Michael Dietsch
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WHISKEY: A SPIRITED STORY and SHRUBS: AN OLD-FASHIONED DRINK. Husband to @lastnightsdinnr, liberal, PTA dad. He/him/his. Rhymes with beach.
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Articles by Michael Dietsch
How to Pair Chocolate With Bourbon, Scotch, Rum, Tequila, and More Original
It's Valentine's Day, and you went out of your way to find delicious chocolates for your sweetheart this year. But wait...you didn't think of something to drink? Don't have ruby port or barleywine on hand? Never fear: the answer's in your liquor cabinet. I can't think of a better way to celebrate than to sip some delicious spirits with equally delicious chocolates. Today, I'll offer a few tips to help you make it work. Folks, Valentine's day (or any date) is a special occasion, worth a splurge.
The Only Mojito Recipe You’ll Ever Need
While decidedly untraditional, an optional dash of Angostura bitters balances the sweetness of the drink while adding subtle herbal notes. Using sugar instead of simple syrup makes it easier to muddle the mint, extracting more flavor and aromatic oils. The full origins of the mojito are lost to history; all we really know is that the drink originated in Cuba over 200 years ago, before being popularized by Ernest Hemingway and other celebrities who visited Cuba prior to the Revolution.
Double Ginger Scones With Currants
These ginger scones took a hot minute to make perfect, but perfect they are. I was hoping to include chopped pears in the mix, inspired by the pear ginger raisin scones at the now-shuttered Once Upon a Tart in SoHo. But the pears made the scones too wet, and when I replaced them with crystallized ginger, a spicy star was born.
Celery Shrub
This celery shrub is inspired by Cel-Ray, a common fixture in Jewish delicatessens in New York City. Celery tonic, or celery soda, is certainly an acquired taste, but those who love it can’t imagine ever living without it. I first encountered it at Katz’s Delicatessen on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Take a bit of shrub, top it with soda, and pretend you’re in New York.
Blueberry-Lavender Shrub
I can usually smell lavender before I see it. The day I bought the lavender to develop this softly floral blueberry shrub recipe was no exception. I was walking through the Union Square Greenmarket and caught a whiff. I looked around to find the stand that had herbs, and then finally located the lavender on a back table. Though the herb is pungent, it still complements the blueberries without being overwhelming. Wash lavender well before using.
Carrot-Ginger Shrub
Drink your veggies! We all know why carrots are good for us; it’s the beta-carotene and antioxidants and all that jazz, but ginger’s good for you, too. You can use this carrot-ginger shrub in nonalcoholic drinks (just add seltzer) or boozy cocktails—it would work well with vodka’s neutral palate or the herbaceous qualities of gin. Another use for this shrub? Salad dressing! Just mix it with olive oil to your taste and add salt and pepper. Ingredients 2 pounds carrots 2 Tbsp.
Rusty Nail Recipe
A vintage cocktail that's all about the Scotch. Updated Jul. 21, 2021 Perhaps this 50-50 combination of Scotch and Drambuie reminds you of your grandfather's poker nights. Or perhaps your grandmother drank them between Camels. Nevertheless, you probably think of the Rusty Nail as an old person's drink, a quaff too musty even for Mad Men. It doesn't have to be this way.
The Best Gin for a Martini
A blind taste test to determine the best gin for your martini. [Photographs: Vicky Wasik] The Surprise Favorite: Ford's Gin What do you want when you drink a martini? I know what I want: A crisp, cold, silky-smooth drink that tastes of juniper and woody herbs and citrus peel. I want subtle hints of spices, in both the aroma and the flavor, and I especially want to taste things like cardamom and coriander, even if it's just in the finish. I want to taste gin, and I absolutely want to taste vermouth.
8 Great Cocktail Blogs You Should Read Now
Cocktail blogs you should be reading. [Computer image:Shutterstock. Cocktail image: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt] You wouldn't know it from looking at my cocktail blog, A Dash of Bitters, but I used to be a somewhat active cocktail blogger, and I've been in the blogging game for a long time, since 2006. (Well, that's a long time for a cocktail blog, anyway.) I've seen a lot of cocktail blogs come and go. I've seen some blogs come, stay a while, and fall asleep on the couch.
Cocktails From a Low-Stocked Bar: A Guide to Substitutions
Oh man, it's been one of those days. Your computer isn't working correctly, but your IT guys doesn't want to help you. Your boss wants that important document fifteen minutes ago, but what can you do? Your mom is leaving passive-aggressive voicemails because you haven't called her in the last 24 hours.
Gold Rush Cocktail Recipe
Honey and bourbon pair beautifully in this drink. [Photo: Jennifer Hess] This simple sour has a name that calls to mind a 19th-century classic, but it's much more modern than that. Bartender T. J. Siegal created it for New York's Milk & Honey in the mid-2000s. The cocktail blends bourbon, lemon juice, and honey syrup for a whiskey-laced spin on the Bee's Knees. I like a high-proof bourbon for this: Old Grand Dad Bonded is a good choice.
The Serious Eats Guide to Irish Whiskey
Last year, the Distilled Spirits Council announced that Irish whiskey is the fastest growing sales category in the United States. It's popular in part because of its easy drinkability; Irish whiskey is sweet and smooth, but still has the complexity of a brown spirit. I find it's a good gateway for people who want to beyond their vodka cocktails. Irish whiskey also presents a good bargain in the market, so it's more within reach of younger consumers than are most Scotches.
How to Make Cocktails at Home: The Serious Eats Guide to Essential Cocktail Techniques
So it's booze o'clock on a Friday, and you're ready for a drink, but you're new to the mixing game and you're not quite sure how to get started. You've come to the right place: after three and a half years of writing about cocktail technique on Serious Eats, I've gathered my tips, essential pointers, and the wisdom of a few stellar bartenders into one handy guide.
The Best Gin to Buy on a Budget
Got $20? Here's the best gin for your buck. [Photo: Vicky Wasik] Theoretically, finding good gin that doesn't cost an arm and a leg should not be difficult. After all, gin is a simple thing to produce. (Need a reminder about how gin is made?) You start with neutral grain spirits, which many distilleries just buy inexpensively from other producer, and then you add your juniper, your citrus, and whatever other flavorings you like to it.
Shrubs
Book Details Hardcover October 2016 ISBN 9781581573886 188 x 239 mm / 256 pages Description A beautiful revised edition, with foreword by Paul Clarke and 10 new recipes. Michael Dietsch took the mixology community by storm when he brought back a popular drink from colonial times, the shrub. Not the green, leafy kind that grow in the ground, but a vintage drink mixer that can be spiked with alcohol or prepared as a soda. Drinkers, bartenders and the media embraced the book.
Michael Dietsch: Contributing Writer at Serious Eats
Washington, D.C. Indiana University, Bloomington Cocktails Michael is a cocktail writer for Serious Eats. He has written two books, Shrubs (2014) and Whiskey (2016). His work has also appeared in Culture Cheese Magazine, Liquor.com, and The Globe and Mail. Michael Dietsch is a barfly, boozehound, book hoarder, jazz fiend, and technographer. He lives with his wife, kids, and cats in the D.C. suburbs. When he's not out on the town, he's usually at home doing laundry and writing.
How to Use Honey in Cocktails
Tips on using honey to add flavor to your drinks. [Photo: Jennifer Hess] If you're looking for a cocktail sweetener, it's time to look beyond sugar. For bartenders and home drink-makers who strive to introduce a locavore element to their cocktails, honey is a goldmine. Honey from your local food shed is made by bees that feast on the nectar of local plants, carrying subtle flavors and scents from the plant back to the hive, where the honey is made.
The Best Gin to Buy on a Budget
Theoretically, finding good gin that doesn't cost an arm and a leg should not be difficult. After all, gin is a simple thing to produce. (Need a reminder about how gin is made?) You start with neutral grain spirits, which many distilleries just buy inexpensively from other producer, and then you add your juniper, your citrus, and whatever other flavorings you like to it. Buy those ingredients in enough bulk, and they're pretty inexpensive, too.
If You Love the Moscow Mule, Try a Mamie Taylor
1/3 Cup Olive Oil Plus More For Grilling The Tortillas 12-oz Cans Of Ale (such As Lucky Town Pub Ale) 3 Maraschino Cherries On A Cocktail Pick And 1 Pineapple Frond (representing Morse Code—three Cherries As The Three Dots And The Frond As The Dash), For Garnish Apple Pie Moonshine (such As Midnight Moon Or Ole Smoky) Apples, Red And Green, Cored And Cut Into .5 Inch Wedges Beaujolais Nouveau Wine (you May Substitute Another Red Wine) Blackberries, Plus More For Garnish If Desired Blanched...
The 6 Best Budget Ryes
[Photograph: Shutterstock] Bad rye whiskey? Sadly, there is such a thing as bad rye; usually, the juice is so young, it has no nuance or subtlety, and all you get is fire and unpleasant fruity flavors. But enough about the not-so-good stuff. Let's talk instead of the stars of the budget-rye universe. Good rye should be spicy, somewhat fruity, and a little more rugged than bourbon.
25 Classic Cocktail Recipes Everyone Should Know
Have you tried all of these essential drinks? [Photographs: Vicky Wasik except where noted. Video: Serious Eats] We who like to mix drinks at home do it for many reasons: First, it's cheaper than drinking out. Second, it's fun to mix your own drinks at home. Third, it's even more fun to mix drinks for other people at home. Any self-respecting home bartender should have a mental Rolodex Excel spreadsheet of favorite classic cocktail recipes.
Cuba Libre Cocktail Recipe
What a Cuba Libre cocktail really is (hint: it's more than just a rum and Coke), and how to make it. Updated Sep. 20, 2018 You might think of the Cuba Libre as a simple rum and Coke, but there's more to it than just that. The Cuba Libre originated, naturally, in Cuba, during a free-Cuba movement that sprung up just after the Spanish-American War. The Cuba Libre originally called for the juice of one lime in addition to the rum and the Coke, and the lime juice makes all the difference.
The Serious Eats Guide to Rye Whiskey
I don't know about any of you, but I'm a boozer who likes to drink rye whiskey year 'round. Winter, summer, whatever, no day's too hot to enjoy a nice rye old-fashioned. But normal people, I hear, think of rye as a cold-weather treat. Its spicy, robust character and bone-dry palate certainly help take the edge off a brisk, autumn day. And since we in the Northeast have had several such days lately, it's time to talk all things rye.
10 Bourbon Terms You Should Know
I've heard a rumor that in other parts of the country, the weather is turning colder, leaves are starting to drop from the trees, mountain men and other rustic types are gathering wood for their fireplaces, and drinkers are turning their bloodshot eyes toward the brown spirits. Me? I have the air conditioning on as I type this. It's about 80°F out there. Then again, my bloodshot eyes never turn away from brown spirits even when the temperatures crack the triple digits, but I'm unusual that way.
10 Lesser-Known Cocktails You Should Be Drinking
So you've been doing the cocktails-at-home thing for a while, and now it's time to stretch your legs a bit and try some new drinks. This week, I've gotcha covered with a collection of ten delicious historical cocktails that go beyond the basics—the Martinis, Daiquiris, Old Fashioneds, Manhattans, and other old standards. Most (if not all) of these drinks are considered classics in their own right, but they're nevertheless largely overlooked.
Negroni Sbagliato Recipe
[Photograph: Vicky Wasik] Have you ever really bungled a cocktail? I mean, really screwed it up to the point where you had to toss it in the sink? With the Negroni Sbagliato, you can screw up a drink and yet still make something delicious. You see, sbagliato, in Italian, means "bungled" or "mistaken." Remember, a traditional Negroni is made from Campari, the bitter liqueur; sweet vermouth; and gin. The "broken" Negroni, or Negroni Sbagliato, starts with Campari and sweet vermouth.
The Serious Eats Field Guide to Orange Liqueur
[Photographs, unless otherwise noted: Robyn Lee] Orange liqueur has earned a bad reputation over the last few decades. Take, for example, curaçao. When many people think of curaçao, they immediately recall bright blue cocktails, sticky sweet and garish—drinks they might have had in college or even as recently as last weekend. But orange liqueur needn't be limited to blue curaçao and other sugary concoctions.
Cuba Libre Recipe
You might think of the Cuba Libre as a simple rum and Coke, but there's more to it than just that. The Cuba Libre originated, naturally, in Cuba, during a free-Cuba movement that sprung up just after the Spanish-American War. The Cuba Libre originally called for the juice of one lime in addition to the rum and the Coke, and the lime juice makes all the difference. If you're only familiar with Rum and Coke as a sticky-sweet party drink, the lime-infused version may surprise you.
Cocktail 101: The Best Way to Rim a Glass
If you're tired of the twist, you can also liven up your cocktail presentation by rimming the lip of your serving glass. The most familiar item to rim a glass with is probably the salt you find on a margarita, but you can use the same principle with sugar, cocoa powder or nibs, chili powder, dried or fresh herbs, or wherever your imagination takes you.
Millionaire Cocktail Recipe
The Millionaire is a cocktail that arose during Prohibition.... Wait, no, scratch that. The Millionaire is a group of drinks that arose during Prohibition, all sharing the same name but with wildly different recipes. You can find a version that calls for sloe gin, apricot brandy, and rum, alongside grenadine and lime juice. Trader Vic had a version that uses gin, vermouth, grenadine, and pineapple juice.
5 Essential Campari Cocktails
Campari. Bright red and packed into a shiny bottle. You may have seen in it in your liquor store or on the back bar at your local boozateria. Or perhaps you've seen the distinctive advertising—the stylish posters, the commercials with Jessica Alba, or the calendars with Benicio Del Toro, Olga Kurylenko, or Penelope Cruz (some of the calendars in this link are NSFW). Clearly, Campari is a brand with money to spend on splashy advertising.
The Great 28 Pairings: Cheese + Shrubs
If you consider a cheese plate, it’s easy to see why shrubs, also known as drinking vinegars, are a natural match for curds: The same flavors found in traditional accompaniments—tart and earthy pickles and olives, delicately sweet jams—define the thirst-quencher, made from juice combined with sugar and vinegar.
5 Essential Scotch Cocktails
Next time you're at the gym or the salon or the grocery, and someone says it's a sacrilege to mix Scotch into a cocktail, promise me you'll grab that person, take him or her out back, and... Nah, never mind. Promise me you'll just chuckle and move on with your day. I mean, your buddy is kind of right, I guess, though maybe only superficially so. What they usually mean is, Scotch is too good to mix with other things. I don't agree with that. Scotch is a hard ingredient to mix with, that much is true.
How to Plan and Host a Cocktail Party
Editor's Note: You may know Michael Dietsch from his excellent cocktail blog, A Dash of Bitters. He'll be swinging by this holiday season with helpful cocktail tips for your winter entertaining. So, you're planning a cocktail party? Commendable, friend, commendable. Now's the perfect time, with all these holidays falling down around us. Careful planning and a few tips should help relieve the stress you're undoubtedly starting to feel.
Cocktails 101: How to Shake a Cocktail
[Video: Serious Eats. Photographs: Vicky Wasik] Shaking is hands down the most efficient way to simultaneously chill and dilute a cocktail—assuming you do it properly, that is. A good shake will cause the ice to rattle around violently in the shaker, cooling the surrounding liquid as it breaks down and releases water into the drink. Then again, shaking also causes drinks to foam up, which sometimes results in a cocktail that doesn't look so stunning. So when should you get shaking?
Cocktails 101: How to Shake a Cocktail
Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Shaking is hands down the most efficient way to simultaneously chill and dilute a cocktail—assuming you do it properly, that is. A good shake will cause the ice to rattle around violently in the shaker, cooling the surrounding liquid as it breaks down and releases water into the drink.
Whiskey Drinks We Love: The Monte Carlo
Enjoy this variation on the classic Manhattan from "Whiskey: A Spirited Story with 75 Classic & Original Cocktails." 2 ounces rye whiskey 1/2 ounce Bénédictine 1 dash Angostura bitters Add all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice and stir for about 30 seconds until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled rocks glass over a large ice cube. Rate This Recipe I don't like this at all. It's not the worst. Sure, this will do. I'm a fan—would recommend. Amazing! I love it! Thanks for your rating!
Whiskey Drinks We Love: The Toronto Cocktail
1/3 Cup Olive Oil Plus More For Grilling The Tortillas 12-oz Cans Of Ale (such As Lucky Town Pub Ale) 3 Maraschino Cherries On A Cocktail Pick And 1 Pineapple Frond (representing Morse Code—three Cherries As The Three Dots And The Frond As The Dash), For Garnish Apple Pie Moonshine (such As Midnight Moon Or Ole Smoky) Apples, Red And Green, Cored And Cut Into .5 Inch Wedges Beaujolais Nouveau Wine (you May Substitute Another Red Wine) Blackberries, Plus More For Garnish If Desired Blanched...
W. W. Norton & Company Ltd.
WhiskeyA Spirited Story with 75 Classic and Original CocktailsDescriptionWhiskey cocktails that go well beyond the Old-Fashioned.Whiskey is booming in popularity. Craft distilleries are making whiskeys not just from corn, rye and malted barley but also from grains such as quinoa and triticale. Cocktail lovers embrace the earthy, bitter, savoury notes from “brown” spirits. Here Michael Dietsch offers a little bit of history and a lot of delicious recipes—each of which has a story.
Cocktail Tools: What to Buy After You Have the Basics
So you've been making cocktails for a little while, and you have all your basics in hand: a shaker, a strainer or two, a jigger or measuring cup, a bar spoon, and some basic glassware. You'll do just fine making drinks with those, but if you're feeling the urge to add a few more tools to your collection, it might be time to pick up these extras. While some might not consider these products essential for cocktail-making, they're still nice to have around.
The Best Tequila for a Margarita
Which tequila should you buy for margaritas? The answers, below. [Photo: Vicky Wasik] Our Favorite Margaritas: Casa Noble Crystal Herradura Don Julio What makes a great margarita? At its best, this classic cocktail is a happy marriage of ingredients, with each element playing off the others, enhancing the drink. A well-made tequila tastes grassy and mildly peppery, with hints of citrus and floral flavors.
Cocktail 101: How to Stir a Cocktail
Editor's Note: You may remember Michael Dietsch of A Dash of Bitters from his party-planning and drink-batching posts. Now he's getting back to basics with Cocktail 101. Take it away, Mike! Starting today, I'll be your guide to basic cocktail techniques for the home mixologist, bartender, bar chef, liqueur auteur, or whatever the hell you choose to call yourself. We'll start off with stirring.
Cocktail 101: How to Make Shrub Syrups
[Photograph: Jennifer Hess] Whether raspberry, strawberry, blackberry, or gooseberry, berries seem to fly through our local market, gone before you even know to miss them. I decided last year to preserve them for my future pleasure. Now, this ain't Home Canning 101, so there'll be no jams, jellies, or marmalades here. I'm a cocktail geek; and among my clan there's a great love for shrub syrups, and that's what we'll be talking about today. What's a Shrub?
Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe
[Photograph: Vicky Wasik] Sidecar. Whiskey Sour. Margarita. Daiquiri. These drinks have something fundamental in common: they're all sours. Sours are fundamental cocktails. Take a base spirit, add citrus, and polish it off with a sweetener, usually (but not always) triple sec. Tweak the balance as you will, but sours, made well, are always delicious. Sidecar: brandy, lemon juice, triple sec. Whiskey sour: Bourbon, lemon, triple. Margarita: tequila, lime, triple. Daiquiri: rum, lime, simple syrup.
Cocktail 101: More Complex Shrub Syrups
Last year, I described the shrub syrup, and presented a recipe for making shrubs at home. At the time, I was working with simple shrub syrups, consisting of fruit, sugar, and vinegar. These are always delicious, but they can be a little one-note. Today, I'm going to complicate things a little, by introducing accent ingredients that complement the fruit base and provide a deeper, more complex flavor to the shrub.
25 Cocktails Everyone Should Know
We who like to mix drinks at home do it for many reasons: First, it's cheaper than drinking out. Second, it's fun to mix your own drinks at home. Third, it's even more fun to mix drinks for other people at home. Any self-respecting home bartender should have a mental Excel spreadsheet of favorite classic cocktail recipes. Even if these aren't fully memorized, you should be able to find the recipe in your home library at quick notice to serve them to your friends.
Pumpkin Shrub Recipe
Pumpkin Shrub Recipe Prep 30 mins Cook 60 mins Active 15 mins Infusing Time 8 hrs Total 9 hrs 30 mins Serves 16 servings Makes 1 pint Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) 1 small pie pumpkin such as sugar pumpkin or kabocha squash, about 3 pounds 1 1/2 cups turbinado sugar 1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar 1/4 cup fresh ginger, grated 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat oven to 350°F. Cut stem from pumpkin and slice pumpkin in half. Scoop and remove seeds.
How to Make Cocktails at Home: The Serious Eats Guide to Essential Cocktail Techniques
Your complete guide to making drinks at home. [Photos: Vicky Wasik] So it's booze o'clock on a Friday, and you're ready for a drink, but you're new to the mixing game and you're not quite sure how to get started. You've come to the right place: after three and a half years of writing about cocktail technique on Serious Eats, I've gathered my tips, essential pointers, and the wisdom of a few stellar bartenders into one handy guide.
Imperial Royale Recipe
The Imperial Royale arose in Boston, as a reaction against the seriousness (some might say "pretension") of the modern mixology movement. At its heart, the drink is an elderflower shandy, made of Bud Light Lime and St. Germain elderflower liqueur. Normally a shandy is beer mixed with citrus, lemonade, ginger beer, or cider. The Imperial Royal, pairing a lime-flavored beer and an elderflower liqueur, is simply a variation on that theme.
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