Holy Spirits: When Monks Do Mixology

Holy Spirits: When Monks Do Mixology

For centuries, monastic communities have produced herbal liqueurs and spirits, originally as medicinal remedies rooted in cloistered knowledge of plants, fermentation, and distillation. These liqueurs often carry not only religious significance but also cultural and historical weight, representing some of the oldest continuously crafted beverages in the world. While most are associated with European Catholic…

read more
Ten Crazy Gins: Botanicals Gone Wild

Ten Crazy Gins: Botanicals Gone Wild

Gin is the most permissive of the major spirits. As long as juniper is present, nearly any botanical, herb, or aromatic is fair game. This encouraged experimentation across the globe, from fine dining chefs to rural distillers, each interpreting gin through the lens of their local flora or their at times excentric imagination. What once…

read more
Pisco: Character, Colonialism & Controversy

Pisco: Character, Colonialism & Controversy

Pisco is a bold grape brandy that has long captured the hearts of South Americans. With a rich colonial history, a longstanding rivalry between two countries over its origins, and it’s starring role in cocktails like the Pisco Sour, this versatile spirit offers far more than just a kick.Origins and HistoryPisco traces its roots back…

read more
Shaken, Not Shelled: Egg-Free Cocktail Foam

Shaken, Not Shelled: Egg-Free Cocktail Foam

That smooth, cloud-like foam on a classic Whiskey Sour or Gin Fizz has always been one of cocktail culture’s visual and textural signatures. Bartenders have relied on egg whites to create it, but today are moving away from it, not just for convenience, but for safety, consistency, and broader appeal.Why Skip the Egg?Raw egg whites…

read more
The Perfect Whisky Sour

The Perfect Whisky Sour

The Whisky Sour is a classic expression of a “sour”, a cocktail category defined by a spirit, citrus juice, and a sweetener. The formula is ancient in concept, dating back to the days when sailors were given spirits mixed with lemon or lime to prevent scurvy and mask the rough flavors of ship-stored alcohol.These eventually…

read more