What’s the most common cocktail mistake?
Mixing a too-sour drink. People are unaccustomed to how potent fresh juices are.
What’s a good “beginner’s” cocktail?
Definitely the millennium. But I don’t say what’s in it before they taste it. Even if they don’t like cognac, they’ll like this drink.
Can the cosmopolitan be eclipsed?
It’s a modern classic. Trendy bars will invent new drinks, but the cosmo will always be here. Girls order it because it’s pink; guys order it because it’s strong.
You call the apple manhattan one of the best new drinks in 20 years.
It’s marvelous. Since it only has two ingredients, Maker’s Mark bourbon and Berentzen’s Apple Liquor, you must use exactly those ingredients.
Pick four exotic items for a grooving home bar.
Orange Curacao and orgeat for making mai tais, Peychaud’s Bitters for Sazeracs, and Cherry Heering, a critical ingredient in the singapore sling.
It’s 10 a.m. What do you propose we drink?
The Ramos fizz! It’s the perfect morning-after drink.
