For five straight years, the Old Fashioned has claimed the number one spot as the world’s best-selling cocktail. That comes as no surprise. Over the last decade or so, bars and restaurants have dusted off their bottles of bitters and upgraded their bar programs to…
Cocktail Etiquette: The One Rule You Should Never Break
The internet responded appropriately when a New York Times article blasted the Aperol Spritz, claiming that it “drinks like a Capri Sun after soccer practice on a hot day. Not in a good way.” Not only is that a terribly inaccurate description, the entire premise…
5 Fundamentals of a Great Margarita
With roots that stretch back to the 1930s, the margarita represents one of the greatest cocktails ever created. Its bright and simplistic mix of tequila, lime, and orange pleased crowds long before it spiked Jimmy Buffett’s music career. Of course, like most cocktails, it isn’t…
Nadeen’s Hermitage Haven: Redefining Diners in Greater-Nashville
Miles away from the nearest bachelorette party, a common sight on Saturday afternoons in Nashville, Nadeen’s Hermitage Haven is packed to near capacity—another common sight on Saturday afternoons. Local brunch-goers and regulars fill the seven or eight bar seats with spirited conversations, occasionally interrupted by…
The (un)Official Cocktail of Westworld
“They’re not looking for a story that tells them who they are. They already know who they are. They’re here because they want a glimpse of who they could be.” – Robert Ford Ever since the beginning, we have been searching for our beginning, We…
Living the Sous Vide Life
A couple of months ago, the budget committee finally approved a purchase of the Anova Precision Cooker, officially upgrading our kitchen with sous vide capabilities. After several meals, I am confident enough to say that this is the single best kitchen appliance in existence and…
View From The Bandwagon: Reflecting On That Time Nashville Became A Hockey Town
We were somewhere around Broadway… There is a certain appeal associated with downtown Music City, USA. A charming mix of tourists and tour guides and musicians and a few locals who dare venture into the madness post 5pm Friday, Nashville caters to everyone. It’s normal…
The Most Mistreated and Underappreciated Cocktail Ever
The Mai Tai: a postmodern classic that was once the pinnacle drink of tiki culture long before it became a tourist trap. A booze-forward concoction dreamed up in the 1940s, this drink features warm, subtle notes of orange with the sweetness of almonds on the…
Anthony Bourdain: Close To The Bone
I wasn’t sure what to expect. I wasn’t sure why my wife and I spent over $140—cheap seats in this circus—to see a man that’s neither a musician nor a an entertainer, not even so much as a comedian or inspirational talker. It’s not like…
Old Fashioned: What’s In A Name? Subtitle: Don’t Kill the Classic
The word combination “old fashioned” gets used to describe a lot of things. Old-fashioned cars, old-fashioned diners, old-fashioned tools and so on. The terminology suggests something of the past. Something original. Something classic and, in its time, something prestigious. You’ve likely seen it on drink…