Jun 05 2008
Mixology…
Given my love of beer, both creating it and drinking it, I have something of an affinity with the mixologist. A mixologist is a creator of cocktails, though the use of that word has somewhat degraded over time. It’s no longer equal to simply bartending, though mixologists may tend bar. A mixologist studies the creation of cocktails, reducing a cocktail to its component ingredients and analyzing those ingredients. Someone who just wants “a drink” is probably not looking for a mixologist, but someone who wants an Old Fashioned made with 23-year old Black Maple Hill Rye Whiskey, and only the finest bitters is definitely wanting to see a mixologist. (Who might persuade him that something as fine as 23-year old Black Maple Hill Rye should not be mixed, but that’s neither here nor there.)
My brother-in-law, a “budding mixologist” in L.A., has created his own mixology blog called Drink Well, which can be found at http://drink-well.blogspot.com. It’s a good read, and he’s a good writer. While I, myself, am not as into mixed drinks as some of my friends, I can certainly appreciate a search for the finest ingredients to create the finest drinks. In our world of Bud and Coors, liquor in plastic jugs, and mac and cheese and spam, I think our culture is lacking in drive to find the finest of consumables. I’m not saying there’s not a place for mac and cheese and spam. I dig mac and cheese every once in awhile. But it’s not in the same category as the Grilled Chicken Breast with a Mustard, Curry, and Stone Ruination IPA sauce that I had last night. And even that was extremely simple in terms of true gourmet cuisine.
In our culture, such a quest to find the best of something is looked upon as snobbery or elitism. For example, the fact that I won’t drink Coors or Bud because it’s garbage compared to some of the higher-quality brews, has really annoyed some people I know. I’m sorry…life is too short to drink inferior beer.
Mark at Drink Well has come to the same conclusion regarding mixology, and I look forward to reading the chronicles of his studies. Check out his blog.
