The Cocktail Spirit with Robert Hess

Young Man Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:21:00 +0000

Created by famed bartender, Harry Craddock, the Young Man Cocktail is essentially a Manhattan made with Cognac. The addition of orange curaçao offers a subtle citrus note and a touch of sweetness.

Biter Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:58:23 +0000

The Biter Cocktail can be found in Harry Craddock's Savoy Cocktail Book. Similar to the Last Word Cocktail, the Biter is a bit more complex because of the addition of Absinthe. Also, Robert reviews yet another juicer he has found with the hopes that this company does not go out of business.

Washington Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:23:58 +0000

The Washington Cocktail can be found in the Savoy Cocktail Book. Of the "new" style of cocktails created during the late 1800's, the Washington is typical of that era in that it contains vermouth like the manhattan and the martini but uses cognac as its spirit.

Ford Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:19:56 +0000

Ratios make a difference. Often, two cocktails have the same exact ingredients. The difference in taste and aroma comes from the ratios. Such is the case with the Ford Cocktail as it is very similar to the Caprice Cocktail.

Champs Elysees

Small Screen Network — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:38:51 +0000

Chartreuse is featured in a number of wonderful classic cocktails. Like the Last Word, the Champs Elysees Cocktail seems poised to become a must serve at craft cocktail bars around the country.

Spencer Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:51:15 +0000

Another drink from The Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock, and one that isn’t seen hardly at all as far as I can tell. Apricot Brandy can be a bit of a challenging ingredient to understand when used in a recipe like this, since it could either mean a true brandy distilled from Apricot juice, or it could also mean a sweet liqueur flavored with apricot flesh and seeds. We are going to assume that it is the liqueur that was intended for this cocktail.

Sherman Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:49:03 +0000

Robert found the Sherman Cocktail in the book, the "Old Waldorf Bar Days" by Albert Stevens Crockett. It is essentially a twist on the classic Manhattan with the addition of absinthe and double the types of bitters.

Hakam Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:25:57 +0000

Found in the Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock, this drink is quite similar to that of the Martinez, although many Martinez recipes will specifically call for Old Tom gin, and/or the use of Maraschino liqueur. It's hard to say where this drink originates, or exactly what is intended by its name, but "Hakam" means "A Wise Man" in Hebrew.

Poet’s Dream Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:21:01 +0000

Found in the Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar book, the Poet's Dream cocktail is a beautiful representation of how Benedictine can be represented in a cocktail.

Suburban Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:10:25 +0000

Named after the Suburban Handicap horse race held in the Brooklyn's Sheepshead Bay during the 1800s, the Suburban Cocktail comes to us via the Old Waldorf-Astoria Bar Book. It was meant to celebrate men such as James R Keene who made their riches in stocks and owned a number of horses.

Delmonico Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:20:21 +0000

The Delmonico Cocktail is named after what is considered to be the first restaurant opened in the United States. First opened in 1827, Delmonico's has suffered through fire, prohibition and a series of proprietors and still serves its famous steaks today. The eponymous cocktail is just as strong and long lived as the restaurant.

Interview with Tom Bulleit of Bulleit Bourbon

Small Screen Network — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:53:50 +0000

Robert had the great pleasure of sitting down with Tom Bulleit of Bulleit Bourbon at Needle and Thread above Tavern Law in Seattle to discuss Bulleit's newest product, Bulleit Rye.

Chrysanthemum Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:53:27 +0000

Robert discovered the Chrysanthemum Cocktail in the Savoy Cocktail Book. This unique cocktail does not contain a base spirit as most cocktails typically do. In its recipe it utilizes only absinthe, Benedictine, and dry vermouth.

Casino Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 16:10:59 +0000

The Casino Cocktail is a very gin forward cocktail. It can be made with Old Tom gin and showcases that spirit well.

Caprice Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:49:58 +0000

Essentially a Martini with the addition of Benedictine, the Caprice Cocktail is a simple and delicious drink.

Bridal Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:32:31 +0000

Robert Hess discovered the Bridal Cocktail in the pages of the Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book. If you are familiar with the original Martini, made with sweet rather than dry vermouth, this cocktail is quite similar. The addition of Maraschino liqueur adds a hint of cherry that rounds out a delicious cocktail.

Metropole Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:33:52 +0000

The Metropole Cocktail was the house cocktail at the Metropole Hotel, opened in New York just before the beginning of the 20th century. Some say it is a stronger and spicier version of the Manhattan. We say, it is delicious.

Royalist Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:08:08 +0000

Invented by W.J. Tarling, author of The Café Royal Cocktail Book (1937), the Royalist Cocktail is similar to a Manhattan. The use of Peach bitters in lieu of Angostura as well as the use of dry instead of sweet vermouth are the obvious differences. Benedictine offers a touch of sweetness and spice to what is a delightful cocktail.

Fourth Regiment Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:29:20 +0000

Recipes for cocktails can be found in the strangest places. The recipe for the Fourth Regiment Cocktail was found in a small book titled "282 Mixed Drinks from the Private Records of a Bartender of the Olden Days" Robert Hess purchased on Ebay. Written around 1889, the seller found this little treasure in a home they had recently purchased.

Black Hawk Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:02:16 +0000

Robert discovered the Black Hawk cocktail in Jones Complete Bar Guide as well as Cocktail DB. The bourbon adds a great backbone for the acid of the lemon and the sweet and complex notes of the sloe gin to mingle. This is surely a classic.

Between the Sheets Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:22:27 +0000

Not many cocktails contain more than one base spirit, let alone three (unless they are created by Jamie Boudreau). The Between the Sheets cocktail is one exception.

Apricot Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:31:39 +0000

Many times in making cocktails, just as in life, the simpler the better. Such is the case with the delightful Apricot Cocktail. Originally found in the Fine Art of Mixing Drinks by David Embury,this cocktails three ingredients stirred with ice offer up beautiful aroma and nuanced flavor. Floral, fruity and even herbaceous, the Apricot Cocktail is a classic to be savored.

Old Pal Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:20:36 +0000

The Old Pal Cocktail first appears in "ABC of Mixing Cocktails" by Harry MacElhone of the famed Harry's New York Bar in Paris. Originally calling for Canadian whisky, an American rye provides a robust flavor profile that adds a great foundation for the dry vermouth and Campari. Next time you are at your favorite bar, cozy up to the Old Pal Cocktail.

Bourbon Milk Punch

Small Screen Network — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:34:53 +0000

It's time for breakfast in New Orleans. What to serve? Along side your grits and andouille there is nothing better than a smooth and creamy bourbon milk punch. After five days of revelry at Tales of the Cocktail there could be nothing better to sooth your aching belly.

Daiquiri Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:00:06 +0000

The daiquiri is a historic and iconic cocktail. It's simplicity disguises what can be a complex and delicious cocktail when made correctly.

Lion’s Tail Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:13:48 +0000

The cocktail resurgence has brought with a it a resurgence in previously hard-to-find products. One of these once forgotten concoctions is Pimento (Allspice) Dram. "In larger doses, pimento dram contributes a richness to a drink evocative of autumn fruits and baking spices. In the drips and dashes with which it is typically deployed, however, the liqueur plays a much more subtle role," writes Paul Clarke of CocktailChronicles.com. That is definitely the case in the Lion's Tail Cocktail; a little goes a long way in transforming a cocktail and adding nuanced flavor.

Ocean Shore Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:33:07 +0000

Having no relation to the beachside Washington state town of (almost) the same name, the Ocean Shore Cocktail is nonetheless reminiscent of the sea. Its lavender blue hue topped with froth created by the addition of egg white and a good hard shake, is reminiscent of the sea. In this episode, Robert demonstrates how to make the Ocean Shore Cocktail and discusses how sloe gin is made.

EXR and Ginger

Small Screen Network — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:39:03 +0000

What do you do when a new product arrives that you have never mixed with before? Start by tasting it and comparing it to what you know. Then, mix up a simple cocktail that will express the nuances and characteristics of the spirit or liqueur. The Bitter Truth E*X*R is wonderfully sweet with characteristics of an Italian amaro. It pairs perfectly with a spicy ginger beer!

Caipirinha

Small Screen Network — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:30:51 +0000

Cachaça is the national spirit of Brazil. From that spirit comes the national cocktail of Brazil, the Caipirinha. Our intrepid host will show you how to make the Caipirinha.

Clipper Ship Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 10 May 2011 13:47:11 +0000

Created for Robert's friends at Pacific Distillery in Woodinville, WA, the Clipper Ship Cocktail is a classic sour style drink that uses unique, handcrafted spirits to create something simple yet satisfying.

Americano Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 03 May 2011 13:03:26 +0000

A beautifully simple and refreshing drink, the Americano was popularized by American tourists in Italy in the 1960s. Try one with your antipasto!

Monkey Gland Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:49:44 +0000

The present day cannot lay claim to all that is outrageous and downright strange. Back in the day, men used to attempt amazingly misguided, ill informed shenanigans with the goal of increasing their virility and longevity; like taking monkey testicles and implanting or grafting them in to their own bodies. Thus, the Monkey Gland cocktail was created by Frank Meier, of the Ritz Hotel Paris (April, 1923). It is delicious. Promise.

Leap Year Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:41:37 +0000

The Savoy Cocktail Book touts the Leap Year Cocktail for having "been responsible for more proposals than any other cocktail that has ever been mixed." Invented by the books author, Harry Craddock, for the Leap Year celebrations at the Savoy Hotel, London, on February 29th, 1928, the cocktail is certainly substantial enough for any celebration.

Lemon Drop Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:53:55 +0000

The latter part of the 20th century did not produce the most creative cocktails. With few exceptions, the Cosmopolitan being a notable one, the 70's, 80's and 90's are considered a dark time in the history of mixed libations. But, there are some often overlooked gems that continue to refresh and tantalize. Unfortunately, with the Lemon Drop, the recipe has devolved into a syrupy, cloying, artificial flavor laden mess. As with all great cocktails gone awry, a return to fresh and simple ingredients revives it and brings it back to its former glory. The Lemon Drop also demonstrates how vodka can spread out and maximize the complimentary flavors in a cocktail.

Vesper Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:19:34 +0000

Ian Fleming's protagonist in Casino Royale, better known as James Bond, needed an emblematic tipple. Employing the services of his favorite bartender at Duke's Hotel in London, Ian came up with the Vesper, which eventually took its name from Vesper Lynd, another spy in the books. This now iconic vodka cocktail has become synonymous with 007. Shaken, not stirred? Not when Robert's mixing it up!

Fancy Whiskey Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:36:55 +0000

The Old Fashioned is an old and distinguished cocktail, as well as one of my personal favorites. Many may point to its origins as being at the Pendennis Club in Louisville Kentucky around 1890, but its true roots go much deeper. Today we call it the Old Fashioned because it is a cocktail that is made in the true "old fashioned" way. You might even say it is the original cocktail, although in those days it would simply have been known as a whiskey cocktail, which with a little fancy embellishments becomes the Fancy Whiskey Cocktail.

Trident Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:58:16 +0000

Ones own cocktail recipes are often derived from classics that have come before. The Negroni, equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari, is one such classic that continues to inspire. Thus was the case when Robert created the Trident Cocktail.

Chas Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:05:49 +0000

A good bartender inspires patrons with their creativity, skill and service behind the bar. Watching a master at work can do that. It is rare, however, when a patron inspires a bartender. Thus was the case with the Chas Cocktail created by Murray Stenson at Zig Zag Café in Seattle and named after Chuck Talbot, a regular at the bar with a love for Bourbon.

Cloister Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:15:21 +0000

A proper library of cocktail books is essential for exploring and finding inspiration. Many times gems are unearthed that can really get your wheels turning. Or, at the very least help bolster you cocktail menu. While visiting the Zig Zag Café, Robert and owner Ben Dougherty came upon the Cloister Cocktail in an obscure book neither of them had ever seen before.

Outrigger Cocktail

Small Screen Network — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:04:51 +0000

Sour style cocktails are some of the most popular in the world: Margarita, Sidecar, Daiquiri, to name a few. Take a spirit, add juice from any citrus and a sweetening agent like simple syrup or your favorite liqueur and you have a sour style cocktail. This is essentially what Jeff "Beachbum" Berry did when he invented the Outrigger. Based upon the Sidecar, Jeff says this about his creation,"as with cognac in a Sidecar, the older the rum you use in the Outrigger, the better it tastes!" So, grab a great aged rum and get shaking!