Changes are coming!

Trust us, this is a good thing. You'll notice over the next week that we're doing some clean up on the blog which will make it much easier for our fans to find what they desire. Admittedly we've been a bit occupied with something huge, so our frequency of writing has decreased significantly. We promise to share our big secret in a couple weeks. In the meantime, email us and let us know what you are interested in. Tell us about restaurants & bars, cocktail recipes, techniques, or even send us your general bar questions like "What is the difference between a martini glass and a cocktail glass?" thehedonisticbar@gmail.com

Cheers!

Cool Ice Tool For Home Hedonists

Recently, we are The Hedonistic Bar became aware of this Kickstarter campaign for a company that aspires to offer tools the enable hedonists to make their own crystal clear ice at home. After watching the video, we thought this was a pretty cool idea, and well worth investing $50 in to help make this aspiring company's idea a reality. The chisel, Lewis bag and mallet are probably worth the money all by themselves. Take a look at the video for more information about this really cool idea.

Better living through chemistry

WARNING! Coarse language ahead!

Finally a use for all those chemistry classes we sat through in high school and college! Okay, okay, a use for chemistry other than blowing things up...

This lovely piece of handiwork comes to us from Brazilian designer Mayra Artez. The Periodic Table of Alcohol arranges the concoctions "based on their primary liquors, groups and proofs." To get a better look, click for the bigger version.

We can get down with most of these but there are a couple we might let unsuspecting rubes friends try first. Adios Motherfucker - the name alone makes us a little nervous. We're sure that many poor decisions have begun with the phrase "Adios Motherfucker!"  The Irish Trash Can sounds like something that really should only happen on St. Patrick's Day, and when someone talks about it the next day, everyone looks away awkwardly and mumbles... And last but not least, Shit on Grass. The rule of thumb around our house if it's called poo, looks like poo, or smells like poo, we don't put it in our mouths. 

We think we'll print a poster of this and play our own version of Russian roulette. We'll blindfold people and make them point to the poster and we'll serve the drink their finger land on. Sounds like fun right?

Cheers!

Whoa...I think my bottle just winked at me

Recently, we ran across this series of animated beer labels made by Trevor Carmick of Beer Labels In Motion on a technology blog that we follow. Yes, not only are we here at The Hedonistic Bar cocktail nerds, we are computer nerds as well.  I wonder when we will see some of these label hit the bars and liquor stores around town? Not holding our breath for anytime soon though. We surmise if this technology actually existed, that it would add significantly to the cost of a six pack of suds. 

Simple Strawberry Cocktails For Summertime

Recently The Hedonistic Bar was asked for some cocktail recipes that utilized the bounty of fresh strawberries that are in season this time of year. So out to the garden we went to pick some strawberries and fresh herbs and here are two  simple easy to make cocktails that we came up with for you to enjoy.

Strarwberry Mojito

2 oz. light rum

1 oz. simple syrup

4-6 mint leaves (we prefer the Mojito Mint)

3-5 medium strawberries

juice of 1/2 fresh lime

club soda

In a mixing glass combine mint leaves, strawberries, and simple syrup. Lightly muddle until mint is very fragrant. You are looking to bruise the mint to release the aroma and flavor and crush the strawberries, but not so much that you create a mint strawberry paste. Add rum and the juice of 1/2 a lime. Add ice and shake until well chilled. Serve in an Collins glass and top with club soda. Garnish with fresh mint and frozen strawberries. For a smoother drink, double strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove strawberry pulp and seeds. 

Bourbon Basil-Strawberry Lemonade

2 oz. wheated bourbon, we prefer Old Heaven Hill

juice of 1 fresh lemon

1 oz. simple syrup

1 oz. cold water

3 large sweet basil leaves

5 medium strawberries

In a mixing glass combine basil leaves, strawberries, and simple syrup. Lightly muddle until basil is very fragrant. You are looking to bruise the basil to release the aroma and flavor and crush the strawberries, but not so much that you create a basil strawberry paste. Add bourbon and the juice of 1 a lemon. Add ice and shake until well chilled. Garnish with fresh basil and lemon slice. For a smoother drink, double strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove strawberry pulp and seeds.

The Sassy Sour

Summer finally arrived this week, and fresh produce from the garden is just around the corner. Check out this cocktail we created for a good friend of The Hedonistic Bar. It combines tartness of a classic whiskey sour, with the heat of Habanero peppers. 

The Sassy Sour

1 1/2 ounces Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey

1 ounce fresh lemon juice

1/4 ounce Licor 43

25 drops Habenero tincture*

1 egg white

Combine ingredients in a shaker and dry shake until well combined. Add ice and shake again until well chilled. Double strain in to a coupe glass. Garnish with Angostura bitters.

*To make Habenero tincture, combine 13 chopped Habenro peppers into a litter of everclear. Let stand for 2 weeks. Strain into an eyedropper bottle of other suitable container.

A whiskey a day keeps the doctor away.

Not that we at The Hedonistic Bar needed another excuse to drink more whiskey, but here are 22 reasons. Who would have thought that there were so many benefits to consuming whiskey.