The Buildout

Latest Episodes:

The Clover Club Jul 28, 2022

Show notes

Who could be more perfect to explore the visually stunning, fruity, and fresh Clover Club than Julie Reiner? A New York City bartending dynamo, Reiner just happens to own a bar with the same name of today’s drink and boasts decades of experience in the industry. Listen on or read below to discover her Clover Club recipe — and don’t forget to subscribe!

Julie Reiner’s Clover Club Recipe

Ingredients

- 1 1/2 ounces gin, such as Plymouth, Bombay Dry, or Japanese

- 1/2 ounce dry vermouth, such as Dolin

- 1/2 ounce lemon juice

- 1/2 ounce raspberry syrup (recipe below)

- 1/4 ounce egg white

Garnish: 1 fresh raspberry

Directions

1. Add all raspberry syrup, lemon juice, dry vermouth, gin, and then, finally, egg white to a cocktail shaker and shake without ice.

2. Add ice and shake until chilled.

3. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a fresh raspberry on a pick.

Raspberry Syrup Recipe

Ingredients

- 1/2 cup fresh raspberries

- 1 cup fine sugar

- 1/2 cup water

Directions

Macerate raspberries and sugar until the mixture becomes thick and goopy. Add water and allow to sit over night so the sugar dissolves. Strain out solids using a fine strainer.

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The Bramble Jul 21, 2022

Show notes

Today we are joined by the inimitable Jared Brown, founder of Sipsmith gin, to discuss the Bramble, a modern classic created by his friend and contemporary Dick Bradsell. Listen on or read below to discover Brown’s Bramble recipe — and don’t forget to subscribe!

Jared Brown’s Bramble Recipe

Ingredients

- 50 milliliters London dry gin

- 25 milliliters lemon

- 10 milliliters simple syrup

- 20 milliliters crème de mûre

Garnish:

- blackberries

- powder sugar

Directions

1. Combine gin, lemon, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice.

2. Shake until cold and strain into a double Old Fashioned glass filled with crushed ice.

3. Top up with more crushed ice and top with crème de mûre, ideally pouring around the edges of the glass.

4. Garnish with two blackberries and a dusting of powder sugar.

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The 50/50 Martini Jul 14, 2022

Show notes

Industry legend Dale Degroff joins us today for a wide-ranging exploration of the 50/50 Martini. We discuss the evolution of this cocktail over the course of the last 150 years, and examine the evolution of the spirits category at large. Listen on or read below to discover Degroff’s 50/50 Martini recipe — and don’t forget to subscribe!

Dale Degroff’s 50/50 Martini Recipe

Ingredients

- 1 ½ ounce Old Tom Gin or Old Duff Genever

- 1 ounce Cocchi Vermouth di Torino

- ½ ounce Dolin Dry vermouth

- 1 dash Dale Degroff’s Aromatic Bitters

Garnish: orange twist (optional)

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice.

2. Stir until well chilled and strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass.

3. Garnish with an optional orange twist.

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The Scofflaw Jul 07, 2022

Show notes

Exploring the history of the Scofflaw cocktail not only leads to a deep dive on ingredients such as grenadine, but also delves into the unexpected origins of the word. Sharing this wonderful tale with us today is Kansas City’s Jill Cockson, owner of Drastic Measures, Swordfish Tom’s, Chartreuse Saloon, and Anna’s Place (Omaha). Listen on or read below to discover Cockson’s Scofflaw recipe — and don’t forget to subscribe!

Jill Cockson’s Scofflaw Recipe

Ingredients

- 2 ounces rye whiskey, such as Rittenhouse

- ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice

- ¾ ounce grenadine, homemade or high quality

- ¾ ounces dry vermouth, such as Dolin Blanc

Garnish: orange twist

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.

2. Shake until cold and double strain into a chilled Coupe glass.

3. Express an orange twist over the cocktail and drop in the drink as a garnish.

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Techniques: Highbrow Hacks for Lowbrow Drinks Jun 30, 2022

Show notes

In this techniques episode, friend of the show Jack Schramm returns with a host of hacks to bring simple cocktails up to high-class bartender standards. Listen on to learn everything you need to know about carbonation, acid adjusting, liquor temperature, and a cheeky little technique known as "the sink" — and don’t forget to subscribe!

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The White Lady Jun 23, 2022

Show notes

Today’s is an intriguing tale involving a daisy, a 1920s American socialite (reputedly), two Harrys, and one Hardy (for good measure). The cocktail is the White Lady, and leading us on our exploration is VinePair’s very own Emily Arseneau. Listen on or read below to discover Arseneau’s White Lady recipe — and don’t forget to subscribe!

Emily Arseneau’s White Lady Recipe

Ingredients

- ½ bar spoon simple syrup

- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice

- 1 ounce Cointreau

- 2 ounces London Dry Gin, such as Beefeater or Tanqueray

Garnish: lemon disc (optional)

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.

2. Shake until cold and strain into a chilled Coupe glass.

3. Garnish with and optional lemon disc or express and discard.

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The Benton’s Old Fashioned Jun 16, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, we’re joined by Jeff Bell, owner of New York’s PDT, to discuss the allure of speakeasies, the genesis of “fat-washing” spirits, and the iconic modern classic that ties both topics together: The Benton’s Old Fashioned. Listen on (or read below) to discover Bell’s Benton’s Old Fashioned recipe — and don’t forget to subscribe!

The Benton’s Old Fashioned Recipe

Ingredients

- 2 ounces bacon-infused Four Roses bourbon

- ¼ ounce maple syrup, such as Deep Mountain Maple

- 2 dashes Angostura bitters

Garnish: orange twist

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice.

2. Stir until cold and strain into a chilled rocks glass with a large, clear cube of ice.

3. Garnish with a small orange twist.

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Ti' Punch Jun 09, 2022

Show notes

Today, we're revisiting that tried and true trinity of rum, lime, and sugar but the outcome may be far from familiar for some. Simple to make yet complex in profile, the drink is the Ti' Punch, and our teacher today is Christian Favier of Charleston's The Ordinary. Listen on (or read below) to discover Favier's Ti' Punch recipe — and don’t forget to subscribe!

Christian Favier’s Ti' Punch Recipe

Ingredients

- 1 quarter-sized dollop of cane syrup

- 1 lime coin

- 2 ounces Rhum Agricole, such as Neisson Blanc

Directions

1. Add all ingredients to a rocks glass.

2. Mix using a swizzle stick.

3. Enjoy.

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The Cosmopolitan Jun 02, 2022

Show notes

In the midst of what some people (namely host Tim McKirdy) are describing as a “Cosmopolissance,” we sit down with the drink’s inventor Toby Cecchini to discuss how he developed the cocktail, its changing status over time, and — of course — how to perfect its preparation. Listen on (or read below) to discover Cecchini’s Cosmopolitan recipe — and don’t forget to 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

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.

2. Shake until cold and strain into a chilled Coupe glass.

3. Garnish with lemon twist.

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The Whiskey Sour May 26, 2022

Show notes

The base spirit is whiskey, the flavor profile is sour, and it’s called the Whiskey Sour. Of course, there’s so much more to learn about this cocktail than those two factors, and today we’re doing so under the guidance of the venerable H. Joseph Ehrmann. Listen on (or read below) to discover Ehrmann’s Whiskey Sour recipe — and don’t forget to subscribe!

H. Joseph Ehrmann’s Whiskey Sour Recipe

Ingredients

- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice

- ¾ ounce simple syrup (1:1)

- 2 ounces 100 proof rye whiskey or high rye bourbon

- ¾ ounce egg white

- Garnish: 1 Maraschino cherry

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker without ice and dry shake.

2. Shake until well incorporated.

3. Add ice and shake until chilled.

4. Strain into a chilled rocks glass without ice. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry.