The Backyard Bartender

Backyard Bartender EPx.2 - The Last Day of Dry-uary 2023 January 31, 2023 Greetings, my dear tipplers! Today is a blend of education and introspection, as I've spent the past few weeks scouring the corners of the earth (or at least the internet) for new and tantalizing cocktail recipes to share with you. And as I mix and stir, I can't help but reflect on the bartenders of yore. Explorers some might say. They had to test, taste, and experiment with the limited options of bathtub gin, moonshine, and basic vodka, all while trying not to end up in an emergency room.  But let's not forget, my favorite book is "The Art of Drinking", a simple yet groundbreaking guide from 1930, a time when the US was in the midst of prohibition and possessing such a book could put you on the FBI's watch list. Back then, mixology wasn't about enhancing flavors but rather masking the harsh taste of illicit hooch. So, hold onto your shakers, my friends, because the next few weeks pr...

Backyard Bartender EPx.1 - Garnishes. Would a cocktail without a garnish truly be a cocktail? January 28, 2023 There are only a few days left in "Dry"uary and I would be lying if I were to say that I made it without a few "Cheat Days." It started with a half glass of wine during the second week and then a Grey Hound one day when I had to vacate for the housekeeper. Well one thing turned to another and here we are! Celebrating the soon to be end of Dryuary. In my never ending quest to keep you, the reader,  entertained and updated on clever, new, and exciting cocktails that are easily made at home we will be talking about the importance of garnishes. Not just garnishes but fresh and fragrant garnishes that will elevate your mixing skills to well above those of the local watering hole down on Main Street. Garnishes for cocktails can include a variety of different ingredients, such as fruits (such as citrus fruits, berries, or tropical fruits), herbs (such as mint ...

Backyard Bartender EP9 - World Famous Lemon Drop June 6, 2020 If the Cosmopolitan cocktail isn't working for you then you need to try this "World Famous" version of a Lemon Drop! Forget that harsh tart Lemon Drop that they serve at the corner bar. Step up your game with this premium version. If you haven't heard of Tuaca, then you better get over to your local liquor store and figure it out. The orangy / vanilla tones of Tuaca will take your Lemon Drops to the next level. This one is easy to make with a simple 3, 2, 1 recipe that is easy to remember and will certainly keep your guests coming back for more! (3 parts mix, 2 parts vodka, 1 part Tuaca.} Your path to World Famous Greatness: 2 to 3 ounces of medium good vodka. Sky vodka with do nicely. Platinum works too. 1 ounce of Tuaca liqueur 3 ounces of sweet and sour mix or make your own. Feel free to swap out one ounce with Limoncello liqueur. Sugar for the rim Lemon peel confetti for garnish Boston shaker and and...

Backyard Bartender EP8 - St. Germain Champagne Punch  May 30, 2020 This is perfect way to add a twist to your next summer garden party and "Wow" your guests with a drink that they probably haven't tried before. This punch is also and excellent replacement for the mostly worn out Mimosa. Serve in teacups like shown in the video or mix it in a pitcher sans ice and pour over cracked ice in a Collins glass with a straw. Either way, this punch never fails to impress! Recipe:  One bottle of champagne. I opt for Prosecco . One cup of St. Germain Elderflower liqueur. 12 ounces of sparkling water. Blueberries to garnish.  Can be served two ways - ladle with ice into a tea cup or pour from a pitcher over cracked ice into a Collins glass. Enjoy! Thank you for visiting the Backyard Bartender and Until next time America! #BackyardBartender #backyardia Backyardia.com

Backyard Bartender EP7 - Prohibition Special May 25, 2020 Hey there cool cat, let's take a trip back to the wild and wooly days of the Roaring 20's! We're gonna make two of the classic hooch-infused drinks that were all the rage back in the Prohibition era. Picture it, ladies in their flapper dresses and gents in their snazzy suits and fedoras, sipping on the good stuff at fancy clubs and speakeasies. And get this, we filmed this shindig in a vintage home from 1916! Can you imagine all the wild stories this joint has seen? So, we're whipping up two cocktails for you today. First up, a simple whiskey punch. This was the budget-friendly option at the time and a staple at cocktail parties. And for the more upscale crowd, we're also making a gin fizz. A fancier drink that would have been found at the posh clubs of the time. Whiskey punch recipe Although I just made up a single cocktail this punch is meant to be served from a punch bowl in tea cups The recipe can be adju...

Backyard Bartender EPx - Musings about tequila on a rainy day in "Dry"uary January 13, 2023 One of the few resolutions that I make at the start of every year, is  Dryuary . It is almost the middle of the month and I am on track but that doesn't keep my adventurous spirit as an amateur mixologist from studying my craft. One of the things that is fueling my imagination today is the fact that Milissa and I spent the last two weeks of the year (minus a few days stuck in airports) in Zihuantanejo Mexico.  We drank a lot of tequila and tequila cocktails. There aren't many tequila drinks that I haven't tried but I still go out looking. I didn't find anything that knocked my socks off but I did learn a few things about tequila. Most notably is that all tequilas are not considered Mexican! That is right! Let's start at the beginning. Do you know who drinks the most tequila in the world? Did you guess it? The US  is actually the biggest consumer of tequila ...

  Backyard Bartender EP6 - Hot Sexy Woman May 10, 2020 Let's just call this one "Playing with Fire!" As someone who has suffered with heartburn for the past 25 years I generally stay away from spicy drinks. Milissa on the other hand loves them. We will be at a Mexican bar or restaurant and she is the first to order a XL Jalapeno Margarita and spend the rest of the night pestering me to "Just try it." The Hot Sexy Woman (she named it) is her take on a Heaven and Hell style cocktail that she liked at a Peruvian restaurant across the river in Portland. I mean what could go wrong? It's not like she is making it up from memory and it is a drink that she last had about 7 years prior. Right? Add that to the fact that these cocktails are by definition made to leave no memories the next day? Enough build up, let's light something on fire! Ingredients: 1 1/2 ounces Mango Habanero Infused Vodka 3+ ounces Mango juice Wedge of lemon and sugar for the rim 1 squirt of...

Backyard Bartender EP5 - The Sazerac May 2, 2020 Remember in the Prologue when I told you that " Some are better than others and others are even worse ?" Well this can get filed under "W" to the power of 2 for "Worser!" And yet it still isn't the worst. On this fateful morning a friend made a surprise visit with a box full of booze. I had planned on making an Old Fashioned but she brought the fixins for a Sazerac. Not a tough switch over. I went to work making a Sazerac, Absinth rinse check, Rye check. and then I just got lost. Crossed wires. Ha ha! Good thing I didn't have any orange slices or I would have really fucked it up! So here it is. I have added proper mixing instructions under the video. What you need: 2 ounces of quality rye whiskey - Bulleit, Buffalo Trace, etc A whisper of absinth Aromatic bitters - Peychaud's is my favorite. A bit pricey but worth it 1 sugar cube Squeeze a spiral of lemon peel for garnish Mixing jar and bar spoon...

Backyard Bartender EP4 - Cosmopolitan April 25,2020 Today I will show you how to make the Crown Jewel of Cocktails, The Cosmopolitan! Cosmo for short. Served at some of the swankiest bars around the globe, a good Cosmopolitan is a delight to the eyes and tickles your taste buds. Want to know the difference between a sparkly pink cocktail that will dazzle your date and one that tastes like a well vodka / cran?  Of course top quality ingredients are import but the key lies in the balance.  Watch below. What you will need to knock her socks off 3 ounces top shelf vodka. Kettle One, Grey Goose, Belvedere, you get what I mean 1 ounce Cointreau liqueur 1/2 ounce Fresh Pressed lime juice A splash of Cranberry juice. Just enough for color! Lemon confetti for garnish A snip of lemon peel to mist Martini glass and boston shaker Thank you for visiting the Backyard Bartender and Until  next time America! #backyardbartender #Backyardia Backyardia.com

Backyard Bartender EP3 - Cadillac Margarita April 19,2020 On this episode we have a special request for a Cadillac Margarita. Of course in true Backyard Bartender style we will step up the game by turning it into a Cadillac Margarita Martini! One of my favorite things about the recipe, other than it contains copious amounts of tequila ,is that it is a "Simple" recipe. In the bartending world, a simple drink is one that doesn't use any store bought mixers. No margarita mix. No store bought sweet and sour. Just the juice of one lime and a squirt of agave syrup to sweeten the cocktail. What you will need: 3+ ounces of mid to high quality tequila - Blanco 1 ounce Cointreau liqueur Fresh squeezed lime juice - Mexican limes if possible Agave syrup Sea salt for the rim Shaker and a martini glass Lime wheel to garnish Thank you for watching the backyard Bartender and Until next time AMERICA! #backyardbartender #backyardia backyardia.com

The Backyard Bartender EP2 - The Perfect Bloody Mary April 11, 2020 Today I will show you how to make the perfect Bloody Mary. Excellent way to start the morning before the game or wow your friends for Sunday brunch. Make them spicy. Make them mild. Easy to make on the fly and everyone will certainly be coming back for more, but be careful! These guys, like most things that are created in the Backyard Bartender, are not made for the faint of heart! A few things to note before getting started. A generous pour equals about 4.5 oz.s. I make them strong for myself but I tone them down for friends and at parties. Next, most of these were made right in the crux of the quarantine so I don't have a few of the correct cocktail glasses for the drink. Lastly, I am not a professional and am just having fun.I hope that you enjoy it as well. Here is what you will need to get the job done:   A mid level vodka or tequila. No need to waste the good stuff on a cocktail with this many ingredient...

Welcome to the Backyard Bartender! Day 1 - Breakfast Martini It was January 31, 2020 and President Trump has just declared a public health emergency and imposed a mandatory 14-day quarantine for certain travellers and a stay at home order for the rest of us. After we finished complaining and posting nasty things on Facebook the majority of the United States went straight to our liquor cabinets in search of new ways to pass the the time. Milissa, my girlfriend at the time, (We are now engaged to be married in November 2023)  decided to shelter in place together and ride out the storm. Milissa is an excellent cook and I have always been a wannabe mixologist and together we had an idea, a "how to" video series on Facebook sharing our favorite cocktail recipes. The Backyard Bartender was born! The series started on the 10th day of the Covid 19 quarantine. We were told that we would be quarantined for 2 weeks but it was clear by that time that it would be much longer. Of course th...