Making Cocktails at Home

Mixologist Ryan Magarian gives us a primer on making cocktails at home. To truly appreciate the art of the cocktail one must approach it with the intention of experiencing the flavors. He uses savory ingredients and loves making unusual combinations. Ryan's basic tips for making cocktails at home are to use filtered water for ice cubes, measure exactly and buy quality tools of the trade. He mentions the Anejo Bravo (a delicious South of the Border twist on the Old Fashioned) and the Bronx cocktail (a classic rumored to have arisen from the bar at the old Waldorf Astoria sometime just before prohibition was enacted.)

He recommends reading Gary Regan's The Joy of Mixology, David Wondrich's Esquire Drinks and Dale DeGroff's The Craft of the Cocktail. Ryan created the cocktail list at Katsuya, Area and Hyde.

Anejo Bravo

2 oz El Tesoro Anejo Tequila

1 tspn agave nectar

2 dashes of Angostura bitters

1 dash of Regan's No.6 Orange Bitters

1 cherry

1 wide grapefruit disc

In a pint shaker glass, add spirits and mixers. Fill glass with ice and stir swiftly for 20 seconds. Strain over fresh ice into old fashioned glass. Garnish with wide grapefruit disc and a cherry on a pick.

Bronx

1 1/2 oz Aviation Gin

1/4 oz sweet vermouth

1/4 oz dry vermouth

1 1/2 oz orange juice

1 lemon peel

In a pint mixing glass, add spirits and bitters. Fill glass ¾ full of ice and stir swifly 20 times. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with flaming lemon peel.

Music Break -- Mambo Jambo - Perez Pardo & His Orchestra