Bitter Truth

How a cure-all became a cocktail component
By Carly Wray

This article originally appeared in TheSpir.it

It’s 1820. A German doctor sets out for Venezuela to join Simon Bolivar’s fight against Spain. It’s not long before he’s Surgeon General, manning a military hospital and overseeing the casualties, not just of war, but of tropical diseases. Chills, sea sickness. Ravaging disorders. And it’s not much longer before he conjures a cure: Angostura bitters.

In the end, … Read more

6 Ways to Upgrade Your Bar

Party season’s over, it’s time to re-stock

By Chris Koch

This article originally appeared in TheSpir.it

It’s not your fault, you tried very hard: armfuls of Charles Shaw, a case of Cava from World Market, a few bottles of the Captain for your party’s signature cocktail. Just 24 hours ago you felt well stocked, defended, a discount beverage moat dug deep around your liquor cabinet. It just simply wasn’t enough.

The marauders are gone now. … Read more

Fernet for Life

Learning to love a mysterious Italian bitter
By Carly Wray

This article originally appeared in TheSpir.it

There’s a fairy tale quality to fernet — we’re talking Brothers Grimm here, not Walt Disney. Alone in a glass, the cola-brown spirit conjures the woods and strange roots dealt by witches; there are medicinal notes, too, but of the sort bought in burlap and taken on faith.

A magical series of things happens when you do a shot … Read more