"cocktail basics" news and stories

As you may know I am a fan of the classes, seminars, and workshops given at the Astor center in NYC. They have a fantastic crew of presenters from all over the country and world, usually the top folks in their field. this Sunday, June 15th, is no exception with the PDT Home Bar Basics seminar.

PDT is my all time favorite cocktail bar in New York City. Hidden inside a small hot dog restaurant, with the only access through an old fashioned wood telephone booth mounted in the wall, they are the epitome of mixology, in a cool speakeasy style bar. Small, limited seating for a dozen at the bar and about the same amount in reserved seating. The full name is Please Don't Tell, and it is with great difficulty that I tell you this now. I hate the fact that they may become even more busy. The last two times I was in NYC they had become so popular that I couldn't get in a few times. At least I did get in once or twice each trip.

I'm very friendly with all the mixologists there, including the two who will give this workshop on building your home bar, so you can keep up with the best. John Darragon is an extremely gifted mixologist known for his work in recreating the famous abbots Bitters. Don Lee has won numerous awards and medals for his cocktail genius and I have seen him stir and shake like a madman, turning out some fantastic drinks. Besides what I expect to be a great seminar, all attendees will get a goody bag with just about anything you could need to get you off to an amazing start in building your home bar. I know because I got a similar goody bag last week when I attended the summer cocktail workshop.Mine was full of great tools like paring knives, muddlers, Boston shakers, Hawthorne strainers, glasses, bar spoons, and a dozen small sample bottles of premium spirits and liqueurs. So if you want to learn the basics, this is the place to be on Sunday from 3-5pm.