Advice

I've been wanting to write this blog post for quite some time now.

I'm a Bartender and Please Don't Ask Me What My "Real Job" Is -

Q - “What do you do?” 

A - “I’m a bartender”

Q - “Right, but like, what do you WANT to do?”

A - “Um.”

This question comes in many forms, such as:

“Is this your night job?” “What do you really want to do?” “What did you do before this?” “Are you in school?”

Whether you're hosting a halloween party or want some cool and different cocktails to share with others, try some of these cocktails this week or over the halloween weekend. RYS will be serving most of these cocktails on Friday night. These are novelty drinks so proceed with caution. They are visually appealing, but not necessarily the best tasting. Have fun with it!

In celebrating "National Vodka Day", I offer up some cocktails that are classic and will look very familiar to most while others are originals with my own personal twists. The suggested vodka brand used for each cocktail is intentional based on it's character and tasting notes in relation to other ingredients. Of course, as always, you are welcome to use your own favorite vodka, but it's important to have a well-balanced cocktail even with vodka's subtle taste qualities.

Depending on where you are in the world, what you’re ordering, and type of establishment, tipping can be tricky. What is considered a bad tip? When is the tip included and when isn’t it? Is there ever a time where you shouldn’t tip well? Tipping is not a city in China!

These are all common questions that have been on people’s minds forever.  Nevertheless, there’s one kind of tipping that stays pretty consistent across the board and should be: tipping a bartender.

(Cover photo courtesy of my friends at Liquor.com)

National Whiskey Sour Day was August 25^th, but the reality is that the Whiskey Sour is a great drink that can be enjoyed all year long if made properly. With all the quality of bourbons, small-batch bourbons, and other whiskies on the market today, it is no wonder that it has stood the test of time and endures as one of the country’s most popular sour cocktail.

So you're having a party or event and you're interested in hiring a Professional Bartender/Mixologist to take care of you and your guests? Great idea! But how do you evaluate professional bartenders and which service is the best for you? After all, it is a profession that many people are truly unfamiliar with. There is a lot that the common man or woman does not know. Here are the questions you should ask before you consider hiring a Professional Bartender/Mixologist. Make sure they meet all or most of these requirements.

(Minty Blue pictured above)

Summer Rye

The Summer Rye cocktail is adapted from a traditional rye-based drink popular in fall/winter with the addition of St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur in place of Ginger Liqueur. Try both versions. The summer version has been a big hit this summer for weddings coordinated by RYS.

(All photos not credited courtesy of Square One Organic and Del Maguey). Some recipes adapted by Michael Nagy.

Square One Organic Spirits, LLC – Novato, California

Square One, a pioneer in organic spirits, uses 100% organic Montana rye and pure water from the aquifer originating from the Teton Mountains in Wyoming. The bottle labels are made from a blend of bamboo, sugarcane and cotton, which are also organic.

In celebrating "National Cognac Day", here is a Cognac primer. Cognac is synonymous with "fancy," something rich folks sip after dinner in a snifter. Do most people know its French?  What kind of spirit is it actually? Brandy, perhaps.  What do all those acronyms XO and VSOP mean? Yes, it refers to the age of the cognac, but a little more complicated.

The classic Hemingway Daiquiri is my "Cocktail of the Week" and great for sipping in the summer months. Enjoy the different takes on this classic libation. Also, because I was in the daiquiri 'spirit', I included a great You Tube video from my friend and colleague, Marsha Meyer, on making a proper Daiquiri - check it out along with the classic recipe. BTW, this Daiquiri is not the frozen kind.