I’ll have a [drink],” says the bar guest confidently, and without a menu, like a reflex. “I saw it on [show] and I really like how [character] looked drinking out of its signature glass.” Maybe they don’t say the last part out loud, but it goes without saying. That drink used to be the Cosmopolitan. … [ Read more]
Dashfire unveils six(!) single-serve canned cocktails
July 30, 2019 by
There’s been lots of recent activity in the local ready-to-drink beverage scene. Vikre Distillery is canning a pink and bubbly French 75, Crooked Water Spirits has announced a bottled Negroni, and Plain Spoke Cocktail Co. from Madison, Wisconsin, has just introduced a canned mojito to complement their Bourbon Smash and Moscow Mule. Now perhaps the … [ Read more]
Dashfire debuts a bottled old fashioned you can’t make at home
October 31, 2018 by
Dashfire Bitters have become mainstays at cocktail bars all over the Twin Cities. Bartenders know them like second nature, but consumers can be a little more hesitant. “People love my bitters but might have no idea what to do with them,” says Lee Egbert, owner of Dashfire Bitters. “We’re really good at balancing flavors, so … [ Read more]
Spirits Close-Up: Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
January 30, 2017 by Leave a Comment
This month’s Craft Cocktail: Aviation at Red Rabbit, uses Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur for a bit of sweetness. Here are some additional uses for the liqueur you can try at home. You want me to buy a $30 bottle of cherry liqueur? That’s what I pay for bourbon! I hear you. But that straw-wrapped bottle looks … [ Read more]
3 holiday cocktail recipes with Bradstreet Neighborhood Craftshouse
December 5, 2016 by Leave a Comment
It’s not exactly a winter wonderland out there yet. These slushy streets, all this gray and gloom. If it’s keeping you from getting in the holiday spirit, here’s an idea: let’s get some holiday spirits in you. Ryan Martinez-Garcia is our man for seasonal cocktails this yuletide. He’s been playing the shakers at Bradstreet Neighborhood Craftshouse, where they serve the … [ Read more]
Bachelor Farmer Cafe adds cocktails
October 12, 2016 by Leave a Comment
North Loopers pining for The Bachelor Farmer’s erstwhile brunch service were happy to see the open-faced sandwiches and pastries make the transition to Bachelor Farmer Cafe, which opened in January of this year. Well, glory be. Now the cocktails have returned as well. “It’s a cool opportunity to bring back the things people loved,” says Casey Underkofler, … [ 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]
There’s Something About Brandy
March 29, 2016 by Leave a Comment
For all the excitement about local small-batch spirits, why is brandy lagging behind? Somewhere in Wisconsin at this very moment, a cherry and an orange slice are being muddled in a glass. They’re being pulverized with a sugar cube and a dash of bitters. A few ice cubes get added, then a slug of rail brandy … [ Read more]
Craft Cocktail: The Cedar at Italian Eatery
December 29, 2015 by Leave a Comment
“With these cocktails, we’re trying to be Italian. Simple is best,” says Brad Drouin. “I’ve never been a believer in 10-step martinis.” Drouin is our man behind the bar at Italian Eatery, the cozy, low-lit destination for meatballs and bucatini on Cedar Avenue near Lake Nokomis. This month’s cocktail is simple indeed—just two ingredients and … [ Read more]
Craft Cocktail: The Capitol Old Fashioned
April 28, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The old fashioned is as enigmatic as it is familiar. Travel across the country—or sometimes just across the street to the next bar—and you will be confronted with so many iterations of the cocktail that it can send you tail spinning into an existential crisis. Bourbon, rye, or brandy? Orange or lemon twist? Water or … [ Read more]
