Stack of cocktail books—and a cocktail—that I am working my way through
Now that your bar is stocked following our tips, what are you going to mix up for yourself and for those people who are within your Corona bubble?
Deciding what to shake or stir with your curated selection of spirits can be, ironically, a deterrent in your mission of getting glass to lips. The decision can seem like too much work, especially when you’ve also got to figure out what to make for dinner with the supplies still remaining in your Corona pantry, and when your brain is in a daze after hours of Zoom calls. Opening a beer or pouring a glass of wine or even drinking a spirit neat beckons with its ease and efficiency.
And that’s fine if you take that route for an end-of-day or weekend tipple, but, come on, you know you want a cocktail. It’s probably what you would be treating yourself to if you could walk into a bar and order one from your pro bartender.
(Note that even though you may not be able to lift an elbow at a bar in these topsy-turvy days of the global pandemic, many states are temporarily allowing you to get cocktails to go. This loosening of local liquor laws means that that expertly made cocktail destined for your gullet isn’t so out of the question any more. Check to see if your local restaurant is allowing this. Paul’s place, Talula’s, is, as well as Langosta Lounge & Pop’s Garage, which started doing so today after a long, challenging hiatus.)
If, however, the only way (or the preferred way) for you to get a craft cocktail in hand is for you to make it yourself, then that’s what you need to do. Since you have standards, throwing a bit of this and a bit of that from your liquor cabinet and pantry into a cocktail shaker won’t do. You need some guidance on how to prepare a decent cocktail.
In this age of the Internet, you might be surprised to know that I turn to books more often than the computer for recipes and mixology tips. Judging from the orderly piles of cocktail books in Paul’s apartment, I am going to bet he does too. One of my main goals during self-isolation was to work my way through my own stack of cocktail books. Having made decent progress in this self-assigned task, I can recommend some especially helpful printed books for guiding you in the ways of superior cocktails. My top picks are Death and Co; Joy of Mixology by the late and great Gary Regan; and The Bar Book by Jeffery Morgenthaler.
If self-instruction by book isn’t the ideal way for you to learn the arts of mixology, there are on-line classes available for free or a modest price, led by the pros. Located near Talula’s in downtown Asbury Park, Laylow, a relatively new speakeasy-style craft cocktail bar, holds weekly cocktail classes on Saturday evenings for $10 (tonight at 7pm!). Not only do you get to learn a thing or two, while drinking a thing or two, but your ticket also helps support out-of-work bartenders who are really taking a financial hit since most drinking spots are closed to the public. Another establishment hosting cocktail classes is world-renown Dear Irving in New York City, via Instagram Live. Many other bars and liquor brands are doing something similar on Instagram and Zoom. In short, there are many live and on-line resources available.
Paul and I are available, too. If you would like to connect with your friends remotely over a cocktail that you all make together in your respective Zoom square, we can arrange for a group on-line class. Recently I was hired to demo how to make a tequila cocktail for a person’s birthday gathering on Zoom. It was a lively and fun way to celebrate. Next up, I’ll be conducting an in-depth look at the history of rum and showing how to make three different rum cocktails. In each case, participants were notified of what spirits, mixers, and equipment they needed to make the mixed drinks along with me.
It may be a bit trickier than before to treat yourself to a decent cocktail, but you have the supplies, and with these printed and on-line resources, you now also have the skills. And when all else fails, support your local restaurant and bartenders and order one to go.
Stay safe and healthy, and please drink responsibly…and well.
Cheers!