Missing but not out of the game

Well, it's been a long time since my last post or podcast episode. It's definitely been getting slower and slower. Basically, I've had some MASSIVE life changes. We sold our condo in San Francisco and moved back to the Orlando, FL area. We own a beautiful home and most importantly, I'm now 9 miles from my beautiful daughter... the biggest reason for the move. Of course, moving across country doesn't simply happen without casualties. I had to leave my job and start over. Even though I continue to look for bartending options (Strangely enough, a lot of bars around here could care less how long you've been doing a cocktail podcast or private parties in customer's homes. LOL) I decided to also venture into another career option I've always been interested in. I love helping people so I have started my own Real Estate Business. I am having a blast doing it and it gives me a great feeling when I watch a couple sit at the table and close on their new house. The smiles are worth it. I have to add this since I'm out to help anyone I can, don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any real estate questions or would like some assistance finding a great REALTOR® in your area. I can help anyone, anywhere. Oh, and I can give good cocktail recipes as a bonus. LOL

Just to prove that I'm not down for the count, here's a great picture taken at a Derby Party I bartended yesterday. Man, I had fun! The drink specials of the night were mint juleps, mojitos and El Diablos... along with whatever you want from all those bottles behind me. Oh, and yeah... this is in someone's house! I could live in their bar. Keep your eyes open for new video episodes because we're playing around with some ideas of future episodes recorded behind this bar.

Shaking up cocktails in one of the nicest home bars I've been in. Oh, and it was a hat party so everyone was wearing their best hat.

Thank you, Tracey and Kris, for letting me behind your beautiful bar. It was my pleasure to bartend for your party!



Until next time, cocktail enthusiasts. Keep stirring and shaking!

Episode 65 - Muddler

Hello fellow cocktail enthusiasts! Well, we did it! We moved to Florida. I may be in my new home but as mentioned during the last post, I already recorded episode 65 in my old place before selling it... and here it is!

In this episode, we'll talk about the muddler as well as put everything we've learned together to create a wonderful summertime drink perfect for poolside. I mean, hey, I'm in Florida now. There will be a lot more cocktails poolside for me.

I think after this one I'm going to go back to doing audio episodes. I've also thought of alternating between audio episodes on a specific topic and video episodes focusing on a specific cocktail recipe. What do you think? Email me and let me know. Feel free to give me topics you'd like to hear on an audio episode or drink recipes you'd like me to make on a video episode. If there are more bar tools you'd like me to do an episode on, let me know that too.

Cheers!

Episode 064 - Juicer

Boy, do I need a drink! It's been extremely busy around here. I'm making major changes in my life. I'm leaving San Francisco and moving back to the Orlando, Florida area. Now to find a bar tending job there.

My SF home may have been sold but before putting it up on the market, I quickly recorded video for Episode 64 and Episode 65. With all that's been going on I haven't gotten around to editing the videos... until now. So here you go! Episode 064 - Juicer.

Now here's the deal. I didn't do a lot of planning for this episode. I figured I would try just winging it and say whatever came to my mind. Now that I watch this video I realized I pretty much turned it into a bitch fest. Yeah, the video is 2/3 me complaining about things that irritate me about juicing and recipes talking about the "juice of a lemon" but I promise by the end of the video I finally get around to showing you the juicer.

Hey Mr. Martini. What's up with one video a year? Okay, I hope to be able to spend more time working on Behind The Bar Show now. I can definitely promise you the next video, Episode 065 - Muddler, will be coming out very soon. Why can I say that? Because I already finished it. Not only will it be on the Muddler but it we'll finally put everything we learned and make a cocktail. Keep an eye out for it. I should be out sometime next month. I'm waiting until I finish the move to Florida.

Old Fashioned Artist (Matt Talbert)

Do you love art? Do you love cocktails? Wouldn't you love a painting about cocktails? Then you must check out Matt Talbert's Cocktail & Bar Scene paintings.

Better yet, if you're in the Glendale, California on March 1st, be sure to check out Matt's Art Show and see the paintings in person.

Classic cocktail for this Halloween!

Happy Halloween, my fellow cocktail enthusiasts! It's that time of year for all the ghosts and ghouls to get their freak on. Want to start this Halloween off with a good, classic cocktail fitting for this spooky time of year? How about the Satan's Whiskers Cocktail? This cocktail recipe comes from Harry Craddock's The Savoy Cocktail Book, from 1930.

The Savoy Cocktail Book (This one is actually the "New and Enlarged Edition 1933")

The recipe is written:

SATAN'S WHISKERS COCKTAIL (Straight)
Of Italian Vermouth, French Vermouth, Gin and Orange Juice, two parts each; of Grand Marnier one part; Orange Bitters,  a dash.
Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.

 If you use Orange Curaçao instead of Grand Marnier then it is called Satan's Whiskers Cocktail (Curled).

The picture below is actually a pretty small glass. (Yes, the devil is actually a single piece of formed glass created in Mirano, Italy. They really know how to work with glass. Incredible detail!) For the size of this glass I used 1/2 ounce of Italian Vermouth, French Vermouth, Gin and Orange Juice and 1/4 ounce of Grand Marnier with a single dash of Orange Bitters.

Conjure up a Satan's Whiskers Cocktail for yourself this Halloween. Just don't drink too many or your treat will turn into a trick! This is one of those drinks that can easily sneak up on you.

Cheers!
 
Tim Morrison (Mr. Martini)