The Buildout

It’s sweet, it’s colorful, and it’s got a history wilder than a Rolling Stones tour bus — it’s the Tequila Sunrise. And while it might look like a poolside guilty pleasure, behind the gradient glow lies a story of rock ‘n’ roll excess, reinvention, and one major identity crisis. Here to explore this storied creation's history is Nikolas Vagenas, bartender and co-owner at Brooklyn's Mr. Melo. Liste...

Fine French sparkling wine meets absinthe in the two-ingredient Death in the Afternoon, a cocktail created by Ernest Hemingway and named after his 1932 non-fiction work of the same name. Joining us to give this simple concoction the Cocktail College treatment is Kassidy Scholl, beverage director at New York's Ask for Janice. Listen on (or read below) to discover Kassidy's Death in the Afterno...

Never before on Cocktail College have we covered a cocktail that’s so defined by the inclusion of a very specific type of bitters as today’s drink: the Fourth Regiment. The bitters in question are of the celery variety, the drink is a riff on the Manhattan, and our guest is Chris Lemperle, who runs the bar at New York's Crane Club. Listen on (or read below) to discover Chris' Fourth Regiment...

When considering what makes a cocktail notable or even iconic, the Singapore Sling has a lot going for it. There’s the more than 100 years of history and indelible ties to a nation as well as a historic hotel bar in that nation. It has its own glass, a catchy name, and a memorable big-screen appearance in at least one major film. Here to explore this tropical icon with us at Cocktail College is St...

The Mexican Firing Squad is a bonafide tequila-based classic with almost 100 years' history — despite what its '70s-disco-era-sounding name suggests. As James O'Donnell, bar manager at Fives Bar in New Orleans, puts it, the MFS is a great recommendation for those looking to riff on the Spicy Margarita. But it's also so much more than that. Listen on (or read below) to discover James' Mexican Firin...

You might question why we're focusing on the Lychee Martini today, based upon its reputation for being overly sweet, garishly garnished, and a “Martini” by virtue of its serving vessel only. But this drink is not a lost cause, nor should it be confined to the annals of history, along with the likes of the Appletini — not when it’s in the hands of some of the finest pros in the hospitality ind...

Whether you're partaking in Dry January, looking to dip a toe into the realm of Zebra Striping , or simply want to learn how to craft better non-alcoholic cocktails from one of the best in the business, this conversation with Derek Brown has you covered. Derek has devoted the most recent chapter of his career to NA drinks, is the author of the book Mindful Mixology and the substack Positive Damage...

Cooked or uncooked? Fresh or aged? Bourbon, Cognac, or rum-based? For this festive Cocktail College and the ultimate guide to Eggnog, we're joined by returning guest Aaron Goldfarb, author and VinePair writer at large. Listen on (or read below) to learn Aaron’s batched Eggnog recipe — and don’t forget to like, review, and subscribe!    Aaron Goldfarb’s Eggnog Recipe (serves 12)  &nb...

The Moscow Mule is arguably the ultimate workhorse cocktail. Equally at home in high-class bars as well as neighborhood dives, it’s a fantastic candidate for some high-brow hacks, should you be so inclined. We here at Cocktail College are so inclined, so we enlisted the help of Evan Hawkins, co-owner and beverage director of Romeo’s, in New York's East Village. Listen on (or read below) to le...

A simple but delightful brunch staple, the Mimosa has a surprisingly specific history for a mix of orange juice and sparkling wine. Today we're joined by Matt Chavez, bar manager at New York's COQODAQ, to discuss the dynamic duo. Listen on (or read below) to learn Matt's Mimosa recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe! Matt Chavez's Mimosa Recipe   Ingredients  - 1 o...

Spirit, sugar, water, bitters — in whatever order you like. Regular Cocktail College listeners will be very familiar with that catch-all description that defines the cocktail. And indeed, we spend a lot of time here exploring those first two, if not three, ingredients. But bitters? Perhaps not as much as we should. Which is why we’re digging out one of the crown jewels from the Cocktail College va...

It's been almost two years since we first explored the timeless mix of Campari, American whiskey, and sweet vermouth, so now felt like an opportune moment to revisit — and reconsider — the Boulevardier. Joining us to do so is jet-setting Japan-based bartender Holly Graham, founder of Tokyo Confidential, which opened in late 2023. Listen on (or read below) to learn Holly's Boulevardier recipe — and...

We're shifting our gaze from individual cocktails momentarily to explore a single ingredient. More specifically, one of the world's most popular spirits: vodka. Joining us to do so is Dennis Tamse, the Global Relationships Director for the Nolet Distillery. This being Cocktail College, there will also be some Martini discussion, including Dennis' preferred Vodka Martini recipe, which is also liste...

The Painkiller carries unusual baggage for a tropical drink created in paradise. Those issues stem from contested origin stories — something we encounter quite frequently here at Cocktail College — and intellectual property wrangles (not quite so common). Joining us to explore all of that, and just generally wax lyrical about the Painkiller, is Daniel O'Grady, general manager at NYC's Lullaby. Lis...

We're making a temporary pivot to being a grapefruit podcast today, all in the pursuit of perfecting the bourbon-based Brown Derby cocktail. Joining us to deliver this historical citrus masterclass is Eben Klemm, a longtime hospitality pro who currently works as VP of Beverage and Service for Left Lane Hospitality. Listen on (or read below) to learn Eben's Brown Derby recipe — and don't forget to...

Despite having such a simple formula — it's a sour made using aromatic bitters as the base spirit — the Angostura Sour is a much more modern creation than you might expect, though it does enjoy something of a rich historical lineage. Joining us to explore that drink today is KJ Williams, a veteran bartender who these days works at New York's Long Island Bar. Listen on (or read below) to learn KJ's...

Our "Techniques" episodes often focus on processes and drinks that require expensive equipment and esoteric ingredients. But today we’re returning to the fundamentals of bartending to answer a seemingly simple question: How do you build faster rounds and, in turn, put out better drinks? Joining us to answer that question is an expert on t: Haley Traub, the general manager of Attaboy and Good Guy's...

A quasi-Sidecar riff with a triple threat of base spirits, today's subject is the Between the Sheets, a 1930's creation that all too often flies under the the radar. Whether you're looking for a beginner's rum drink or a sneakily boozy, shaken concoction, Ricky Ramirez from Milwaukee's The Mothership has you covered in this edition of Cocktail College. Listen on (or read below) to learn Ricky's Be...

It's one of the most well-known, canonical Scotch cocktails, but is it actually good? Here to discuss and teach everything you need to know about the Blood and Sand is Izzy Tulloch, head bartender at New York's Milady's. Listen on (or read below) to learn Izzy's Blood and Sand recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe! Izzy Tulloch's Blood and Sand Recipe    Ingredients&nb...

You’ve mastered the Pisco Sour and Punch, impressed your friends with El Capitan, now it’s time to kick back with the Chilcano, a zesty, refreshing mix of pisco, ginger, and lime. Joining us for today's episode is DC-based Glendon Hartley, a bartender and proprietor of Service Bar, Causa, and Amazonia. Listen on (or read below) to learn Glendon's Chilcano recipe — and don't forget to like, review,...

On this dive into the archives of Cocktail College, we're joined by Jeffrey Morgenthaler of Portland, Ore.’s Pacific Standard to discuss one of the world's most iconic cocktails: the Negroni. Morgenthaler schools us on how to perfect this classic and explains how his barrel-aged-Negroni became a national — and international — phenomenon. Listen on to learn Morgenthaler's spec — and don’t forget to...

Against a backdrop of explosive growth for tequila in the U.S., there remains a relative lack of classic and contemporary classic tequila cocktails — and that phenomenon is only amplified when you look beyond blanco and añejo and focus solely on reposado. This feels like an opportunity missed, so we decided to put things right and devote a discussion to mixing reposado in cocktails. Joining u...

A riff on the Pegu Club that somehow tastes exactly like grapefruit juice? That can only be Paul Harrington's Jasmine cocktail. Paul joins us on the show today to share the drink's genesis, talk about bartending in San Francisco (and beyond) in the early 90's, and reflect upon the growth of cocktail culture around the country since then. Listen on (or read below) to learn Paul's Jasmine recipe — a...

The Negroni, in both its classic form and modern riffs, has won over drinkers around the world with its unique, complex bittersweet profile. Today, we're here to introduce you to another version: the Bianco Negroni (or Negroni Bianco). Joining us to explore this excellent cocktail is Gareth “G” Franklin, Global Ambassador for Luxardo. Listen on (or read below) to learn how to master the Bianco Neg...

Sam Ross, of Attaboy , Milk & Honey, Temple Bar , Good Guy's , and general cocktail creation fame joins us to discuss one of said creations: the Paper Plane. Vying for position with the Penicillin as one of Ross's most famous and beloved drinks, the Paper Plane took off by employing the Last Word template and introducing some then-little-known ingredients, including non-negotiable Amaro Nonino...