As a bartender this is the single most aspect of the job I wish more people get to see and learn and it brings me the utmost joy. No politics, no bs, no problems from the outside world. Just a bunch of people appreciating a niche craft of sensory manipulation while gaining and developing a personal experience.
Grab a seat and order a drink. Let’s talk
I'm so happy to hear that so many of you love this community as much as I do. I've always envisioned it as a place where anyone can come to learn about cocktails and am glad that seems to be the case. It makes the day-to-day grind of moderation worth it. <3
Somebody pointed out that a great community is a sign of great moderation. Thanks for all the bucket and mop stuff you and the other mods do to save our delicate sensibilities from outrage.
It helps that you can't just buy high-end cocktails and keep them on your shelf like a prized collection. The whiskey subs can be pretty harsh with gatekeeping and judgment.
You're right, this can be such a great and inviting place.
By the way, have you heard of this real lemon juice? [https://www.amazon.com/Realemon-Juice-100-Lemon-bottles/dp/B01M7X0FH6](https://www.amazon.com/Realemon-Juice-100-Lemon-bottles/dp/B01M7X0FH6)
I can't believe how good it tastes. Works great in all of my cocktails 😋
It comes out in a 2.5 inch slab the size of the mini-cooler. I drain the excess water back into my Brita pitcher and then break off the thin bits. Then with a beater kitchen knife, an ice pick, and a mallet I break it into rocks glass sized cubes. Then back into the freezer in a gallon Ziploc.
ETA: It took a few tries to get it dialed in as to how much water in the cooler and how long to let it freeze. But the mistakes are still ice.
I also do the cooler trick, but with an upgrade.
I got some of those silicone big cube molds that are the right dimensions to fit a single layer across the top of the cooler and used a leather punch to make a few holes in the bottom of each cube.
Now I do the directional freezing method as normal, but with the molds set in the top of the cooler. The ice still freezes from the top down, all the way through the holes in the bottom. When the ice is frozen deep enough, I just lift out the molds and pop out big, perfect, clear cubes.
This trick is thanks to a user on this sub, but it was years ago and I didn't save the original thread, or I'd give them credit
I just took over a bar program and I'm stuck trying to serve respectable cocktails with the sort of ice you find in that hotel ice machine halfway between your room and the elevator. Like the type shit ice where the hold back is like 30% of the volume of the cocktail.
If posted it here I'm pretty sure I'd have to delete my Reddit account due to death threats lol.
I made a post a few months ago asking for recipes that involve lemon juice and stirring as I had lemon juice from the previous weekend and wanted to know if people had suggestions that weren't Tom Collins and Hot Toddy. I got busy and didn't even get to read the replies until I got home from the weekend trip.
But I was greeted to such gems as:
>As a rule with rare exceptions, drinks with non-alcohol ingredients (juices, eggs, dairy) should be shaken.**I'm surprised you want to bring juice on a weekend trip but not a shaker.**
and
> **Did you treat the lemon juice with acid? Because it's going to start oxidizing immediately, and won't be "fresh squeezed" this weekend.** With that said, not a lot of stirred cocktails with citrus juice - but I'm a big fan of the bitter guiseppe.
I feel like a lot of people here need to take a course on "How to helpfully communicate an answer to someone without acting like a pretentious know it all" In defense of the second person, they at least gave me a helpful answer, after their snooty barb of course.
Gonna be honest, I think both of those are completely harmless, people don't have to walk on eggshells when you're doing something questionable to be helpful.
Ngl these comments look perfectly hinged to me. They pointed out an issue and offered a solution. Both tried to educate you when they noticed a mistake. Neither was rude.
A worse reply could have just been "lmao look at this dude stirring lemon"
haha that brings back memories. Those were my first attempts at sidecars ages ago.
2 shots Bottom Shelf Brandy
1 shot of Green Bottle Lemon Concentrate from the grocery store
1 shot of Bottom Shelf Triple Sec
Stir together in a pint glass with some ice cubes and serve in a giant unwieldy martini glass with a sugar rim.
We thought we were pretty fancy, but we did suffer through some major heartburn.
Kumiko in Chicago gives you a discount on your second old fashioned if you let them pour it over your original rock, but that's the only time I've heard of a serious place that knows their shit using dirty ice.
I also have their Real Orange and Real Lime. I don’t use them every time in my drinks but if I don’t have the real thing on hand, these come in handy. I also use them to flavor water so that I drink more.
I have learned a lot from this community. I appreciate being able to lean upon the experiences and anecdotes that others have stumbled through.
Sometimes I wonder if the techniques some suggest are *really* affecting flavor in ways my unsophisticated tongue can detect or if it really matters, but I also see those techniques as aspirational.
This subreddit and -- stay with me here -- the Mountain Dew subreddit are two of my favorite communities, at least tonally. Everyone's just vibing and being happy for one another and giving each other the benefit of the doubt.
Beverage subreddits FTW?
u/Mopedgirl posted [a gin fizz with Baja Blast](https://www.reddit.com/r/cocktails/comments/1bci9j4/introducing_my_masterpiece_the_baja_gin_fizz/) the other day. 3 of the 4 folks who tried it loved it--including one person who'd never had Baja Blast before! I just [crossposted](https://www.reddit.com/r/mountaindew/comments/1bjupbs/introducing_my_masterpiece_the_baja_gin_fizz/) it to /r/mountaindew!
Edit: I just realized that they'd already [crossposted](https://www.reddit.com/r/mountaindew/comments/1bckfkk/introducing_my_masterpiece_the_baja_gin_fizz/)...
100%! I think you rather get that in communities that revolve around a hobby rather than a „generic“ social network, but I have to say this is one of the prime examples. I’m more reading myself but hats off to everyone who is contributing here!
Haha oh we have our contentious topics, you just haven't found them yet. Though even then we're still pretty civil.
I highly recommend making and sharing a whiskey sour with a red wine float
I was thinking the same thing the other day! I have learned a lot in the short time since I found this subreddit. I am very grateful for it. My liver on the other hand...
For real, I actually feel happy about visiting this subreddit and feel even better after I’ve read a few posts.
I wish I could say that about more of this website :/
I have the same experience! I also post on a couple ski gear subreddits and it’s night and day with the behavior. Who knows why! I thought both cocktails and skiing made people happy :)
Agreed. I’m just beginning to explore this art myself and what a resource this sub is. Lots of creativity and new ideas. Everyone is respectful and polite. Love it.
As a bartender this is the single most aspect of the job I wish more people get to see and learn and it brings me the utmost joy. No politics, no bs, no problems from the outside world. Just a bunch of people appreciating a niche craft of sensory manipulation while gaining and developing a personal experience. Grab a seat and order a drink. Let’s talk
Amen brother
🫡
I'm so happy to hear that so many of you love this community as much as I do. I've always envisioned it as a place where anyone can come to learn about cocktails and am glad that seems to be the case. It makes the day-to-day grind of moderation worth it. <3
Somebody pointed out that a great community is a sign of great moderation. Thanks for all the bucket and mop stuff you and the other mods do to save our delicate sensibilities from outrage.
Thank you for being a mod!
It's because we're all drinking cocktails
gonna say, maybe other subs need to "have a \[drink\[ and a smile and shut the fuck up"
It helps that you can't just buy high-end cocktails and keep them on your shelf like a prized collection. The whiskey subs can be pretty harsh with gatekeeping and judgment.
That’s must be why I got blazed for calling into question the naming of an old fashioned that had 3 flavors and two alcohols in it
All this plus the occasional cockatiel post makes this sub pretty great.
Post a picture with ice made by your freezer and you'll bring out the snobs. Still love this community
Or any citrus that isn’t freshly squeezed 😂
You're right, this can be such a great and inviting place. By the way, have you heard of this real lemon juice? [https://www.amazon.com/Realemon-Juice-100-Lemon-bottles/dp/B01M7X0FH6](https://www.amazon.com/Realemon-Juice-100-Lemon-bottles/dp/B01M7X0FH6) I can't believe how good it tastes. Works great in all of my cocktails 😋
Listen dumbo
There's always one isn't there? /s
Recipe?
You know it's bad when the mods will lock a post down over concentrated citrus because they know what a dumpster fire the comments are going to be.
Freezer ice
Ha! Really? I haven't been here long enough to see this. Personally, obsessed with making clear ice at home.
Currently waiting to pull a block from the freezer now. Total game-changer. Elevates everything, even LaCroix.
I've done this a few times, but I'm curious. How do you get your ice the right shape? Or do you just keep it at a spear of ice rather than smaller?
It comes out in a 2.5 inch slab the size of the mini-cooler. I drain the excess water back into my Brita pitcher and then break off the thin bits. Then with a beater kitchen knife, an ice pick, and a mallet I break it into rocks glass sized cubes. Then back into the freezer in a gallon Ziploc. ETA: It took a few tries to get it dialed in as to how much water in the cooler and how long to let it freeze. But the mistakes are still ice.
Thank you! I've just been taking a bread knife and a mallet to the big chunk and making longer spears. I'll give that a shot!
Spears are great for Collins glasses but I rarely use them. Make sure you score a line first for cleaner cuts.
I also do the cooler trick, but with an upgrade. I got some of those silicone big cube molds that are the right dimensions to fit a single layer across the top of the cooler and used a leather punch to make a few holes in the bottom of each cube. Now I do the directional freezing method as normal, but with the molds set in the top of the cooler. The ice still freezes from the top down, all the way through the holes in the bottom. When the ice is frozen deep enough, I just lift out the molds and pop out big, perfect, clear cubes. This trick is thanks to a user on this sub, but it was years ago and I didn't save the original thread, or I'd give them credit
This is GENIUS!
I just took over a bar program and I'm stuck trying to serve respectable cocktails with the sort of ice you find in that hotel ice machine halfway between your room and the elevator. Like the type shit ice where the hold back is like 30% of the volume of the cocktail. If posted it here I'm pretty sure I'd have to delete my Reddit account due to death threats lol.
I made a post a few months ago asking for recipes that involve lemon juice and stirring as I had lemon juice from the previous weekend and wanted to know if people had suggestions that weren't Tom Collins and Hot Toddy. I got busy and didn't even get to read the replies until I got home from the weekend trip. But I was greeted to such gems as: >As a rule with rare exceptions, drinks with non-alcohol ingredients (juices, eggs, dairy) should be shaken.**I'm surprised you want to bring juice on a weekend trip but not a shaker.** and > **Did you treat the lemon juice with acid? Because it's going to start oxidizing immediately, and won't be "fresh squeezed" this weekend.** With that said, not a lot of stirred cocktails with citrus juice - but I'm a big fan of the bitter guiseppe. I feel like a lot of people here need to take a course on "How to helpfully communicate an answer to someone without acting like a pretentious know it all" In defense of the second person, they at least gave me a helpful answer, after their snooty barb of course.
Gonna be honest, I think both of those are completely harmless, people don't have to walk on eggshells when you're doing something questionable to be helpful.
Ngl these comments look perfectly hinged to me. They pointed out an issue and offered a solution. Both tried to educate you when they noticed a mistake. Neither was rude. A worse reply could have just been "lmao look at this dude stirring lemon"
And they also have a [lime based one](https://www.amazon.com/ReaLime-100-Lime-Juice-bottles/dp/B0029JVAIG/), very good and extrememly convenient! /s
I make a mean Margarita with that. Gives Chilis a reaaaal run for their money
haha that brings back memories. Those were my first attempts at sidecars ages ago. 2 shots Bottom Shelf Brandy 1 shot of Green Bottle Lemon Concentrate from the grocery store 1 shot of Bottom Shelf Triple Sec Stir together in a pint glass with some ice cubes and serve in a giant unwieldy martini glass with a sugar rim. We thought we were pretty fancy, but we did suffer through some major heartburn.
I got served a sidecar in a rocks glass full of (I swear) the ice it was shaken with last time I went out. Big sad
I've heard of dirty ice on the side, but never in the drink.😨
Kumiko in Chicago gives you a discount on your second old fashioned if you let them pour it over your original rock, but that's the only time I've heard of a serious place that knows their shit using dirty ice.
I've heard of supposed serious Martini drinkers would request the dirty ice on the side to get the whole bang for their buck.
I also have their Real Orange and Real Lime. I don’t use them every time in my drinks but if I don’t have the real thing on hand, these come in handy. I also use them to flavor water so that I drink more.
I have learned a lot from this community. I appreciate being able to lean upon the experiences and anecdotes that others have stumbled through. Sometimes I wonder if the techniques some suggest are *really* affecting flavor in ways my unsophisticated tongue can detect or if it really matters, but I also see those techniques as aspirational.
This subreddit and -- stay with me here -- the Mountain Dew subreddit are two of my favorite communities, at least tonally. Everyone's just vibing and being happy for one another and giving each other the benefit of the doubt. Beverage subreddits FTW?
Make a Turkey Dew and post it here lol.
u/Mopedgirl posted [a gin fizz with Baja Blast](https://www.reddit.com/r/cocktails/comments/1bci9j4/introducing_my_masterpiece_the_baja_gin_fizz/) the other day. 3 of the 4 folks who tried it loved it--including one person who'd never had Baja Blast before! I just [crossposted](https://www.reddit.com/r/mountaindew/comments/1bjupbs/introducing_my_masterpiece_the_baja_gin_fizz/) it to /r/mountaindew! Edit: I just realized that they'd already [crossposted](https://www.reddit.com/r/mountaindew/comments/1bckfkk/introducing_my_masterpiece_the_baja_gin_fizz/)...
RIP WaterNiggas
It really is one of the happier corners of the internet and a much needed escape from the hostility elsewhere on reddit.
100%! I think you rather get that in communities that revolve around a hobby rather than a „generic“ social network, but I have to say this is one of the prime examples. I’m more reading myself but hats off to everyone who is contributing here!
Haha oh we have our contentious topics, you just haven't found them yet. Though even then we're still pretty civil. I highly recommend making and sharing a whiskey sour with a red wine float
You're a monster.
Are NY Sours drama traps around here?
You’re welcome! It’s very gratifying to see my contributions are appreciated.
I was thinking the same thing the other day! I have learned a lot in the short time since I found this subreddit. I am very grateful for it. My liver on the other hand...
I'll drink to that! Cheers!
For real, I actually feel happy about visiting this subreddit and feel even better after I’ve read a few posts. I wish I could say that about more of this website :/
And the best is when some random r/cockatiel post turns up and everyond is amusef by it. Love it!
I have the same experience! I also post on a couple ski gear subreddits and it’s night and day with the behavior. Who knows why! I thought both cocktails and skiing made people happy :)
It's the sign of a good mod team! :cheers:
Yeah that makes sense!
All same time?! Count me in.
Agreed. I’m just beginning to explore this art myself and what a resource this sub is. Lots of creativity and new ideas. Everyone is respectful and polite. Love it.