Derek Brown
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Mixmaster
Nov 6 2009, 12:45 pmDid Gossip Girl Kill The Speakeasy?
One of the show's characters opened a bar that serves Prohibition-era drinks. Does that kill upscale cocktail places for everyone? read more
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Oct 30 2009, 12:45 pmHalloween Drinks With Good Taste
Holday-themed cocktails are of ten corny but if you really want one, the author has some advice.read more
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Oct 26 2009, 12:45 pmJapan's Bartending Debate
Two cocktail-making methods battle for dominance: one traditional, the other innovative. Which is superior?read more
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Oct 9 2009, 12:45 pmBattle of the Bars: Japan vs. America
After meeting a talented mixologist in Japan, the author reflects on which country does it better.read more
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Oct 2 2009, 12:45 pmIn Japan, Drinks and Hospitality Mix
The author visits a bartending mecca in Tokyo where there are cool cocktails and warm service.read more
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Sep 25 2009, 12:45 pmWedding Cocktails: Too Much Work?
Signature cocktails can be more trouble than they're worth. But if necessary, the author has some advice.read more
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Sep 18 2009, 12:45 pmCraft Bartending, Japanese-Style
United States bartenders borrow from what might be the best cocktail city in the world: Tokyo.read more
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Sep 4 2009, 12:45 pmFrom Brazil, a Versatile Liquor
Cachaça is the base of the country's signature caipirinha, but it can be used to make many other cocktails.read more
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Aug 21 2009, 12:45 pmWhen Is a Cocktail Worth $1,000?
Two cocktails that earned their creators $1,000--and one that changed how Americans felt about vodka.read more
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Aug 14 2009, 12:45 pmGoodbye to '80s Bartending Trends
A list of five drinking trends from the 1980s that the author never wants to see again.read more
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Jul 31 2009, 12:45 pmShaken, Stirred...Or Swizzled?
Bartenders use a variety of tools and techniques to make sure their drinks are mixed right.read more
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Jul 24 2009, 12:45 pmMorning Cocktails Beyond Mimosas
Mimosas and Bloody Marys aren't the only cocktails to drink before noon. A list of five other options.read more
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Jul 17 2009, 12:45 pmSummer's Signature Cocktail
The Rickey is light, refreshing, and has roots in the author's hometown: Washington, D.C.read more
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Jul 10 2009, 8:22 amUnearthing Forgotten Cocktails
"Cocktail archeologists" have helped uncover old recipes and revive neglected types of alcohol.read more
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Jul 9 2009, 12:45 pmIn Praise of Champagne
The author explains why he could drink champagne all day--and offers a recipe for a favorite cocktail.read more
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Jul 1 2009, 8:22 amWhy Bartenders Shouldn't Be Rude
The author takes his fellow mixologists to task for being rude, offering tips for how to be a little nicer.read more
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Jun 25 2009, 8:24 amBartending With a Splash of Star Trek
The annual Tales of the Cocktail conference has more in common with a Star Trek convention than you might think.read more
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Jun 19 2009, 12:45 pmThe Story of a Legendary Bartender
Prohibition ended the career of mixologist Henry William Thomas. Fortunately, his legacy lives on.read more
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Jun 12 2009, 12:45 pmEasy Mixing: 5 Cocktails for the Lazy
Summer is the season for cocktails that emphasize ease over complexity. Here, a list of drinks that are meant to be made quickly and enjoyed slowly, with origins from Spain to Bermuda to Washington, D.C.read more
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May 29 2009, 8:20 amLast Call: When a Favorite Bar Closes
On par with breaking up with a long-time love is the feeling of losing a cherished drinking hole. The author mourns the loss of two of his favorite places to have a drink with friends and comes to terms with the fact that he will never find an exact replacement for either of them.read more
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May 22 2009, 12:45 pmHow to Sweeten a Cocktail
Bartenders professional and amateur have a wide range of options if they want to add some sweetness to their drinks. The author offers a list of the best ways to make a cocktail sweeter, from plain sugar to maple syrup, along with tips on how to use each ingredient.read more
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May 15 2009, 12:45 pmWhy Your Bartender Hates You
OK, bartenders don't really hate you. But sometimes customers forget to be polite--and so do bartenders. These are the stories of what can happen when that relationship gets strained, and how to fix it.read more
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May 12 2009, 8:14 amGoldilocks: Dread of Mixologists
What happens when a customer turns up his nose at a drink the bartender thinks is perfect? It's not always pretty. A description of how mixologists react when they think their customers are wrong.read more
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May 7 2009, 8:16 amHappy Birthday, Dear Cocktail
The cocktail, one of America's most beloved food creations, just turned 103 years old. Celebrate World Cocktail Week by learning about the drink's history--and mixing up this old fashioned recipe for Old Fashioneds, considered to be the first cocktail ever.read more
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May 1 2009, 12:48 pmA Bartender's Defense of Blenders
Blenders are messy, noisy, and they make a few bartenders mad. But they also make enticing drinks. The author explains why, despite all the criticisms of this kitchen tool, it's worth giving blenders a chance while mixing cocktails.read more
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Apr 24 2009, 12:45 pmDry Martini: The King of Cocktails
It's everywhere and yet nowhere made with the proper sacrament. But when it's done right, that first sip will be of a cold, taut surface with a bracing chill, punctuated by pockets of bright citrus oils that cause the mouth to water profusely. Here's how to do the king justice.read more
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Apr 17 2009, 12:42 pmWhat Makes a Great Bartender?
It's more than just combining ingredients from a recipe. Here, ten tips for any home or pro bartender, from a master of the craft.read more
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Apr 9 2009, 12:30 pmWhere Do Crazy Drink Names Come From?
Negroni? Corpse Reviver #2? Sloe Comfortable Screw on the Beach? We don't just throw "tini" on the end. Strangely named cocktails have strange stories behind them, some dating back generations.read more
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Apr 3 2009, 8:26 amWhat Makes a Cocktail Snob so Obnoxious?
Sometimes those with the most distinctive tastes--and the most abrasive attitudes--make us better bartenders. Take the example of the recipe for the Sidecar. Once dictated by a famous beverage snob, is it much improved with a fresh attitude.read more
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Mar 27 2009, 4:30 pmMargaritas to Martinis, the Magic Ingredient
Salt can vastly improve a cocktail, especially one with sweet flavors. Innovations like salt-air and salt mixed with citrus zest have made this crucial little spice more prevalent than ever. Done right, you won't even know it's there.read more
Photo courtesy of the New York Public Library
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Mar 25 2009, 8:40 amThe Story of the American Mixologist
It's more than just a bartender, but no one's quite sure how to define mixologist -- much less "bar chef" of "mixicologist." This question, far from new, has been around for 150 years. As long as there have been mixologists in America, there has been confusion about what makes one.read more
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Mar 17 2009, 8:08 amFood Pairings Beyond Wine
Food goes with more than just wine. Beer, cocktails, and tea can make a great partner for many dishes. If a sommelier expands his or her horizons beyond simple red-or-white, food pairing options -- and the dining experience itself -- profit enormously.read more
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Mar 14 2009, 12:51 pmThe World's Greatest Wingmen
At the bar and looking to meet someone, but in need of a good wingman? Try the bartender. They're sober (mostly), they've seen it all, and they know when it's time to move on. You might be surprised how good they are...and how often they do it.read more
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Derek Brown
Derek M. Brown is a writer, educator, sommelier, and bartender living in Washington, D.C. He works with top restaurants and bars as well as fine liquor companies as a beverage consultant, including The Gibson where he works behind the bar. full bio
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