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Although I've lived in Kansas City for nearly 18 years, I didn't know that much about its history. While Kansas has always had stricter liquor laws than Missouri, they were polar opposites during prohibition. Kansas enacted prohibition voluntarily in 1881, nearly...

A Visit to Vikre Distillery on the Shores of Lake Superior

Over the past six months, I have greatly improved my home bartending skills. While this is due mostly to the fact that I've been home to practice, I have also done a good deal of reading. My cocktail book collection has quadrupled with newly released books including...

A Tour of the 8 Chicago Distilleries

If you visit cocktail bars in the United States, you have likely had a spirit from Chicago. However, because Chicago is known as the food and drink capital of the world, the spirits produced there may be less top of mind. People know about deep dish pizza and...

How to do a Whiskey Tasting at Home

The base of any good cocktail is a quality spirit. Many classic whiskey cocktails rely primarily on the flavor of the spirit, so it's important to find one you like. Tasting whiskeys at a distillery or in a barrel room gives you a chance to try before buying a bottle....

Bitters and Bars in Raleigh

I’ve been making craft cocktails at home for a while. Over the past few years, I have acquired all the tools and ingredients needed to create a variety of libations. However, I've been stumped about how to properly use cocktail bitters. I figured it was a good excuse...

Fall in the UK with Scotch in Edinburgh

After enjoying a train ride up from London in October 2018, and settling into our garden cottage, we headed out to enjoy a day of Fall in the UK with scotch in Edinburgh. From the crisp air, to the regal castles, it was a beauty, highlighted with a Scotch whisky...

Making Gin in the World’s Oldest Gin Distillery

Arriving in Plymouth, England I woke up early to catch a train from London down to Plymouth, England where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for the New World from in 1620. I walked to this lighthouse from the train station. As you can see, it was foggy and drizzly. I...

Cocktails at Home

If you want to make yourself or your guests a drink at home, this is a great set of resources for you. More here.

What is Zirbenz and How to Make Balanced Pine-Flavored Cocktails

I was first introduced to Zirbenz by one of my favorite cocktail bars in Kansas City, The Campground. Their house gimlet is served pink and tastes like a forest, in a good way. I'm always looking for unique flavors to use in the cocktails I make at home. But, I know...

A Step by Step Guide for Making Your Own Clear Custom Ice

I love clear ice. If you follow me on Instagram, you might already know this. While some criticize it for wasting water, I think it's magical. There's nothing classier in a cocktail than a diamond of ice in your glass. As a home bartender, I have been pushing myself...

Is The Fire Margarita is the Perfect Spicy Margarita? Find Out!

While I haven’t been traveling much, I have been experimenting with a lot of recipes with global ingredients. I’ve been working my way through some new recipes. From time to time, I am also making up some variations of my own. There’s one cocktail in particular that I...

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The Ultimate Guide to All the Kansas City Distilleries [Updated 2021]