Liquor and Cocktails
No matter how much you know about or enjoy your beverage of choice, there’s always more to learn about the latest news and trends in creation and consumption. Our Liquor and Cocktails Web Guide helps you understand mixology, buy liquor online, learn liquor terms and stay up-to-date on the most popular cocktails and how to make them. Discover what you’ll need for a perfectly stocked bar, or find out how to become a bartender through the sites in this guide.
Expand All Guide SectionsThe History of Liquor
The following sites offer a general overview of the history of liquor and its cultural background. You’ll also learn about some classic cocktails and how they are made.
Insights for the History of Liquor
- You’ll find a number of blogs in the sites below. If you like what you see, have a look at the blogroll of each site for more recommendations. Visit the findingDulcinea Blogs Web Guide for more information about evaluating blogs.
Top Sites for the History of Liquor
For general liquor knowledge …
Drink of the Week
provides an overview of different types of liquor and how you can put them to use. You’ll find ingredients for seasonal favorites along with a featured cocktail recipe every week.
For news and blogs about liquor …
Imbibe
magazine publishes the blog “Imbibe Unfiltered,” which provides an interesting professional look at the liquor world. Posts include recipes, descriptions of upcoming events and profiles of innovative bars and bartenders.
The Cocktail Chronicles
focuses on exotic mixed drinks. Most of the posts feature a recipe and the occasional photo as accompaniment. This blog has an especially thorough blogroll to point you to more inspiration.
For an entertaining look at alcohol history …
Booze Movies
is a humorous look at movies where alcohol plays an important role, focusing mainly on ones from days gone by. Each review includes “Potent Quotables,” “Drinks Consumed,” and “Intoxicating Effects” appearing in the film.
The Museum of Anti-Alcohol Posters
is a small but colorful collection of images from the ineffective Soviet temperance movement.
The Museum of the American Cocktail
hosts a virtual exhibition with a modest collection of photos and images from the early days of American drink culture. It provides a snapshot of the history of liquor plus information on upcoming museum events.
Who knew?
The Alternative Whiskey Academy
has a table that details “How to say cheers/slainte in different countries.” Raise your glass with confidence across the globe.
Buying Liquor Online
The number of exotic liquors and specialty drinks has exploded in recent times. Luckily, you can use the Internet to buy liquor online and find almost anything you need for your favorite libation.
Insights for Buying Liquor Online
- Laws regulating the sale and shipment of alcohol vary from state to state. Before you spend a long time browsing products, check to see if you’re allowed to buy liquor online and have it sent to your zip code.
- If you’re looking for a specialty bottle or brand not listed here, go to the next section of this guide, “Types of Liquor." Most of these specialized sites also sell liquor, or point you to distributors.
- Many of the sites you’ll find here also sell wine. To learn more about wine, visit findingDulcinea’s Wine Web Guide.
Top Sites for Buying Liquor Online
For online liquor stores …
Sam’s Wines and Spirits
is one of the leading online wine and liquor retailers. Browse beer, wine or spirits by type or country.
SendLiquor.com
is the site to visit if you want to buy liquor online and send it as a gift. The site features themed liquor gift baskets, bottles and unique gifts like liquor cakes.
Mission Liquor
has a large catalog of available spirits, which makes up for the simplistic design of the site. Use this as a source of bar and smoking accessories, as well as a place to buy liquor online.
For drinking and bar accessories …
BarParts.com
doesn’t have the most glamorous design, but every bar and wine accessory comes with a picture to help you make your decision. You’ll find great deals on the practical and chic accessories offered.
WineStuff.com
sells wine and liquor accessories. Featured upscale items include wine bottle thermometers and beautiful wood bar stools and cabinets. This site helps you bring class to any home bar or liquor cabinet.
Types of Liquor
Learn the distinctions between major types of liquor, including how different liquors are brewed, what hues and flavors categorize them, and with which cuisines and cultures they are most associated.
Insights for Types of Liquor
- Brandy enthusiasts will be delighted to read about the health benefits of brandy from the Bio-Medicine Web portal.
- Many of the sites below offer interactive options. Be in touch with the community of liquor lovers for news about tastings, events and recommendations.
Top Sites for Types of Liquor
To learn about bourbon …
Straightbourbon.com
includes information about brewing techniques, bourbon history, brands and tasting tips. Visit the FAQ section for bourbon facts and definitions or visit the forum for reviews and discussions.
The Pour
is The New York Times liquor blog. This feature goes into detail about the process of bourbon distillation and includes some interesting commentary about bourbon flavor and tasting advice.
To learn about brandy, cognac and armagnac …
The Spirit World
gives an overview of the history of brandy. It also reviews methods of drinking, pouring and serving brandy, and links to serving tools with photos of snifters, warmers and glasses.
Summits Wayside Tavern
gives an overview of cognac and its related types of liquor. Look for concise descriptions along with reviews of popular cognacs.
To learn about gin …
Tastings.com
explores the distillation, history and classification of gin. Learn about the regions where gin is frequently produced, and have a look at some of the suggested recipes.
Cocktail Times
provides a narrative account of the history of gin.
To learn about rum …
The Rum University
is an extraordinary rum resource. This well-designed site teaches you about the history of rum, suggests books and recipes, helps you purchase the spirit and details rum-related news and events.
The Rum Club
includes a link to the 10 most important things a bartender should know about rum, along with rum history and a definition of its brewing, blending and bottling techniques.
Ministry of Rum
is the place to go if you’re looking for a community of like-minded rum lovers. Learn about upcoming tasting competitions and find rum resources the world over.
To learn about scotch and whiskey …
About Whisky
outlines the different types of whiskey with brief discussions of malt, blended, liqueur, grain, unchilfiltered and scotch whiskey. You’ll also find information on the history of the drink and tips for tasting.
Whisky Magazine
has a Web site that presents archived articles published by the magazine. Find discussions of distilleries, cocktails made with whiskey, news, tasting notes and links to articles about pairing whiskey and food.
To learn about tequila and mezcal …
Viva Tequila
provides extensive information on tequila, including the regions of its origin, how it is brewed, how to drink tequila, how to mix it into popular cocktails and how to select a brand.
Tequila.net
sells tequila and keeps you current on tequila news and events. You’ll find tequilas listed by ratings and reviews, which are categorized by both members and editors.
To learn about vodka …
Tastings.com
explains the distillation, classifications and types of vodka. You’ll learn a lot about the regions where vodka is produced, its history and the significance of the beverage.
iVodka
lists vodka types by country of origin. and supplier. The site is a great place to determine what kind of vodka you want to purchase because it profiles thousands of vodkas worldwide.
Who knew?
Salon.com
explores the mystique and the reality of absinthe, the drink that was banned in the United States in 1912 but is now legal again.
Cocktail Recipes
Mixing drinks is as scientific a process as it is creative. Learn the chemistry and imagination that goes into the perfect cocktail, and find cocktail recipes to make your favorites at home.
Insights for Cocktail Recipes
- Be advised that if a site’s ingredient list only recommends one brand, the site may be promotional, not unbiased or comprehensive.
- Have you invented a drink that simply must be shared? Most of the following sites let you submit your own recipes, and they may even reward your ingenuity with prizes.
Top Sites for Cocktail Recipes
ExtraTasty
is a database of cocktail recipes and a bar management tool. Search the database or make an account with your bar ingredients; the site can recommend cocktail recipes tailored to what you have.
Art of Drink
publishes the complete contents of “Jerry Thomas’ Bartender’s Guide” from 1862. The content is detailed and sophisticated, full of century-old cocktail recipes.
Cocktails on the Fly
is full of short videos delivering drink how-tos and tips. Each episode ends with a convenient step-by-step recap of the cocktail recipe, and transcripts are available.
DrinksMixer.com
offers a cocktail recipes database with an excellent search engine. Use the links on the left to find a glossary, and guides on measurements, glassware and more.
Cocktail Times
indexes lots of popular drinks, with special features for holidays and seasonal events. Search by type of liquor using the tabs at the top of the page, or scan the lists on the homepage.
Bartending Schools
If you’re ready to take your love of liquor to the next step and become a professional bartender, the following sites can help you get started with bartending schools and educational options.
Insights for Bartending Schools
- Many people argue that all you need are good looks and/or connections to get a job at a bar. But if you want to have a wide variety of options in the field, attend bartending school and get certified—even if you do have a movie star face and a friend in the industry.
- Although you can get certified via the Web, there is a lot to be said for making drinks under the tutelage of an experienced bartending teacher. Getting firsthand practice through a bartending school can make it less terrifying when you are actually behind a bar for the first time.
Top Sites for Bartending Schools
For bartending schools …
Bartending College
has a range of bartender training options: Attend classes in person, train online or make use of their hybrid program. Classes are offered in 10 states; visit “Locations” for more information.
American Bartenders School
provides bartending certification classes in several states. Browse the course descriptions or request more information on any course. A large number of drink recipe video tutorials are also available.
Professional Bartending Schools of America
presents a wide range of bar courses in 37 different locations. Browse the many options on its site or check out profiles of schools throughout the country.
For online courses …
Professional Bartending School
offers its computer-based multimedia course both online and in CD-ROM format, giving you reliable access to the many lessons, video segments and study material included in its basic, in-person bartending certification course.
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