A home social gathering hasn’t reached its potential until everyone has been served copious amounts of their favorite drinks from the resident amateur bartender. But if you struggle to recall the ingredients of those potent drinks you concocted in college and now possess substandard drink-making skills, you may need to consult a source or two (or 50) in order to transform yourself into a more capable host. The following blogs provide an abundance of information that will help you create your own Cocktails & Dreams.
Cocktail Recipes, News, Product and Concoction Reviews, and All-Things Mixology
Break out your cocktail glasses and test the products and recipes provided and reviewed by expert mixologists.
- Sloshed!: Sloshed! has an entire post dedicated to helping you set up a home bar.
- Joe Bartender: Tons of information ranging from low-calorie cocktail ideas to a scientific explanation of body shots.
- Alcademics: Cocktails and spirits are the specialties of this journalist.
- Drink Spirits — Learn, Drink, Repeat: Drink Spirits helps readers “explore the vast world of distilled spirits.”
- The Intoxicologist Is In: The Intoxicologist prescribes seasonal recipes and more.
- Cocktail Chronicles: So many drinks have been covered by the Cocktail Chronicles that it had to create a comprehensive index.
- Everyday Drinking: Entertaining at home and cocktail-making are among the topics covered on Everyday Drinking.
- Cocktail Culture: A cocktail enthusiast and PR manager lends her expertise on mixology.
- McSology: Mouthwatering pictures accompany the McSologist’s reviews and recipes.
- Mixed Spirits: Wannabe bartenders benefit from the author’s extensive research, which has turned up pre-prohibition recipes.
- Garnish: Unique recipes for people who want to try something different.
- Twilight Lounge: A home bartender from Wisconsin shares recipes with aspiring home bartenders.
- The Noble Experiment: Recipes and accompanying commentary are found on The Noble Experiment — a title that references the prohibition era.
- Ice + Clink + Drink: The author’s mission is to spread cocktail knowledge.
- Drinks for the House: Industry news and recipes are shared by beer, wine, and spirits industry insiders.
- Cocktail Enthusiast: The Cocktail Enthusiast offers reviews of numerous liquor products.
- T Cee’s Semi-HomeTested Cocktails: A year-long cocktail party devoted to taste-testing the recipes in Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade Cocktail Time.
- Spice & Ice, and more: The author of the cocktail book Spice & Ice has plenty of advice to dispense, informing readers of “5 things that do not belong in cocktails.”
- The Pegu Blog: The Pegu Blog examines everything from products to the psychology of drinking and drinkers.
- Good Spirits News: Spirits and cocktails in the news are covered by an active cocktail enthusiast.
- A Dash of Bitters: A Dash of Bitters details “cocktails, spirits, liqueurs, mixers, barware, bars, lounges, and of course, bitters.”
- Spirited Remix: Recipes from a young guy living in DC who loves to drink.
- T & T’s Bad Booze Reviews: Learn what not to drink by reading T & T’s Bad Booze Reviews.
The Bartending Experience
Drink in the information provided by talented bartenders who lend their expertise. No tips required.
- Bartender Mixed: Online bartending lessons and tips for setting up your home bar are provided on Bartender Mixed.
- Art of the Drink: Unsatisfied with the boring drinks he was previously concocting, the author of Art of Drink searches for more exciting options.
- My Life on the Rocks: A bartender of almost two decades offers tips and tricks, and shares stories from her years of experience.
- Fashionably Bombed: Two sisters, one a former bartender and one a fashion expert, create yummy cocktails and share them with their readers.
- DR Mixologist: DR Mixologist has tons of experience perfecting a variety of unique drinks, earning him a job at New York City’s Hudson Bar.
- Understanding Cocktails: In-depth cocktail information written for the layman.
- The Santa Fe Barman: The Barman’s recipes and writing have been published by numerous cocktail magazines and websites.
- Liquidy Preference: A freelance writer and mixologist whose articles have been published in The Washington Post devotes an entire section of his blog to cocktails.
- Mix, Shake and Pour: “Designed exclusively for the home cocktail connoisseur,” Mix, Shake and Pour boasts numerous delicious handpicked recipes.
- Jeffrey Morgenthaler: Jeffrey, a bar manager in Eugene, Oregon, spreads the wisdom he has accumulated while tending bar at various establishments for almost 15 years.
- Cielo Gold: San Francisco Bartender: Cielo blogs about her experiences bartending in one of the nation’s most interesting cities.
Rum, Whiskey, Vodka, and Gin
Like one spirit more than the others? Then peruse the blogs authored by people who share your preference.
- Rum Dood: The Rum Dood has a comprehensive list of the rums in his collection — many of which he reviewed on his blog.
- Dr. Whiskey: Fine whiskey is reviewed by a whiskey enthusiast.
- whiskey for everyone: Finding a whiskey that meets your standards is made easier by consulting whiskey for everyone.
- Vodka Recipes Blog: Straight vodka recipes with no chaser.
- Gin Time: Visit Gin Time and “learn what’s new in the world of gin.”
Beer and Wine
Don’t limit your home bar’s drink selection to just distilled beverages and cocktails. Research the best beer and wine choices too.
- a good Beer Blog: A plethora of worldwide beer information is provided on this Canada-based blog.
- The Best Beer Blog: Mike reviews beers after tasting them with his refined beer palate.
- Blog About Beer: Blog About Beer is a “resource for better beer, beer news, and fun beer stuff.”
- The Brew Site: Perhaps the most useful post on The Brew Site is “50 Beers to Drink Before You Die.”
- Beer Simple: This blogger documents his quest to find truly great beer.
- BeerSmith Home Brewing Blog: Everything you need to know about home brewing.
- Vinography: a wine blog: Wine news and reviews from a connoisseur.
- Dr. Vino: The author’s wine writing has appeared in The New York Times, Food & Wine and Wine & Spirits, so he undoubtedly knows his stuff.
- 1WineDude: The Wine Dude helps readers gain a greater appreciation for good wine.
- Benito’s Wine Reviews: Benito’s not a wine elitist, but he doesn’t “try to promote mixing $2 Chardonnay with Sprite.”
- My Wine Education: In addition to reviews, the blog features a helpful widget that dispenses advice on wine and food pairings.