Summer tasting list

Well, the official Tiki Oasis 2014 schedule is out and it's packed full as usually. The highlight for me every year is whatever Martin Cate is talking about and this year he's talking about a (rum) revolution. Per the description, we'll be tasting rums from Angostura, Denizen, and Privateer. And the event is also sponsored by Lost Spirits, Owney's, The Real McCoy, Penny Blue, and Rhum Clément (maybe more tastings or a cocktail?). Lots of fodder for future episodes and I'm starting my summer research now. 

And those Lost Spirits and Denizen rums are the new hotness so I guess I'd better catch up.

Summer reading list progress report

I recently posted a summer reading list. Perhaps I need to make it a longer list. I've recently completed The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart and The Bar Book by Jeffrey Morgenthaler, bar manager at Portland's Clyde Common.

I enjoyed both - I like to think I pick up (steal?) something from every bartender I observe and books are a natural extension of that process. 

Even above that, The Bar Book was a revelation. I want to get a copy for everyone I know that has even a passing interest in mixing cocktails at home (or beyond). There is literally page after page of no-nonsense information.

My 3 favorite things about the book:

  1. It taught me things I didn't know, such as optimal shaking time on a cocktail (I often over-shake a cocktail it seems) and inspired me to learn a real damn technique to stir a cocktail.
  2. It re-enforced things I understood to be right. The ratios in a drink are not accidental and measuring is important. No, really.
  3. It didn't directly contradict any habits I've developed (sigh of relief).

I'm going to go re-read it and then finish Potions of the Caribbean.