Now that we’re almost a quarter of the way through 2012—and that much closer to our impending Mayan doom—it’s becoming clear that the ever-evolving world of mixology has sprouted some inventive new trends. If you look carefully, you can see them popping up at bars and lounges across the country. When you’re stepping out on the town, you don’t want to be a dinosaur and order, say, a Sazerac. . . that’s sooo 2011! In order to keep it fresh, check out this updated list of the top 5 cocktail trends of the year: 5.) Vinegar cocktails?!: Strange but true. Vinegar is making its rounds as an acidic alternative to lemons and limes as a mixer in many of your favorite drinks. Red Medicine in Beverly Hills, for example, features no fewer than three vinegar-infused specialties on the menu at any given time. If you’re going to try this one at home, don’t [...]
Age Before Beauty: Barrel Aged Negroni
One of the hottest and most innovative trends in cocktails today is the barrel aged Negroni. The bitter and sometimes sweet finish of this traditional apéritif takes on added complexities during the aging process and in so doing appeals to a broader range of cocktail cognoscenti. Perennially regarded for its intrepid spirit, San Francisco is a city on the forefront of new and exciting elixirs. Take, for example, the gourmet pizza destination Zero Zero (826 Folsom Street). This popular SoMa eatery will be offering a batch of barrel aged Negronis during a festive launch party from 6pm-9pm on March 29th. The event is open to all and for $5 you can take a sip–or many–to discover what the fuss is all about. Over in Nob Hill, at the Stanford Court Hotel, Aurea (905 California Street) is using local favorite No. 209 gin for their own take on the barrel aged sensation. Home to one of [...]
Recipe of the week: Negroni
Basically, if you’ve never tried a Negroni, you’re missing out. Get yourself these 3 simple ingredients, stir them up, and you have pure deliciousness. There’s so many different variations on the Negroni today, but stick with the classics. They’re always better right? Negroni 1 oz London Dry Gin 1 oz Martini & Rossi Sweet Vermouth 1 oz Campari Stir the ingredients in a mixing glass. Strain into a coupe or a glass of your choosing. Garnish with an orange peel.
History of Craft Cocktails
While we may assume that the fancy infusions and quirky conglomerations on offer in craft cocktail bars are something new, it’s a tradition that goes back as far as formal fermentation. Even in the Iliad, Homer wrote of epic heroes drinking wine mixed with goat cheese and ground barley, which might make a Long Island Iced Tea not seem so bad. The current craze for carefully-constructed cocktails with fresh and exotic ingredients has its roots in a number of historical trends, so don’t be alarmed if a man wearing arm garters offers to make you a drink involving eight ingredients and six minutes to prepare; it’s all been done before. Nearing the end of the Middle Ages, the technology for distilling wine and beer into stronger spirits was carried around the world by explorers, and mixological innovation grew exponentially to combat the fierce assault of raw spirits on the palates [...]
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