drink dogma » Gin

THE BEES KNEES – BOBBY’S WEEKLY HOUSTON PRESS COCKTAIL COLUMN

Bobby Heugel — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:13:59 +0000

This week’s cocktail is the Bees Knees – both figuratively and literally. The phrase “the bees knees” appeared at some point in the 1920’s as an allusion to the prized pollen carried by bees in sacs located on their legs. The cocktail itself originated during the same period as a way to compensate for era’s low-grade illicit alcohol. Eventually, the Bees Knees became a bar staple as it really is one of the simplest and tastiest classics around.

The remainder of this column can be read here at the Houston Press’ website. This is part of an ongoing series of cocktail articles written by Bobby Heugel for the Houston Press. To read prior columns and read more about this series on great cocktails, please refer to this previous post.

GIN & TONIC – BOBBY’S WEEKLY HOUSTON PRESS COCKTAIL COLUMN

Bobby Heugel — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:48:35 +0000

The Gin and Tonic is arguably the world’s favorite highball. This simple combination of botanical gin bliss, bubbly tonic, and a squeeze of fresh citrus is a leisurely, refreshing option that always helps to beat the summer heat. While a staple of the British colonial era, the gin and tonic is actually a relatively new American libation first appearing in bars in the 1930’s. Drinks containing gin and citrus were staples almost a hundred years prior, but we had to wait on what today remains a somewhat elusive American ingredient: quinine. Great G&T’s after all use great tonic water – which is never under any circumstances found guzzling from the sticky mouth of a standard bar gun.

THE TOM COLLINS – BOBBY’S WEEKLY HOUSTON PRESS COCKTAIL COLUMN

Bobby Heugel — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:22:27 +0000

The Tom Collins is among the most famous of historical cocktails. Yet despite this widespread notoriety, one glaringly obvious question remains unanswered: Who the hell was Tom Collins anyway? Two competing stories may offer some insight. It seems that the often overlooked Mr. Collins was either a fictitious multi-state libelous scoundrel or a freaking bar cat! Regardless of which perspective is correct, one certainty prevails: the Tom Collins has the most fascinating back-story of any classic cocktail.