opinionated alchemist

Hey Folks, I know, there haven’t been a lot of posts lately. I will more frequently post soon. But check out this excellent video from tastetequila.com about the differences (and preferences) of Los Altos and Tequila Valley Tequilas. Enjoy!

Well - we all know that Jeffrey Morgenthaler has at times some controversial ideas. Yet he gets the major support by most bartenders - I am not sure if it is his popularity, his “connection to zeitgeist” or a combination of the two. It is funny to read his ranting about spirit fetishists (just follow the link after  you have read my piece)... and it is quite humorous. Even though I am opinionated, my position is by far not as extreme. Maybe one reason is, that I don’t live in the US, which has probably the most trend-following crowd. But I think a far more important point is, that he really missed an opportunity to showcase some real issues (except of his feelings...). About 15 years ago, I built the then quite impressive liquor selection of the Schaelsick - the hotel bar at the Hyatt Regency Cologne. A couple of moons later, we were quite proud, on the selection... we had tequilas, rums, vodka (by then there was no “issue” with vodka) and especially whiskies, which were rath...

Let me first apologise... this post is not directly about drinks. However I was reminded of a very unpleasant thing: being bullied. The starting point was that post about the Long Island Iced Tea . I got these comments in return: Jo-Jo Valenzuela  ·  Partner  at  Behind The Stick Consulting Group Dear Dominik S.: I don't like calling people out, but I am assuming you have never tended bar in your life. It's either that or you were just never good at making drinks, or at least balancing it. I've been tending bar for 20 years, and I've made thousands of LIIT. I made sure every single one of those drinks that I sent out is the best guests ever had. Not because I make the best, but because I care of the drinks that I make myself. Best is subjective. In case it is not their best, I would ask the guest how they preferred it, and I would customize it to their spec. Yes, I know most people just order it to get sloshed, but there really is a way to make this drink bet...

So just lately the Long Island Iced Tea post created quite a controversy on Liquor.com . It seems, that most people have only read the headline... and were just angry, that I was standing against the opinion of the mighty Jeffrey Morgenthaler.  Unfortunately I feel that the topic was hollowed out - and people screaming at me: how can you dare do doubt a so iconic drink?  Well - not much has changed. Yes - Jeffrey and a lot of other people are right: you can probably do every drink better, than in your average dive. Yes, you can use fresh juices and quality spirits and liqueurs (and you always should). But does that make a flawed recipe a good one? I don't think so! Even before 2000 I tended bars and was managing bars and I never used sweet and sour mix. Because this wasn't accepted at all in Europe (in Germany to be specific) - at least not in hotel bars, where  I started my career. I have encountered only one place, where I have worked as bartender, which h...

Cash Margin Approach for wines

As beverage manager I can not only focus on spirits on cocktails, but I do have also think about wine. Thus I have got a subscription to WineSpectator, which is admittedly quite awesome. In the current issue, there is a very interesting article about keg wines - wines which are not bottles but rather filled into a keg - and which have their own "keg tap system" - as (as pointed out) it is not enough to use the existing beer taps. Personally I do think, that it could turn some people off (there is still a lot of controversy about using screwcaps - people, get over it!) - and especially guests of bars, restaurant and hotels might feel affronted of such innovation. The wine business is really traditional - and there are a lot of people, which are opinionated and against progress throughout the consumer groups - from the connoisseur and collector to the novice. However I do honestly believe, that such system (if properly installed) totally outweighs the negative c...

There are really some people out there, which are reading my blog (duh) - and are interested in my "opinionated opinion". Thus in the years of this blog, I got quite a lot of samples. That can be a good thing (if the product is really something very special), that can also backfire... At times I avoid to review new products, because I just think, that I don't want to step on all feet of old and new friends. On the other hand, people who send me samples have read my blog before - so it isn't really too bad, if I give my (blogged) opinion, is it? Peter Steger of Sash and Fritz German Wodka (yeah - "ze Germans" are spelling vodka with a 'w'), is one of those friends (at least until this post).  To make it a bit more agreeable - and definitely more constructive than critical, I try here a bit of a new twist to this post - instead of a naked review - I try to consult on the product (however not before giving an honest review)... let's ge...