The Buildout

Hopping into your feed today we have New York's Pamela Wiznitzer talking all about The Grasshopper — a cocktail she counts in her top-five drinks, and one she's made sure to always have a variation of on bar menus throughout her career. Listen on (or read below) to discover Wiznitzer's Grasshopper recipe — and don’t forget to subscribe!    Pamela Wiznitzer’s Grasshopper Recipe   &nb...

A curious concoction that brings Campari to the tiki sphere, the Jungle Bird has soared in popularity over the last decade. Richard Boccato, owner of New York’s Dutch Kills bar, explains how he first became acquainted with the drink, and shares his role in helping the cocktail find modern day fame. Listen on (or read below) to discover Boccato’s Jungle Bird recipe — and don’t forget to subscribe!&...

A boozy Tiki classic, the Zombie’s reputation has benefitted from ample helpings of marketing and mysticism. With a lengthy list of ingredients, it’s also a drink that can seem overwhelming when viewing the recipe at first glance. In today’s episode, spirits educator, author, and Tiki expert Shannon Mustipher breaks down those ingredients and teaches us how to master its preparation. Listen on (or...

The importance of technique is one of the major foundations of Cocktail College. So, in today’s episode, we’re going to focus on one aspect of bartending that’s grown in prominence and gained a lot of attention in recent years: acid adjusting. We do so with a master of that technique — and friend of the show — Jack Schramm. Listen on to learn everything you need to know about altering the acidity...

The Pornstar Martini seems custom designed to grab our attention, with its gaudy name, striking appearance, and dessert-inspired ingredients. And this drink is deserving of our attention — especially with other cocktails from a similar era now seeing a revival. In today’s episode, Pornstar Martini expert Laura Newman breaks down the cocktail in fine detail and offers multiple solutions for some of...

Rum blends, juicing pineapples, late 70’s pop music, and a special little something called “coco biz” — these are all on the menu in this week’s episode, which focuses on the Piña Colada. Leading our tropical escape is Ivy Mix, owner of Brooklyn’s Leyenda, author of Spirits of Latin America, and co-founder of the Speed Rack competition. Listen on (or read below) to discover Mix’s Piña Colada recip...

Traditional Long Island Iced Teas break all the rules that have since defined the craft cocktail movement. But that doesn’t mean that — when made to more exacting standards — we should discount its merits as a quality cocktail. In today’s episode, Porchlight beverage director Nicholas Bennett teaches us how to upgrade the LIIT. Listen on (or read below) to discover Bennett’s Long Island Iced Tea r...

Among the world’s most refreshing and flavorful two-ingredient highballs, the Paloma is a simple composition that combines just tequila and grapefruit soda. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be treated like a “proper” cocktail, nor that you can’t apply some of the most advanced mixology techniques to take the drink to the next level. In this week’s episode, Jack Schramm teaches us how to do just that...

In today’s episode, we sit down with Joaquín Simó of New York’s Pouring Ribbons for a special Cognac tasting, all with the aim of exploring how bartenders select ingredients for specific cocktails and why. The cocktail in question is the Sidecar, and Joaquín shares a wealth of knowledge on how to make your version live up to the drink's rich heritage. Listen on (or read below) to discover Joaquín’...

The Pisco Sour offers a velvet, refreshing intro to the stunningly complex world of Pisco. Lynnette Marrero leads us on an exploration of both spirit and drink in today’s episode, and shares her tips on how to master the iconic cocktail. Listen on (or read below) to discover Lynnette’s Pisco Sour recipe — and don’t forget to subscribe!      Lynnette Marrero’s Pisco Sour Recipe ...

Cocktail College returns with a bang this week, as we explore the Champagne-spiked, artillery-inspired French 75. Cognac expert Ms. Franky Marshall is on hand to share expert advice on navigating the drink’s base spirits, build, and ideal glassware. Listen on (or read below) to discover Franky’s French 75 recipe — and don’t forget to subscribe!      Ms. Franky Marshall’s French 75 R...

In this week’s episode, Tim digs deep into the Margarita with award-winning bartender and podcast host, Erick Castro. Prepare to learn all about Erick’s favorite Margarita riffs, why he thinks fresh lime juice can be even more important than tequila, and how integral the Margarita has been in his journey as a bartender. Listen on (or read below) to discover Erick’s Classic Margarita recipe. And do...

For a century old cocktail, many aspects of The Bamboo make it a decidedly on-trend drink in today’s landscape. The Bamboo eschews a base spirit in favor of industry darling sherry, which also allows it to arrive with a lower alcohol content. To walk us through the complex, stirred blend of Spanish wine, vermouth, and bitters, we’re joined today by Alex Day, one of the partners of Death & Co....

The Daiquiri is a drink so revered by bartenders, and one whose deceptively simple preparation requires such fine attention to detail, it’s gained a reputation as being the acid test of a mixologist’s skills. To learn how to pass that exam, Tim sits down with William Elliott, the managing partner of New York’s Maison Premiere, and an individual who’s spent over a decade perfecting his Daiquiri. Li...

In this mid-season special, Tim looks back at some of the most important lessons our bartenders have shared so far, and includes some of his highlights from season one to-date. Please leave a rating and review, and don’t forget to subscribe! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Devised hundreds of years ago for medicinal purposes, the G&T has gone from strength to strength in recent years, thanks to a proliferation of new gin brands and higher quality tonic waters. As the founder of one of those brands, Simon Ford knows more than a thing or two about the Gin & Tonic, and in this episode waxes lyrical about the drink’s history, preparation, and modern-day elevatio...

Despite being drenched in history and arriving with an attractive rose hue, Pink Gin — the cocktail — remains an outsider in the bartending world. After spending a great deal of time tracing the cocktail’s roots, Sebastian Hamilton-Mudge wants to change that. And he’s here today how and why you should also embrace this simple, historic creation. Listen on to learn his tips and don’t forget to subs...

In today’s episode, Tim explores the sweet, fragrant fusion of rum, lime, sugar, and mint, best known as the Mojito. Los-Angeles-based Yael Vengroff teaches us how to perfect the drink (without overthinking it) and also sheds light on where life leads beyond the bar, and what it’s like to launch a canned Mojito. Listen on and don’t forget to subscribe!    The Mojito Recipe w/ Yael Vengro...

Fresh citrus was a vital ingredient in America’s cocktail renaissance but in the instance of The Gimlet, using fresh citrus — or only fresh citrus — yields neither a historically accurate version of the drink, nor the best example of it. Tim speaks with Toby Cecchini to learn all about lime cordial, and how he resurrected The Gimlet by formulating his own version of the ingredient. Listen on (or r...

Is the Gibson the best bonafide Martini riff? And is describing this cocktail as a “riff” selling it short? In today’s episode, Tim chats with Meaghan Dorman of New York’s Raines Law Room, Dear Irving, and Dear Irving on Hudson to find out. Listen on (or read below) to discover Meaghan’s Gibson recipe — and don’t forget to subscribe!    Meaghan Dorman’s Gibson Recipe    Ingredi...

The Mai Tai is perhaps the best known Tiki cocktail in the world. Without a doubt, it’s also the one drink within that category that so often gets made incorrectly. Thankfully, help is at hand in today’s episode, as Tim sits down with Brian Miller, a tropical drinks enthusiast with an extensive knowledge of bartending. Years in the making, he shares his recipe — and technique — for perfecting the...

The Ramos Gin Fizz is best known for its bicep-straining preparation and the chain of shaker boys historically employed to ensure a perfect, frothy, towering foam. In today’s episode, Tim breaks down this New Orleans classic with Lucinda Sterling, managing partner at New York bars Middle Branch and Seaborne. Tune in to learn how to make Lucinda’s Ramos Gin Fizz — recipe also listed below — and don...

How do you even begin to describe The Martini? A star of the big and small screen, and countless works of literature; it has its own iconic glass and even lays claim to the cocktail emoji 🍸. The Martini also happens to be the world’s best cocktail — at least, that’s what Tim thinks. So, for this episode, he spoke with the man who mixed him the finest Martini he’s ever tasted: John Clark-Ginetti,...

Neal Bodenheimer and his team at Cure in New Orleans have a simple philosophy: “Nothing’s sacred except maybe the Sazerac.” In this episode, we go deep on that drink’s history, and Neal explains how he and his team came up with their version of the beloved NOLA cocktail. Learn how to make Neal’s Sazerac below — and don’t forget to subscribe! Neal Bodenheimer’s Sazerac Ingredients 2 ounces rye, suc...

Abigail Gullo, director of Bartender's Circle, is passionate about the Manhattan. Not only did she grow up on New York's most storied island, she first learned how to make the drink as a seven year old, and has been honing her technique ever since. Tune in to hear Abigail Gullo's perfected Manhattan recipe — also listed below — and don't forget to subscribe! Abigail Gullo’s Manhattan Ingredients...