As with many things in life, if you want to get a glimpse into what makes for a truly unique cocktail, you're better off asking someone who makes cocktails for a living. They've put their 10,000 hours in to get good at their craft, and all you have to do to reap the benefits is hear them out. In the interest of discovering what kinds of drinks are on the cutting edge, we reached out to Jordan Hughes, cocktail and spirits author and content creator behind @highproofpreacher…
Read MoreIf you’ve got an Instagram or TikTok account and an interest in cocktails, you’ve likely heard of Jordan Hughes—if not by his given name, then because of the Parmesan espresso martini that he ushered into viral fame in 2023. But well before that briefly inescapable becheesed drink, Hughes was already well known online as the photographer, videographer, and recipe developer behind High-Proof Preacher, the award-winning Instagram account he started in 2017. Hughes brings the enthusiasm and energy…
Read MoreA good cocktail becomes unforgettable when you infuse it with a little smoke. If you're new to crafting smoke-infused cocktails at home, it's important to know the best spirits to experiment with. To help answer this question, Tasting Table spoke with Jordan Hughes, author of "Twist: Your Guide to Creating Inspired Craft Cocktails" and content creator behind @highproofpreacher.
Read MoreCocktails are about big flavors and bold ingredients, and nothing embodies that ethos better than smoke. When done well, a hint of smokiness can take a drink from mid-tier to top-shelf. Since smoke is a gas rather than a liquid, imparting the flavor into your drink…
Read MoreWe made 5 different cocktails from my cocktail book “Twist - Your Guide to Creating Inspired Craft Cocktails.” If you haven’t picked up the book yet, I hope you do! Feel free to purchase from your local bookstore, online, or wherever you prefer– I am compensated the same regardless of where you purchase it, just FYI.
The cocktail recipes are listed in the book itself, but I wanted to share some links to some of the recommended products that I shared during the live class. Spirits can be difficult to order or buy online, due to every region having different liquor laws, so I’ll simply mention those by name and link to products like barware, syrups, bitters, etc.
Read MoreLearning how to balance the five elements of flavor — umami/salt, bitter, sweet, sour and spice — is one of the fundamental tenets of both cooking and mixology. For many cocktail lovers on Instagram, seeing a reel of a drinks influencer cheekily sprinkling microplaned parmesan cheese atop an Espresso Martini may seem like pure chaos, but it is, in fact, the opposite: It’s a quintessential example of umami from the cheese balancing the bitterness of coffee.
Read MoreWhen adding fresh herbs to cocktails, like basil or mint, many reach for the muddler and proceed to crush the herbs into pieces in the base of the cocktail shaker. There’s really no reason to do this and you probably shouldn’t because overly crushing the herbs may introduce unwanted bitterness in the cocktail.
Read MoreThe Old Fashioned meets… well… Pineapple! The star ingredient in this cocktail is Pineapple Demerara syrup- and it’s definitely worth making! The syrup itself can be a bit inconsistent, so you may need to adjust the amount you add to the cocktail to properly balance it.
Read MoreHere’s a colorful twist on a Sidecar using Cointreau that I cold-infused with Hibiscus tea for 24 hours. The color turned out AMAZING and the added flavors of black current and lemon verbena from the tea paired exceptionally well with the cognac.
Read MoreThis syrup does not require any heat– as most involve heating various ingredients on the stove to properly integrate those ingredients and dissolve the sugar. However this no-cook syrup relies on the acid already present in the pineapple to break down the sugar over several hours,
Read MoreThis cocktail is made with high-proof bourbon (I used Old Granddad 114 but Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve was really nice too), a touch of quality vanilla liqueur and Rosato amaro; a bittersweet liqueur with fresh and fruity aromas of hibiscus and orange blossom. I also added some tropical spice bitters, but you can just as easily sub in aromatic bitters.
Read More“We’ve gone to great lengths this year to help you find the best whiskeys of 2021. We’ve ranked them by type (bourbon, scotch, rye), en masse, and even shamed ourselves for the bottles we missed (bourbon, scotch). Now, we’ve taken our search further afield — reaching out to the wider world of whisk(e)y writers, influencers, photographers, and even historians…”
Read MoreThere, I said it! I still love whiskey too, but an agave-based Hot Toddy just hits different. Here’s an especially delicious Hot Toddy variation, made with one of my favorites: Punta Diamante Reposado from Casa Don Ramon.
Read MoreI typically refer to this cocktail as a “Flip”– which was originally made back in the 1600’s with spirit, sugar, eggs and spices, and was served hot by thrusting a burning hot rod of metal into it, causing it to froth or “flip.”
Read MoreWant a holiday cocktail secret weapon? This might be it. Personal suggestion: try this syrup in a spirit-forward cocktail, like an Old Fashioned or Sazerac. Then again, this Winter Margarita was pretty tasty too.
Read MoreMy list of recommended reading for aspiring bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts is long– so here’s the short version. These are THE three books you should read and have on hand for quick reference if you want to really up your game as a bartender or home bartender.
Read MoreInspired by the notion of this cocktail serving as an ambassador for the Cognac category and to raise awareness of the contributions African American bartenders through one of the earliest American cocktails to gain traction on the scene…
Read MoreIt’s cold and rainy today, so it’s hardly the right time for blended Piña Coladas. Or maybe it’s the perfect time?
Read MoreI feel like the Last Word was a super hip cocktail a few years ago (like 2017-2018?) but I’ve hardly made one since. A friend recently asked me for a refreshing gin cocktail and I decided to shake one up for her– then I promptly made one for myself too. It actually made me kinda nostalgic for simpler times.
Read More“Before you post on social media, think through if what you are posting adds value to your followers or not. Does it educate? Does it entertain? Does it fit your brand / aesthetic?”
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