A Conversation About Cocktails

Hello everyone,

Most of the time my pursuits are focused towards the culinary arts. However, sometimes I love to craft a refreshing cocktail. Shaking a cocktail makes you feel cool, but there can be roadblocks to making cocktails. Spirits are not cheap. Purchasing some go-to spirits such as gin, vodka, and tequila is a wise idea. However, breaking the bank for a measly 1/4 oz of a flavored liqueur can be hard to justify.

A cocktail book that I recently purchased can put these problems at ease. The One-Bottle Cocktail, written by Maggie Hoffman, has been a welcome addition my food&beverage library. The book features over 80 cocktail recipes with each recipe requiring just one spirit. The flavor of the cocktails are mainly built from homemade syrups, herbs, fruits, and vegetables. The chapters are organized by 6 main spirits which are vodka, gin, agave spirits, rum, brandy, and whiskey. This book focuses on crafting new, dynamic, and inventive cocktails. While you won’t find a recipe for a traditional mojito or margarita in this book, some cocktails are riffs or enhancements on a classic cocktail.

I immediately went to work trying out the recipes once I purchased the book. The best thing about this book is that each recipe tastes exactly how Hoffman describes it. One of my personal favorite cocktails was the Desert Storm. This cocktail utilizes mezcal, orange juice, and carrot juice to create a somewhat smoky and vegetal flavor. The slightly thick consistency of the carrot juice lends the drink an almost-creamy mouthfeel. Another favorite cocktail of mine was the Sassy Flower. Mezcal acts as a power player while homemade hibiscus syrup adds a taming floral sweetness. One of the first cocktails I made was a blackberry-cucumber mule which tasted like a cross between a mule and refreshing mojito. I subbed the vodka in a traditional mule with tequila based on my personal preference.

I recommend this book for those of you looking to craft cocktails without breaking the bank. Stick to the cocktails that feature that spirit you love or experiment with spirits new to you. Hoffman does a great job of informing you which cocktails can have their main spirit substituted.

If would like to craft Hoffman’s cocktails yourself, consider acquiring the book for yourself. The One-Bottle Cocktail can be ordered from Amazon here, purchased at your local bookstore, or borrowed from your local library.

Always drink responsibly.

Cheers!