🍷 My new favourite glassware..

I had countless deliveries arrive in the past week (the wife says I'm a shopaholic but I just say I'm enthusiastic)... my favourite arrival was my new set of Riedel Nick & Nora glasses that I've been eyeing off for quite some time!

The Nick & Nora glasses started to become popular in the late 1980s when pioneering bartender Dale DeGroff had them reproduced for the Rainbow Room in NYC. He had found the design in a 1930s catalog under the name "Little Martini". They were an ideal replacement for the large conical martini glasses popular at the time. Check out the original Nick & Nora glasses style.

These glasses are perfectly suited for spirit-forward drinks served up, such as the martini, manhattan, etc.

🎥 VIDEOS

The Oaxaca Old Fashioned comes from Phil Ward and was one of the first drinks on the menu at Death & Co. back in 2007. It went on to inspire countless other cocktails that used mezcal in a supporting role.

• What is mezcal? | Anders Erickson

• How mezcal is made | Popular Mechanics

• Beginners guide to tequila | Steve the Bartender

🔥 TIP OF THE WEEK

Flaming the orange oils is an important technique used to introduce caramelised, burnt orange notes to a number of cocktails - namely, the Oaxaca Old Fashioned, Revolver and Dale DeGroff's version of the Cosmopolitan ( 👈 old cringey video!)...but of course you can use this technique to any of your favourite cocktails.

HOW TO FLAME AN ORANGE ZEST:

1. Cut a coin-sized piece of orange. If using a peeler, ensure there is some pith on the back.

2. Ignite the match away from the drink to burn off the sulphur.

3. Gently warm the citrus oils by waving the flame over the orange peel whilst holding the match approx. 1" / 2.5 cm away.

4. Quickly squeeze and express the oils through the flame and into the drink.

5. Voila!

What do you want to see in the next issue of The Stir Down? Let me know int he comments :)

Cheers,

Steve the Bartender

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