The Perfect Sip

By: Ben Henry and Matthew Henry
  • Summary

  • A podcast about home cocktail crafting for enthusiasts old and new. We cover the skills, theory, and tools you need to confidently design your own recipes and master the art of balance—one sip at a time. Tune in on Tuesdays for lessons on skills or cocktail theory, and join us for Happy Hour on Fridays when we swap recipes, debate the merits of fancy tools and exotic spirits, and tell (mostly) good jokes.
    Copyright 2024 Ben Henry & Matthew Henry
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Episodes
  • Happy Hour: For the Love of Mixing Glasses
    Sep 27 2024

    It’s Happy Hour! Ben and Matthew discuss the time and place for jiggers, why the fear of Boston shakers is worth it, and Matthew converts Ben over to the classy stylings of the mixing glass. Later they introduce one shaken and one stirred cocktail. So you can use all that new fancy equipment you just bought. (Affiliate) links below!

    Ben’s is shaking up Ben’s Whiskey Sour, a whiskey sour with all the fixin’s. It’s got egg whites, it’s got bitters, it’s got high proof rye whiskey, it’s got Argentinian wine, and it’s got bacon. Wait. No bacon, but that might be something we should try. Anyway, even without the bacon it tastes as good as it looks: decadent and delicious.

    Meanwhile Matthew is using his favorite piece of bar equipment, his mixing glass, to make you the Holy Schmitt. It’s a boozy battle between sweet and bitter with a sweet surprise hiding at the bottom. Sit down while you’re drinking this one folks and be prepared to stay a while.

    Recipes after all the things below!

    Too Long Didn’t Listen:

    (00:00) Opening

    (02:21) Creepy chanting and measuring device discussion

    (05:50) Cobblers should stick to shoes

    (07:58) The Boston cocktail massacre

    (09:12) A man and his mixing glass

    (12:45) Cocktail: Ben’s Whiskey Sour

    (20:20) Cocktail: Holy Schmitt

    (27:43) Closing

    Recipes

    Ben’s Whiskey Sour

    • 2 oz High Proof Rye Whiskey
    • 1 oz Simple Syrup
    • 1 oz Lemon Juice
    • 2 dashes Angostura bitters
    • 1 small Egg White* (1/2 oz)
    • Red Wine for float

    Combine all ingredients except wine in a shaker with no ice. Shake for 5 seconds. Open shaker and fill with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Top off with ride wine float. Add two brandied cherries as garnish.

    *When using uncooked egg whites there is a small risk of exposure to foodborne illnesses. Do your own research and act accordingly.

    Holy Schmitt

    • 2 oz Bourbon
    • 1/2 oz Benedictine
    • 1/2 oz Amaro Nonino
    • 1/4 oz Demerara Syrup
    • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
    • 2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters
    • Orange Twist for garnish
    • Brandied cherry

    Add all ingredients to a mixing glass, add ice and stir for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled Nick and Nora glass. Express orange oils over drink and add garnish to the glass along with a Luxardo cherry.

    Optional: Add smoke

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    Most of the following links are affiliate links. If you click on them and ultimately make a purchase we may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you.


    Books

    We own and recommend these books:

    The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson

    Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold

    Imbibe! by David Wondrich

    Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan

    Equipment

    Products we own, like and use:

    • Measuring tools
    • OXO Good Grips Mini Angled Measuring Cup, 2 Oz capacity
    • OXO Metal Angled Measuring Cup
    • OXO SteeL Double Jigger


    • Shakers
    • This shaking set is sold as two separate items on Amazon, you...
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • Essential Mixing Equipment: Jiggers, Shakers and Mixing Glasses
    Sep 24 2024

    You don’t need a jigger, you definitely need a Boston shaker, and you’ll want a mixing glass. Trust us. Or don’t! We’re talking about the mixing tools you MUST HAVE when you’re just getting started in the hobby. We’ll break down all of the options and then give you advice on what to pick. You don’t have to take the advice, but we’ll definitely say we told you so when the regret sets in. Actually, that sounds fun. Now come on, it’s time to shake things up with measured arguments made with stirring words. Let the pun begin!

    Recipes from the show are below, after all the things.

    Too Long Didn’t Listen:

    (00:00) Mixing tools for measuring, shaking and stirring

    (02:24) Measuring

    (03:08) Jiggers: funny word, classy looks, and blazing fast.

    (06:42) Angled measuring cups: not funny, not classy, not fast. Just better.

    (08:44) Digital scales: for nerds. I like nerds.

    (09:35) Shaking

    (09:46) Boston Shaker: they almost never explode.

    (13:04) Cobbler Shaker: pretty, and your cocktail will mostly come out, eventually.

    (15:22) Parisian Shaker: for snooty people. I like snooty people too.

    (16:30) Stirring

    (18:40) Mixing Glass: you need one

    (20:32) Pint Glasses: ok, you don’t need need one

    (21:15) Mixing Glass Alternatives: but you look so cool when you use them

    (22:23) Cocktail of the Week: Whiskey Sour

    (29:45) Closing

    RecipesWhiskey Sour
    • 2 oz whiskey (any whiskey will do but a 40%-45% ABV straight bourbon is recommended)
    • 1 oz lemon juice
    • 1 oz simple syrup
    • Garnish: Lemon wheel and a brandied or maraschino cherry for the garnish
    • Prepare a rocks glass or similar sized glass with fresh, clean ice. Combine the whiskey, lemon juice and simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake aggressively until well chilled, roughly 8-12 seconds. Strain the cocktail into your prepared rocks glass. For the garnish place the cherry in the center of the lemon wheel, folding it around the cherry, and securing with a cocktail pick. Place on top of the drink.

    ---

    Most of the following links are affiliate links. If you click on them and ultimately make a purchase we may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you.


    Books

    We own and recommend these books:

    The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson

    Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold

    Imbibe! by David Wondrich

    Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan

    Equipment

    Products we own, like and use:

    • Measuring tools
    • OXO Good Grips Mini Angled Measuring Cup, 2 Oz capacity
    • OXO Metal Angled Measuring Cup
    • OXO SteeL Double Jigger


    • Shakers
    • This shaking set is sold as two separate items on Amazon, you will need both
    • Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Small Weighted Shaking Tin
    • Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Large Weighted Shaking Tin
    • Mixing Glasses/Tins
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
  • Happy Hour: Our Favorite Original Recipes ... So Far
    Sep 20 2024

    It’s Happy Hour! Ben and Matthew discuss the origins of The Perfect Sip, why they love making craft cocktails, and why you will too. They then describe how they want to build a fun and straightforward resource for amateur cocktail crafters old and new. Later they introduce their current favorite original recipes that they have created.

    Ben’s Winter Vacation is a kicked up daiquiri with three simple winter flavored embellishments that make it as good as a holiday sojourn. Especially if you drink it while on an actual sojourn. Let us know if you do. Better yet, take us with you and we’ll make one for you!

    Matthew’s Sunny Day is a serene gin sour layered with lavender and French liqueur that will have you strolling the sun soaked fields of Sault-en-Provence. Sure beats three laps around the Costco parking lot at lunch. (Get me a hot dog!)

    Recipes after all the things below!

    Too Long Didn’t Listen:

    (00:00) Opening

    (01:55) The Perfect Sip Origin Story

    (04:50) Ben’s Journey

    (10:05) Matthew’s Journey

    (19:10) Cocktail: Winter Vacation

    (28:30) Cocktail: Sunny Day

    (35:15) Closing

    RecipesWinter Vacation
    • 2 oz White Rum
    • 3/4 oz Lime Juice
    • 1 oz Ginger Syrup
    • 1 spritz of Rosemary Tincture
    • 1 Lime Wheel for Garnish
    • 1 Cinnamon Stick or Apple Wood chips for smoking
    • Optional: Smoke the glass with a scorched cinnamon stick or smoking kit before shaking cocktail.
    • Combine rum, lime juice, and ginger syrup in a shaker with ice and shake until well chilled. Double strain into a coupe glass and garnish with the lime wheel and top with a spritz of the rosemary tincture.

    Sunny Day
    • 2 oz London Dry Gin
    • 3/4 oz chamomile-lavender syrup
    • 3/4 oz lemon juice
    • 1/4 oz Lillet Blanc
    • 2 dashes lavender bitters
    • Lemon wheel for garnish (the sun)
    • Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for 10-15 seconds until well-chilled. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel on the rim of the glass.

    Most of the following links are affiliate links. If you click on them and ultimately make a purchase we may receive a small compensation at no extra cost to you.


    Books

    We own and recommend these books:

    The 12 Bottle Bar: Make Hundreds of Cocktails with Just Twelve Bottles by David Solmonson, Lesley Jacobs Solmonson

    Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail by Dave Arnold

    Imbibe! by David Wondrich

    Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, David Kaplan

    Equipment

    Products we own, like and use:

    • Measuring tools
    • OXO Good Grips Mini Angled Measuring Cup, 2 Oz capacity
    • OXO Metal Angled Measuring Cup
    • OXO SteeL Double Jigger


    • Shakers
    • This shaking set is sold as two separate items on Amazon, you will need both
    • Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Small Weighted Shaking Tin
    • Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Large Weighted Shaking Tin
    • Mixing Glasses/Tins
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins

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