James

A muddler isn’t just for mojitos and old fashioneds. Non-alcoholic drinks need proper muddling just as much as cocktails do, maybe even more. Without alcohol to dissolve and carry essential oils and aromas, the way you muddle fresh ingredients in…

Bartenders move through dozens of bottles each shift, but only a handful earn permanent spots on their back bar. The tequilas they reach for aren’t always the flashiest or most expensive. They’re the ones that deliver consistent flavor, mix well…

The difference boils down to one ingredient: alcohol. Cocktails contain spirits like vodka, gin, or whiskey, while mocktails skip the booze entirely. But that single distinction creates a cascade of differences in flavor, preparation, and experience. Understanding what separates these…

The Aunt Roberta holds the official title at roughly 39.4% ABV, but calling it “the strongest cocktail” misses the point entirely. Strength isn’t just a number on paper. It’s about how much alcohol ends up in your glass, how fast…

Smoking a cocktail adds aroma and depth without changing the base recipe. It works with simple tools you might already own or a specialized setup if you want more control. The technique is easier than it looks once you understand…

Most classic cocktails contain 3 ounces of total liquid before ice dilution. This standard emerged from decades of bartending tradition and remains the sweet spot for balance, temperature, and drinkability. But the real answer depends on what you’re counting: the…

You’ve just shaken your Margarita, the tin is ice cold, and now you need to pour a clean drink without sending ice chips into the glass. Using a cocktail strainer isn’t rocket science, but hand placement and pouring speed separate…

Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails are not gluten-free. These ready-to-drink beverages are classified as malt beverages, made with a barley malt base that contains gluten. This makes them unsafe for anyone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, despite some misleading claims…

Vodka’s neutral profile makes it the most versatile base spirit for cocktails. From brunch classics to late-night sippers, these ten drinks represent the essential vodka repertoire every home bartender should master. Some take seconds to build, others reward a bit…

No, they’re not the same. The difference comes down to how each product is sweetened. Cranberry juice uses other fruit juices like apple or grape to balance the natural tartness, while cranberry juice cocktail relies on added sugar or high…

No, the classic Arizona Fruit Juice Cocktail is not alcoholic. The word “cocktail” on the label refers to a blend of fruit juices, not an alcoholic beverage. However, Arizona does make a separate alcoholic line called Arizona Hard Juice Cocktails…

You’ve just unboxed a cocktail set. The tools are gleaming, you’re excited, but you’re also staring at six or seven pieces of metal wondering which one does what and where to even start. Good news: using a cocktail set is…