Cocktail Chemistry

Ice ball cocktails are unique, interactive, and can be made at home without the need for expensive equipment.

Learn how to create a smoky, delicious old fashioned without the need for expensive equipment.

Create beautiful, clear ice without expensive equipment. Using a process called "directional freezing" (created by Camper English), I'll teach you how to make perfectly clear ice balls, cubes, and sticks.

Surprise and delight your guests by igniting the oils from a citrus peel. In this video you'll learn how the chemical compound called "limonene" plays a critical role in this simple bar trick.

A spicy Moscow Mule is the ultimate crowd pleaser. Here I'll teach you how to make an amazing ginger syrup (recipe by Greg Seider) for a Moscow Mule, Kentucky Mule, or a Dark and Stormy.

One of the coolest tricks I know is this "smoke bomb". Fill an ice ball with smoke, only to smash it open over your cocktail.

For those just getting started, this video shows you the essential cocktail equipment, what it's for, and where you can get it.

Stocking your first bar can be overwhelming with all the options out there. In this video I provide guidance on which liquors to purchase when getting started.

I created this cocktail as a tribute to Game of Thrones, based on the book series "A Song of Ice and Fire". Exercise caution whenever using fire in cocktails.

For those just getting started, choosing the right glassware is an important part of cocktail presentation. This video will show you the glassware used in most traditional and modern cocktails.

The Margarita is a classic tequila sour cocktail. Here I'll teach you a wonderfully simple and delicious recipe based on the Tommy's Margarita recipe.

The Old Fashioned represents the original definition of a cocktail of spirit, sugar, water, and bitters. In this video, I teach you how to make this classic cocktail in its original form.

Frosé (frozen rosé) is a delicious and refreshing summer cocktail that's easy to make ahead of time.

The Negroni is a classic spirit-forward cocktail that is relatively easy to make. In this video, I also teach you how to make the Boulevardier, the close cousin of the Negroni.

A rich simple syrup infused with bacon adds a delicious smoky flavor to your cocktails. Here we create the syrup using an immersion circulator (sous vide) and make a bacon old fashioned.

The classic whiskey sour made with a dash of egg white (sometimes called the Boston Sour). Here I teach you the "reverse dry shake" method to yield a delicious, creamy foam on top of the cocktail.

Why do you shake some cocktails, but stir others? In this video, I discuss the science of ice and dilution, and how that determines whether to shake or stir.

In this video, I show you how to create a fresh compound gin out of vodka and select botanicals using a sous vide. The resulting gin is used to make a delicious gin & tonic inspired by the "Betony G & T".

The Manhattan is a classic spirit-forward cocktail of the 19th century. This is a great drink to learn and master when you're getting started.

This adaptation of the Martinez cocktail balances the sweetness of a dark rum and vermouth with the smokiness of applewood.

Winston Churchill was said to have whiskey and a cigar with breakfast. The flamed cinnamon stick compliments the rich spiciness of the rye, the sweetness of the maple, and bitterness of the coffee. Original recipe by Chef Steps.

Whether you're holiday shopping or looking to improve your cocktail skills, here are three books I recommend: 1) Beginners: "The Art Of The Bar" 2) Advanced techniques: "Liquid Intelligence" 3) History of cocktails: "A Proper Drink"

A classic 19th century cocktail with a murky origin story, the Martinez is one of my favorite stirred drinks.

Spiked eggnog makes a fantastic cocktail for holiday parties. This recipe from Jeffrey Morgenthaler can be created directly in the blender, prepared ahead of time, and scaled to whatever party size you have.

The holidays are here so let's have some fun. In this video I teach you how to put a cocktail inside a snowglobe.

The French 75, named after an artillery gun due to its kick, makes for a great celebratory cocktail. Think of it as a Tom Collins but with sparkling wine instead of soda water.