Cocktail College

The Diamondback owes its name to the Maryland terrapin and not the similarly titled venomous snake. Still, plenty of folks meet this cocktail expecting a bite — and no wonder. It's stirred, complex, and can end up being an extremely boozy mix of rye, apple brandy, and Chartreuse. Joining us to explore the drink is Pennsylvania-based Patrick Jennings, the bar manager at Philadelphia’s Andra Hem. Listen on (or read below) to discover Patrick's Diamondback recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Patrick Jennings' Diamondback Recipe

- 1 ½ ounces Rittenho...

On this very special edition of Cocktail College, we’re shaking things up and departing from a specific drink or technique to turn our focus to an ingredient. And it’s not just any ingredient — it’s one of the foundational spirits of American drinks culture as well as the cannon of classic cocktails. That’s right, we’re embarking on a bourbon deep-dive with some of the biggest names in the business: the brand is Wild Turkey and our guest is third-generation Associate Master Blender, Bruce Russell. On a recent trip to Kentucky, we got to sit down with Bruce to...

Inspired by the rallying cry for a war history has often forgotten, Remember the Maine is a drink that wears its patriotism on its sleeve, and its vermouth and cherry component with pride. At first glance, it reads like a Manhattan with flair: rye, sweet vermouth, cherry Heering, and a rinse of absinthe. But follow its trail and you’ll find a drink that likely evolved from another historical oddity. Helping us navigate its complicated history and composition is Joel Lee Kulp, owner and general manager of Brooklyn’s The Richardson. Listen on (or read below) to d...

To be sure, the Tom Collins is a little boring on paper, but beyond its simplicity lies one of the great origin stories in cocktail history — complete with fake names, old-time pranks, and a debate over whether “Tom” was even the right guy in the first place. It’s a highball in structure, a sour in spirit, and still one of the most enduring templates ever poured over ice. But where did the Tom Collins actually come from? And how can something so classic still surprise and impress us all these years later? Here to discuss all of that and more...

First documented in the late 1800's, the East India Cocktail combines Cognac, curaçao, fruit syrup, bitters, and maraschino liqueur. The drink has been tweaked, misattributed, and misunderstood for over a century, and here to break it down for us on Cocktail College is Chicago-based Abe Vucekovich, beverage director at Meadowlark Hospitality. Listen on (or read below) to discover Abe's East India Cocktail recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe.

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Abe Vucekovich's East India Cocktail Recipe

French soldier Gaétan Picon crafted his namesake liqueur — an intensely bitter, herbal, and orange-forward spirit meant to fight off fevers — in the 1830s. Back home, locals soon discovered that a dash of Amer Picon in their beer transformed an ordinary pint into something extraordinary. And so the Picon Bière was born. Joining us to explore it today is Jay Zimmerman, long-time bar owner and bartender at Bar Ba'sik, which sadly recently closed, and sales manager at Good Time Brewing Co. Listen on (or read below) to discover Jay's Picon Bière recipe — and don't forget to like, review, a...

Few cocktails capture the essence of sunshine, simplicity, and sheer refreshment as the Mojito, a humble mix of rum, mint, lime, sugar, and soda water. But don’t be fooled — beneath the easygoing exterior lies a rich history, deep cultural significance, and surprising amount of craft and technique to perfect it. Joining us to explore it today is Maestro Cantinero and founder of Miami's Café La Trova, Julio Cabrera. Listen on (or read below) to discover Julio's Mojito recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Julio Cabrera's Mojito Recipe

The Rusty Nail is basically just Scotch and Drambuie, stirred over ice — no citrus, no dilution debates, no garnish wars. And yet, this two-ingredient classic has a history as layered as the whisky it’s built on. Here to explore it with us is Jordan Valls, bar manager at Palomar in Portland, Oregon. Listen on (or read below) to discover Jordan's Rusty Nail recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Jordan Valls' Rusty Nail Recipe

Ingredients 

- ¼ ounce Drambuie

- ½ oun...

Named after the iconic Hotel Nacional de Cuba, today's tropical Daiquiri riff combines rum, pineapple, apricot liqueur, lime, and sugar, serving a perfect balance of elegance and escapism. Beyond its postcard-perfect vibes, the Hotel Nacional carries some serious history. Here to explain it all is SC Baker, bar lead at Epiphany in Louisville, Kentucky. Listen on (or read below) to discover Baker's Hotel Nacional recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

SC Baker's Hotel Nacional Recipe

Ingredients 

- 1 ½ ounces lightly...

The Southside is a cocktail with a split personality — part speakeasy classic, part country club staple, and depending on who you ask, a drink with roots in gangsters or golf courses. It’s a simple mix of gin, citrus, mint, and sugar, but behind that refreshing exterior lies a surprisingly tangled history. Here to unpack it all is Ryan Garrison, head bartender at Brooklyn’s Bitter Monk, a lead bartender at New York’s Sugar Monk, and the distillery manager for Atheras Spirits. Listen on (or read below) to discover Ryan's Southside recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscri...