A few weeks ago Jackson gained it’s first (or should I say, most legal) speak-easy–The Apothecary at Brent’s Drugs. Moonlighting there as a bartender, I’ve had the pleasure of surviving bartender boot-camp with Neal and Kirk, the founders of NOLA’s The Cure, Belloq, and most recently, Cane and Table, and the consultants for The Apothecary.
If you want to know the history behind cocktails, or if you just want to drink your way through history, David Wondrich’s book is full of the rich history of spirits. This well-researched book is an easy read, and fascinating. The history of spirits slinks into all facets of life. You can start at the beginning, or you can start with your favorite drink and go from there.
What home would be complete without a good book of drink recipes? The PDT cocktail book is a great addition to your bartop. It’s illustrated, so you don’t have to do that much reading, which will be difficult after a couple of drinks anyway. There are hordes of cocktail recipes, online and in print, but a good cocktail recipe is hard to come by (I know you thought those marshmallow vodka shots were a good idea at the time).
One of my favorites:
Vieux Carre
1 oz Rye Whiskey
1 oz Aged Cognac
1 oz Sweet Vermouth
.25 oz Benedictine
1 dash Angostura Bitters
1 dash Peychaud’s BittersStir with ice and strain over crushed ice or one large ice cube into a chilled rocks glass.
Arranged by plant, The Drunken Botanist breaks down spirits into their simplest parts–the wild plants that we drink. Curious what sloe gin actually is? Read up on the Sloe Berry (page 281) and then learn how to grow your own. There is even a handy recipe for a Sloe Gin Fizz on the next page. Reading through this book, I was surprised by what trees and flowers made an appearance in some of my favorite spirits–grains of paradise in Bombay Sapphire, angelic makes an appearance in Chartreuse and Strega, aloe vera is a component in Fernet Branca. Amy Stewart does not just stop with the science of plants, she also shares the history of the plant in spirits.
After reading up on your spirits, stop by The Apothecary and I’ll mix you a good drink.
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