by Tara Rafiq | Mar 24, 2017 | The Alchemist
First there’s chocolate – dark and rich. Then spice—a whole caravan of exotic flavours and aromas from faraway lands. The bitterness lands next – astringent, clean, pleasantly mouthwatering. Throughout, delicate florals, dried fruits and an underlying sweetness keep...
by Tara Rafiq | Mar 17, 2017 | The Alchemist
It’s right there in the original description of a cocktail, dating back to 1806: “a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water and bitters – it is vulgarly called a bittered sling.” In other words, bitters are what make a cocktail a cocktail....
by Tara Rafiq | Mar 10, 2017 | The Alchemist
In the months before the Rosewood Hotel Georgia’s subterranean bar, Prohibition, opened, head bartender Brad Stanton spent countless hours obsessing over every detail, from a state-of-the-art ice-maker to stylish copper bar tools. One of the things he obsessed over...
by Tara Rafiq | Mar 3, 2017 | The Alchemist
One could argue that without liqueur, a drink isn’t a cocktail. It’s just booze in a glass. Liqueurs add sweetness, of course, but they also contribute a cornucopia of complex flavours and aromas: floral, creamy, spicy, nutty, fruity, sour. Meanwhile, herbal liqueurs...
by Tara Rafiq | Feb 24, 2017 | Home Bar, The Alchemist
Every cocktail starts with a base spirit. Every home cocktail bar should do the same. The question is, what spirits do you really need to stock at home? What’s worth spending money on (and what isn’t)? After all, those bright, shiny bottles can be expensive. That’s...
by Tara Rafiq | Feb 17, 2017 | Home Bar, The Alchemist
Stocking your home bar? Before you invest in spirits, tools and glassware (not to mention that handy bar cart), you should get some expert advice. Luckily, there are plenty of great cocktail books out there to help you make the right choices. Here are the essential...
