The Salted Caramel Apple Margarita came to me one late October night at the bar, just as we were transitioning from summer margaritas to spiced ciders and Old Fashioneds. A regular asked me if I could “make something like a caramel apple… but boozy.” I remembered a trick an old bartender taught me years ago—how … Read more
It wasn’t a busy night, but the kind of slow stretch where conversations drift further than the clink of glassware. One of the servers came back from their break holding a half-empty glass, swearing it was the smoothest thing they’d tasted all week. Turns out, a bartender from the café across the street had mixed … Read more
There are drinks you learn from a recipe book, and there are drinks that happen because of moments — the White Canadian falls into the second camp. Years ago, the bar I worked at hosted a winter whisky tasting night. The place was packed with regulars and first-timers, most clutching Glencairn glasses and talking about … Read more
The Blonde Russian wasn’t my creation, though I’ll admit the first time I ever poured one, I felt like I was bending the rules of the cocktail world. I’d only been behind the bar a couple of years when a seasoned regular walked in and asked for one, as casually as if everyone in the … Read more
I still remember the night the Dirty Russian was born, and not because I was particularly proud of it at first. I’d been tending bar for years, long past the days of overthinking every pour, when a regular—the kind who likes to test your limits—leaned in and asked me, “Ever dirty a White Russian?” I … Read more
The White Russian might wear a Russian name on its collar, but this cocktail never actually called Russia home. It earned that title thanks to the vodka, which remains the backbone of the drink. The true birthplace? Brussels, Belgium — sometime around the late 1940s, when a bartender at the Hotel Metropole crafted the Black … Read more
The Cadbury Creme Egg martini is my creation, born out of a desire to craft something that marries the sweet, comforting flavors of one of my favorite childhood treats—the Cadbury Crème Egg—with the fun of cocktail mixing. The idea first came to me when a customer mentioned how much they loved the creamy chocolate and … Read more
This wasn’t just another twist I threw together on a whim — the Honey Bunny White Russian came to life during one of those early spring weekends when the bar was quiet but the sun was warming the windows. I had a bottle of local honey sitting behind the bar for hot toddies, and curiosity … Read more
I’ve made plenty of tropical drinks over the years, but the Cottontail Colada hits different. I wanted to take the beloved piña colada and give it an Easter makeover — something smooth and festive that still makes you feel like you’re lounging somewhere warm, even if you’re just sitting at the family table surrounded by … Read more
I grew up in Florida, so the Florida Citrus Martini hits close to home. The citrus harvests, the beach days, the family trips down to Orlando—this martini is a nod to all of that. When I started bartending, I wanted to bottle up what Florida feels like and pour it into a glass. The combination … Read more