Choosing the Right Bar Spoon

Shaken or stirred, that is the question. The subject matter is simply begging for a James Bond pun, yet it goes without saying that 007 and his cavalier attitude toward ultra cold ice particulates floating in his cocktail glass is one of the very reasons behind the near death of the greatest of classic cocktails. Read more

My Christmas Wishlist

My girlfriend is in medical school, meaning that I rarely see her and she has little time to spend shopping for exotic bar-related gifts for me. So, she asked me to put together a Christmas list for her so she should could shop for me easily and spend more time studying for the upcoming three weeks of test. Yes, medical school is ridiculous and watching her has convinced me that doctors deserve so much credit for their accomplishments. Anyway, instead of just typing up the letter and sending it her way, I figured I would make a post out of this and let everyone know what I’ve been looking for lately. These aren’t the most extravagant of gifts, and I don’t want all of them. But, this should give her a good enough list to choose from without breaking the fragile medical school student bank. Here’s my letter:

Tanya,

Thanks for shopping for me for Christmas. I hope this list is specific and helpful as I know you don’t have time outside of your studies. If you have any questions about any of these let me know. These are in no specific order, and I would be happy with any combination or number of the following:

1. iSi Soda Siphon - I need a new soda siphon. They can be used for so many cool things and make great soda water without having to buy the expensive bottles. Plus, they give such a old-fashioned feel to others, so if you had to pick just one thing off this list, get this one. I like the color shown here (left picture) as well, but any black or gray color will do. Please resist the urge to buy any “pretty” colored siphon for me, as I would prefer a more professional look. Also, soda siphons need chargers (right picture), so picking up a pack of those would be really nice of you too. You bartending with one. I really want this gift more than any can get both items from Amazon here, but I was in Spec’s today and they had both of these half way down on the left hand side of the aisle stocked with bar supplies. If coming from the entrance you will pass the spirits aisles on your right, starting with vodka and ending with liqueurs. The next aisle after the liqueurs is the bar supply section; again, left hand side, bottom rack. Siphon and chargers are right there. They should be cheaper than buying off Amazon without shipping, and they have the colors I wanted.

2. Fee Brothers Barrel-Aged Bitters - I haven’t been able to find these locally and didn’t give in and order any myself, so you could do it for me if you like. There shouldn’t be much variance in price difference from one site to another, so you can just get them here at KegWorks if you like. You could also get other types of bitters if you want, but I already have them (yes, all of them). I’m not saying I wouldn’t like them, but they wouldn’t have any novelty. If you want to see a picture of the Fee Barrel-Aged Bitters I want, Jamie has a great one posted on his site.

3. Absinthe Spoon - Don’t worry about all those absinthe myths; they aren’t true and I’ve already had plenty of absinthe with no ill-effects. Morgan sent me a link to a great absinthe site with spoons, and I looked them all over and like this one the best (also the first picture above). If you got just one, that would be great, but two spoons would be even better so I could serve more than one absinthe glass at once. If you get two for me, this would be a good choice for the second one, so I can start building a collections of sorts.

4. Ron Zacapa Centenario 15-Year Rum - Man, this stuff is good, and it will only run you about $30 a bottle at Spec’s. You could even pick it up if you’re there getting, I don’t know, a iSi Soda Siphon perhaps. They make a 23-year that is even better, but I don’t think Spec’s has it in stock and this would bump the price around another 10 dollars. The 15-year is amazing stuff nevertheless, and I have been tempted to pick up this bottle every time I drive by the store. So, 15 or 23-year? I would be happy with either; the bottles both look basically the same except the number of years displayed below the straw would be different.

5. Books - Any of the following books would be great gifts as well. I have so many cocktail books that you shouldn’t try and pick one out yourself. Chances are I either already have it or don’t want it even though it might look cool and like it is well done. These are three safe options to choose from:

Book 1 -
Craze: Gin and Debauchery in an Age of Reason - By Jessica Warner

Book 2 -
What to Drink with What You Eat: The Definitive Guide to Pairing Food with Wine, Beer, Spirits, Coffee, Tea - Even Water - Based on Expert Advice from America’s Best Sommeliers - By Andrew Dornenburg, Karen Page, & Michael Sofronski

Book 3 -
How’s Your Drink?: Cocktails, Culture, and the Art of Drinking Well - By Eric Felten

6. Julep Strainer - I lost mine and really need another if you could order one for me. They don’t cost very much at all, but I can’t find these at the stores either. There’s one here.

7. Maybe? -

Just kidding; thanks for looking over this list. You are the best! Merry Christmas, and I love you.

Yours,
Bobby

Well, there you have it - my Christmas list. It is pretty simple, but these are some things that any cocktail enthusiast would want to have. What’s on your list? Are you hoping for anything specific from people this year? I would like to know what everyone else has either just been looking for lately or hinting at family members to track down.

Product Review: The Mojito Company 12" Maple Muddler

I had initially placed the tequila post and Russian vodka post next to each other, but upon further review I decided to place a review of a muddler I bought recently in between as a buffer. I can get pretty critical of business practices and didn’t want the blog to get too dramatic. For the record, I drink spirits from several companies I am critical of and do not plan on stopping. I just like to provide a cautionary voice for the industry and support those companies that maintain their independence and focus on distinction. That said; the muddler…

The Mojito Company
12″ Maple Muddler
Price: $14.95

I chose the 12″ maple muddler from the Mojito Company because of the price and functionality. The muddler also is varnish free, which is a very important characteristic of a good muddler. The varnish has the potential to wear off and may even begin affecting your drinks, so avoid them altogether. Unfortunately, these muddlers are the most common so you may have to look, or as I did, purchase off the net.

I also love how the riveted base keeps the fruit from sliding up the side of the glass. This is not an issue that occurs often when making my cocktails, but the wide base also helps the muddling process. By providing a wide surface area on the base of the muddler, it is easier to avoid over muddling mint leaves and fruit.

The handle is also very comfortable. As the handle reaches the top of the muddler it expands, allowing for a more secure control of the muddler. The muddler’s length is also useful. Allowing for muddling n nearly any style glass or even some of the larger cocktail pitchers I own. However, the size does not make the muddler to wide as it fits into skinnier glasses. I’m not usually one for brand placement, but the branding sunk into the wood of the muddler is done well and not gaudy.

I would recommend picking up this muddler if you are looking for one. If you want to go all out get a traditional Brazilian muddler or opt for the Mojito Company’s redwood one, but I think that this model works well, maintains the classic wood look and feel, and is a great all-around product. I attached the link for the one I got below as well as some alternatives I also considered to provide an equal perspective as well as an article Robert Hess did about muddlers over at the Spirit World.