By Ben Henry and Matthew Henry
5
99 ratings
The podcast currently has 14 episodes available.
It’s Happy Hour and Halloween! We’re presenting two Halloween inspired cocktails to celebrate. But first, we talk about our bar and cocktail making set ups and trade tips and tricks to simplify cocktail crafting and cleaning up afterward.
Then, Ben presents his cocktail the Horseman’s Head*. This White Russian and Pumpkin Spice Latte mashup is a wonderful creamy dessert cocktail that leans heavily on traditional fall flavors. But it’s anything but basic.
Matthew then goes after the witches* with his Burned at the Stake. This smoky and tart kicked-up margarita looks as good as it tastes. Perfect in the hands of a sexy vampire handing out candy or a rain soaked parent wearing an orange button that says “Boo!”
*No horsemen or witches were harmed in the making of these cocktails.
(00:00) We want to suck your blood
(02:26) How to set up your bar for maximum cocktail efficiency (or when Jane from accounting ruins your day).
(07:22) Matthew comes clean about his 98(!)-bottle bar
(13:31) Cleaning tips and tricks
(18:15) Handling distractions and parenting advice
(19:00) … and marriage advice
(20:09) Angostura bitters: the stealthy stain master
(24:41) What makes a cocktail a “Halloween cocktail”?
(26:15) Cocktail 1: Horseman’s Head – A creamy, boozy pumpkin-spiced delight.
(34:50) Cocktail 2: Burned at the Stake – A smoky, citrusy margarita riff with a haunting twist.
---
Books & Equipment LinksThe links below that point to Amazon are affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase we may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Links to any other destination are not affiliate links.
BooksWe own and recommend these books:
The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson
Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold
Imbibe! by David Wondrich
Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan
EquipmentProducts we own, like and use:
Products we don’t own but would consider buying:
---
Find us on Social MediaInstagram & Threads: @perfectsippodcast
https://www.instagram.com/perfectsippodcast
https://www.threads.net/@perfectsippodcast
In this episode we’re organizing our bar, getting ready for a cocktail session (some might call it party), and perfecting our cocktail making set up. Today is all about preparation so you can spend less time searching for your bar spoons and more time smiling maniacally at your guests as you shake their cocktails. What are you, a YouTuber?
Too Long, Didn’t Listen(00:00) Opening: Bar Preparation
(01:14) The three key states of cocktail prep: Ready, set, me’s-in-what?
(02:29) You bar’s default state: dusty or disastorous?
(09:11) Preparing for a cocktail session
(14:23) Preparing for the next cocktail like a master chef
(23:36) Cocktail of the week: Brandy Flip
(30:01) Closing
RecipesBrandy FlipIngredients:
---
Books & Equipment LinksThe links below that point to Amazon are affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase we may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Links to any other destination are not affiliate links.
BooksWe own and recommend these books:
The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson
Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold
Imbibe! by David Wondrich
Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan
EquipmentProducts we own, like and use:
Products we don’t own but would consider buying:
---
Find us on Social MediaInstagram & Threads: @perfectsippodcast
https://www.instagram.com/perfectsippodcast
https://www.threads.net/@perfectsippodcast
It’s Happy Hour! Ben & Matthew discuss muddling, layering, and bubblification. And probably not for the last time, Ben tells you how not to make a bomb. Then they present a layered and a muddled cocktail, with mixed results.
Ben muddles his way through an attempt to layer the Vertigo cocktail. It doesn’t go well, but the cocktail still tastes great with a refreshing kola and ginger vibe. To make up for it, he also gives a bonus recipe for a pretty but boozy Indigo Gin and Ginger Beer cocktail.
Matthew, on the other hand, deftly lays down a perfectly muddled Mojito. It’s the classic cocktail done right. He even throws in a bonus technique: the swizzle, to make it extra frosty.
Too Long Didn’t Read(00:00) Opening—Matthew gets vetoed and wet-willied. Rough start
(04:05) Matthew is the life of the party
(08:00) Bubblification wins in a landslide
(12:30) Measure bubbles with your heart not jiggers
(17:53) Ben lays bricks
(19:49) Cocktail: Vertigo
(25:16) Cocktail: Mojito
(32:30) Swizzling: bonus technique
RecipesVertigo---
Books & Equipment LinksThe links below that point to Amazon are affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase we may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Links to any other destination are not affiliate links.
BooksWe own and recommend these books:
The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson
Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold
Imbibe! by David Wondrich
Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan
EquipmentProducts we own, like and use:
Products we don’t own but would consider buying:
---
Find us on Social MediaInstagram & Threads: @perfectsippodcast
https://www.instagram.com/perfectsippodcast
https://www.threads.net/@perfectsippodcast
We’re muddling, layering, and take special care of our bubbles. We explain why the key to muddling is to muddle less, how to use layers to create a cocktail that evolves, how to keep your bubbly cocktails bubbling longer. Oh, and we also give advice on how to protect the most precious resource of all: the last lemon in your home.
Too Long Didn’t Listen(00:00) Opening
(01:35) Muddling: When to tap and when to smash
(07:32) Layering: The truth is Ben can’t do it
(12:19) Bubbles: How to keep your bubbles alive
(17:06) Save money like a pro
(21:03) Straining: It’s easy. Why did we even include this?
(22:38) Cocktail of the week: Aperol Spritz
(30:10) Closing
RecipesAperol Spritz---
Books & Equipment LinksThe links below that point to Amazon are affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase we may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Links to any other destination are not affiliate links.
BooksWe own and recommend these books:
The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson
Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold
Imbibe! by David Wondrich
Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan
EquipmentProducts we own, like and use:
Products we don’t own but would consider buying:
---
Find us on Social MediaInstagram & Threads: @perfectsippodcast
https://www.instagram.com/perfectsippodcast
https://www.threads.net/@perfectsippodcast
It’s Happy Hour! Ben & Matthew discuss the methods of cocktail dilution, why stirring is more difficult than shaking, and how to not get punched in the face. Later they discuss if size matters, of your ice that is. Finally they introduce an original stirred cocktail and a modern-ish classic shaken cocktail.
Ben’s stirred Orange and Black is a bold yet balanced cocktail that blends the spice of rye whiskey with the rich, earthy notes of Mr. Black coffee liqueur. The orange liqueur adds a subtle brightness, while the bitters tie everything together. It’s the perfect practice field for perfecting your stirring technique.
Matthew is bringing the shaken Army and Navy, a smooth, citrus-forward sour that perfectly balances gin’s juniper bite with the creamy sweetness of Orgeat. It’s a classic, yet vibrant, cocktail with a luxurious texture and a refreshing finish that is elevated by the shaking technique.
Too Long, Didn’t Listen(01:28) Building cocktails and mastering dilution
(02:31) Why aeration can make or break your drink
(05:30) How to shake a cocktail like a pro (but only if you listen twice)
(10:11) Does size really matter? Absolutely, when it comes to ice
(13:35) Aeration: the secret ingredient to flavor and feel
(16:56) Stirring cocktails: trickier than you'd think
(21:00) Mastering dilution with consistency
(23:00) Cocktail: The Orange and Black
(26:08) Cocktail: The Army & Navy
RecipesOrange and Black---
Books & Equipment LinksThe links below that point to Amazon are affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase we may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Links to any other destination are not affiliate links.
BooksWe own and recommend these books:
The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson
Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold
Imbibe! by David Wondrich
Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan
EquipmentProducts we own, like and use:
Products we don’t own but would consider buying:
---
Find us on Social MediaInstagram & Threads: @perfectsippodcast
https://www.instagram.com/perfectsippodcast
https://www.threads.net/@perfectsippodcast
In this bonus episode we’re tackling the mystical Boston shaker. We cover how to seal it, why it will definitely stay sealed, and how to open it like a pro. We also tell you how to handle a stuck shaker, prevent leaks and how to not make a bomb, because cocktails don’t belong on the floor or all over your pride. So throw away that cobbler shaker your husband bought you for Mother's Day and get in here! (Regift it to the MIL?)
Too Long, Didn’t Listen(00:00) How to Use the Boston Shaker
(02:05) Why we love the Boston shaker
(04:17) Which tin do you build in? Big, little, or chaos?
(06:05) The seal: How to lock it down like a pro
(08:23) The shake: waka waka waka!
(09:36) The science: why your Boston shaker stays sealed
(12:26) Opening: smack it, squeeze it, or … strangle it?
(16:07) Troubleshooting: overfilling, leaks, and explosions
(19:05) Don’t shake bubbles. Just don't. Seriously.
---
Books & Equipment LinksThe links below that point to Amazon are affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase we may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Links to any other destination are not affiliate links.
BooksWe own and recommend these books:
The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson
Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold
Imbibe! by David Wondrich
Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan
EquipmentProducts we own, like and use:
Products we don’t own but would consider buying:
---
Find us on Social MediaInstagram & Threads: @perfectsippodcast
https://www.instagram.com/perfectsippodcast
https://www.threads.net/@perfectsippodcast
Why, when, and how to build, shake and stir cocktails. We explain how dilution is the key to choosing your mixing method, how to aerate a cocktail with tiny tiny bubbles, and just the right way to spin your ice. Oh, and we’re having a Martini. I hope you like yours wet. Wait, what?
Too Long, Didn’t Listen(00:00) Cocktail Mixing Techniques
(01:20) Building: like tension in a true crime podcast
(03:14) Boxing: no, not how you make punch
(04:29) Shaking: it’s easy just don’t hurt yourself
(15:39) Stirring: less bubbles more precision
(23:19) Cocktail of the Week: The Martini ~ How do you like yours?
RecipesMartiniThe links below that point to Amazon are affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase we may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Links to any other destination are not affiliate links.
BooksWe own and recommend these books:
The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson
Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold
Imbibe! by David Wondrich
Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan
EquipmentProducts we own, like and use:
Products we don’t own but would consider buying:
---
Find us on Social MediaInstagram & Threads: @perfectsippodcast
https://www.instagram.com/perfectsippodcast
https://www.threads.net/@perfectsippodcast
It’s Happy Hour! Ben & Matthew discuss if 4 or 25 is the right number of bar spoons, almost come to blows debating the merits of the Julep and Hawthorn strainers, and finally they go thrifting for glassware. Later they introduce two variations on the Old Fashioned cocktail. It’s a good think you have 25 bar spoons! (Affiliate) links below!
Ben presents his Venus Gin #2 Old Fashioned. That’s right, gin. The star of this cocktail is a gin aged in oak barrels from a small distillery. This simple recipe makes this wonderful spirit an easy sipper while still letting it take center stage. Even if it does has $4.50 of cherries in it.
Meanwhile Matthew is presenting the current incarnation of his constantly evolving personal Old Fashioned. He’s laid down an extra layer of herbal complexity with an amaro and kicked up the mouth feel with a gum syrup. It’s smooth, rich and comforting.
(00:00) Opening
(02:03) The right number of bar spoons
(04:09) The great strainer debate
(09:39) How and where to pick glassware
(14:01) Old Fashioned Variations
(15:13) Cocktail: Venus Gin #2 Old Fashioned
(23:45) Cocktail: Matthew’s Old Fashioned
(30:51) Closing
RecipesVenus Gin #2 Old Fashioned---
Books & Equipment LinksThe links below that point to Amazon are affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase we may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Links to any other destination are not affiliate links.
BooksWe own and recommend these books:
The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson
Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold
Imbibe! by David Wondrich
Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan
EquipmentProducts we own, like and use:
Products we don’t own but would consider buying:
---
Find us on Social MediaInstagram & Threads: @perfectsippodcast
https://www.instagram.com/perfectsippodcast
https://www.threads.net/@perfectsippodcast
You’ll also need a juicer, strainers, and of course classy glassware to drink from. But how do you choose? We’re going over the rest of the tools you need when getting started in the hobby. And once again we’re breaking down the options and giving out unsolicited advice. It’s time to find the right tools for slicing, smashing, skewering and staunching. But in a totally peaceful way.
Recipes from the show are below after all the things.
Too Long Didn’t Listen:(00:00) Essential cocktail crafting tools
(02:49) Citrus & Garnishes
(03:11) Knife, Peeler & Cutting Board: also useful as sword, sword breaker and shield
(04:23) Juicers: because fresh juice is the only way to great cocktails
(05:05) Muddlers: me mixologist, me SMASH!
(05:50) Bar Spoons: because your finger isn’t long enough
(09:01) Strainers
(09:34) Hawthorne Strainer: the famous one with the spring
(11:30) Julep Strainer: a spoon with holes?
(12:58 )Fine Mesh Strainer: the closer of strainers
(14:03) Additional Bar Essentials
(15:38) Choosing the Right Glassware
(16:57) Short Glasses: for “short” drinks
(18:39) Tall Glasses: for “long” drinks
(20:01) Stemmed Glasses: for fast drinks?
(23:00) Recommended Set of Glassware: 3 is all you need unless you have friends then 12
(24:00) Cocktail of the Week: Bourbon Old Fashioned
(31:11) Closing
RecipesBourbon Old FashionedPrepare a double old-fashioned glass with a large chunk of ice. Fill a mixing glass halfway with ice, then add bourbon, simple syrup, and bitters. Stir with a bar spoon for 15-30 seconds. Strain into the prepared glass. Express the oils from the orange peel over the drink, rub the peel around the rim, and drop it into the glass.
---
Books & Equipment LinksThe links below that point to Amazon are affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase we may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Links to any other destination are not affiliate links.
BooksWe own and recommend these books:
The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson
Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold
Imbibe! by David Wondrich
Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan
EquipmentProducts we own, like and use:
Products we don’t own but would consider buying:
---
Find us on Social MediaInstagram & Threads: @perfectsippodcast
https://www.instagram.com/perfectsippodcast
https://www.threads.net/@perfectsippodcast
It’s Happy Hour! Ben and Matthew discuss the time and place for jiggers, why the fear of Boston shakers is worth it, and Matthew converts Ben over to the classy stylings of the mixing glass. Later they introduce one shaken and one stirred cocktail. So you can use all that new fancy equipment you just bought. (Affiliate) links below!
Ben’s is shaking up Ben’s Whiskey Sour, a whiskey sour with all the fixin’s. It’s got egg whites, it’s got bitters, it’s got high proof rye whiskey, it’s got Argentinian wine, and it’s got bacon. Wait. No bacon, but that might be something we should try. Anyway, even without the bacon it tastes as good as it looks: decadent and delicious.
Meanwhile Matthew is using his favorite piece of bar equipment, his mixing glass, to make you the Holy Schmitt. It’s a boozy battle between sweet and bitter with a sweet surprise hiding at the bottom. Sit down while you’re drinking this one folks and be prepared to stay a while.
Recipes after all the things below!
Too Long Didn’t Listen:
(00:00) Opening
(02:21) Creepy chanting and measuring device discussion
(05:50) Cobblers should stick to shoes
(07:58) The Boston cocktail massacre
(09:12) A man and his mixing glass
(12:45) Cocktail: Ben’s Whiskey Sour
(20:20) Cocktail: Holy Schmitt
(27:43) Closing
RecipesBen’s Whiskey Sour
Combine all ingredients except wine in a shaker with no ice. Shake for 5 seconds. Open shaker and fill with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top off with ride wine float. Add two brandied cherries as garnish.
*When using uncooked egg whites there is a small risk of exposure to foodborne illnesses. Do your own research and act accordingly.
Holy Schmitt
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass, add ice and stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass. Express orange oils over drink and add garnish to the glass along with a Luxardo cherry.
Optional: Add smoke
---
Books & Equipment LinksThe links below that point to Amazon are affiliate links. If you click on them and make a purchase we may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you. Links to any other destination are not affiliate links.
BooksWe own and recommend these books:
The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson
Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold
Imbibe! by David Wondrich
Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan
EquipmentProducts we own, like and use:
Products we don’t own but would consider buying:
---
Find us on Social MediaInstagram & Threads: @perfectsippodcast
https://www.instagram.com/perfectsippodcast
https://www.threads.net/@perfectsippodcast
The podcast currently has 14 episodes available.
4,096 Listeners
89,869 Listeners
10,070 Listeners
213 Listeners
593 Listeners
628 Listeners
311 Listeners
65 Listeners
313 Listeners
37 Listeners
57,070 Listeners
24 Listeners
8,078 Listeners
27 Listeners
77 Listeners