Monthly Archives: February 2011

Vodka Cynicism Rewarded

Posted on February 28, 2011 by cocktailsandcologne

“Vodka is unlike other forms of alcohol in that there is no justifiable excuse for drinking it,” wrote the Russian novelist Victor Erofeyev in an essay published in a 2002 issue of The New Yorker. “The Frenchman will praise the … Continue reading →

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First Smell: Isfarkand by Ormonde Jayne

Posted on February 25, 2011 by cocktailsandcologne

You can’t always judge a fragrance merely from spraying it on a test strip. I wasn’t moved by Isfarkand on paper, but when I sprayed it on my arm, it came alive. The pepper and the citrus notes blended amiably, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cologne | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Rediscovering New Orleans Cocktails

Posted on February 24, 2011 by cocktailsandcologne

While the city of New Orleans may not have invented the cocktail, its place in cocktail history is very important. It’s the birthplace of the Sazerac, a cocktail that was once considered the world’s first—its origin dates somewhere in the … Continue reading →

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Drinking Out: The Bacchus Manhattan at Bacchus Kirk

Posted on February 23, 2011 by cocktailsandcologne

Bacchus Kirk is a neighborhood bar in the best possible sense: it’s friendly, unpretentious, and cozy (it actually has a fireplace). It has an impressive happy hour that lasts from 4-8pm daily, but the drinks are already affordable. We tried … Continue reading →

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Drinking Out: The Laphroaig Project at Rickhouse

Posted on February 22, 2011 by cocktailsandcologne

If the drinks at Rickhouse weren’t so damn good, the olde timey speakeasy theme park ambience and suspenders-and-mustaches bartenders might be pretty annoying. But this bar, near Union Square in San Francisco, has some superb cocktails. I’d read a mention … Continue reading →

Posted in Bars, Cocktails, Drinking Out, Novel Ingredients | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

First Smell: Burning Barbershop by D.S. & Durga

Posted on February 22, 2011 by cocktailsandcologne

D.S. & Durga was one of the standout brands at last month’s fragrance trade show, Elements Showcase. It’s run by a couple who live and work in Brooklyn, and it started as a sort of craft project. “We started by … Continue reading →

Posted in Cologne, Cologne Reviews, Masculine Colognes | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

First Smell: Henrik Vibskov’s Type B

Posted on February 11, 2011 by cocktailsandcologne

When a friend came back from Copenhagen, Denmark’s fashion week, she brought me some samples of Danish designer Henrik Vibskov’s three new fragrances. Each is themed after a city: Type B is Berlin, Type C is Copenhagen, and Type D … Continue reading →

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On Building a Home Liquor Cabinet: Substitutions and Missing Ingredients

Posted on February 4, 2011 by cocktailsandcologne

Plenty of people have written about the home bar staples, which typically include whiskey (sometimes rye and maybe scotch), gin, vodka (although a cocktail enthusiast may find relatively few recipes that need it), rum, and tequila. Add to that some … Continue reading →

Posted in Cocktails, How To, Novel Ingredients | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Gentleman’s Companion, Vol II: Being An Exotic Drinking Book

Posted on February 4, 2011 by cocktailsandcologne

A friend brought this book in for me to peruse. It’s part of a two volume cooking and drinking set. The pompous tone of the title continues in the text, but it’s great fun to read. It was first published … Continue reading →

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Trying to Rank Great Cognacs

Posted on February 2, 2011 by cocktailsandcologne

As a whiskey drinker, I’m always surprised at my first sip of cognac: it’s really smooth. Taste a succession of increasingly older and more expensive cognacs, and that smoothness will increase accordingly. At Liquor.com’s cognac tasting at the Brandy Library … Continue reading →

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