Before any of the no drink challenges and dry month trends (like Dry January, aka Drynuary) arrives in this part of the world (I live in Singapore), I’d just like to denounce the entire movement categorically. Like any challenge happening on Tik Tok or any month-long declarations to follow a strict regime, going dry without alcohol as a movement is no more than following a … Continue reading Screw Dry January, kombucha is the remedy for abstinence that works for me

Simple syrup as an ingredient comes up in a lot of cocktail recipes. It’s used in Daiquiris, Palomas and Mojitos, or even as a substitute for sugar cubes in an Old Fashioned. It is a very versatile ingredient, acting as an easy-to-use sweetener that doesn’t alter the flavors of a drink in any significant way. It’s essentially pre-disolved sugar, which means it also has the … Continue reading How to make simple syrup at home

When attempting to put together a drink like the New York Sour, or shots like the B52, one of the steps will require you to float a liquid in the drink. This means to layer the cocktail or shot with other less dense liquids on top. Layering as a bar technique, once learned and understood, can be applied to create truly impressive, eye-catching, multi-hued drinks. … Continue reading Here’s how you layer a cocktail

There are drink stashes, and then there are home bars. It’s common to keep a few bottles of spirits lying around the house, often in a spare kitchen cabinet or at the bottom of the wardrobe. But then there are those who take it a step further, dedicating a section of their home to all-things booze, often even sporting a back bar shelf and counter … Continue reading 10 essential tools you need to start a home bar

Understanding how to mix a drink isn’t difficult once you know there are basically only three methods to do so. Cocktails can be put together either through shaking, stirring or building. Let’s start with the one we are all most familiar with. Shake The typical image of a bartender is one who uses a shaker to mix drinks. The fluid movements combined with the sound … Continue reading The 3 ways to mix a cocktail – shake, stir or build

Off the top of your mind, how many categories of spirits can you name? After naming the obvious ones like whisky, gin and rum, most start slowing down and wonder what is what. Where does soju belong to? Is it it’s own category? What about tequila and mezcals? Are they separate categories even though both are made from agave? Why is brandy its own category? … Continue reading Empirical Spirits produces alcohol with no categories, and it works