The Buildout

Latest Episodes:

The Improved Whiskey Cocktail Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

How do you improve upon the very formula that brought us the Old Fashioned? Subjectively speaking, many may argue that it's impossible. But from a technical — or technical cocktail terminology — perspective, there is an historic answer. Tristan Brunel, bar director at New York's Tusk Bar, joins us today to explore the Improved Whiskey Cocktail and convince us of the merits of adding maraschino and absinthe to this tried-and-tested classic. Listen on, or read below, to learn Tristan's Improved Whiskey Cocktail recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Tristan Brunel's Improved Whiskey Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients

1 barspoon gum syrup
1 (small) barspoon Luxardo Maraschino liqueur
3-4 dashes absinthe
3 small dashes Angostura bitters
2 ¼ ounces rye whiskey, such as Rittenhouse

Directions

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
Stir until chilled.
Strain into a chilled Old Fashioned glass over ice.
Express a lemon twist and drop it into the drink.

📧Get in touch: cocktailcollege@vinepair.com

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Tusk Bar: https://www.instagram.com/thetuskbar/
Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy

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The Stinger Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

Laura Maddox, bar manager-owner at Austin's Small Victory, joins us today to dissect the Stinger. Dubbed "the king of after-dinner cocktails," Laura teaches us how to master this two-ingredient mix of Cognac and creme de menthe. Listen on, or read below, to learn Laura's Stinger recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Laura Maddox's Stinger Recipe

Ingredients

1 ounce creme de menthe, such as Tempus Fugit or Giffard
2 ounces Cognac, such as Frapin, Dudognon, or Brandy Sainte Louise

Directions

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with Clinebell ice.
Stir until chilled.
Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist.

📧Get in touch: cocktailcollege@vinepair.com

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VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair/
Small Victory Bar: https://www.instagram.com/smallvictorybar/
Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy

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The Brooklyn Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

Jason Hedges, beverage director at Laurent Tourondel Hospitality, author of “The Seasonal Cocktail,” and founding partner at the beverage consulting firm, Bar IQ, joins us today for our third New-York-bourough-inspired cocktail, The Brooklyn. Listen on to discover Jason's take on (and recipe for) this "improved" Manhattan riff— and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Jason Hedges' Brooklyn Recipe

Ingredients

2 ounces rye, such as Michter's
¾ ounce dry vermouth, such as Dolin
¼ ounce Maraschino Liqueur
¼ ounce Bigallet China-China
Garnish: preserved cherry/orange twist

Directions

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
Stire until chilled.
Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora (or Coupe) glass.
Garnish and serve.

📧Get in touch: cocktailcollege@vinepair.com

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VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair/
Jason: https://www.instagram.com/jason.hedges/
Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy

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The Banana Daiquiri Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

Vanessa Leon, National Educator for Diageo, visits Cocktail College today to talk about a drink that's near and dear to her heart: The Banana Daiquiri. Think of this as an evolution of our recent exploration of El Floridita Daiquiri — but we're ditching the blender and frozen serve and bringing both high-quality Guatemalan Rum and banana liqueur into the equation, and serving it up. Listen on (or read below) to discover Vanessa's Banana Daiquiri recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Vanessa Leon's Banana Daiquiri Recipe

Ingredients

¼ ounce Demerara syrup (2:1)
½ ounce Banane du Brésil banana liqueur
1 ounce fresh lime juice
1 ½ ounces Zacapa 23 Rum

Directions

Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
Shake until chilled.
Double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Garnish with a lime wheel.

📧Get in touch: cocktailcollege@vinepair.com

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VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair/
Vanessa: https://www.instagram.com/missvdleon/
Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy

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The Cosmopolitan (re-run) May 30, 2024

Show notes

We're taking a trip in the Cocktail College time machine as we revisit our 2022 conversation with Toby Cecchini, co-owner of Long Island Bar and The Rockwell Place, and inventor of The Cosmopolitan. Listen on (or read below) to discover Toby's original Cosmo recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Toby Cecchini’s Cosmopolitan Recipe

Ingredients

1 ½ ounces Absolut Citron
¾ ounce Cointreau
¾ ounce fresh lime juice
¾ ounce Ocean Spray Cranberry
Garnish: lemon twist

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
Shake until cold and strain into a chilled Coupe glass.
Garnish with lemon twist.

📧Get in touch: cocktailcollege@vinepair.com

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VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair/
Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy

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Techniques: Preservation May 23, 2024

Show notes

Miles Macquarrie, beverage director and partner at Decatur, Georgia’s Kimball House joins Cocktail College for another Techniques episode, this time focusing on the art and science of preservation. Miles’ approach to cocktails is simple on paper, but it relies on years of practice, and hours and hours of prep time during the months of abundance for fresh and local produce. And he’s here today to explain how you can do the very same. Listen on to learn everything you need to know about preservation of fresh produce — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Kimball House's Transatlantic Recipe

Ingredients

1 ½ ounces London Dry Gin (such as: Plymouth, Greenhook American Dry, Murrell's Row Tulsi Gin)
1 ounce Strawberry Cocchi Americano**
½ ounce Manzanilla Sherry
1 tsp Faccia Brutto Centerbe
Garnish: lemon twist (discard)

Directions

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with an express and discard lemon twist.

**Strawberry Cocchi Americano

Ingredients

400 grams strawberries (thinly sliced)
1 bottle Cocchi Americano (750-milliliter)

Directions

Cook for 2 hours sous vide at 140ºF (60ºC)
Rest overnight, refrigerated.
Gently strain through cheesecloth and store in a fresh container or bottle.

📧Get in touch: cocktailcollege@vinepair.com

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VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair/
Miles: https://www.instagram.com/miles_macquarrie/
Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy

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El Floridita Daiquiri May 16, 2024

Show notes

Ricardo Rodriguez, bar manager at Aberdeen, N.J.'s Lita and La Otra, visits Cocktail College today to shed light on the many numbered variants of the Daiquiri — most specifically, number four: El Floridita Daiquiri. We're ditching the shaker tins in favor of the blender for this one, and it's time to pull out that tall, straw-covered bottle of Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, too. Listen on (or read below) to discover Ricardo's El Floridita Daiquiri recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Ricardo Rodriguez's El Floridita Daiquiri Recipe

Ingredients

1 teaspoon white sugar
Juice of ½ lime
5 drops Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur
2 ounces Cuban rum (or Brugal Extra Dry, Don Q, Bacardi Superior)

Directions

Add all ingredients to a blender.
Fill serving glass (large 8 ½ ounce coupe) with crushed ice then add that to the blender with ingredients.
Blend until fully incorporated and chilled, 8-12 seconds.
Add to coupe glass and serve with a straw.

📧Get in touch: cocktailcollege@vinepair.com

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VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair/
Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy

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The Art of Choke May 09, 2024

Show notes

Kyle Davidson joins Cocktail College today to discuss the Art of Choke, a rule-breaking rum, lime, Chartreuse, and Cynar-based stirred drink he invented while working at Chicago's The Violet Room. Listen to discover how a "bartender's choice" order inspired the cocktail, how it evolved since then, and why he's taken it to every subsequent bar he worked at. Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

The Art of Choke Recipe

Ingredients

⅛ ounce lime juice
⅛ ounce Demerara syrup
fat ¼ ounce Green Chartreuse
1 ounce white rum (neutral)
fat 1 ounce Cynar
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Mint

Directions

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass including 2 sprigs of mint.
Muddle and steep for 30 seconds.
Fill with ice and stir until chilled.
Strain into a rocks glass with a large cube.
Garnish with additional mint sprigs.

📧Get in touch: cocktailcollege@vinepair.com

🍸Follow us:

VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair/
Kyle: https://kindredcocktails.com/users/sasquatch
Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy

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The Old Pal May 02, 2024

Show notes

Rachel Kling, Diageo Hospitality Partnership National Educator, joins Cocktail College today to explore the Old Pal, an often overlooked relative of the Negroni and Boulevardier. We dive deep into the cocktail's history, discuss its potential for riffs and modern classics, and learn about a very exciting modern interpretation of a very traditional rye. Listen on, or read below, to learn Rachel's Old Pal recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Rachel Kling's Old Pal Recipe

Ingredients

1 ounce George Dickel x Leopold Bros. Collaboration Blend Rye
¾ ounce Contratto Bianco Vermouth
¾ ounce Aperol
Garnish: grapefruit twist

Directions

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
Stir until very chilled (at least 30 seconds).
Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Garnish with a grapefruit twist.

Old Pal Recipe (Classic)

Ingredients

1 ounce rye whiskey
1 ounce dry vermouth
1 ounce Campari
Garnish: lemon twist

Directions

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
Stir until chilled.
Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist.

📧Get in touch: cocktailcollege@vinepair.com

🍸Follow us:

VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair/
Rachel: https://www.instagram.com/eastmeetsleft/
Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy

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Techniques: Sugar and Sweeteners Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

Austin Hennelly, bar manager at Los Angeles' Kato, joins us today for a masterclass on one of the four fundamental components of cocktails: sugar. If you're stuck in a simple syrup rut, you're absolutely missing out on a massive flavor opportunity, as Austin explains it, taking up valuable real estate with flavorless refined sugar and risking over-dilution with the ingredient's water component. What should you do instead? The answer is also simple: click play and listen to Austin's invaluable advice — and, hey, don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

📧Get in touch: cocktailcollege@vinepair.com

🍸Follow us:

VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair/
Austin: https://www.instagram.com/afhennelly/
Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy/

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