Brightest Young Things

Yes, it's been awhile. But after a little drying out spell this column is back with more booze for you to abuse!

First things first: we here at BYT love Twitter. Follow me @uncorkeddc for cocktail/wine related things and old-man-yells-at-cloud style ramblings. And follow @BYTEatDrink for more legitimate, intelligent BYT food and drink related fare.

• Dear Maryland: when Russia decided to tax alcohol sales it drove people to craft their own spirits from antifreeze and rubbing alcohol. Keep that in mind when you decide to raise taxes on booze.

• Science proves what we already knew: whiskey will leave you with one mean, bitter, hateful hangover! And drinking it neat still makes you the coolest person in the room, though sadly no tests were performed to prove this.

• I love this: ever wanted to know how much your cocktail actually costs, when broken down by ingredients? Check out this cocktail calculator. The French 75 that I paid $10 for at Napoleon costs $2.48 to make.

• Fauquier County wants wineries to close at 6:00pm, eliminating hot date spots across the county. It still won't keep me from giggling at the name "Fauquier".

• I walk by Black Fox literally every day and have never stopped in. Thank God Fritz did - and it sounds pretty nice. Everyone loves mismatched furniture and bourbon! And I'm not even being sarcastic right now! (seriously. I thought it was a gay bar this whole time)

• Iron Horse Taproom opened up! No food is served, but word is they have 20 beers on draft. And really, that's food enough.

• Needs a drink: Michael Steele's interns.

• May I suggest an Old Fashioned made with applejack? In a rocks glass build 1 dash orange bitters and 1/2 oz sweet vermouth. Fill up glass with ice and applejack. Add a cherry and orange slice.
• 
• You may want to start stockpiling Angostura bitters now that they're slowing production. But I also think you should start stockpiling anyways for an impending zombie apocalypse, so what do I know?

• From The Passenger's Facebook page: Join Derek Brown every other Wednesday in the Columbia Room for cocktail seminars. All classes are held from 7-8:30pm and are $65/person. Email events@passengerdc.com for more information and to register. All guests need to register in advance.

• February 17: A Primer on Orange Liqueur
  The ever-ubiquitous triple-sec is one of the most common cocktail ingredients and yet tasting the sugary mess it’s hard to imagine how bartenders once pined for this exotic cordial. Students will learn the difference between major top-shelf brands and how to make their own. Cocktail demonstrations include the Margarita, Sidecar and Fancy Gin Cocktail.

• February 24: Ice, How to Use
  One commonly left out ingredient in cocktail recipes is the amount of water added to the drink, and yet this dilution is essential to the taste and texture of a cocktail. During this session students will learn the history of ice, how to handle it and how to use it to make great drinks. Cocktails include the Daiquiri, Old Fashioned, Rum Swizzle, Bombay Government Punch and Scotch on the “Rock.”

• March 10: Make Your Own Vermouth. How did vermouth -- a German-sounding beverage invented by Italians -- become one of France’s best-known aperitifs only to be swirled and dumped by Americans? Students will learn the history of vermouth, how to use it and how to make your own. Cocktail demonstrations include the Bamboo, Fifty-Fifty Cocktail, Bliz’s Royal Rickey and Manhattan.

• March 24: Shaking versus Stirring
  Sure you’ve heard James Bond utter those iconic words, “Shaken not stirred.” Others claim shaking “bruises” the drink. So why choose one over the other? Students will learn the basics of shaking, stirring and when to use each. Cocktail demonstrations will include Dry Martini, Gimlet, Ramos Gin Fizz, Sazerac and Golden Gin Fizz.

• Got tips, news or questions? Send them to eatdrink@brightestyoungthings.com