Science A.F., page 208
Science A.F., page 208

Another crack at the vacpot cocktail. This time I wasn’t shy about using the whole batch at once, and it worked much better. The cocktail base here is a curious concoction of Compass Box Great King St. Glasgow Blend Scotch Whisky, Compass Box The Peat Monster Scotch,...

Green Thumb, page 64
Green Thumb, page 64

This was a fun and interesting cocktail to make, and so far, it’s given me the best storytelling opportunity. The “barbecue aroma” called for here was crazy! And people seem to think the whole idea is outrageous. Here’s the deal: you grind up a package of hotdogs (I...

Porthole: Heart of Stone, page 154
Porthole: Heart of Stone, page 154

I’ve really enjoyed the few Porthole Cocktails I’ve made so far, and The Heart of Stone is no exception. If you’re looking for an approachable, easy to make recipe from The Aviary Cocktail Book, this would be a good choice. If you don’t have or don’t want to order the...

Micahlada – 2011, page 334
Micahlada – 2011, page 334

If you set aside the requisite home-brewed beer this spec calls for, this operation is pretty approachable. Thankfully, my buddy Robert in Atlanta was kind enough and gracious enough to actually brew this beer for me, so I didn’t have to set it aside. And let me tell...

Hot Chocolate, page 98
Hot Chocolate, page 98

Hot chocolate, tequila, and a cigar. Quite simply: spectacular. This was a really fun drink to make and consumer. The exciting part about this, for me, was that I shopped, prepped, and executed all in the same day, which is a pretty rare occurrence with these Aviary...

Bloody Mary – 2011, page 294
Bloody Mary – 2011, page 294

Bring the pain (and your Amex)! This cocktail is difficult to execute (and can get pricy). The highlights of this preparation, in my opinion, are the workarounds I created to accommodate for the $6,000 in equipment I was unwilling to purchase for this project. Namely,...

Hurricane, Page 56
Hurricane, Page 56

Haven’t mentioned it yet, but I am presently obsessed with tiki cocktails and, to a lesser degree, tiki culture. I was very excited when it came time to make this cocktail, since it fits squarely within this obsession. “But wait! Is a Hurricane really a tiki drink?...

How Does Snoop Dogg Use Lemongrass?
How Does Snoop Dogg Use Lemongrass?

How, indeed? Not sure. And even after making this rather elaborate cocktail, still not sure. I am, however, sure about one thing: this cocktail is DELICIOUS! And beautiful! And a little complicated. My goal in this post is to offer some thoughts on simplifying this so...

Zombie Panda, page 120
Zombie Panda, page 120

First things first: go ahead and get started on the ice—it’s a royal pain in the ass! Honestly, I thought this was going to be a pretty easy cocktail. I’ve been honing my craft, sharpening my steel, building my chops—and this looked like a piece of cake. And it should...

Loaded To The Gunwalls, page 138
Loaded To The Gunwalls, page 138

I’m excited to write that this cocktail was both delicious and fun to make. So far, this has been my favorite to make and to drink. The cocktail base is Batavia Arrack, hazelnut orgeat, Bittermens Boston Bittahs, The Bitter End Moroccan Bitters, pineapple juice, and...

2 In 1, page 220
2 In 1, page 220

This cocktail was relatively quick and easy—a rare find in The Aviary Cocktail Book. It’s a carbonated Negroni and a white lady, made separately, then combined. Pretty delicious. Pretty easy to make, as long as you have carbonation equipment and experience. Since...

Argentinian Soda Jerk, page 128
Argentinian Soda Jerk, page 128

Second attempt. This recipe seemed like a very simple matter, especially since I’ve done a lot of carbonating in recent months after reading Dave Arnold’s Liquid Intelligence. I chose it specifically because I‘ve been an assortment of bottled cocktails as a Christmas...

Porthole: Blueberry, page 156
Porthole: Blueberry, page 156

The Porthole, designed by Martin Kastner of Crucial Detail design studio, is an infusion vessel, originally designed for the chefs at The Aviary. Back in 2012 they launched a Kickstarter campaign, which raised over $700,000 in just 28 days, and then began offering The...

First attempt: Vacpot – Rooibos, page 200
First attempt: Vacpot – Rooibos, page 200

Before even finishing the book, I flipped through seeking a recipe I felt I could execute with the what I (mostly) had on hand. I underestimated the challenge.  I was initially drawn to the vacpot recipes because, (A) the photos look great, and (B) I already own...

Chartreuse, Page 80
Chartreuse, Page 80

This is recipe is actually a flight of three different chartreuse preparations: Blueberry / Coriander Syrup / Green ChartreusePineapple / Green Chartreuse / Yellow ChartreuseHoneydew Melon / Aloe Liqueur / Yellow ChartreuseEach of these is garnished with a mint...

In The Beginning
In The Beginning

I first learned about The Aviary Cocktail Book from this article. I had just finished reading Dave Arnold’s book, Liquid Intelligence and was mesmerized by the richness of learning I gained from reading it. I was enjoying a frenzy of cocktail making at home, following...