It doesn’t get more laid back than a spritz. In its simplest form, it’s a combination of an apéritif (like St-Germain or the ever-popular Aperol) with sparkling wine and soda water. The cocktail comes together in an instant with no special tools required, making it a recipe that even the most inexperienced home bartender can master. But in this case, basic does not mean boring. Spritzes are…
Japanese whisky doesn’t have as long a history as other spirits categories. It more than makes up for its shortened timeline with a reputation for producing outstanding liquid, and this penchant for excellence makes Japan home to some of the whiskey world’s most desired bottles. It’s also yielded quite a few labels that require consumers to dig a little deeper into their wallet and splurge. The…
The bourbon cocktail canon runs deep with roots in one of the earliest known cocktails — the Old Fashioned — followed by classics like the Mint Julep and Boulevardier and modern entries including the Gold Rush and the Paper Plane. While these are all exemplary when made with a practiced hand, they are easy to overdo since their simplicity invites creative iteration and leads to countless riffs.…
As a drinks writer, I admit that I can even get overwhelmed by the bourbon selection in a liquor store. So. Many. Brands. I have my go-tos, like Wild Turkey 101 and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, and some favorites from smaller brands like Watershed and Pinhook. But I’m always looking for bottles that drink above […]
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When temperatures start to spike and OOO messages fill up your inbox, that usually means it’s time to crown the official “drink of the summer.” Some years, it feels like drinkers are on the same page. Like when Spicy Margaritas and icy glasses of frosé dominated patios. Or when, a few years later, those same goblets were replaced by bright orange Aperol Spritzes. But sometimes, the drinks that…
Bourbon is a massive spirits category. So massive, it often makes sense to break it down into different subsections to appreciate its breadth. There are several ways to deconstruct the genre: by proof, mash bill, or region. But for both veteran and budding bourbon aficionados, perhaps the most entertaining way to slice and dice through bourbon’s enormous landscape is by separating the category…
With enough planning, you can find a great drink in just about any city in America. But some cities simply outperform the rest when it comes to shaking up a cocktail or curating an excellent wine list. Aside from perennial picks like New York City and New Orleans, other cities with great bar scenes can fly under the radar, but many are gaining momentum as special concepts open, trailblazing…
Aperitivo hour hits different when you have a Negroni in hand. The bitter-yet-refreshing combination of Campari, sweet vermouth, and gin is a way to unwind after a long day that’s time-tested and approved across the globe. A traditional Negroni follows a straightforward three-equal-parts formula, but plenty of bartenders bend the rules to jazz it up. Even with just three ingredients, inventive…
Discover the five regional winners of the Road to Jerez Cocktail Competition and their innovative cocktail creations using Kansas City Whiskey.
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For the at-home mixologist, it can be difficult to figure out exactly how to stock your bar cart. Not everyone looking to whip up classic cocktails has the luxury of stocking several bottles of a spirit to experiment with. So if you have to commit to just one expression to cater to a wide range of drinks, which gin should you reach for? Gin is always distilled with juniper berries, but…
As other spirits report declining sales and pauses in production, the ever-popular tequila category just keeps growing, with hundreds of new brands launching last year alone. America’s insatiable appetite for agave is now met with so many options, it can feel like there’s a new bottle hitting the shelves every day — and by some counts, there is. But as the market is flooded with new labels, it…
Ask any bartender which cocktail is their top seller, and chances are they’ll say a Margarita. The zesty, refreshing drink is America’s favorite cocktail, after all. What’s not to love about the combination of tequila, punchy lime, and a bit of sweetness served over ice? Despite its simple composition, bartenders have serious opinions about how to deliver the best version of a Margarita. From the…
Trends come and go, but classics are here to stay. Martinis, and their many variations, show up on virtually every cocktail menu — and if the order isn’t written, any bartender can still make you one. The Martini is a sophisticated, chic, and timeless drink that offers an option for nearly every palate, whether you prefer a savory concoction or the ever-trendy espresso variant. But how do you…
HospoNEXT is a free hospitality show with exhibits, activations, and a content stage aimed at on-premise staff.
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Before there were YouTube and Instagram, aspiring bartenders had only so many resources to study the trade, mainly books and mentorship. Even today, some classic (and modern) cocktail books are incredibly rich founts of knowledge that industry professionals can learn from. So we’ve decided to put together a sort of canon of cocktail books that bartenders and interested drinkers alike can use as…
In recent weeks, we’ve seen a few instances of beverage brands and media treating sommeliers as spirits experts in lieu of bartenders — people who work with spirits much more frequently. Of course, bartenders and sommeliers have overlapping experiences. Just as bartenders have likely poured and served wine in their careers, sommeliers have some experience working with spirits. Is it a smart move…
Cocktail trends of yore have a lot to offer. In 1862, Jerry Thomas revolutionized cocktail culture with his book, “The Bartender’s Guide.” Thomas was soon followed by legendary barman Harry Craddock and, later on, Dale Degroff whose recipes and techniques helped start a cocktail renaissance. In more recent history, the teams behind establishments like New York City’s Milk & Honey and Death & Co.…
There’s been a gradual metamorphosis to tequila’s narrative over the last several years. Little by little, pieces of its old reputation of being a good-time party drink of questionable quality have sloughed off like shedded skin. In its place is a shiny new narrative framing the agave spirit as a potent potable to be properly poured, sipped, and appreciated. While this transformation has produced…
“On a peak Friday or Saturday night, we easily serve around 200 Espresso Martinis, sometimes even more,” says Hailey Knight, the longtime beverage director at Félix Cocktails et Cuisine. Given that not all bartenders even like making Espresso Martinis — and that a good one takes time and care — it’s impressive that Knight and her […]
The post How High-Volume Bars Make Hundreds of Complicated…
Instincts on point. Outcome hilariously unexpected.
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Baijiu, China's most popular spirit and the most consumed spirit in the world by volume, is yet to become a mainstay on most Australian menus.
The post How bartenders are introducing China’s favourite spirit onto menus appeared first on hospitality | Magazine.
Humans are creatures of habit. I’m certainly guilty of gravitating towards the same things, especially when it comes to my bar order. I will almost always order the Martini, and I’ll have the bartender make me one even if it’s not on the menu as one of their signature cocktails. I obviously love other drinks, […]
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Grabbing a pre-flight drink is the ideal activity to kill time at the airport for many people. It provides a sense of familiar comfort and a partial shield from the bustle and noise of airport corridors. It also gives people the best opportunity for them to sit back and relax as they wait to board the plane — something nearly impossible for non-first-class passengers to do on an actual flight.…
Join us for Vegas Unstripped 2026 at Palms Casino Resort on April 26. Experience innovative dishes from top Las Vegas chefs and bartenders!
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It may seem like Espresso Martinis are everywhere — that’s because they are. The caffeinated cocktail has catapulted in popularity over the past decade, even landing the No. 4 spot on the list of the 50 most popular cocktails in the world for 2025. Even though the Espresso Martini is beloved by bargoers, it’s no secret that many bartenders disdain making the time-consuming, “basic” drink. Still,…
Pity the flavored liqueur. Infused with various fruits and nuts and enhanced with sugars, these low-ABV bottles of alcohol tend to be easy back bar targets to mock based on somewhat stereotypical perceptions. They’re too sweet. They have funky colors. They taste a little too artificial. The viewpoint saddles flavored liqueurs with a reputation for being cheap and not “serious” like traditional…
Getting into whiskey usually requires a gentle approach. We may have a friend who kicked off their journey with a bottle of Laphroaig 10 and immediately appreciated its pronounced smoke and Band-Aid notes, but these intrepid souls are an anomaly. It takes time and experience for most folks to develop an appreciation for whiskeys with funky, aggressive profiles. It also requires trying delicious…
The Old Fashioned is one of the world’s oldest cocktails. It was originally stirred up sometime around 1806 and referred to as the Whiskey Cocktail. Made from a simple combination of whiskey, sugar, and bitters, the drink was immensely popular and gave rise to an influx of riffs that introduced new ingredients and ratios. The recipe for a Whiskey Cocktail quickly came to be something different…
Everyday bourbon is a special thing. It’s not something you have to think a lot about — it’s a bottle you simply grab when the mood strikes, whether for a neat pour or to mix into your classic cocktail of choice. We’ve certainly had our favorites, which tend to ebb and flow throughout the years. […]
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Every March, Chicago famously dyes its namesake river a bright emerald green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. It’s an oddly endearing and eco-friendly ritual, but there’s a catch: It typically takes place the Saturday before March 17. On the actual day, scores of Chicagoans gather in bars and celebrate all things Irish by indulging in a pint or two of Guinness. While the celebratory scene may be…