#gin

John B. Reyna

Oct 22, 2020
4 min

Suze me, have you ever tried Suze?

There are a lot of lovely bitter liqueurs out there. Suze was introduced to me as the French version of Campari, which, honestly, doesn’t do it justice. Not that Campari isn’t amazing, it is! Why else would we write about it? But Suze and Campari are uniquely different. They both have a balance of amazing bitter and sweetness. However, Suze showcases a herbal complexity and intensity of aromatics that isn't as easily discernible in Campari. Similarly, the were both created as

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Cheery Heering, don't worry it's not pickled

John B. Reyna

Aug 30, 2020
4 min

Cheery Heering, don't worry it's not pickled

Cherry Heering recently celebrated its 200th birthday in 2018. Yet, it’s still all natural, using both sweet black cherries and botanicals to create a rich syrupy cherry flavor. How it's made This deep red liqueur is produced by soaking lightly crushed sweet Danish cherries and a secret blend of spices in a neutral grain spirit. It is then matured in a cask for up to 5 years, with sugar added during the aging process. It’s naturally colored deep ruby red by the cherries. Unli

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Enjoy absinthe, but don’t expect a visit from a green fairy

John B. Reyna

Aug 18, 2020
6 min

Enjoy absinthe, but don’t expect a visit from a green fairy

Absinthe is one of the most well-known spirits; yet, it is often only known for the misbelief that it makes you hallucinate. Queue EuroTrip scene. However, there is so much more to this incredible spirit, and we’re here to break it down for you. So make yourself a cocktail utilizing absinthe and find your hallucinations elsewhere. History Absinthe is named after its primary-botantical, Artemisia absinthium (aka grande wormwood). The earliest recorded used of Artemisia absinth

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Now you know, real triple-sec is Cointreau

John B. Reyna

Jul 21, 2020
5 min

Now you know, real triple-sec is Cointreau

I remember the first time my mother bought me alcohol. After helping me move into my freshmen dorm, I found myself sitting in the parking lot of a nearby liquor store as she procured a couple bottles to celebrate. There was a bottle of rum and vodka, which I may have requested. Oh, how my tastes have changed! But the one surprise I distinctly remember, Cointreau. There are plenty of versions of orange liqueurs, aka triple sec and curacao, out there. And then there is Cointrea

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Fernet-Branca, the iconic amaro soaring above all others

John B. Reyna

Jul 14, 2020
3 min

Fernet-Branca, the iconic amaro soaring above all others

We're sticking with Italian bitter liqueurs for a second week in a row. Much like Campari, Fernet-Branca is generally an acquired taste. In the world of amaros, it is one of the most bitter and dense examples and can easily overwhelm a cocktail if caution is not used. Yet, as you will see in the cocktails below, when used properly, it can be a powerful ally in your cocktail game. History In 1845, Bernadino Branca created Fernet-Branca in Milan, Italy. The Fratelli Branca Dist

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Campari,the Iconic Red Bitter Aperitivi, Mesmerizes

John B. Reyna

Jul 5, 2020
3 min

Campari,the Iconic Red Bitter Aperitivi, Mesmerizes

Look at that color! Damn, Campari photographs well. History With the growing popularity of vermouth, different bars and restaurants began playing with more bitter versions in the mid 1800s. Also, having an Amaro as a digestif after a meal was already common in Italy. Gaspere Campari became a specialist of these unique house-made concoctions and decided to experiment with a bitter before-dinner drink. He created the original recipe in 1860 and opened his own bar in an outdoor

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Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, Not a Shirley Temple Cherry

John B. Reyna

May 30, 2020
3 min

Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, Not a Shirley Temple Cherry

Until the last few years, if I saw anything labeled maraschino cherries, then I'd be ready for bright red, syrupy cherries. Yuck, I only liked these as a kid. My life changed for the better when I was introduced to Luxardo maraschino liqueur. No sugary nonsense here. It's not even in the same universe. First, there are several maraschino liqueur options. However, most are attempted replications of the gold standard, Luxardo. It been produced by the same family since 1817. Mr.

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Enjoying the Elixir of Long Life: Green Chartreuse

John B. Reyna

May 24, 2020
3 min

Enjoying the Elixir of Long Life: Green Chartreuse

Chartreuse’s story is as close to a fairytale as there is in the spirits world. In 1605, a French military officer visited the Chartreuse Order of cloistered monks (the “Carthusian”) at a Chartreuse monastery in Vauvert, France and gifted them an alchemical manuscript. The manuscript was titled An Elixir of Long Life, and it contained a recipe for an elixir comprised of 130 herbs, flowers, and spices. © Chartreuse At the beginning of the 18th century, the manuscript was sent

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Choose your own adventure with the Martini

John B. Reyna

May 9, 2020
4 min

Choose your own adventure with the Martini

As many of you know, a few weeks ago we posted about the two predecessors of the Martini, the Manhattan and the Martinez. That was a deliberate attempt to set the stage for the brilliance of the Martini. While it is known as the King of the Cocktails, it is also a very forgiving drink that each consumer can tweak to their personal preference. And that’s the main point of this post—experimenting with the Martini. Let us explain . . . First, let’s take a quick journey back in t

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John B. Reyna

May 3, 2020
4 min

Cognac, Keeping Brandy Cool Since 1700

The final products, making you thirsty I found brandy far too late in life and am trying to make up for lost time. Though I could say that about many spirits, I feel most strongly about brandy because of the story behind it and the endless possibilities of what can be done with it. Brandy has been made for a very long time, from many different fruits all over of the world. Simply put, it’s any distilled spirit made from fruit juice. In today’s big box liquor stores, you can l

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Teakwood Tavern brings libations and smiles to friends

John B. Reyna

Apr 5, 2020
3 min

Teakwood Tavern brings libations and smiles to friends

Finished gift bags for friends of Teakwood Tavern Shen had a brilliant idea on Friday night--dropping off pre-made cocktail gift packages for some of Teakwood Tavern's best patrons. Here's how, in early April, Teakwood Tavern became known as Boozy Santa Clause. Bringing smiles to thirsty faces across the DFW metroplex. Let's get to the important part first--SAFETY. We took the preparation, packaging, and delivery of these gift bags seriously. We washed our hands and used hand

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