You watch Mad Men? Boardwalk Empire? If so, you've probably seen a lot of artists at work.
Their art? The cocktail.
I attended a private cocktail instruction last night at Big Cedar Distillery. The instructor, Angie, is a mixologist. She also runs the Cocktail Cottage, which has a slew of good hard liquor guides and equipment (though I can't really approve of the books about absinthe, since GKC, back in the day, condemned the green monster strongly).
She gave us an overview of the art of cocktailing. It used to be a common art, but was lost during the 1980s and 1990s. It's making a comeback now. People today are looking for more than the easy-to-grab beer and a shot of liquor. She teaches people how to make cocktails. Real cocktails, the kind that you infuse for days, then mix delicately.
Last night, we drank vodka infused with cucumber, thyme, dill, and lemon, mixed in a punch bowl with a block of ice and lemonade. It was shockingly good. The thing I liked the most: the alcohol didn't hit you over the head. It was there, but it was balanced with the rest of the ingredients. She said that's the secret of good cocktailing: balance. If the alcohol overwhelms everything else, you screwed up.
I'm not much of a hard liquor fan, but I'm terribly intrigued with this lost art. I plan on getting a book or two. I'll keep you posted on any progress.
Highly recommended by the mixologist:
