I’m a Greek-Mexican-United Statesian bartender and I call Minnesota home. An endeavor to discover more of my cultural history has inspired deep-dives into ancestry websites and multiple travels to “Old Country” locations. As history can inform the present, a deeper understanding of my cultures give me new creative spaces in drink-making. Putting our authentic selves … [ Read more]
Spirits of the Party: Aperitif, Digestif, and Nightcap recipes for the holidays
October 28, 2019 by
Aperitif Cocktail: Snowbird Spritz The botanical elements in the amaro and absinthe will stimulate the palate—jump-starting the body’s digestive process—and making it the perfect aperitif. The bubbly, slightly dry profile make a moreish combination with a bouquet of aromas crafted to delicately begin any meal among community. Ingredients 2 ounces Heirloom Pineapple Amaro 1 teaspoon … [ Read more]
Spirits Close-Up: Quit Smoking
August 1, 2019 by
You order a drink and a slate tablet appears in front of you. On the tablet, the bartender ignites a small pile of woodchips and covers it with a rocks glass that fills with white fog. The glass is then quickly upturned and the bartender adds a stirred cocktail. The smoke slowly drifts away as … [ Read more]
Spirits Close-Up: The Next, Next Cool Spirit
May 28, 2019 by
People are always trying to find what’s “next” in spirits. Whiskey is locked into its heyday. Tequila has overcome the fake amber stuff we shot in college. Minnesotans have decided to be “nice” about the smoke of mezcal. Sherry may never fully bloom here. My money says the next big spirits boom will come when … [ Read more]
Why You Hate Vermouth
March 26, 2019 by
Bartenders everywhere know that people hate vermouth. Guests are constantly requesting their martini not be sullied with that same swill collecting dust in their home liquor cabinet. They employ an ever-expanding array of vocal burbles and diminutive hand motions to demonstrate how minuscule a measure of vermouth might be permitted. But there’s no chance the … [ Read more]
The Perfect Holiday Party Nightcap Recipe: The Hearthsider
November 16, 2018 by
The fire is dying, the kids are asleep. Time to reward yourself for a party well-thrown. Let’s stop in to Bardo where our cocktail columnist, Zachary Sapato, stirs up the perfect nightcap. “Hechicera Rum has a ton of banana-coconut-tropical notes to it, but also the vanilla and caramel flavors you want from a barrel,” he … [ Read more]
Craft Cocktail: Walter Mondale at Young Joni’s Back Bar
January 30, 2018 by
February drinking in Minnesota often leads us down dark alleys into dark basements, drinking dark spirits to soothe our darkening spirits. But this alley behind Dangerous Man Brewing is leading me toward something a little more lighthearted. “It’s served up, it’s elegant, and has this really pretty color,” says Adam Gorski, pouring a copper-orange drink … [ Read more]
Craft Cocktail: No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn at Dakota Jazz Club
August 30, 2017 by
The circumstances always dictate the right drink, and the quirks are what make them memorable. Last week, I ordered a Brooklyn cocktail at the Dakota Jazz Club, turned around to clap for a bass solo, turned back around and there it was in front of me. I was surprised. I hadn’t heard the rattle of … [ Read more]
Craft Cocktail: Wilde at Bar Brigade
July 25, 2017 by
Drinking at Bar Brigade is all about rosé on tap and riffs on cocktails that were popular in fin de siècle Paris. We settle in a cozy nook, brimming with greenery, and pass on a pretty French wine list in favor of a cloudy cocktail to beat back the sweltering afternoon. Haden Riles is behind the … [ Read more]
Craft Cocktail: Campfire Rob Roy at Ngon Bistro
June 26, 2017 by
Most restaurants on University Avenue in St. Paul deliver excellent food at the expense of their ambiance. I’ll happily eat a banh mi from a grocery store or a bowl of pho in an unadorned plastic booth. But when it’s happy hour, I want to escape. I want to drink in summer as I drink … [ Read more]
Mix This Now: Brandy cocktail recipes
March 29, 2016 by Leave a Comment
As part of our look at why brandy seems to be bringing up the rear of the local, small-batch spirits craze, we put together a few cocktail ideas that incorporate the spirit. For starters, a good mixing brandy like Raynal XO ($30) is an able stand-in for whiskey in most cocktails. Heck, even your dusty … [ Read more]
