The Buildout
Episodes
El Floridita Daiquiri
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Art of Choke
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kyle Davidson joins Cocktail College today to discuss the Art of Choke, a rule-breaking rum, lime, Chartreuse, and Cynar-based stirred drink he invent...
The Old Pal
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Kling, Diageo Hospitality Partnership National Educator, joins Cocktail College today to explore the Old Pal, an often overlooked relative of t...
Techniques: Sugar and Sweeteners
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Daisy
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Marshall Minaya, beverage director at New York’s Valerie, Madame George, and Lolita, joins us today to pick the petals off the surprisingly intricat...
Reimagining Classic Cocktails With Tequila
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Manuel "Manny" De Avila, the Los Angeles based brand ambassador for Don Julio, joins us today to examine why there are relatively few classic tequila ...
The (Re)Manhattan
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sebastian Tollius, beverage director of New York's Eleven Madison Park, joins us today to re-examine one of the world's most iconic cocktails: the Man...
The Champagne Cocktail
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cocktail or category of cocktails? That’s the big debate at Cocktail College today, as we welcome Amy Racine, the beverage director for JF Restauran...
The Bijou
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Diamonds, rubies, and emeralds in a glass? That's right, it's The Bijou — a one-stop shop for those seeking boozy, stirred, "up" cocktails, and anot...
Flair Bartending
14 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We're diving into the history, styles, community, and culture of flair bartending today, with Lindsay Palumbo, a certified flair bartender, instructor...
Vintage Cocktails
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us on Cocktail College today is Aaron Goldfarb, a longtime VinePair contributor and author of the recently released “Dusty Booze: In Search ...
The Vodka Martini
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fred Astaire in a glass? That’s right folks, it’s the world’s most underrated cocktail, serially disregarded by “serious” drinkers. But not ...
The Fog Cutter (Live from Sunken Harbor Club)
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Live from Brooklyn’s Sunken Harbor Club, we proudly present: The Fog Cutter… and so much more! That’s right, it’s an episode of firsts and thr...
Techniques: Punches
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's another historical deep dive today, as we cast our gaze hundreds of years into the past to explore punches, something the Oxford Companion to Spi...
The (Re)Espresso Martini
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the two years since we first covered the Espresso Martini, precious little has changed on the drink’s popularity front. In fact, it’s probably ...
The Vesper (re-run)
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’re stepping into the time machine today and digging deep into the Cocktail College vaults, as we resurface our conversation on the Vesper. Little...
The Tuxedo
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Tuxedo is a complex cocktail in many different ways, but primarily because it has a number of… well, numbered variations, the most well-known of...
The 20th Century Cocktail
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Named after "the most famous train in the world," today's drink sees us head to London with significant stops in New York and Chicago, as we explore t...
The Saturn
11 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this planetary edition of Cocktail College, we’re joined by Ray Sakover to embark on a deep space exploration of The Saturn. Ray is the co-owner ...
The (Re)Margarita
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We’re revisiting one of the world’s (and certainly America’s) most beloved cocktails with Maxwell Reis, beverage director at Los Angeles’ Mír...
Season’s Greetings!
28 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
During this holiday week, a quick season’s greetings from everyone here at Cocktail College and the VinePair HQ. See you next year, as we return to ...
The Martinez
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A bonafide West Coast classic — one whose history is pretty agreed upon — the Martinez holds a very important place in cocktail history, as many b...
The Gin Rickey
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In Washington D.C., the Gin Rickey is not so much a preferred drink but part of the city’s cultural fabric. It is here, history and booze historians...
El Capitán
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In simple terms, El Capitán is a Manhattan made with Pisco and garnished with an olive. As is so often the case, though, it’s worth noting that thi...
The New York Sour
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a whiskey sour with a red wine float — but it’s also so much more than that. With various different preparations in modern mixology, the Ne...
Can Unions and Cocktail Bars Mix?
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Very recently (at the time of publishing, at least), the topic of organizing labor came up unexpectedly in the bar industry, as workers at one of the ...
Techniques: Clarification
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s our most ambitious techniques episode to date. It involves chemicals, special — and fairly pricy — equipment, and a not insignificant inves...
The American Trilogy (re-run)
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're diving into the archives today at Cocktail College as we resurface an episode and cocktail we think you might have missed first go around: The A...
The Hanky Panky
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Stirred, boozy, and beloved by bartenders across the globe, the Hanky Panky feels like a modern creation but it's steeped in history, having been crea...
The (Re)Piña Colada
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
People often describe the holy trinity of tropical drink ingredients as being rum, lime, and sugar. But with an irresistible mix of rum, pineapple, an...
The Carajillo
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Coffee-based digestif cocktail but make it two-ingredient and simple to serve: it is, of course, the Carajillo. Literally, all you need for this one i...
The Winchester
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been described as “the first and best cocktail of the 21st century to push the boundaries of classic tiki,” and also, simply, “A hell of ...
The Batanga
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Batanga, or charro negro as it’s more commonly known across Mexico, is a simple combination of tequila, lime and coke. Despite the simplicity of...
The Warday's
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The genre of split-base classic cocktails is a lot thinner than you might imagine. And, honestly, it’s questionable whether today’s drink, The War...
The (Re)Martini
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's Mr. David Wondrich. It's the Martini. And this ain't no riff or re-run. Instead, we're revisiting this most iconic of classics at Cocktail Colle...
What Ever Happened to the ‘Beer Cocktail Boom’?
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Take yourself back, listener, to the early 2010s. Craft beer has reached a crescendo. The cocktail movement has fully established itself. And so, for ...
Episode 100 Special: (Re)Defining the Cocktail
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"A stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters." Over 200 years since their publication in a New York state newspap...
Techniques: Garnishes
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Garnishes: Form or function? Foundational part of a drink's creation or afterthought? These are but a sprinkling of the topics we’re exploring ...
Techniques: Bitters
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Angostura. Peychaud's. Orange. Chances are, that might be the extent to which your cocktail bitters experience extends, and if that is the case, you'r...
The Alaska
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve covered multiple cocktails named after cities and neighborhoods before but this week marks the first drink named after a state — and it’s ...
Reinventing the Ramos Gin Fizz
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Most of what’s notable about the Ramos Gin Fizz comes before you take a sip — namely, its striking appearance, which arrives as the product of a p...
The Godfather
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” continue to enjoy critical acclaim more than 50 years after its release, the same ca...
The Army & Navy
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's the Army & Navy, folks, an orgeat-sweetened gin sour (sans egg white) that seems to be perenially there, hiding in plain sight — camouflage...
The Missionary's Downfall
13 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Not just an evocative name, the Missionary's Downfall blends pineapple, rum, mint, peach brandy, and lime, and fits into that category of cocktails we...
Airport Bartending
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Strange things happen when people enter airports. Manners fly out the window, along with all concept of time and space, and anything seemingly goes on...
The Toronto
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're taking a long overdue trip north of the border today to pay a visit to Toronto and embark on a similarly overdue exploration of Canadian whisky ...
Techniques: Stirring
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the two foundational techniques for mixing drinks, stirring is employed for such classics as the Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Sazerac, and — Jam...
The Adonis
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a sherry-soaked, historical deep dive today on Cocktail College, as we explore the Adonis. Breaking down the drink’s Broadway ties and shinin...
The Vodka Soda
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is the Vodka Soda a bonafide cocktail? Is it the reason that vodka continues to rank as one of the best-selling spirits in the U.S., and the main fact...
The Rob Roy (re-run)
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're heading back into the Cocktail College archive today as we dispel a myth — occasionally purported on this show — that there aren't that many...
The Pisco Punch
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're 80-plus episodes into Cocktail College and somehow this is our first Punch episode. Some may call that a personal failing on our part. We see it...
Presenting: VinePair's Taplines
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Introducing Taplines, the latest addition to the VinePair podcast network. Each week, VinePair contributing editor and columnist Dave Infante intervie...
The Division Bell
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Among the many individuals who ushered cocktails and bartending into the modern mainstream, Phil Ward’s name rings out as loud as any in the industr...
The Japanese Cocktail
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nothing about the Japanese Cocktail is inherently Japanese, save for some of the patrons who reportedly first enjoyed it while frequenting the hotel b...
The Art of Hospitality
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hospitality — it's not just the name of the game but the name of the industry we love (and occasionally love to loathe). But what is hospitality tru...
The Midori Sour
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While often deemed an “unserious” cocktail ingredient, without the Japanese muskmelon liqueur Midori, the world would be robbed of the vibrant gre...
The Corn 'n' Oil
20 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re jetting off to Barbados today on Cocktail College to explore one of the island’s most beloved drinks, The Corn ‘n’ Oil. Joining us to do...
À La Louisiane
13 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
À La Louisiane doesn’t enjoy as much attention as drinks like the Sazerac, Ramos Gin Fizz, and Vieux Carré, but this wonderful cocktail is New Orl...
Techniques: Sours
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Joining us today to explore the wide world of sour cocktails is Mike Lay. Based in Las Vegas and a two-times James Beard semi-finalist, Mike is the be...
The White Negroni
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The term “modern classic” doesn’t do the White Negroni justice — this drink is an icon, beloved worldwide, and the first stop on many a drinke...
The Garibaldi
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On the face of it, the Garibaldi is a simple two-ingredient cocktail composed of Campari and fresh orange juice. But as will all of the drinks we cove...
The Cuba Libre
16 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rum and Coke, Cuba Libre, Mentirita — there are many names to describe one of the world’s most famous highballs, which shows that this drink means...
Techniques: Bar Theater and Technique-Driven Cocktails
09 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On today's, admittedly ambiguously titled episode, we're exploring the philosophy of different styles of bartending. More specifically, we’re l...
The Americano
02 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Not to be confused with a morning cup of joe, the Americano is a precursor to the Negroni, with club soda taking the place of soda to create a flavors...
The Bronx
23 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s an all-NYC episode today, as we pay a visit to the Bronx with a Manhattan detour, and considerable input from Brooklyn. The Bronx is the cockta...
The Piña Verde
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Modern classics, Carthusian monks, and Universal Studios? They’re all on the agenda today, as we’re joined by Erick Castro, host of the Bartender ...
The Pimm's Cup
09 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A quintessential British summer staple, the Pimm’s Cup has, over the years, developed notable ties with tennis tournaments, played a part in the his...
Three Dots and a Dash
02 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re learning a new language — that of morse code — at Cocktail College today, all told through the lens of a classic, if slightly lesser-known...
The Amaretto Sour
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Examining another branch of the sour cocktail family, we're joined today by friend of the show Jeffrey Morgenthaler of Portland’s Pacific Standard t...
The Hot Toddy
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Something sweet, something strong, and something hot — that’s all it takes to throw together a tasty Hot Toddy, according to Pip Hanson, beverage ...
The Blue Hawaii
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For many, the Blue Hawaii may conjure images of kitschy Hawaiian shirts and Jimmy Buffet concerts, but rest assured this cocktail has a rich, complex ...
The Sex on the Beach
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
More than just an evocative name, the Sex on the Beach is brimming with ‘80s and ‘90s nostalgia, and arrives topped with a fun (if questionable) b...
The Irish Coffee
29 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
While simple in composition, the Irish Coffee is a bonafide cocktail and deserves to be treated like one. Helping us do so today is Jillian Vose, form...
The Sherry Cobbler
22 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
While the Sherry Cobbler taps into the modern trend of lower-ABV cocktails, it’s safe to say that its golden era remains a distant memory. This drin...
The Boulevardier
15 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Calling all Prohibition-era, Parisian socialites: it’s time — we’re talking Boulevardiers today. And we’re doing so with the magnificent Amand...
The Bloody Mary
08 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Bloody Mary is a boozy meal in a glass; a vehicle for a range of elaborate and occasionally wacky garnishes; and a hangover cure, if only by means...
The Martini (re-run)
01 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are we in the midst of a bonafide Martini renaissance? What are the limits for garnishes, riffs, and ingredients? And when does a Martini cease to be ...
The American Trilogy
24 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On this Thanksgiving Thursday, we show appreciation for the American Trilogy, a distinctly American riff on the Old Fashioned. We’re joined by retur...
The Tipperary
17 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Cocktail College takes a trip to Ireland this week as we’re joined by Jack McGarry, owner of the Dead Rabbit. He’s here to discuss a rare Irish wh...
The Hurricane
10 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hold the neutral grain alcohol and powder mix, today we’re exploring how to properly make The Hurricane. Teaching us how to do so is New Orleans nat...
The Harvard
03 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Don’t call it a Cognac Manhattan: On today’s episode, we explore The Harvard with the esteemed bartender and author Thad Vogler, who’s also the ...
The Champs Élysées
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’re heading to the 8th Arrondissment for today’s cocktail, The Champs Élysées, and we’re exploring it with Wilmer Nolasco, head bartender at...
The Dark 'N' Stormy
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We're taking a field trip today at Cocktail College, as we head to the beach to discuss the Dark 'N' Stormy with the pirate himself, Brian Miller. The...
The Dirty Martini
13 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There’s no denying that interest in the Martini has spiked in recent times — driven in large part by the mass appeal of vodka-laced Dirty Martinis...
El Presidente
06 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, we explore El Presidente, a Cuban-born, stirred, rum-based classic. Teaching class is Orlando Franklin, the bar director at Broo...
The Mint Julep
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re reserving your mint sprigs and pewter cups solely for the first Saturday of May, you are missing a trick. The Mint Julep is a refreshing w...
El Diablo
22 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Josue Gonzalez joins us for today's episode to discuss El Diablo, a classic tequila highball that sees the spirit mixed with lime, crème de cassis, a...
Episode 50 Special: Etiquette
15 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
He's back! It's our first ever guest, Eric Alperin, and he rejoins us today to mark a special occasion by discussing one of his favorite topics: etiqu...
The Whiskey Highball
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode of Cocktail College, Tim explores the Whiskey Highball with Iain Griffiths from New York's Hidden Leaf, Midnight Cafe, and Midn...
The Corpse Reviver No. 2
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Harrison Snow from New York’s Lullaby joins us today to explore the evocatively named, historic hangover remedy, the Corpse Reviver No. 2 . We discu...
The Lemon Drop
25 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We have Harrison Ginsberg from New York’s Crown Shy on the show today, leading us on a sweet exploration of the Lemon Drop. Over the course of the e...
Techniques: Dilution
18 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Joey Smith, bar director at New York’s Chez Zou, tells us everything we need to know about the precise science of dilution. Listen on the learn why ...
The Last Word
11 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s deep-dive on a democratic, shaken classic sees us joined by Portland, Oregon-based bartender, beverage director, author, and editor Jim Meeh...
The Negroni
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a big week for Cocktail College as we close in on the 50th episode milestone. Not only are we finally getting down to covering the Negroni, tod...
The Clover Club
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The Bramble
21 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 contemp...
The 50/50 Martini
14 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 co...
The Scofflaw
07 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ori...
Techniques: Highbrow Hacks for Lowbrow Drinks
30 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 standard...
The White Lady
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s is an intriguing tale involving a daisy, a 1920s American socialite (reputedly), two Harrys, and one Hardy (for good measure). The cocktail ...