Gin and the Black Forest – to read these two words in one sentence is really nothing special in these days. Rather, a lot of people will immediately think that they already know what such a sentence is about and will most likely have the image of a Monkey 47 bottle in their minds. But that is not necessarily the correct association. The Black Forest region is home to more than 1000 distilleries of which admittedly but a few have a real tradition in the gin segment. Now a new Gin from the Black Forest is arousing some attention and it is not unlikely that we have to rethink our primary association of gin in the future whenever hearing the word “Black Forest”. Read More →

I did already write in other contexts about the English bartender Dick Bradsell, who is considered to be the English luminary of bar culture for the last decades. He is the master mind behind many sophisticated cocktails, for example the very rich Treacle Cocktail, which I really appreciate, but he also created less sophisticated drinks that became very suitable for a mass audience like for example the Espresso Martini. But I don’t want to make more words about Dick Bradsell’s personal career here since I already did this in other articles. Instead I’d like to concentrate on one of his most famous drinks, the Bramble. Read More →

It is not always an easy thing to name a newly created cocktail properly. Most of the drinks in present times own their name to either a certain flair that emphasizes the idea behind the cocktail, or the name is an allusion to people, places or bars that have played an important role in the drink’s genesis. Meanwhile it has become a rather rare habit (one that is also a little frowned upon) to metaphorically name a cocktail after its alcoholic effect. In earlier days, however, that was sometimes the case. One of the most famous examples is for sure the drink I’d like to write about today which owns its name to nothing less than a French field artillery gun. Read More →

A couple of days ago I wrote a few lines about Ernest Hemingway’s notorious penchant for alcoholic beverages in my article about the Daisy de Santiago. Considering how many cocktails are associated with him, it is not surprising that you’re always ending up with the Nobel Prize winner. Today I’d like to write a few lines about a drink that is also very often connected to him but is also famous enough not to be reliant on such associations: I’m talking about the Gimlet. Read More →

The history of cocktails would of course be nothing without the history of the bartenders standing behind all those numerous creations. Some of them became famous, some of them did not. But almost as important as the bartenders are all those innumerable anecdotes about famous connoisseurs who are inseparably linked with the name of certain drinks. The perhaps best known example for that is Ernest Hemingway. Today’s drink combines both elements to some extent since it was invented by a bartender who became a little famous himself and who also became a drinking companion of Mr. Hemingway. Read More →

One can easily lose track of the flood of newly released gins these days. Even the German gin market sees a new juniper distillate almost on a daily basis and so it is not surprising that a lot of people have recently developed a collector’s passion when it comes to gin. However, today’s distillate comes from the motherland of gins, strictly speaking even from the “heart of England”, from Cotswolds. Read More →

On the one hand I thought that today’s cocktail is still missing in my blog. On the other hand I was not sure if I really should write about it here because basically everyone knows that drink and in addition to that it is that hackneyed that it certainly won’t knock anyone’s socks off. Also I’m actually almost never in the mood to prepare one for myself. But now there is a reason to write about it anyway. Of course I’m talking about the good old Caipirinha. Read More →

Today I’m once again writing about beer. About an English beer to be precise. In the English town of Tadcaster, North Yorkshire the traditional Samuel Smith Brewery produces a broad variety of beer styles. I have already presented an Imperial Stout from that brewery some time ago here on the blog, a beer that I really love to drink. I also referred to some interesting traditions in the context of beer in Tadcaster in that article. It is all the more surprising that today’s Samuel Smith beer is not brewed in Tadcaster. Read More →

Today I want to introduce a gin which bears a very personal signature. And it does that in many ways because already the gin’s name shows that it is a personal matter or may become personal. But of course there is a certain story behind that name which has to do with the personal history of the makers of this distillate. And this bottle is also connected to a personal and nice anecdote. Read More →

Recently, Cognac has not really been what you would call the shining star of the international spirits market. Despite the fact that for a long time it was surroundes by the nimbus of noblesse and sophisticated artisanship. For many it became too expensive and somehow a little antiquated and so it was no wonder that many French cognac distilleries increasingly positioned themselves as premium sightseeing and tasting destinations for super-rich Russian and Chinese people. But times are changing. Read More →

Whisk(e)ys have been the first spirits category I really became enthusiastic about. Well there is a small exception because that happened in the same days when I started to discover my passion for classic cocktails and my personal gateway was the most classic cocktail of them all, the Martini. Therefore in my “early days” of course gin and vermouth also played a certain role, but I spend much more time reading about whisky and of course tasting it. So today I would like to publish an article all about whisky. Read More →

I have to confess: a few years ago rum has not only been a book of seven seals to me, I did also commonly announce not to like rum at all. But this was not only unfair, it was much too hasty and naive because I simply had no clue about rum. Instead I did associate rum with an industrial aroma that often is used inside of sweets, such as in the “Ritter Sport Rum Trauben Nuss” chocolate. Read More →

Spirits and the countryside of Scotland seem to have a close relationship. Most people will certainly think of whisky, the many neat distilleries covering the picturesque landscape of the country, barley fields and clear rivers. But of course many connoisseurs know that Scotland has more to offer than just the “water of life”. Above all I’m thinking of the trendy spirit of our day: gin. Read More →

The “Goldene Bar” in the Bavarian capital of Munich is a well-known place among German bar enthusiasts and night owls alike. Unfortunately I wasn’t personally able to go there and assure myself of the atmosphere and the mixed drinks in Klaus St. Rainers renowned drinking place, but since I rarely travel the Bavarian capital due to the distance I simply did not have the chance yet. But nevertheless every now and then I do write about one of the awesome drinks invented by Klaus St. Rainer. And that’s what I’ll do today. Although today’s cocktail is more of a reinterpretation of a famous classic. Read More →

Today is a special day, because this article is kind of a premiere. Never before have I devoted myself to an article about a tasting of chocolate. But second glance this is not as wondrous as it may seem. It is not that I have changed my genre or that I would be up to expand my topics to chocolate, no, today’s chocolate goes hand in hand with two beautiful, classic Scotch Single Malt Whiskys. Not only because the chocolate is a good companion for those whiskys, there is also another reason. Read More →

Sloe Gin still lives in the shadow of its big namesake and although its reputation has increased in recent years, a lot of people still don’t know much about it. To be precise, Sloe Gin bears its name rather for historical reasons because it was actually made on the basis of gin in earlier days. Today this is not always the case and also no legal requirement. Read More →

Jeffrey Morgenthaler is a very familiar name to many friends of cocktail and bar culture. The bartender and cocktail blogger regularly writes about anecdotes from the cocktail-universe that are worth reading and also serves very interesting recipes for new creations every now and then. Although the current cocktail is no longer “brand-new” it is definitely a great contribution to my personal recipe booklet! Read More →

The German city of Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg is well-known in the context of German politics because it’s the seat of the highest German court, the „Bundesverfassungsgericht“. Therefore most people will know the name from the daily news. But of course Karlsruhe has more to offer. Besides historical attractions such as the Karlsruher Schloss or the Schwedenpalais there is also a new but very promising gin. Which is of course the reason for me to write these opening words. Read More →

So the journey of the Icelandic Vikings at the European Championship in France is unfortunately over. Nevertheless, what this small nation has achieved in terms of football in this year is really more than honorable. But not only in footballing terms is Iceland an emerging, small country. Even when it comes to spirits, the Icelandic nation is heading towards the future as a serious competitor on the market. Read More →

Iceland is currently on everyone’s lips. This is not surprising due to the recent football events, though those events are absolutely surprising if not to say miraculous. No wonder the sympathies for the little underdog are flying in from every corner of the world. And they deserve them, if you ask me. Read More →

Today’s cocktail comes from New York City, from the Death & Company bar in New York’s East Village to be exact. It was invented by Joaquin Simó and gradually became known to a wider audience. The cocktail is – like so many recipes – a twist on a well-known classic. Although the result is rather different. Read More →

The Johnnie Walker brand is certainly one of the most famous spirits brands around the world and I guess millions of people will very likely have had their first whisky contact with a Johnnie Walker. Now I don’t want to write much about the brand itself since it’s already famous and the most sold Scotch in the world, yet I would like to introduce a rather unusual whiskey that was much anticipated before its launch in October 2015. Read More →

Summertime is of course the time for cool drinks – even if summer needs a long time in the coming. But as soon as the first warm and sunny days will show up, a lot of people will certainly think about what’s the perfect refreshing drink. And this question is closely linked to an issue which is not as often discussed among cocktail and bar enthusiasts as one might think: I’m talking about alcohol. Read More →

The Dead Rabbit in New York City skillfully combines the charm of traditional Irish pub atmosphere in the light of a multifaceted immigration history with modern and sometimes avant-garde cocktail culture. Anyone who has ever been there will certainly not forget the experience. Therefore it’s all the better that some of the Dead Rabbit cocktails can also be made by yourself. Read More →

There are certainly many important cocktails steeped in history. Among them are some that have almost vanished somewhere inside of antiquated recipe collections and are only excavated in times of nostalgic feelings. Others have retained a certain attraction to the present day and still others are simply the superstars of the genre. Old Fashioneds, Martinis, Negronis – these names are known to almost everyone. But things are a little different when it comes to the Martinez. Read More →

Today’s certainly a special day for many people and the beginning of an eventful time of watching TV: The European Football Championship in France is going to start tonight. For others this time is more like a horror season that requires strategic planning to avoid everything that has something to do with football. Personally, I am very happy about the European Championship because I like football and I also like the big international tournaments. Of course this raises the question for an ideal drink to enjoy while watching football. Read More →