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	<title>Jeffrey Morgenthaler &#187; Helpful Advice</title>
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	<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com</link>
	<description>Jeffrey Morgenthaler writes about bartending and mixology from Portland, Oregon</description>
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		<title>How to Price a Cocktail Menu</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2011/how-to-price-a-cocktail-menu/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2011/how-to-price-a-cocktail-menu/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:13:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/?p=1789</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Contrary to what you may have heard, there’s more to my job than coming up with cool mezcal cocktails and bitching about having to write the schedule. At the end of the day, I’ve got to approach this career as a professional, with an eye on business. One of the more challenging parts of my [...]<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2011/how-to-price-a-cocktail-menu/">How to Price a Cocktail Menu</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/spreadsheet.jpg" alt="" title="Price Calculator" width="350" height="360" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1790" /></p>
<p>Contrary to what you may have heard, there’s more to my job than coming up with cool mezcal cocktails and bitching about having to write the schedule. At the end of the day, I’ve got to approach this career as a professional, with an eye on business. One of the more challenging parts of my job is designing a cocktail menu that is not only constantly fresh and on the cutting-edge, but also satisfies my two cruel taskmasters: <em>our guests, and the guy who signs my paycheck</em>.</p>
<p>My guests need to feel like they’re getting their money’s worth when they’re spending it at my bar. My restaurant needs to make a certain margin in order to pay purveyors, sign payroll, and maintain bills. The beauty of my job lies in that place in between, where guests are happy and the business is healthy. <strong>That place in between is where a successful bar lives.</strong></p>
<p>There is some simple math involved with pricing a cocktail. At the core, all you need to do is figure out how much the drink costs to make, and multiply by your targeted pour cost (if you’re unsure what this is, ask your boss or bookkeeper; the industry standard usually lies somewhere between 18% and 24%). It’s that easy, but it can get a little tricky sometimes. And so&#8230;</p>
<p><a href='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/cocktailpricing.xls'><img src="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/excel_icon.jpg" alt="" title="excel_icon" width="135" height="149" class="inset" /><br />
<h3>Download my fancy cocktail pricing calculator here.</h3>
<p></a></p>
<p>Over the years I’ve developed a lot of spreadsheets to help make my job easier, and I’m going to share my simple cost calculator with you here today. All you need to plug into the formula are the following pieces of information: the cost and size of each bottle you’re pouring from, the cocktail recipe, and your target pour cost (all highlighted in yellow). The spreadsheet will calculate the rest.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that this is pricing at its most simple. The orchestration of a full cocktail menu can be a beautiful and complex thing, or it can be as simple as using the spreadsheet above. A simple list would have all of its drinks priced according to the formula I’ve given you. A complex list &#8211; like the one I currently curate &#8211; takes into account some other factors.</p>
<p>Let’s say, for argument’s sake, that you’ve got a two-drink cocktail menu, consisting of <strong>Drink A</strong> and <strong>Drink B</strong>. </p>
<p>Drink A is a complex cocktail that requires a little more attention from the bartender and uses some more obscure, expensive ingredients. It costs $10 but comes in at a 32% pour cost, but it’s designed appeal to a smaller segment of the customer base, and therefore you only sell ten of them a night. You make up for this with Drink B. Drink B costs $8 but comes in at a 17% pour cost. It’s appealing to a much larger audience, and therefore you sell 150 of them a night. Drink A is called a <strong>loss leader</strong> and it keeps your bar on the cutting edge, is there for the cocktail geeks, and helps stimulate the sale of Drink B by bringing in a constant flow of new guests to the bar. And the good news is that you can calculate all of these percentages with the spreadsheet I’m providing you.</p>
<p>I hope this spreadsheet helps and is of some help to at least a few of you out there. If there’s enough interest in this boring topic I’ll be happy to post some of my other formulas in the interest of being of service to my fellow bar managers everywhere.</p>
<hr />
<p><a href='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/metriccocktailpricing.xls'><img src="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/excel_icon.jpg" alt="" title="excel_icon" width="135" height="149" class="inset" /><br />
<h3>Download my fancy cocktail pricing calculator (in metric) here.</h3>
<p></a></p>
<p>As a last-minute addition, I&#8217;m including a metric version of this spreadsheet for our friends outside of the United States. I think I&#8217;ve converted everything successfully but if anyone notices any problems (yes, the default currency is in Euros but that shouldn&#8217;t have any bearing on the final numbers) please do let me know.</p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2011/how-to-price-a-cocktail-menu/">How to Price a Cocktail Menu</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2011/how-to-price-a-cocktail-menu/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>39</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to Make Your Own Grenadine</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/how-to-make-your-own-grenadine/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/how-to-make-your-own-grenadine/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:15:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Experiments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/?p=1503</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
While this is a topic that has been covered by pretty much every cocktail blog under the sun, I haven&#8217;t yet written about it.  Why?  Well, for one, I&#8217;m lazy and never got around to it.  But after having made various versions of grenadine for years at my bars and after doing [...]<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/how-to-make-your-own-grenadine/">How to Make Your Own Grenadine</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/grenadine.jpg" alt="The ingredients used to make grenadine." title="The ingredients used to make grenadine." width="350" height="350" /></p>
<p>While this is a topic that has been covered by pretty much <strong>every</strong> cocktail blog under the sun, I haven&#8217;t yet written about it.  Why?  Well, for one, I&#8217;m lazy and never got around to it.  But after having made various versions of grenadine for years at my bars and after doing a little research on the web recently, I&#8217;ve wondered if the topic of homemade grenadine couldn&#8217;t use a little revisit.</p>
<p>There are a few key problems with a lot of the house-made grenadines out there.  The first issue you can see immediately: the color is all wrong.  Grenadine isn&#8217;t brown, and the good stuff, the real grenadine won&#8217;t make your <a href="http://rumdood.com/2009/10/12/cocktail-recipe-el-presidente/">El Presidente</a> look like mud.  Grenadine also isn&#8217;t pale pink, and it shouldn&#8217;t turn your <a href="http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?/topic/91536-jack-rose/">Jack Rose</a> grey.  Grenadine is a vibrant shade of magenta, a rich syrup that brightens every cocktail it touches with its sweet, slightly tart, beautifully bright, rich, deep and lightly floral flavors.<br />
<span id="more-1503"></span></p>
<p> A lot of grenadines call for an inordinate amount of work for very little payoff.  This recipe is going to take you all of five minutes to prepare and &#8211; I promise you &#8211; will taste better than anything else you can buy in the stores.  Because if there are two things you really need to know about me, it&#8217;s the following: <strong>I&#8217;m lazy and I like stuff that tastes good</strong>.</p>
<p>Some recipes are going to tell you you need to remove each individual seed from the pomegranate (a long, painful and finger-stainingly messy process) and either simmer them in water over heat or steep them in water overnight to extract the juice. I&#8217;ll tell you what, you want to extract the juice from a pomegranate?  Do what I do: cut that puppy open like a grapefruit and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00015NN0S/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B00015NN0S">press it with your juicer</a>.  <em>Done and done</em>.  And the resulting juice is far more intense and flavorful than anything you&#8217;re going to get from those other methods that employ a bunch of water, believe me.</p>
<p><img src="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/juicing_pomegranate.jpg" alt="juicing_pomegranate" title="juicing_pomegranate" width="350" height="527" class="bordered-img" /></p>
<p>So now that you&#8217;ve got a bunch of fresh pomegranate juice &#8211; each full fruit should yield approximately one cup of juice &#8211; it&#8217;s time to turn it into grenadine.  Many of the recipes you&#8217;ll see out there are going to tell you to boil the juice until it&#8217;s reduced by half, under the guise of concentrating the rich, fresh flavor of the pomegranate. I find this to be an unnecessary, time-consuming process that  results in an end product that&#8217;s about as delicious as boiled orange juice.  My solution is to heat the juice just enough to melt sugar, well below the point of boiling.  You&#8217;ll still retain the fresh flavor of the pomegranate without having to do all the work of a cold-process grenadine, an ordeal that requires ten minutes of shaking until the sugar is dissolved.  </p>
<p>You can do this in a small saucepan, but I just throw it in the microwave for a minute or two, because that&#8217;s exactly what microwaves are good for.</p>
<p><img src="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/microwave.jpg" alt="microwave" title="microwave" width="350" height="237" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1513" /></p>
<p>Heat your juice up and stir in an equal amount of unbleached sugar.  I start with two cups of juice and dissolve two cups of sugar into it, stirring until the mixture is clear.  Now what you&#8217;ve got is a pomegranate syrup, but not quite yet grenadine.  The next step will add the depth of flavor you&#8217;re looking for, and for this you&#8217;re going to need to make a trip to your local Mediterranean or Latin American market for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TQQKFQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B003TQQKFQ">pomegranate molasses</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NV9CDC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B000NV9CDC">orange blossom water</a>.  I add two ounces of the molasses and a teaspoon of the orange blossom water to my warm mix and stir again until everything is dissolved.</p>
<p><img src="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/bottled-grenadine1.jpg" alt="bottled-grenadine" title="bottled-grenadine" width="350" height="160" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1517" /></p>
<p>The only step left is to add one ounce of vodka &#8211; if you like &#8211; this is an optional preservative.  If you&#8217;re not planning on using your grenadine pretty quickly, like over the span of a month, then add it.  But if you&#8217;re serving it in a bar and plan on going through it pretty quickly, like I do, then you can just skip it.</p>
<p><strong>Grenadine</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>2 cups fresh pomegranate juice (approximately two large pomegranates) or POM Wonderful 100% pomegranate juice<br />
2 cups unbleached sugar<br />
2 oz <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003TQQKFQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B003TQQKFQ">pomegranate molasses</a><br />
1 tsp <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NV9CDC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B000NV9CDC">orange blossom water</a></p></blockquote>
<p>Heat juice slightly, just enough to allow other ingredients to dissolve easily.  Stir in remaining ingredients, allow to cool, and bottle.</p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/how-to-make-your-own-grenadine/">How to Make Your Own Grenadine</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>39</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>New Imbibe Video: Citrus Garnishes</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/new-imbibe-video-citrus-garnishes/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/new-imbibe-video-citrus-garnishes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:15:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/?p=1341</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Just when I think I&#8217;ve run out of things to say, my friends over at Imbibe Magazine drop me a note telling me that there&#8217;s a new video up, and it&#8217;s almost like the content writes itself.

Post from: Jeffrey Morgenthaler. Follow me on Twitter.New Imbibe Video: Citrus Garnishes
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/new-imbibe-video-citrus-garnishes/">New Imbibe Video: Citrus Garnishes</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Just when I think I&#8217;ve run out of things to say, my friends over at Imbibe Magazine drop me a note telling me that there&#8217;s a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ImbibeMagazine">new video up</a>, and it&#8217;s almost like the content writes itself.</p>
<p><object width="350" height="212"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Wsdgadp6NTU&#038;hl=en&#038;fs=1&#038;rel=0&#038;color1=0x006699&#038;color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Wsdgadp6NTU&#038;hl=en&#038;fs=1&#038;rel=0&#038;color1=0x006699&#038;color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="350" height="212"></embed></object></p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/new-imbibe-video-citrus-garnishes/">New Imbibe Video: Citrus Garnishes</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>13</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>My Turn in the Barrel</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/my-turn-in-the-barrel/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/my-turn-in-the-barrel/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:00:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Announcements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/?p=1320</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hey, here&#8217;s a fun way to illustrate karma.  If you&#8217;ve, say, built a large web presence upon a not-so-generous string of public criticisms of bar-related web videos [1, 2, 3, 4], then one day somebody will ask you to appear in a series of videos yourself.
That&#8217;s what happened last month when Imbibe Magazine called [...]<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/my-turn-in-the-barrel/">My Turn in the Barrel</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hey, here&#8217;s a fun way to illustrate karma.  If you&#8217;ve, say, built a large web presence upon a not-so-generous string of public criticisms of bar-related web videos [<a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/how-to-make-sexy-european-mojito-drink/">1</a>, <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/how-not-to-make-a-mint-julep/">2</a>, <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-a-daiquiri-the-american-bartending-school-way/">3</a>, <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/how-to-make-a-caipirinha-the-american-bartending-school-way/">4</a>], then one day somebody will ask you to appear in a series of videos yourself.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s what happened last month when <a href="https://www.imbibemagazine.com/">Imbibe Magazine</a> called me up and stuck it to me by asking that I appear in some instructional videos for their new website.  And like a rabbit to a carrot I leapt at the big, bright, orange opportunity called fame.</p>
<p>So grab yourself a scorecard and sit back, relax, and count the screw-ups as I try to demonstrate the difference between shaking and stirring a cocktail:</p>
<p><object width="350" height="287"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0qirrXJRrUg&#038;color1=0xb1b1b1&#038;color2=0xcfcfcf&#038;hl=en&#038;feature=player_embedded&#038;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0qirrXJRrUg&#038;color1=0xb1b1b1&#038;color2=0xcfcfcf&#038;hl=en&#038;feature=player_embedded&#038;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="350" height="287"></embed></object></p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/my-turn-in-the-barrel/">My Turn in the Barrel</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>57</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to Make a Caipirinha &#8211; The American Bartending School Way</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/how-to-make-a-caipirinha-the-american-bartending-school-way/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/how-to-make-a-caipirinha-the-american-bartending-school-way/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:29:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/?p=1300</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Speaking of great cocktails made with cacha&#231;a, let&#8217;s take a moment before the weekend and see what our old friends at the American Bartending School would do when confronted with a bottle of the stuff.  
In this segment, we&#8217;ll learn how to make the Brazilian classic, the caipirinha (kai-peer-EEN-ya)

1. Announce to your friends that [...]<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/how-to-make-a-caipirinha-the-american-bartending-school-way/">How to Make a Caipirinha &#8211; The American Bartending School Way</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Speaking of great <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/caneflower/">cocktails made with cacha&ccedil;a</a>, let&#8217;s take a moment before the weekend and see what our old friends at the <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-a-daiquiri-the-american-bartending-school-way/">American Bartending School</a> would do when confronted with a bottle of the stuff.  </p>
<p>In this segment, we&#8217;ll learn how to make the Brazilian classic, the caipirinha (kai-peer-EEN-ya)</p>
<p><object width="350" height="283"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tlK_08zzenw&#038;hl=en&#038;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tlK_08zzenw&#038;hl=en&#038;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="350" height="283"></embed></object></p>
<p>1. Announce to your friends that you will be making them a <del datetime="2009-03-06T21:06:15+00:00">kah-pree-ANN-nah</del> <del datetime="2009-03-06T21:06:15+00:00">kah-pree-EE-nah</del> kah-pree-EE-nah.</p>
<blockquote><p>Note: the caipirinha is made with a special type of Brazilian liqueur called cacha&ccedil;a (kuh-CHA-ka, or however it&#8217;s pronounced).  Like rum, cacha&ccedil;a also comes in different colors.</p></blockquote>
<p>2. Introduce your friends to the cacha&ccedil;a bottle, then return to its original location.  It will not be needed again during the construction of this cocktail.</p>
<p>3. Take your rock glass.</p>
<p>4. Add an undisclosed number of pieces of lime and some simple syrup.</p>
<p>5. Mash limes with a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001J83S06/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B001J83S06">miniature baseball bat</a>.</p>
<p>6. Add ice and top with one ounce of &#8220;cacha&ccedil;a&#8221;, which is suspiciously identical to the simple syrup bottle.</p>
<p>7. Top with either soda water or sweet-and-sour mix.</p>
<p>8. Enjoy!</p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/how-to-make-a-caipirinha-the-american-bartending-school-way/">How to Make a Caipirinha &#8211; The American Bartending School Way</a></p>
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		<title>How to Make Sangrita</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-sangrita/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-sangrita/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:07:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[My Cocktail Recipes]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[
Not to be confused with the Spanish wine-and-fruit-based alcoholic beverage sangria, sangrita (meaning &#8220;little blood&#8221;) is a traditional accompaniment to a tequila served completo; a non-alcoholic sipper that cleanses the palate between fiery doses of agave.
Years ago I was taught that sangrita is a blend of tomato and orange juices, with the addition of something [...]<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-sangrita/">How to Make Sangrita</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/sangrita.jpg' alt='sangrita.jpg' /></p>
<p>Not to be confused with the Spanish wine-and-fruit-based alcoholic beverage <strong>sangria</strong>, <em>sangrita</em> (meaning &#8220;little blood&#8221;) is a traditional accompaniment to a tequila served <em>completo</em>; a non-alcoholic sipper that cleanses the palate between fiery doses of agave.</p>
<p>Years ago I was taught that sangrita is a blend of tomato and orange juices, with the addition of something spicy (hot sauce, typically) for a little kick.  But further research has convinced me that this American sangrita recipe, while still enjoyable and certainly <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangrita">prevalent</a>, is not altogether authentic.</p>
<p>Real sangrita from the Lake Chapala region of Jalisco is made with Seville orange and pomegranate juices, with powdered chiles added for heat.  Taking into account that even the most cocktailian bartender (professional or otherwise) doesn&#8217;t typically stock sour oranges or pomegranate juice behind the bar, I&#8217;ve worked up a recipe that should approximate the flavor of this spicy little sour orange and pomegranate chaser while still providing an authentic experience.</p>
<blockquote><p>1 oz orange juice (freshly-squeezed)<br />
&frac34; oz &#8211; 1 oz lime juice (depending on the sweetness of your oranges)<br />
&frac12; oz <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2009/how-to-make-your-own-grenadine/">real pomegranate grenadine</a><br />
3 dashes hot sauce or &frac14; tsp chile powder</p></blockquote>
<p>Mix ingredients, chill, and serve.</p>
<p>This is far from the final word on sangrita.  I&#8217;ll still continue to enjoy the tomato varieties (<a href="http://marriedwithdinner.com/2007/06/01/dotw-sangrita/">1</a>,<a href="http://www.mixographer.com/2007/03/sangrita.html">2</a>,<a href="http://www.adashofbitters.com/2007/03/12/sangrita/">3</a>), but I think you&#8217;ll find a brightness and depth of flavor from this version that plays better with a wider variety of mezcals and tequilas than its heavier gringo cousin.</p>
<p>What&#8217;s your experience with sangrita?  Chime in with your stories and recipes in the comments section.</p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-sangrita/">How to Make Sangrita</a></p>
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		<title>How to Reduce by Half</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-reduce-by-half/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-reduce-by-half/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 22:54:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Some of you are here to find out how to make my pinot gris reduction for the East of Eden, and as the directions will tell you, you&#8217;ll need to reduce the wine by half.  But how can you tell when a liquid is reduced by half without pouring it into a measuring cup [...]<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-reduce-by-half/">How to Reduce by Half</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Some of you are here to find out how to make my pinot gris reduction for the <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/mixology-monday-fruit-liqueurs-kinda/">East of Eden</a>, and as the directions will tell you, you&#8217;ll need to reduce the wine by half.  But how can you tell when a liquid is reduced by half without pouring it into a measuring cup every five minutes?  <strong>Here&#8217;s what I do</strong>:</p>
<p>Before you apply heat to your liquid, <strong>dip the end of a wooden spoon into the pot</strong> and let it sit there for a few seconds.  You know, so that it soaks into the wood a little bit.</p>
<p><img src='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/high.jpg' alt='high.jpg' /></p>
<p>Then, using your fingernail or a table knife, <strong>make a mark where the liquid level was</strong> on the wooden spoon.</p>
<p><img src='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/fingermark.jpg' alt='fingermark.jpg' /></p>
<p>Make another mark <strong>halfway between</strong> your nail mark and the end of the spoon.  Now you have a gauge that will tell you when you&#8217;re done.  When the liquid in the pot is the same height as your halfway mark, you&#8217;ve reduced that liquid by half.</p>
<p><img src='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/low.jpg' alt='low.jpg' /></p>
<p>A couple of notes:</p>
<p><em>This is only mildly accurate with straight-sided, flat-bottomed saucepots.  Anything with curved or beveled edges won&#8217;t quite have the same effect.</em></p>
<p><em>This technique works equally well for recipes that call for a liquid to be reduced by two-thirds, or a fourth, or what-have-you.  Fingernail your spoon accordingly.</em></p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-reduce-by-half/">How to Reduce by Half</a></p>
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		<title>Up, Neat, Straight Up, or On the Rocks</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/up-neat-straight-up-or-on-the-rocks/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/up-neat-straight-up-or-on-the-rocks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 May 2008 16:11:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/up-neat-straight-up-or-on-the-rocks/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I considered naming this article &#8220;How To Take an Order Behind the Bar&#8221;, since there seems to be a problem with bartenders and servers not fully understanding the vocabulary used in their workplace.  I was reminded of this while reading this thread on the StraightBourbon.com forums some time ago.  Yes, there seems to [...]<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/up-neat-straight-up-or-on-the-rocks/">Up, Neat, Straight Up, or On the Rocks</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I considered naming this article &#8220;How To Take an Order Behind the Bar&#8221;, since there seems to be a problem with bartenders and servers not fully understanding the vocabulary used in their workplace.  I was reminded of this while reading <a href="http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8592">this thread</a> on the <strong>StraightBourbon.com</strong> forums some time ago.  Yes, there seems to be some confusion about the terms &#8220;neat&#8221;, &#8220;up&#8221; (or &#8220;straight up&#8221;) and &#8220;with a twist&#8221;, and my goal is to try to help straighten this mess out.</p>
<h2>Neat</h2>
<p><img src='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/neat.jpg' alt='neat.jpg' /></p>
<p>The first &#8211; and simplest &#8211; term we&#8217;re going to examine is &#8220;<strong>neat</strong>&#8220;.  &#8220;Neat&#8221; &#8211; as applied to drinks served in bars &#8211; refers to a shot of liquor poured directly from the bottle and into a glass.  There is no chilling involved with a &#8220;neat&#8221; drink.  There is never an additional ingredient in a drink served &#8220;neat&#8221;.  You can not have a Screwdriver served &#8220;neat&#8221;.  That&#8217;s not how we use the word.</p>
<h2>Up</h2>
<p><img src='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/up.jpg' alt='up.jpg' /></p>
<p>If you walk into a bar and order a Dry Martini, &#8220;neat&#8221;, you might be served a tepid shot of Martini and Rossi Dry Vermouth in a room-temperature glass.  That&#8217;s how the term &#8220;neat&#8221; is used.  Although you know how much I love vermouth, nothing about that order sounds appetizing. What you were probably looking for was a Dry Martini, served &#8220;<strong>up</strong>.  &#8220;Up&#8221; implies that there was some preparation involved, and that there is no ice in the final product.  You can have a Manhattan on the rocks, or I can give it to you &#8220;up&#8221;.</p>
<h2>Straight Up</h2>
<p><img src='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/straightup.jpg' alt='straightup.jpg' /></p>
<div class="rightblurb">&#8220;<strong>Up</strong>&#8221; was originally short for &#8220;<strong>straight up</strong>&#8220;, meaning &#8220;<strong>no bullshit</strong>&#8220;.  As in &#8220;<em>I can handle the truth.  Give it to me straight up.</em>&#8220;</div>
<p>Where the real confusion lies is with the term &#8220;straight up&#8221;. Although I don&#8217;t know where the choaos began, these days there is a bit of conversation required when that phrase is used.  </p>
<p>Let&#8217;s say you order a Wild Turkey, &#8220;straight up&#8221;.  Your bartender should assume you mean that you want your bourbon &#8220;neat&#8221;, and serve it as so.  However, if you were looking for a chilled shot of whiskey in a cocktail glass, you probably should have dropped the &#8220;straight&#8221; and asked for your drink &#8220;up&#8221;.  And if, as a bartender, you&#8217;ve received an order for a Ketel One &#8220;straight up&#8221;, you should probably check with your customer to make sure they&#8217;re looking for chilled vodka and vermouth, and not a glass of warm vodka.</p>
<h2>Twist</h2>
<p><img src='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/twist.jpg' alt='twist.jpg' /></p>
<div class="leftblurb">A &#8220;twist&#8221; is always a thin strip of citrus peel, without pith and without the meat of the fruit.  It derives its name from the fact that the peel is &#8220;twisted&#8221; over the surface of the drink to express the oils.  Note that the default generic &#8220;twist&#8221; is made from lemon peel.  <strong>Order appropriately</strong>.</div>
<p>The third term that causes some confusion on both sides of the bar is the word &#8220;twist&#8221;.  I&#8217;ve ordered a gin martini with a twist (my preferred garnish) and received a big wedge of lemon on the side of the glass.  I&#8217;ve taken an order for a gin and tonic with a twist, and had the drink sent back because I garnished with a thin strip of citrus peel.  A delicate blend of gin and vermouth, the Martini is ruined by a big squeeze of lemon juice.  Conversely, the bold flavors of a gin and tonic need more than a light spritzing of lemon or lime oils on the surface of the drink.</p>
<p>To recap:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Neat</strong>: Right out of the bottle.<br />
<strong>Up</strong>: Chilled, and served in a cocktail glass.<br />
<strong>Straight Up</strong>: Usually means &#8220;neat&#8221;, but check first.<br />
<strong>Twist</strong>: A thin strip of citrus peel.  Default is lemon.</p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/up-neat-straight-up-or-on-the-rocks/">Up, Neat, Straight Up, or On the Rocks</a></p>
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		<title>How To Make Your Own Ginger Beer</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-your-own-ginger-beer/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-your-own-ginger-beer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:01:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Experiments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[As far as I&#8217;m concerned, springtime is Dark and Stormy season.  As the rain pummels the ground here in the Pacific Northwest, a little window of blue sky nestled between two dark clouds in the neighboring distance makes me wish I were watching the rain fall from across a dark ocean, my little Caribbean [...]<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-your-own-ginger-beer/">How To Make Your Own Ginger Beer</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As far as I&#8217;m concerned, springtime is <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/?p=815">Dark and Stormy</a> season.  As the rain pummels the ground here in the Pacific Northwest, a little window of blue sky nestled between two dark clouds in the neighboring distance makes me wish I were watching the rain fall from across a dark ocean, my little Caribbean fishing boat safe and sound under that warm patch of sunlight.</p>
<p><img src='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/fishingboat.jpg' alt='fishingboat.jpg' /></p>
<p>I&#8217;d fill a tall glass with ice and a generous dose of <strong>Gosling&#8217;s Black Seal</strong> rum from Bermuda, then reach into a wooden crate and withdraw a chilly little bottle of homemade ginger beer.  I&#8217;d sip the cloudy mixture of liquid sunshine and sweet, dark nectar while I mindlessly squeezed a fresh lime into the glass.  <strong>Feet: Up</strong>.</p>
<p>The problem with living in Oregon when this mood strikes is the absence of little wooden shacks that sell cases of fresh ginger beer stacked on back porches.  But with some readily-available ingredients, a recipe I&#8217;ve been revising for several years &#8211; and a few free minutes &#8211; I can easily transport myself to that little fishing boat on the sea.<br />
<span id="more-809"></span></p>
<p>You&#8217;re going to need a little bit of equipment to make ginger beer.  It&#8217;s nothing too tricky (save for one tool) and most of it will last you a lifetime.  So follow along, and remember: I promise you that this will be easy.</p>
<hr />
<p>You have two options for carbonating your ginger beer: you can ferment it in the bottle, or you can carbonate on-the-fly with an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007JXR7?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20&#038;link_code=as3&#038;camp=211189&#038;creative=373489&#038;creativeASIN=B00007JXR7">iSi soda siphon</a>.  While the soda siphon is easier to use, for the sake of authenticity you might want your ginger beer fermented in the bottle.</p>
<p><img src='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/bottleordraft.jpg' alt='bottleordraft.jpg' /></p>
<p>If you&#8217;re going to go the iSi route, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007JXR7?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20&#038;link_code=as3&#038;camp=211189&#038;creative=373489&#038;creativeASIN=B00007JXR7">pick up a soda siphon</a> and meet me at the next step.  The rest of you, follow me.</p>
<hr />
<p>The first thing on your list if you&#8217;re going to be brewing in the bottle is any number of 16-ounce &#8220;EZ&#8221; flip-top bottles.  You can find these <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CIFIDO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B005CIFIDO">on the internet</a>, at a craft store, or at any homebrewing supply place.  Pick up a few to start.</p>
<p>Next, find some wine yeast.  I use <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0064OBJGK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B0064OBJGK">Red Star Premier Cuvee</a> champagne yeast.  It&#8217;s sturdy, it hasn&#8217;t failed me yet, and it&#8217;s inexpensive.  I pay about a buck for a packet that will make five gallons of this stuff.</p>
<hr />
<p>Okay, on to making the actual ginger beer.</p>
<p>The only tricky piece of equipment I&#8217;m going to suggest is a juice extractor. Pick up the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000R4VQQ6?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20&#038;link_code=as3&#038;camp=211189&#038;creative=373489&#038;creativeASIN=B000R4VQQ6">Juiceman Juice Extractor</a> if you’re just going to be making this stuff at home, or the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002VAFVG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B0002VAFVG">Breville Juicer</a> if you plan on making a lot of it.  Sure, you can use a grater, but you&#8217;re going to need to fine-strain your grated ginger to avoid any chunks in the final product.  For the occasional home user, a Microplaner and some cheesecloth will be fine.  But when making this by the case at work, I always turn to my juice extractor.  The money is worth it if you want to make a lot of this stuff.</p>
<p>Peel and juice your ginger.  I find that 1&frac12; ounces of fresh ginger tends to work out to roughly an ounce of ginger juice.</p>
<hr />
<p>This base recipe will make one 16-ounce bottle of ginger beer, so multiply the proportions by the number of bottles you will be using.  If you&#8217;re going the siphon route, note that the canister will hold 32 ounces of ginger beer.  So double the batch, duh.</p>
<blockquote><p>1 ounce ginger juice<br />
2 ounces fresh lemon juice, finely strained<br />
3 ounces <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/simple-syrup/">simple syrup</a><br />
10 ounces warm water (<em>cold</em> if using the soda siphon)</p></blockquote>
<p>Mix ingredients together.  <em>If using a soda siphon, pour ingredients into canister, screw on lid, charge with CO2, shake once, and refrigerate.  You&#8217;re done.</em></p>
<p><img src='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/gingerbeers.jpg' alt='gingerbeers.jpg' /></p>
<p>If you&#8217;re using bottles, fill each bottle with 16 ounces of your mixture and add roughly 25 granules of champagne yeast.  Seal the cap securely, shake well, and store for 48 hours &#8211; <strong>no more, no less</strong> &#8211; in a warm, dark place.  After 48 hours have passed, refrigerate <em>immediately</em> to halt the process.</p>
<p>After your bottled ginger beer is well chilled, <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/?p=815">mix up a Dark and Stormy</a>, sit back, and imagine you&#8217;re drifting along with me on that creaky little boat.</p>
<p><img src='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/bottlecap.jpg' alt='bottlecap.jpg' /></p>
<p>Cheers, friends.  Have a beautiful weekend.</p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-your-own-ginger-beer/">How To Make Your Own Ginger Beer</a></p>
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		<title>Tools of the Trade: Knives</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/tools-of-the-trade-knives/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/tools-of-the-trade-knives/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:38:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Product Reviews]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[
I own a small library of books on the subject of bartending.  Some of these books are geared toward the professional bartender, while others are written for the home mixologist.  But regardless of the intended audience, almost every book I own heartily recommends that we use paring knives for cutting fruits and garnishes. [...]<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/tools-of-the-trade-knives/">Tools of the Trade: Knives</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/stilllifeknife.jpg' alt='stilllifeknife.jpg' /></p>
<p>I own a small library of books on the subject of bartending.  Some of these books are geared toward the professional bartender, while others are written for the home mixologist.  But regardless of the intended audience, almost every book I own heartily recommends that we use paring knives for cutting fruits and garnishes. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0811854981?&#038;camp=212361&#038;creative=380737&#038;linkCode=wey&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20">The Art of the Bar</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0609608843?&#038;camp=212361&#038;creative=380737&#038;linkCode=wey&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20">The Joy of Mixology</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0609608754?&#038;camp=212361&#038;creative=380737&#038;linkCode=wey&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20">The Craft of the Cocktail</a>, <strong>Larousse Cocktails</strong>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&#038;location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBartenders-Black-Book-Eighth-Classic%2Fdp%2F1891267310%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks%26qid%3D1208731531%26sr%3D1-1&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20&#038;linkCode=ur2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325">The Bartender&#8217;s Black Book</a>, they all say the same thing: that a <em>4-inch paring knife</em> is the right tool for the job.</p>
<p>But for my money (and the safety of my hands), there&#8217;s no better knife than a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002H02B3K/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=390957&#038;creativeASIN=B002H02B3K”>nine-inch, serrated, offset-handled sandwich sword</a>.<br />
<span id="more-802"></span></p>
<p><img src='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/sandwichsword.jpg' alt='sandwichsword.jpg' /></p>
<p>Forever used in sandwich shops and delis, the sandwich sword is the neophyte&#8217;s knife that can turn on a dime in the right hands with just a little practice.</p>
<p>See, I don&#8217;t trust small knives.  They&#8217;re vertically-challenged, which means that the height of their blades is short, so cutting requires razor-sharp precision.  And that&#8217;s something I don&#8217;t always have during the middle of a busy Friday night, if ever.  Let&#8217;s face it, wet hands and a sharp knife are kind of a scary combo.  And the offset silicone handle is easy on the the hands and knuckles.</p>
<p>Another reason I prefer my knife to theirs it that a four-inch blade doesn&#8217;t work well with larger items like pineapples and grapefruits, so those fruits end up coming out looking butchered.  And for the few that have ever worked with me, you know how particular I am about my garnishes.  Sloppy angles, dented fruit and torn peels are a thing of the past with the old sandwich sword.  My garnish trays are always full of fresh fruit with crisp, clean edges.</p>
<p>Citrus peels are often thick and sometimes full of grit, which will dull a blade quickly.  But my sandwich sword is serrated, so it keeps a usable edge for longer. I can still straighten the edge with a steel I keep behind the bar, but once it&#8217;s passed a certain point I don&#8217;t mind throwing it out and getting a fresh one.  They&#8217;re only <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&#038;location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FMundial-Sandwich-Knife-Serrated-Handle%2Fdp%2FB000MEEOZ6%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dkitchen%26qid%3D1208633184%26sr%3D1-69&#038;tag=jeffremorgen-20&#038;linkCode=ur2&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325">ten bucks</a>.</p>
<p>Am I the only one out there who uses a monster like this?  Let me know in the comments.</p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/tools-of-the-trade-knives/">Tools of the Trade: Knives</a></p>
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		<title>The Dos and Donts of Sazeracs</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/the-dos-and-donts-of-sazeracs/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/the-dos-and-donts-of-sazeracs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:37:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/the-dos-and-donts-of-sazeracs/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
The Sazerac has been making a big comeback over the past year.  It&#8217;s popping up on cocktails menus, bartenders are recommending them to their customers, and it&#8217;s even being suggested as an official state drink.
But after being served a warm shot of rye with a drop of Peychaud&#8217;s last week at a restaurant here [...]<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/the-dos-and-donts-of-sazeracs/">The Dos and Donts of Sazeracs</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src='http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/sazerac.jpg' alt='sazerac.jpg' /></p>
<p>The Sazerac has been making a big comeback over the past year.  It&#8217;s popping up on cocktails menus, bartenders are recommending them to their customers, and it&#8217;s even being suggested as an official state drink.</p>
<p>But after being served a warm shot of rye with a drop of Peychaud&#8217;s last week at a restaurant here in Eugene, and watching as Paul choked down what looked like a foamy rye Cosmopolitan this weekend, I figured that some pointers might be helpful.<br />
<span id="more-789"></span></p>
<p>The Sazerac is one of the oldest cocktails in the modern repertoire, but don&#8217;t let its unassuming presentation fool you: it is a complex drink that requires attention to detail, proper technique and the right proportions to fully reveal its brilliance.</p>
<hr />
<p><strong>Do</strong> use a single dash of Angostura bitters in your Sazeracs.  You&#8217;ll be surprised how much this opens up the flavors.  While it may enrage some purists, you can always counter with, &#8220;If it was good enough for <strong>Thomas Handy</strong>, it&#8217;s good enough for me.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> use orange bitters in a Sazerac.  I&#8217;ve seen this done and I can&#8217;t possibly understand the rationale.</p>
<p><strong>Do</strong> stir the drink gently with ice.</p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> shake your Sazerac.  Remember, shaking a clear drink is like shaking a baby: first there&#8217;s going to be a lot of foam, and then you&#8217;ll be staring death in the face.</p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> serve a Sazerac on the rocks.</p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> serve a Sazerac in a cocktail glass.</p>
<p><strong>Do</strong> serve your Sazerac neat, in a rocks glass that is large enough to accommodate some breathing room.  Your drink will thank you as you swirl it in the glass.</p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> drink your Sazerac in one gulp.  It might look like a shot, but someone hopefully put a lot of work into that drink.  Sip it, you monkey.</p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> use bourbon in a Sazerac.  Only the spiciness of a good rye whiskey will do.  Cognac is also acceptable if you&#8217;re trying to be historically accurate.</p>
<p><strong>Do</strong> use <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/sazerac/">this recipe</a> to make your Sazeracs.</p>
<p><strong>Do</strong> squeeze a nice, wide lemon peel over the drink.  The oils from the lemon are a crucial component to the cocktail.</p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> drop the lemon peel in the drink.  Throw it away after you&#8217;ve expressed all the oil.</p>
<p><strong>Do</strong> watch this video of <strong>Chris McMillian</strong> making what looks to me like the perfect Sazerac.  Repeat as necessary:</p>
<p><object width="350" height="287"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sfhaxHYb46E"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sfhaxHYb46E" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="350" height="287"></embed></object></p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> use Pernod to rinse the glass, <em>if you can avoid it</em>.  Pernod&#8217;s sweetness is going to compete with the sugar in the drink.</p>
<p><strong>Do</strong> use Herbsaint, if you can find it, or &#8211; even better &#8211; a proper absinthe.  The higher proof and dryness will make perfect sense to you once you try it.</p>
<p><strong>Do</strong> muddle a sugar cube soaked in bitters and a splash of water to sweeten the drink.</p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> let anyone give you grief for using simple syrup in its place.  There is no difference between a fully-dissolved sugar cube and simple syrup.</p>
<p><strong>Do</strong> send an email to Senator Edwin Murray at <strong>murraye [at] legis.state.la.us</strong> asking him to approve Senate Bill No. 6, which will designate the Sazerac as the official state cocktail of Louisiana.</p>
<p>Please.</p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/the-dos-and-donts-of-sazeracs/">The Dos and Donts of Sazeracs</a></p>
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		<slash:comments>50</slash:comments>
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		<title>How to Make a Daiquiri &#8211; The American Bartending School Way</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-a-daiquiri-the-american-bartending-school-way/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-a-daiquiri-the-american-bartending-school-way/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:43:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-a-daiquiri-the-american-bartending-school-way/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I found this video on the DrinkBoy forum this weekend, posted sometime last year.  Those of you who have been reading for a while will know that I always love a good instructional video, as I&#8217;ve remarked upon time and again.
 
To recap, here’s the recipe:
1. Chill an 8-ounce cocktail glass.
2. Pick your nose, [...]<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-a-daiquiri-the-american-bartending-school-way/">How to Make a Daiquiri &#8211; The American Bartending School Way</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I found this video on the <a href="http://groups.msn.com/DrinkBoy/cocktailrecipes.msnw?action=get_message&#038;mview=0&#038;ID_Message=17042&#038;LastModified=4675649688991902466">DrinkBoy forum</a> this weekend, posted sometime last year.  Those of you who have been reading for a while will know that I always love a good instructional video, as I&#8217;ve remarked upon <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/how-not-to-make-a-mint-julep/">time</a> and <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/how-to-make-sexy-european-mojito-drink/">again</a>.</p>
<p><embed style="width:350px; height:287px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-2499654106000583594&#038;hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed></p>
<p>To recap, here’s the recipe:</p>
<p>1. Chill an 8-ounce cocktail glass.<br />
2. Pick your nose, and wipe the resulting findings on the back of your hand.<br />
3. In a mixing glass, add one ounce of Bacardi rum. </p>
<blockquote><p>Note: rum is a liquor that comes in many different colors.</p></blockquote>
<p>4. Add two ounces of sweet-and-sour mix.<br />
5. Wipe nose on back of hand for four full seconds.<br />
6. Shake drink gently.<br />
7. Talk about difference between fresh lime juice and sour mix while drink melts in shaker.</p>
<blockquote><p>Note: fresh limes are no longer used.</p></blockquote>
<p>8. Strain drink into chilled glass.<br />
9. Dump any excess in sink.<br />
10. Enjoy!</p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-a-daiquiri-the-american-bartending-school-way/">How to Make a Daiquiri &#8211; The American Bartending School Way</a></p>
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		<slash:comments>103</slash:comments>
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		<title>How to Make Sexy European Mojito Drink</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/how-to-make-sexy-european-mojito-drink/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/how-to-make-sexy-european-mojito-drink/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:55:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/how-to-make-sexy-european-mojito-drink/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The mojito education bus keeps on rollin&#8217; on over here.  Thanks to Joe Bartender for finding this brilliant (read: boobalicious) instructional video embedded below:

To recap, here&#8217;s the recipe:
1. Pick some mint for your mojito.  Wink!
2. Put some ice like America.
3. Split half of the cup to half of the cup (to each glass [...]<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/how-to-make-sexy-european-mojito-drink/">How to Make Sexy European Mojito Drink</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The mojito education bus keeps on rollin&#8217; on over here.  Thanks to <a href="http://www.joebartender.com/">Joe Bartender</a> for finding this brilliant (read: boobalicious) instructional video embedded below:</p>
<p><object width="350" height="287"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/E2AJzBrAFyc"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/E2AJzBrAFyc" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="350" height="287"></embed></object></p>
<p>To recap, here&#8217;s the recipe:</p>
<p>1. Pick some mint for your mojito.  <strong>Wink</strong>!<br />
2. Put some ice like America.<br />
3. Split half of the cup to half of the cup (to each glass the mixture).<br />
4. Use &#8220;one part&#8221; of Bacardi rum.<br />
5. Put &#8220;three parts&#8221; of club soda.<br />
6. Make some lemon on side of glass.<br />
7. Toast yourself and drink both glasses.</p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>
<p>And don&#8217;t forget to see another great instructional video <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/how-not-to-make-a-mint-julep/">here</a>.</p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/how-to-make-sexy-european-mojito-drink/">How to Make Sexy European Mojito Drink</a></p>
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		<slash:comments>13</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>The Dos and Donts of Mojitos</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/the-dos-and-donts-of-mojitos/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/the-dos-and-donts-of-mojitos/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:18:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/the-dos-and-donts-of-mojitos/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Well, it&#8217;s mojito season here in the northern hemisphere, which means it&#8217;s time for a little lesson for the novice and experienced mojito drinker alike.  Follow these helpful hints, dear reader, and you won&#8217;t dare go wrong.


Do use crushed ice in your mojitos.  Crushed ice will melt faster, which is a good thing [...]<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/the-dos-and-donts-of-mojitos/">The Dos and Donts of Mojitos</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img id="image553" src="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/istock_000003582510xsmall_350x261shkl.jpg" alt="Jeffrey Morgenthaler | Mojito" /></p>
<p>Well, it&#8217;s mojito season here in the northern hemisphere, which means it&#8217;s time for a little lesson for the novice and experienced mojito drinker alike.  Follow these helpful hints, dear reader, and you won&#8217;t dare go wrong.<br />
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<hr />
<strong>Do</strong> use crushed ice in your mojitos.  Crushed ice will melt faster, which is a good thing in a drink with such strong flavors.  The extra surface area of crushed ice also means a colder drink.</p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> use a pre-made mojito mix out of a bottle.  This is one drink you want to do right.</p>
<p><strong>Do</strong> use <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/?p=554" title="Jeffrey Morgenthaler | Mojito Recipe">this recipe</a> to make yourself a mojito at home.</p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> over-muddle the mint, or muddle the lime with the ice cubes.  These are strictly amateur moves.</p>
<p><strong>Do</strong> try Bacardi rum in your mojitos.  For many of us, it is the closest thing we can get to real Cuban rum.</p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> use dark or gold rum in your mojitos.  They can muddy the flavor tremendously.</p>
<p><strong>Do</strong> use bottled mineral water in place of seltzer water.  Remember, garbage in, garbage out.</p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> order a mojito when there is a line at the bar.  Your bartender is probably not going to put a lot of love into it.  In fact, you might get just the opposite.</p>
<p><strong>Do</strong> order a mojito when the bar is slow.  Your bartender will appreciate having an intricate cocktail to make.  And if he/she doesn&#8217;t? Fuck &#8216;em.</p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> have ten mojitos tonight.  At around 150 calories each, that&#8217;s like 1500 calories, there, fatty.</p>
<p><strong>Do</strong> order a mojito from a reputable bartender at a reputable bar.</p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> order a mojito at a dance club, sports bar, drink stand, airport bar, OTB saloon, chain restaurant or fraternity house.  You&#8217;re just going to end up being disappointed.</p>
<p><strong>Do</strong> order a mojito on a warm summer evening.</p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> order a mojito when the weather is below 70°F.  This is almost as bad as ordering a Bloody Mary after the sun has gone down.</p>
<p><strong>Do</strong> slowly sip a mojito and enjoy the way the flavors meld over time.</p>
<p><strong>Do not</strong> slurp down a mojito in less time than it took your bartender to make it.  You&#8217;re probably already on the back burner for ordering it in the first place, and it&#8217;s going to be a while before you&#8217;re allowed another.</p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/the-dos-and-donts-of-mojitos/">The Dos and Donts of Mojitos</a></p>
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		<slash:comments>77</slash:comments>
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		<title>A Bartender&#8217;s Advice to Women &#8211; Part 4</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/a-bartenders-advice-to-women-part-4/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/a-bartenders-advice-to-women-part-4/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:17:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/a-bartenders-advice-to-women-part-4/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On a busy night, there is always one guy lurking somewhere in the bar who will try to make you a rose out of a paper cocktail napkin as a romantic gesture.
This man is Satan and he drives a van.  Do not trust him.

Post from: Jeffrey Morgenthaler. Follow me on Twitter.A Bartender&#8217;s Advice to [...]<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/a-bartenders-advice-to-women-part-4/">A Bartender&#8217;s Advice to Women &#8211; Part 4</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On a busy night, there is always one guy lurking somewhere in the bar who will try to make you a rose out of a paper cocktail napkin as a romantic gesture.</p>
<p>This man is Satan and he drives a van.  Do not trust him.</p>
<p><object width="350" height="287"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HYO6jawY7lA"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HYO6jawY7lA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="350" height="287"></embed></object></p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/a-bartenders-advice-to-women-part-4/">A Bartender&#8217;s Advice to Women &#8211; Part 4</a></p>
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		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
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		<title>How Not to Make a Mint Julep</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/how-not-to-make-a-mint-julep/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/how-not-to-make-a-mint-julep/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Mar 2007 19:41:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/how-not-to-make-a-mint-julep/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Oh my God this is so awesome I want to die.  Andrea from Brooks Nightclub and Whatever had me totally captivated for, like, a whole fifteen seconds &#8211; right up until the part where she says that a &#8220;Mint Julep is like a Mojito, but with bourbon&#8221;
That&#8217;s when the Rose&#8217;s Lime Juice started happening [...]<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/how-not-to-make-a-mint-julep/">How Not to Make a Mint Julep</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Oh my God this is so awesome I want to die.  Andrea from Brooks Nightclub and Whatever had me totally captivated for, like, a whole fifteen seconds &#8211; right up until the part where she says that a &#8220;Mint Julep is like a Mojito, but with bourbon&#8221;</p>
<p>That&#8217;s when the Rose&#8217;s Lime Juice started happening and I fell backwards in my chair from laughing.  Check out this totally awesome video, but whatever you do, don&#8217;t ever make this drink.</p>
<p><object width="350" height="287"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Nk57WmewiRA"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Nk57WmewiRA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="350" height="287"></embed></object></p>
<p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p>
<blockquote><p>1 lime, quartered<br />
2 sprigs wilted mint<br />
1 ounce Rose&#8217;s lime juice<br />
1 teaspoon powdered sugar<br />
2 ounces canned sour mix<br />
4 ounces Sprite<br />
1.5 ounces Woodford Reserve Bourbon</p></blockquote>
<p>Awesome.</p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2007/how-not-to-make-a-mint-julep/">How Not to Make a Mint Julep</a></p>
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		<slash:comments>109</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>A Bartender&#8217;s Advice to Women &#8211; Part 3</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/a-bartenders-advice-to-women-part-3/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/a-bartenders-advice-to-women-part-3/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Dec 2006 09:33:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/a-bartenders-advice-to-women-part-3/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If a man gives a round of applause when someone breaks a glass in a bar or restaurant, he&#8217;s a douchebag.
Post from: Jeffrey Morgenthaler. Follow me on Twitter.A Bartender&#8217;s Advice to Women &#8211; Part 3
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/a-bartenders-advice-to-women-part-3/">A Bartender&#8217;s Advice to Women &#8211; Part 3</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If a man gives a round of applause when someone breaks a glass in a bar or restaurant, he&#8217;s a douchebag.</p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/a-bartenders-advice-to-women-part-3/">A Bartender&#8217;s Advice to Women &#8211; Part 3</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
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		<title>How to Write a Bartending Resume</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/how-to-write-a-bartending-resume/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/how-to-write-a-bartending-resume/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Aug 2006 17:07:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/moblog/?p=356</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
I get so many visitors looking for tips on how to write a bartending resume that I thought I should finally post a tutorial on how to write your own.  Read on, reader!
Step One: The Header.
I see a lot of resumes in my position, and you&#8217;d be surprised at just how many people leave [...]<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/how-to-write-a-bartending-resume/">How to Write a Bartending Resume</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="cv">
<p>I get so many visitors looking for tips on how to write a <a href ="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/bartending.htm" title="My Bartending Resume">bartending resume</a> that I thought I should finally post a tutorial on how to write your own.  Read on, reader!</p>
<h3>Step One: The Header.</h3>
<p>I see a lot of resumes in my position, and you&#8217;d be surprised at just how many people leave resumes with no contact information.  First, print your name in large letters.  Don&#8217;t forget your mailing address (if different from your home address, always use the mailing address), phone number, and email address.</p>
<div class="resumexample">
<h3>Jeffrey A Morgenthaler</h3>
<h4>1017 Blahblah Street<br />
	Eugene, Oregon<br />
	(541) 579-0115<br />
	notmyrealaddress@jeffreymorgenthaler.com</h4>
</p></div>
<p>You want to give employers a clear way to get in touch with you, otherwise, what would be the point of having a resume?</p>
<h3>Step Two:  Skip the Objective.</h3>
<p>For some reason, it&#8217;s been traditional to include an <strong>objective</strong> section in a resume, and I&#8217;ve never understood why.  Everyone&#8217;s objective is the same: to secure a good job.  No matter how you dress it up&#8230;</p>
<div class="resumexample">
<h3 style="text-decoration: line-through;">Objective</h3>
<p style="text-decoration: line-through;">To find employment in a fast-paced, fun work environment.</p>
</p></div>
<p>&#8230;it always comes off sounding weak.  Skip it.</p>
<h3>Step Three: Languages and Special Skills</h3>
<p>Believe me, if you speak a foreign language, especially Spanish, in a restaurant in this country, you&#8217;re going to be one step ahead of the game.  Put it down, but don&#8217;t lie about it.  If you can only count to ten in Arabic, it&#8217;s not worth mentioning.  </p>
<p>Do you have any computer skills?  I&#8217;m talking about POS (Point of Sale) systems here.  Squirrel, Micros, Aloha, etc.  If you&#8217;ve used a computer system at another job, put it down.  More and more establishments are moving to computer systems, and having to spend two days training you how to punch in an order is only going to be a deterrent to hiring you.</p>
<div class="resumexample">
<h2>How I Communicate</h2>
<h3>In The Real World..</h3>
<p>I can read and write in French.  Asking me to speak it may require a freshen-up trip to Paris.</p>
<h3>&#8230;On A Computer</h3>
<p>I can program a Micros point-of-sale system, and I have four years of experience with Squirrel. I speak Microsoft Windows and Macintosh with equal proficiency.  I have a firm grasp on the Microsoft Office Suite, the Adobe Creative Suite, and the Macromedia Suite. I am skilled in web page design, XHTML and CSS.</p>
</p></div>
<p>On a side note, I received a resume a few weeks ago and the applicant put down that he was proficient with both Internet Explorer and Firefox.  I almost had a stroke from laughing as I slid the resume into the trash.</p>
<h3>Step Four: Education.</h3>
<p>Yes, it&#8217;s just a foodservice job.  No, you don&#8217;t need a PhD to do it.  But having some education shows that you&#8217;re a little more well-rounded than other applicants.  And hey, you spent $30,000 on that philosophy degree, so get some mileage out of it!</p>
<div class="resumexample">
<h2>My Formal Education</h2>
<h3><a href="http://www.hartnell.cc.ca.us/">Hartnell College</a></h3>
<h4>1989 &#8211; 1992</h4>
<h4>Salinas, California</h4>
<p>Graduated with A.S. degree in physics.</p>
<h3><a href="http://www.bme.hu/">Technical University of Budapest</a></h3>
<h4>1991</h4>
<h4>Budapest, Hungary</h4>
<p>Studied Hungarian baroque architecture as part of the <strong>Boronda Art Scholarship</strong> awarded through <a href="http://www.hartnell.cc.ca.us/">Hartnell College</a>.</p>
<h3><a href="http://www.uoregon.edu/">University of Oregon</a></h3>
<h4>1992 &#8211; 1998</h4>
<h4>Eugene, Oregon</h4>
<p>Graduated with bachelor&#8217;s degree in <a href="http://architecture.uoregon.edu/index.cfm?mode=programs&#038;page=intarch">Interior Architecture</a>.</p>
</p></div>
<p>Also worth mentioning here is any special training or bar-/restaurant-related coursework.  If you took a class on wine, mention it here.  If you went to bartending school, put it down.  Spend some time on this section.  It&#8217;s almost as important as the following section.</p>
<h3>Part Five: Work Experience.</h3>
<p>Here&#8217;s the meat of your resume.  Now, I get a lot of people asking how to fill in this section when they don&#8217;t have any bartending experience.  It&#8217;s very simple: you lie.  Just kidding.  Always tell the truth, even if it is a bit embellished.  I&#8217;ve actually hired people with &#8220;some&#8221; bartending experience only to find out that they lied about having any, and they were subsequently fired.  Now I have a test that I have all my new applicants take.</p>
<p><strong>Important tip:</strong> When you&#8217;re filling out the job description for each establishment you&#8217;ve worked in, I feel that it&#8217;s more important to convey a sense of what sort of place it was, rather than recounting what you did there.  Face it, you did the same thing at every job: served customers, worked the cash register, and cleaned.  I don&#8217;t care.  What I want to know as a bar manager is what sort of establishment you worked in, as I haven&#8217;t had the chance to visit every bar and restaurant in the country.  Was it a dive bar?  Fine dining?  Nightclub?  Let me know.  Some of us in fine dining are actually looking for people who come up from high-volume chain restaurants.  You never know, so dont&#8217; be shy, and do be as specific as possible.</p>
<div class="resumexample">
<h2>Work Experience</h2>
<h3>El Vaquero</h3>
<h4>2005 &#8211; Present</h4>
<h4>296 East Fifth Avenue<br />
        Eugene, Oregon</h4>
<p>Head bartender. Tapas and Steaks.  Huge menu and an enormous Spanish wine list, complemented by my menu of classic cocktails &#8211; with a twist.  Priced OLCC catalog, set up Micros POS, trained a hardworking staff of bartenders, barbacks and cocktail servers, and conducted liquor classes for the staff of two restaurants.  Fast-paced atmosphere, Disco Night on Thursdays, and a very demanding thirtysomething clientele.</p>
<h3><a href="http://www.marcherestaurant.com/">Marche</a></h3>
<h4>2001 &#8211; 2005</h4>
<h4>296 East Fifth Avenue<br />Eugene, Oregon</h4>
<p>Bartender/waiter. Buttoned-up black-tie service for the pre-theater crowd. Northwest cuisine done in the French bistro tradition, washed down with bottles of Pinot Noir. Huge French and Pacific Northwest wine list, dessert crowd at ten, open kitchen and bistro-style zinc-topped bar.</p>
<h3>Chanterelle</h3>
<h4>2002</h4>
<h4>207 East Fifth Avenue #109<br />
        Eugene, Oregon</h4>
<p>Bartender. Full-service, fine continental restaurant. Early crowd, small kitchen, tough German chef, fast pace.</p>
<h3><a href="http://www.macsatvet.com/">The Vet&#8217;s Club</a></h3>
<h4>2000</h4>
<h4>1626 Willamette Street<br />
        Eugene, Oregon</h4>
<p>Bartender. Huge thirty-five seat bar, and the hottest club in town. Late nights, stiff drinks, intense fast pace, two bartenders and a lot of smoky blues.</p>
<h3>The Tiny Tavern</h3>
<h4>1996 &#8211; 2000</h4>
<h4>394 Blair Boulevard<br />
        Eugene, Oregon</h4>
<p>My first bartending job. Four years, five nights a week in one of the toughest bars in town. Famous chili, pitchers of Olympia, loud music and a lot of smoke.</p>
</div>
<p>You should list any work experience you have here.  The more food- or bar-related experience you can list, even if it&#8217;s as a barista or prep cook, the better.</p>
<h3>Part Six: References.</h3>
<p>I prefer not to list references on my resume (especially on the web, I don&#8217;t need people calling my former bosses at six in the morning) because I have a lot of experience here in town.  However, if you&#8217;re applying for a job in another city, or if you don&#8217;t have a lot of experience, then you might want to list work-related references.  Keep it under three, kid.</p>
<p>I hope this tutorial has helped, and that you&#8217;re now on your way to writing a successful resume.  If you&#8217;re looking for more advice and/or some professional help with your bar resume, my friends <a href="http://www.misscharming.com/bartender/bartenderresume.html">Cheryl Charming</a> and <a href="http://www.theartofdrink.com/blog/2007/01/bartenders-resume.php">Darcy O&#8217;Neil</a> have posted additional information at their own sites.</p>
</div>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/how-to-write-a-bartending-resume/">How to Write a Bartending Resume</a></p>
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		<slash:comments>34</slash:comments>
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		<title>A Bartender&#8217;s Advice to Women &#8211; Part 2</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/blended-margaritas/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/blended-margaritas/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Aug 2006 19:25:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/moblog/?p=353</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you date a man who drinks blended margaritas, you&#8217;ll always have to hold the door open for him when you go out.
Post from: Jeffrey Morgenthaler. Follow me on Twitter.A Bartender&#8217;s Advice to Women &#8211; Part 2
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/blended-margaritas/">A Bartender&#8217;s Advice to Women &#8211; Part 2</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you date a man who drinks blended margaritas, you&#8217;ll always have to hold the door open for him when you go out.</p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/blended-margaritas/">A Bartender&#8217;s Advice to Women &#8211; Part 2</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>A Bartender&#8217;s Advice to Women &#8211; Part 1</title>
		<link>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/a-bartenders-advice-to-women-part-1/</link>
		<comments>http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/a-bartenders-advice-to-women-part-1/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 25 Jun 2006 13:26:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jeffrey Morgenthaler</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Helpful Advice]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/moblog/?p=343</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Try to avoid a man who drinks apple martinis.  He&#8217;ll never give you an orgasm.  Not intentionally, anyway.
Post from: Jeffrey Morgenthaler. Follow me on Twitter.A Bartender&#8217;s Advice to Women &#8211; Part 1
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/a-bartenders-advice-to-women-part-1/">A Bartender&#8217;s Advice to Women &#8211; Part 1</a></p>
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Try to avoid a man who drinks apple martinis.  He&#8217;ll never give you an orgasm.  Not intentionally, anyway.</p>
<p>Post from: <a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com">Jeffrey Morgenthaler</a>. Follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jeffmorgen/">Twitter</a>.<br/><br/><a href="http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2006/a-bartenders-advice-to-women-part-1/">A Bartender&#8217;s Advice to Women &#8211; Part 1</a></p>
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		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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