Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Proof.
Why You Should Add Water to Your Whiskey. Top Story - July 2018.
Never let anyone tell you that you shouldn't add water to your whiskey. The typical reason whiskey “connoisseurs” offer against adding water to whiskey is that it dilutes the liquor, but that's not true. It can weaken the bourbon, sure, but only if you pour in too much. Diluting whiskey isn't an issue as long as you follow the science behind it—and that's no fake, Jake. It's all about the chemistry.
By Iwan Palinski8 years ago in Proof
How to Get Served First at Any Bar: Tips from a Bartender
Have you ever stood at a busy bar for hours, watching countless others get served before you, cursing all the bearded hipsters who push to the front and get away with it, wondering if you'll be able to fit in that last round of shots before closing time? Fear not, because now you have a bartender by your side to let you know the REAL secret formula to getting served quickly and consistently. Note: none of these tips (pun intended) include staring down your bartender like Jack Nicholson until they serve you. Contrary to popular belief, it does not work.
By Lauren Stones8 years ago in Proof
Easy Vodka Cocktail Recipes Everyone Should Know
Every host should memorize a few easy vodka cocktail recipes, and make sure you have the ingredients on hand, as well. By all means, stock your bar with a variety of liquors, liqueurs, and spirits, but include a bottle of vodka—preferably top-shelf, but mid-range is fine—and all the mixers you can imagine. That's why vodka is a popular favorite in so many cocktail recipes, you know. Plain vodka takes on the taste of its mixtures, plus now you can find every flavor under the sun, ranging from Fruit Loops to s'mores. Commit the classics to memory, but feel free to experiment and create a signature vodka cocktail of your own.
By Iwan Palinski8 years ago in Proof
Best Zero Calorie Mixers
Just about everyone will admit they could do with cutting down their calorie intake. Unfortunately, those of us with an affinity for potent potables have an extra hurdle to jump through when it comes to dieting. Avoiding calories means avoiding sugar, but unfortunately, the main thing that makes alcoholic beverages worth drinking—you know, the alcohol—is essentially fermented sugar. In other words, it's pretty much impossible to have a zero calorie alcoholic drink.
By Joseph D. N. Kendrick8 years ago in Proof
Delicious Gin Cocktail Recipes Everyone Should Know
You never want to be the person at the party who doesn’t know how to make a tasty and refreshing cocktail. Nor do you want to be the entry level bartender who has no knowledge of cocktail mixing whatsoever. With drinking comes responsibility and with creating drinks comes knowledge. When it comes to gin, there are endless possibilities of gin cocktail recipes that you can follow, should memorize for your next party or for the next time you go out and tips for making classic drinks.
By Lynne Shumaker8 years ago in Proof
Best Brandy Cocktail Recipes Everyone Should Know
I love brandy, and I think it's criminally underrated as a sipping spirit as well as an ingredient in cocktails. As the latter, one of brandy's biggest strengths is its surprising adaptability. Its enticing aroma and oaky undertones hold up on their own in strong, simple cocktails like the Sidecar, but it can also be "dressed down," so to speak, to accommodate subtler flavors in softer drinks such as the Brandy Alexander.
By Joseph D. N. Kendrick8 years ago in Proof
Popular Rum Cocktail Recipes Everyone Should Know
Rum is a liquor that just screams "Party Time!" When you're drinking rum, you know you're in for a treat—or at the very least, a pretty interesting time. The problem with rum is that it's not always easy to work with when you're making cocktails.
By Sasha Konikovo8 years ago in Proof
Simple Bourbon Cocktail Recipes Everyone Should Know
If you have gotten past the confusion between whiskey and bourbon (spoiler, all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon), and you understand that bourbon is always made in the U.S., stored in new charred oak barrels, and distilled to no more than 190 proof, then you are ready to expand your horizons and try some simple bourbon cocktail recipes.
By Charlotte Burgundy8 years ago in Proof
