Each passing year always seems more eventful than the last, but that’s especially true for 2019.
In search of the ultimate expressions of canonical cocktails, we tasted through dozens of Mai Tais, spoke to the master of the Amaretto Sour and discovered the secret to an umami-tinged Martini. We welcomed a new era of cocktail innovation thanks to “switching,” went in search of the true meaning of tiki and caught up with JaNee, the most viral bartender in history.
As the year comes to a close, here’s a look back at a handful of stories that made the biggest impression on our readers, from the cult of Turkey Dew to what it really takes to make a hazy IPA.
JaNee: Where Is She Now?
JaNee Nyberg’s now-infamous Old-Fashioned tutorial made her an internet sensation. Ten years later, she has no regrets.
Do the Turkey Dew
The latest insider’s handshake? A Wild Turkey and Mountain Dew boilermaker.
What’s In a Hazy IPA, Anyway?
Instagrammable murkiness wasn’t the original goal, but it’s become the New England-Style IPA’s calling card. This is how brewers achieve it.
Suburban New Jersey’s Secret Bar Scene
Hidden within the quiet bedroom community of Maplewood, a growing crop of decked-out, dad-run “garage bars” have become fixtures of the town’s nightlife scene.
Goodbye Fat-Washing, Hello “Switching”
The Frankenstein approach to spirit infusion has infiltrated the cocktail world at its most elite levels.
In Search of the Ultimate Mai Tai
We asked 10 of America’s best bartenders to submit their finest recipe for the Mai Tai—and then blind-tasted them all to find the best of the best.
Willett Is for Diehards
Among collectors, the idiosyncratic brand has become the only modern whiskey to transcend the status of Pappy van Winkle.
Mastering the Amaretto Sour With Jeffrey Morgenthaler
In “Masters of X,” we spotlight bartenders chasing perfection in one drink. Here, Jeffrey Morgenthaler tackles the oft-derided Amaretto Sour.
This Frozen Martini Has a Secret
The classic gets an elusive, umami-tinged upgrade with a sleeper ingredient.
Does Anyone Really Know What Tiki Is?
What began as Don the Beachcomber’s fantasy has evolved into a fully fledged cocktail genre, and yet no one has ever quite managed to define it.
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