

Cocktail College
VinePair
Want to take your bartending skills to the next level? Join VinePair managing editor Tim McKirdy for a weekly deep-dive into classic cocktails with America’s best bartenders. Cocktail College looks beyond the recipe and explores every aspect of mixology from ingredients and ice to shaking techniques, garnishes, and glassware — elevating your Martinis, Mai Tais, and everything in between. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 8, 2022 • 1h 23min
The Bloody Mary
The Bloody Mary is a boozy meal in a glass; a vehicle for a range of elaborate and occasionally wacky garnishes; and a hangover cure, if only by means of placebo. In today’s episode, we sit down with Eric “ET” Tecosky, an LA-based former bartender, founder, and owner of Dirty Sue Premium Olive Juice, and national brand ambassador of Jack Daniel’s. Listen on to discover everything you need to know about the Bloody Mary and learn ET’s recipe — and don’t forget to like, review, and subscribe! ET’s Bloody Mary Recipe Ingredients - ½ ounce ET’s spice mix (recipe follows) - 3 ½ ounces tomato juice - 1 ½ ounces vodka- Lemon juice, to taste Directions 1. Add all ingredients to a pint glass with ice. 2. Roll shake between that and a separate glass of sufficient size until chilled. 3. Pour Bloody Mary and ice into a chilled Collins glass or goblet. 4. Garnish with a celery stalk, lemon wedge, a few olives, bacon, and pickled vegetables of your choice. ET’s Spice Mix Ingredients- 6 ounces Dirty Sue Premium Olive Juice - 4 flat teaspoons black pepper - 3 flat teaspoons celery salt - 3 flat teaspoons Lawry’s Seasoned Salt - 6 flat teaspoons prepared horseradish - 3 ounces Worcestershire sauce - ½ ounce Tabasco Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 1, 2022 • 56min
The Martini (re-run)
Are we in the midst of a bonafide Martini renaissance? What are the limits for garnishes, riffs, and ingredients? And when does a Martini cease to be a Martini? These are all questions we should keep top of mind as we revisit one of the earliest recordings of Cocktail College: The Martini, with John Clark-Ginnetti, owner of 116 Crown in New Haven. Tune in — or read below — to learn how to make John’s Martini, and don't forget to like, share, and subscribe!John Clark-Ginnetti's MartiniIngredients3 parts Plymouth Gin2 parts Boissière Dry VermouthGarnish: Lemon peelDirectionsAdd all ingredients to a mixing glass.Add ice and stir until chilled.Strain into a chilled Martini glass.Garnish with a lemon peel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 24, 2022 • 1h 7min
The American Trilogy
On this Thanksgiving Thursday, we show appreciation for the American Trilogy, a distinctly American riff on the Old Fashioned. We’re joined by returning friend of the show Richie Boccato, the drink’s co-creator and owner of New York’s Dutch Kills bar and Hundredweight Ice company. Listen on to learn the story behind the American Trilogy and to learn Boccato’s recipe — and don’t forget to like, review, and subscribe! Richie Boccato’s American Triology Recipe Ingredients - 1 ounce applejack, such as Laird’s Bottled in Bond - 1 ounce rye whiskey, such as Michter’s - 1 cube Demerara sugar - 2 dashes orange bitters (1:1 mix of Fee Brothers and Regans’) - 1 splash soda water Directions 1. Add sugar cube to a chilled Old Fashioned glass and saturate with bitters and a splash of soda water. 2. Crush cube using a muddler and work to form a rough paste. 3. Add applejack, rye, and a large, single cube of ice. Stir gently, 15 times to incorporate the sugar paste. 4. Garnish with an orange twist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 17, 2022 • 1h 19min
The Tipperary
Cocktail College takes a trip to Ireland this week as we’re joined by Jack McGarry, owner of the Dead Rabbit. He’s here to discuss a rare Irish whiskey classic cocktail, the Tipperary, and to dive into the history of the category in general. Tune in to learn more. Listen on to discover McGarry’s Tipperary recipe — and don’t forget to like, review, and subscribe! Jack McGarry’s Tipperary Recipe Ingredients - 1 ½ ounces Irish whiskey - 1 ½ ounces sweet vermouth - ½ ounce green chartreuse - 2 dashes absinthe - 2 dashes Angostura bitters Directions 1. Add two dashes of Angostura bitters, two dashes of absinthe, green chartreuse, sweet vermouth, and Irish whiskey into a mixing glass with ice. 2. Stir until chilled. 3. Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass. 4. Garnish with a lemon twist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 10, 2022 • 1h 19min
The Hurricane
Hold the neutral grain alcohol and powder mix, today we’re exploring how to properly make The Hurricane. Teaching us how to do so is New Orleans native and returning friend of the show, Neal Bodenheimer. Listen on to discover Bodenheimer’s Hurricane recipe — and don’t forget to like, review, and subscribe! Kirk Estopinal’s Hurricane Recipe (as told by Neal Bodenheimer) Ingredients - 1 ½ ounces white rum, such as Don Q - ½ ounce aged rum, such as Appleton 12 - ¾ ounce fassinola (or homemade Hurricane syrup) - ¾ fresh lime juice Directions 1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice. 2. Shake until well chilled. 3. Strain into a chilled Hurricane glass filled with crushed ice. 4. Garnish with a cocktail umbrella. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 3, 2022 • 1h 10min
The Harvard
Don’t call it a Cognac Manhattan: On today’s episode, we explore The Harvard with the esteemed bartender and author Thad Vogler, who’s also the founder of San Francisco’s Bar Agricole, and a leading craft spirits authority. Listen on to discover Vogler’s Harvard recipe — and don’t forget to like, review, and subscribe! Thad Vogler’s Harvard Recipe Ingredients - 1 ½ ounces Cognac, such as Cognac Dudognon- 1 ½ ounces Italian sweet vermouth, such as Bordiga Rosso- 1 barspoon Maraschino liqueur- 1 barspoon gum syrup- 3 dashes aromatic bitters, such as Angostura Directions 1. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice. 2. Stir until well chilled. 3. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with an orange twist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 27, 2022 • 1h 1min
The Champs Élysées
We’re heading to the 8th Arrondissment for today’s cocktail, The Champs Élysées, and we’re exploring it with Wilmer Nolasco, head bartender at Leroy’s in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. More than just another use for that bottle of green Chartreuse, this is a bold yet refreshing four-ingredient shaken classic. Listen on to discover Nolasco’s Champs Élysées recipe — and don’t forget to like, review, and subscribe! Wilmer Nolasco’s Champs Élysées Recipe Ingredients - 1 ½ ounces Cognac, such as Cognac Park VS - ½ ounce green Chartreuse - ½ ounce fresh lemon juice - ⅓ ounce rich demerara simple syrup (2:1) - 2 dashes Angostura bitters Directions 1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. 2. Shake until well chilled. 3. Double strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 20, 2022 • 55min
The Dark 'N' Stormy
We're taking a field trip today at Cocktail College, as we head to the beach to discuss the Dark 'N' Stormy with the pirate himself, Brian Miller. The key to perfecting this drink? Put aside that can of ginger beer (unless it's Old Jamaica) and pull out the juice extractor. Want to learn more? Listen on to discover Miller's Dark 'N' Stormy recipe — and don’t forget to like, review, and subscribe! Brian Miller’s Rum & Ginger Highball (Inspired by the Classic Dark 'N' Stormy)Ingredients 2 ounces Gosling's rum (or 1 ounce Appleton 12 and 1 ounce El Dorado 15)3/4 ounce lime juice1 ounce ginger syrup1/4 ounce Cruzan Black Strap rum 1/4 ounce Hamilton 151 Overproof rum1 dash of Angostura bitters1 ounce club sodaDirections Combine rum, lime juice, ginger syrup, blackstrap molasses, Hamilton 151, and bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice.Shake until chilled.Strain into a chilled highball glass with ice.Top with club soda.Optional: garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel and candied ginger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 13, 2022 • 56min
The Dirty Martini
There’s no denying that interest in the Martini has spiked in recent times — driven in large part by the mass appeal of vodka-laced Dirty Martinis. Gin purists may stick up their noses but a drink this popular is worthy of close examination. Under the microscope of today’s guest, Simon Sebbah, beverage director of New York’s Grand Tour Hospitality, this study leads us into the field of customizing brine, vermouth, and even olives. Listen on to discover Sebbah’s Dirty Martini recipe — and don’t forget to like, review, and subscribe! Simon Sebbah’s Dirty Martini Recipe Ingredients - 2 ½ ounces freezer-cold gin or vodka - ¼ - ½ ounce salt-adjusted dry vermouth (3 parts water to 1 part brine, salt adjusted to taste) - Garnish: 1 olive Directions 1. Freezer-cold spirit and vermouth in a mixing glass with ice. 2. Stir (briefly) until cold then strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass. 3. Garnish with one olive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 6, 2022 • 57min
El Presidente
Explore the Cuban cocktail culture and crafting a balanced rum cocktail. Discover the versatility of Grenadine in cocktails and the impact of glassware on the cocktail experience. Contemplate the ultimate bar visit and last cocktail choices, along with exploring gin cocktail preferences and last sips.