The Mexican Firing Squad is a bonafide tequila-based classic with almost 100 years' history — despite what its '70s-disco-era-sounding name suggests. As James O'Donnell, bar manager at Fives Bar in New Orleans, puts it, the MFS is a great recommendation for those looking to riff on the Spicy Margarita. But it's also so much more than that. Listen on (or read below) to discover James' Mexican Firing Squad recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

James O'Donnell's Mexican Firing Squad Recipe

Ingredients 

- 4-5 dashes Angostura bitters

- ¾ ounce fresh lime juice

- ¾ ounce Hibiscus grenadine (1:1 Pom juice to sugar + 5-7 grams dried hibiscus per quart)

- 2 dashes Árbol Chile tincture (Blanco tequila and Chile de árbol)

- 2 ounces reposado tequila, such as Patrón

- Garnish: dehydrated lime wheel

Directions 

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.

2. Hard shake until well chilled and strain into a Rocks glass filled with cubed ice.

3. Garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel.

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You might question why we're focusing on the Lychee Martini today, based upon its reputation for being overly sweet, garishly garnished, and a “Martini” by virtue of its serving vessel only. But this drink is not a lost cause, nor should it be confined to the annals of history, along with the likes of the Appletini — not when it’s in the hands of some of the finest pros in the hospitality industry. One such individual is Bryan Schneider, beverage director at New York’s recently opened Twin Tails and creator of the restaurant’s Salted Lychee Martini. Listen on (or read below) to discover Bryan's classic and updated Lychee Martini recipes — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Bryan Schneider's Salted Lychee Martini Recipe

Ingredients 

- 3 ounces vodka

- 2 tsp St. Germain

- 1 ounce Lychee syrup (Chaokoh brand)

- ½ tsp olive brine

- 1 gram citric acid

- 1 gram salt

- 1 Makrut lime leaf for shaking

- Garnish: Double Makrut leaf

Directions 

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.

2. Shake until well chilled and strain into a coupe.

3. Garnish with a fresh, double Makrut lime leaf.

Bryan Schneider's Classic Lychee Martini Recipe

Ingredients 

- 3 ounces vodka

- 1 ounce Lychee syrup (Chaokoh brand)

- ¼ ounce fresh lemon or lime juice

- 1 canned Lychee (Chaokoh brand) 

- Garnish: 1 canned Lychee (Chaokoh brand) 

Directions 

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.

2. Shake until well chilled and strain into a coupe.

3. Garnish with canned Lychee on a pick.

📧Get in touch: [email protected] 

🍚OKA Brand rice-based vodka: read the review here

🏆VinePair's 50 Best Spirits of 2024

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- Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy/ 

- Bryan Schneider: https://www.instagram.com/b.barman/

- Twin Tails: https://www.instagram.com/twintails_nyc/

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Whether you're partaking in Dry January, looking to dip a toe into the realm of Zebra Striping, or simply want to learn how to craft better non-alcoholic cocktails from one of the best in the business, this conversation with Derek Brown has you covered. Derek has devoted the most recent chapter of his career to NA drinks, is the author of the book Mindful Mixology and the substack Positive Damage, and host of the Mindful Drinking podcast. Listen on to learn his unique approach to NA drinks — and don't forget to subscribe!

📧Get in touch: [email protected] 

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- VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair/

- Derek: https://www.instagram.com/positivedamageinc/

- Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy/ 

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Cooked or uncooked? Fresh or aged? Bourbon, Cognac, or rum-based? For this festive Cocktail College and the ultimate guide to Eggnog, we're joined by returning guest Aaron Goldfarb, author and VinePair writer at large. Listen on (or read below) to learn Aaron’s batched Eggnog recipe — and don’t forget to like, review, and subscribe! 

Aaron Goldfarb’s Eggnog Recipe (serves 12) 

Ingredients 

- 12 eggs, separated

- 1 cup demerara sugar

- 3-4 cups milk

- 1 16-ounce carton heavy cream

- 12-16 ounces alcohol, such as bourbon, Cognac, and/or aged rum

- Garnish: nutmeg

Directions 

1. Beat egg whites to a soft peak and set aside.

2. Separately, mix egg yolks and sugar until sugar is dissolved.

3. Add cream and milk until thoroughly combined.  

4. Carefully fold in egg whites then add alcohol.

5. Decant into a punch bowl and ladle into Old Fashioned glasses to serve.

6. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.

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- Aaron: https://www.instagram.com/aarongoldfarb/

- Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy/ 

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The Moscow Mule is arguably the ultimate workhorse cocktail. Equally at home in high-class bars as well as neighborhood dives, it’s a fantastic candidate for some high-brow hacks, should you be so inclined. We here at Cocktail College are so inclined, so we enlisted the help of Evan Hawkins, co-owner and beverage director of Romeo’s, in New York's East Village. Listen on (or read below) to learn Evan's Moscow Mule recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Evan Hawkins' Moscow Mule Recipe Recipe

Ingredients 

- 1 ½ ounces vodka

- ½ ounce fresh lime juice

- 1 ¼ ounces ginger syrup (Liquid Alchemist / Cheeky)

- Ginger beer

- Angostura Bitters

- Garnish: mint

Directions 

1. Add vodka, lime, and ginger syrup to a shaker with two Kold Draft cubes.

2. Whip shake until well chilled and strain into a tall glass.

3. Top with ginger beer, crushed ice, Angostura Bitters, and mint.

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- Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy/ 

- Evan Hawkins: https://www.instagram.com/evanhawkins/

- Romeos: https://www.instagram.com/romeosnyc/

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A simple but delightful brunch staple, the Mimosa has a surprisingly specific history for a mix of orange juice and sparkling wine. Today we're joined by Matt Chavez, bar manager at New York's COQODAQ, to discuss the dynamic duo. Listen on (or read below) to learn Matt's Mimosa recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Matt Chavez's Mimosa Recipe

Ingredients 

- 1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice

- Blanc de Blancs Champagne, such as Pierre Peters

Directions 

1. Add orange juice to a flute glass.

2. Top with Champagne.

3. Serve without garnish next to a cup of black coffee.

📧Get in touch: [email protected] 

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- VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair/

- Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy/ 

- Matt: https://www.instagram.com/regular_matt_chavez/

- COQODAQ: https://www.instagram.com/coqodaq/

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Spirit, sugar, water, bitters — in whatever order you like. Regular Cocktail College listeners will be very familiar with that catch-all description that defines the cocktail. And indeed, we spend a lot of time here exploring those first two, if not three, ingredients. But bitters? Perhaps not as much as we should. Which is why we’re digging out one of the crown jewels from the Cocktail College vaults and revisiting our conversation on everything you need to know about deploying bitters in drinks with none other than Sother Teague.

📧Get in touch: [email protected] 

🔗Links:

- "Over and a bounce" reel

- General Store by Amor y Amargo

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- Amor y Amargo: https://www.instagram.com/amoryamargo/

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It's been almost two years since we first explored the timeless mix of Campari, American whiskey, and sweet vermouth, so now felt like an opportune moment to revisit — and reconsider — the Boulevardier. Joining us to do so is jet-setting Japan-based bartender Holly Graham, founder of Tokyo Confidential, which opened in late 2023. Listen on (or read below) to learn Holly's Boulevardier recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Holly Graham's Boulevardier Recipe

Ingredients 

- 45 milliliters rye whiskey, such as Woodford Reserve

- 22.5 milliliters Scarlet Bitter Liqueur (or split base Campari and Aperol)

- 22.5 milliliters Mancino sweet vermouth

- Garnish: orange coin

Directions 

1. Add all ingredients to a Kimura rocks glass with one large cube.

2. Stir until well chilled.

3. Garnish with orange coin.

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- Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy/ 

- Holly Graham: https://www.instagram.com/hollygrahamdrinks/

- Tokyo Confidential: https://www.instagram.com/tokyoconfidentialbar/

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We're shifting our gaze from individual cocktails momentarily to explore a single ingredient. More specifically, one of the world's most popular spirits: vodka. Joining us to do so is Dennis Tamse, the Global Relationships Director for the Nolet Distillery. This being Cocktail College, there will also be some Martini discussion, including Dennis' preferred Vodka Martini recipe, which is also listed below.

Dennis Tamse's Vodka Martini Recipe

Ingredients 

- 50 milliliters Ketel One vodka

- 20 milliliters dry vermouth

- Garnish: lemon twist and olive

Directions 

1. Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.

2. Stir until well chilled.

3. Strain into a chilled Nick & Nora or coupe glass.

4. Garnish with a small lemon twist and a chilled olive.

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- Ketel One: https://www.instagram.com/ketelone/

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The Painkiller carries unusual baggage for a tropical drink created in paradise. Those issues stem from contested origin stories — something we encounter quite frequently here at Cocktail College — and intellectual property wrangles (not quite so common). Joining us to explore all of that, and just generally wax lyrical about the Painkiller, is Daniel O'Grady, general manager at NYC's Lullaby. Listen on (or read below) to learn Daniel's "riff" on the Painkiller — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Daniel O'Grady's "riff" on The Painkiller

Ingredients 

- ¾ ounce fresh orange juice (acid adjusted with 1% lactic acid)

- 3 ½ ounces fresh pineapple juice

- 1 ½ ounces cream of coconut blend (3:2 Coco Lopez:coconut milk)

- 1 barspoon Hamilton 151

- ¼ ounce (scant) Cruzan Black Strap

- ¾ ounce El Dorado 15 Year

- 1 ounce Smith & Cross

- Garnish: freshly grated nutmeg

Directions 

1. Add all ingredients (sans garnish) to a cocktail shaker with Kold Draft ice.

2. Shake until well chilled.

3. Strain into a chilled Collins glass filled 70 percent with crushed ice.

4. Garnish with lots of freshly grated nutmeg and serve with a straw.

📧Get in touch: [email protected] 

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- VinePair: https://www.instagram.com/vinepair/

- Tim: https://www.instagram.com/timmckirdy/ 

- Daniel O'Grady: https://www.instagram.com/danielogrady97/

- Lullaby NYC: https://www.instagram.com/lullabynyc/

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We're making a temporary pivot to being a grapefruit podcast today, all in the pursuit of perfecting the bourbon-based Brown Derby cocktail. Joining us to deliver this historical citrus masterclass is Eben Klemm, a longtime hospitality pro who currently works as VP of Beverage and Service for Left Lane Hospitality. Listen on (or read below) to learn Eben's Brown Derby recipe — and don't forget to like, review, and subscribe!

Eben Klemm's Brown Derby Recipe 

Ingredients 

- 1 ½ ounces bourbon

- ¾ ounce honey syrup (2:1)

- ¾ ounce fresh yellow grapefruit juice (strained)

- 1 drop Echinacea extract

Directions 

1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice.

2. Shake until well chilled.

3. Single strain into a chilled martini glass.

4. Garnish with grapefruit twist.

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- Saint Bibiana: https://www.instagram.com/saintbibiana/

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