Shake everything in an
