Ice ball cocktails are unique, interactive, and can be made at home without the need for expensive equipment.
Learn how to create a smoky, delicious old fashioned without the need for expensive equipment.
Create beautiful, clear ice without expensive equipment. Using a process called "directional freezing" (created by Camper English), I'll teach you how to make perfectly clear ice balls, cubes, and sticks.
Surprise and delight your guests by igniting the oils from a citrus peel. In this video you'll learn how the chemical compound called "limonene" plays a critical role in this simple bar trick.
A spicy Moscow Mule is the ultimate crowd pleaser. Here I'll teach you how to make an amazing ginger syrup (recipe by Greg Seider) for a Moscow Mule, Kentucky Mule, or a Dark and Stormy.
One of the coolest tricks I know is this "smoke bomb". Fill an ice ball with smoke, only to smash it open over your cocktail.
For those just getting started, this video shows you the essential cocktail equipment, what it's for, and where you can get it.
Stocking your first bar can be overwhelming with all the options out there. In this video I provide guidance on which liquors to purchase when getting started.
I created this cocktail as a tribute to Game of Thrones, based on the book series "A Song of Ice and Fire". Exercise caution whenever using fire in cocktails.
For those just getting started, choosing the right glassware is an important part of cocktail presentation. This video will show you the glassware used in most traditional and modern cocktails.
The Margarita is a classic tequila sour cocktail. Here I'll teach you a wonderfully simple and delicious recipe based on the Tommy's Margarita recipe.
The Old Fashioned represents the original definition of a cocktail of spirit, sugar, water, and bitters. In this video, I teach you how to make this classic cocktail in its original form.
Frosé (frozen rosé) is a delicious and refreshing summer cocktail that's easy to make ahead of time.
The Negroni is a classic spirit-forward cocktail that is relatively easy to make. In this video, I also teach you how to make the Boulevardier, the close cousin of the Negroni.
A rich simple syrup infused with bacon adds a delicious smoky flavor to your cocktails. Here we create the syrup using an immersion circulator (sous vide) and make a bacon old fashioned.
The classic whiskey sour made with a dash of egg white (sometimes called the Boston Sour). Here I teach you the "reverse dry shake" method to yield a delicious, creamy foam on top of the cocktail.
Why do you shake some cocktails, but stir others? In this video, I discuss the science of ice and dilution, and how that determines whether to shake or stir.
In this video, I show you how to create a fresh compound gin out of vodka and select botanicals using a sous vide. The resulting gin is used to make a delicious gin & tonic inspired by the "Betony G & T".
The Manhattan is a classic spirit-forward cocktail of the 19th century. This is a great drink to learn and master when you're getting started.
This adaptation of the Martinez cocktail balances the sweetness of a dark rum and vermouth with the smokiness of applewood.
Winston Churchill was said to have whiskey and a cigar with breakfast. The flamed cinnamon stick compliments the rich spiciness of the rye, the sweetness of the maple, and bitterness of the coffee. Original recipe by Chef Steps.
Whether you're holiday shopping or looking to improve your cocktail skills, here are three books I recommend: 1) Beginners: "The Art Of The Bar" 2) Advanced techniques: "Liquid Intelligence" 3) History of cocktails: "A Proper Drink"
A classic 19th century cocktail with a murky origin story, the Martinez is one of my favorite stirred drinks.
Spiked eggnog makes a fantastic cocktail for holiday parties. This recipe from Jeffrey Morgenthaler can be created directly in the blender, prepared ahead of time, and scaled to whatever party size you have.
The holidays are here so let's have some fun. In this video I teach you how to put a cocktail inside a snowglobe.
The French 75, named after an artillery gun due to its kick, makes for a great celebratory cocktail. Think of it as a Tom Collins but with sparkling wine instead of soda water.
Salt has long been used by bakers and chefs to temper bitter flavors while enhancing sweet and citrus notes. Here's how your cocktail can benefit from a pinch of salt.
You can make delicious cocktails that incorporate fats by taking advantage of emulsions. Here we discuss the science behind emulsifiers like gum arabic to make a butter syrup for a "cold buttered rum" cocktail.
The Daiquiri is a classic sour cocktail that is a wonderfully delicious drink if made using fresh, high quality ingredients.
Sweeteners are a fundamental part of most cocktails. Here we discuss the most common sweeteners found in cocktails, as well as how to use and store them.
The Boulevardier is a simple prohibition cocktail that's a variant on the Negroni, and is one of my absolute favorites.
I created the "Fog Burner" cocktail as an homage to San Francisco, where on most days the morning fog is burned away by the afternoon sun. A mezcal negroni is served inside a hollow ice ball and presented under a smoke-filled glass.
Here we're recreating the Flaming Homer, Skittlebräu, and one that I really don't recommend.
The "Peppermint Patty" is an Archer original, a boozy minty hot cocoa that warms your belly on a cold night. Here we recreate the original and offer a slight modification (spoiler: it's more booze).
Need to make cocktails for a group and worried about spending the night behind the bar? I got you covered with my go-to trick for quick drinks that are always crowd-pleasers.
The Kentucky Derby is upon us, the sun is shining, and the mint juleps are flowing. Sit back and enjoy a little prose in this ode to the mint julep, and learn why it's important to treat your mint with care.
Twin Peaks is back on the air after over 25 years, yet we still don't have an official recipe for the mysterious blue foamed highball cocktail that Judge Sternwood orders in season 2.
We recently crossed the 100k subscriber mark, in fact we blew past it! Huge thanks to you all for supporting the channel, but it's about time for me to start cashing in on this whole YouTube thing. So I'm excited to introduce Cocktail Chemistry brand fidget spinners! Watch the video to learn how YOU can step up your cocktail game with your Cocktail Chemistry brand fidget spinner!
It's surprisingly easy to build a balanced cocktail if you understand the ethanol, acid, and sugar content of the drink. To make it even easier for you, I've built a Cocktail Calculator you can use to create your own balanced cocktail recipes.
"Mocktails" are more than just cocktails stripped of their alcohol, they should be designed and balanced as their own drink. Here we make 3 of my favorite mocktails using fresh ingredients.
According to Moe the bartender, the "Forget Me Shot" is the ultimate brain bleacher, one swig wipes out the last day of your life. Let's recreate this monstrosity and see if it makes me forget, or want to forget, what went down.
The Ramos Gin Fizz is a legendary New Orleans cocktail that is despised by some bartenders due to how much shaking is involved. Here I teach you how to make this milkshake of a cocktail without getting sore the next day.
The Last Word is a pre-prohibition era cocktail that's coming back strong. With bold flavors from green chartreuse and maraschino liqueur, this is one of my favorites.
La Paloma is often called the cousin of the margarita, and is quickly rising in popularity. In this video I make three versions of this refreshing grapefruit-based cocktail.
The Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is considered by the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy to be the "best drink in existence". While almost impossible to make on planet Earth, I needed to see if its effects really are similar to "having your brains smashed in by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick."
The Clover Club is a delicious pre-prohibition cocktail where the signature ingredient is raspberry. Here we make the recipe from Julie Reiner, owner of my favorite bar in New York City called, you guessed it, "Clover Club".
The iSi cream whipper was originally designed for whipped cream, but has some amazing cocktail applications as well. In this video we learn the rapid infusion technique and how to make a delicious foam using this tool.
Chemists have long known that certain liquids will change color when the pH is altered. Here I use this technique to change a cocktail from blue to purple using butterfly pea flower tea. IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not consume dry ice, make sure it completely sublimates before serving.
The "Thanks-tini" is the brainchild of Barney Stinson, and it's not great. Can we make a version that he would describe as legend...wait for it...dary?
When it's cold outside, nothing beats a toasty fire, brown liquor, and s'mores. Let's see if we can bring all those elements together into a cocktail to keep you warm this winter.
A punch is the perfect way to host a party while still being able to actually enjoy the party. Here we make two delicious punch recipes that are simple and can be prepared ahead of time.
My original Smoke Bomb video is one my most popular, but it involved a very clumsy method of getting smoke into a hollow ice ball shell. This improved method uses the Smoking Gun, which is significantly easier.
Michael Scott from the TV show The Office is a master paper salesman, the king of cringe, and apparently an aspiring home mixologist. Here were recreate his "One Of Everything" and see how we can improve it.
After disappointing at the box office, The Big Lebowski (1998) has since become a cult classic that put the White Russian cocktail back on the map. Here we recreate The Dude's standard recipe and then take it to the next level.
A modern classic from Sam & Sasha of Milk & Honey fame, and if you catch me at the border I got visas in my name. Sorry... it's a good drink, trust me.
The movie "Cocktail" from 1988 showed what happens when you put Tom Cruise's manic energy behind the bar of a TGI Fridays. Before he mastered his sick flare bartending moves, he got stumped by the Cuba Libre. Let's learn the original recipe and then a next-level rum & cola.
The Japanese Highball is my favorite way to appreciate the subtle flavors of a Japanese whisky. Here we learn the Mizuwari ritual of making a highball and practice our counting skills.
In the TV show "Scrubs", Zach Braff plays a young attending physician named J.D. who has a penchant for appletinis that are "easy on the tini". I respect J.D.'s confidence in ordering his guilty pleasure, but let's see if we can make a better version.
I love a spicy ginger cocktail, and so the Penicillin is one of my favorites. Considered a modern classic cocktail, we'll learn to make ginger and honey syrups to mix this "cure-all" drink.
I grew up on Marvel comics but only recently realized that some Marvel superheroes have good taste when it comes to cocktails. Here we recreate Doctor Strange's Mai Tai, Tony Stark's vodka martini, and Logan's fireball.
The "Atomic Cocktail" is an in-game item in the video game Fallout: New Vegas. We'll take a crack at a recreation before heading back to old Vegas to make the original Atomic Cocktail.
The "Old Smashioned" is the signature cocktail of this channel, which involves putting a cocktail inside a ball of ice and smashing it open. Here are three ways to make this fun drink and a brand new t-shirt designed to honor the cocktail that launched Cocktail Chemistry.
I'm back, and I'm married! You know it wouldn't be a Cocktail Chemistry wedding without some legit drinks, so in this video I show you the 3 cocktails I designed for my reception.
My first video in a new series profiling cocktails from different regions of the world, and we're kicking it off with a good one. The Aperol Spritz is the ultimate summer aperitif and is as Italian as it gets. In this video I also make the Negroni Sbagliato and an amazing spritz with strawberry, basil and balsamic.
The Australian action comedy Danger 5 is a bizarre, campy, 1960's interpretation of WWII where 5 international spies are going after Hitler and his Nazi dinosaurs. There's also a recurring bit where dying characters spill the beans to a perfect cocktail. Let's recreate a few and see if they really are perfect.
Ah, the Old Fashioned, the world's first classic cocktail and a recipe that's endured for hundreds of years. To celebrate the launch of my beautifully designed t-shirt and pay homage to the OG cocktail, here I make the original recipe as well as 3 of my favorite variations.
The Vodka Soda, the anti-cocktail, bringer of hydration, fuel for your dance parties. This drink may not be featured on any craft cocktail menu, but that doesn’t mean it should be ignored. Here we take this low-cal highball and create some delicious variations.
Cuba's mojito is arguably the world's most popular cocktail and with good reason, it's simple, refreshing, and delicious. Here we make three versions: the traditional, the modern, and the "post-modern" using Dave Arnold's nitro muddling technique with liquid nitrogen. WARNING: Only use liquid nitrogen only if you’ve been trained and are aware of all the hazards involved.
The Irish Coffee is a simple and delicious drink: just coffee, sugar, whiskey, and cream. Here we recreate three legendary recipes from the Buena Vista cafe, Dead Rabbit, and Erin Rose.
The Sazerac: a New Orleans innovation or hoax? This tasty spirit-forward cocktail has a bit of a dubious history, but any fans of the Old Fashioned would be remiss not to dabble in this classic.
Heating wine with spices goes back to the ancient Romans, and today there are countless variations from around the world. Today we’ll make a Scandinavian Glögg and a German Feuerzangenbowle that is, well, lit.
Curdling milk to make a cocktail? Yes, it sounds gross, but it’s also the secret to a beautifully clear, rich, and flavorful punch. Here we learn the “milk washing” technique that dates back to the 18th century.
Puerto Rico sees your nog of egg, and raises you a "little coconut". This coquito is a delicious, rich and creamy alternative to your holiday nog, and I can't recommend it enough.
30 Rock's Cooter Burger is a hapless government employee who tries to impress Jack by making an "Old Spanish" cocktail. We'll see if Mr. Burger is a master mixologist or not, with a brief appearance from Lemon.
The drink designed to wake you up, then f*ck you up, the legendary espresso martini. Here I make the original version as well as one that doesn’t require an espresso machine. Buckle up.
The Aviary bar in Chicago puts out some of the most creative and delicious cocktails I've ever had. Here we recreate one of my favorites, the Jungle Bird, and learn some advanced techniques like spherification.
In Season 3, Bart narrowly escapes demise at the hands of the mob by shaking them up a Manhattan determined to be "supoib"! Here we recreate his exact recipe, make a few improvements, then make the "Perfect Manhattan".
The gang might be generally terrible humans, but they've created some of the most innovative cocktails in modern times. Here we recreate the legendary Riot Juice and Fight Milk and make a few improvements.
The French Caribbean island of Martinique is known for their funky, vegetal rum called rhum agricole, and their signature drink to showcase it is the Ti' Punch (petite punch). As easy to make as an old fashioned, this is the drink that will make you fall in love with rum.
The final season of Game of Thrones is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than by melting the flesh of your enemies with wildfire. Using the naturally green and high-proof green chartreuse, I make a drinkable version of wildfire to blow some minds at your viewing parties.
What would Thanos drink after a long day of battling Avengers and snapping fingers? I imagine a complex man like Thanos would go for a Pousse Café, a labor-intensive cocktail of layered liqueurs.
The Martini is a classic cocktail template and is basically the Starbucks of the cocktail world in that everyone has their preferred order. Here I talk about the language of the Martini (dry, dirty, etc) and make three of my favorite recipes.
The wild west in the 19th century was full of frontiersman, miscreants, and plenty of whiskey. In Deadwood, South Dakota we would have also found some other delicious cocktails like pink gin and the yellow daisy. In honor of the new full-length movie Deadwood, let's recreate some cocktails of this era.
The New York Sour is essentially a whiskey sour with a float of dry red wine on top. Besides the beautiful visual contrast it creates, this simple variation adds a whole new level of complexity and smoothness to an already epic cocktail. Oh, and don't even think about omitting the egg white.
This drink is exactly what it sounds like, and it's awesome. Here we take the classic Negroni spec, give it a little citrus kick, and turn it into an adult soda. I also show you how to bottle a cocktail which makes a great roadie or a gift.
I'm way overdue for a gin & tonic video, so I figured I'd go all out. This episode not only has 3 different recipes of increasing complexity, but also a tasting review of popular gins and tonics.
We're going back to the Danger Zone with this video, and taking a classic Archer original and seeing if we can make it palatable. Spoiler alert: the original is the worst drink I've had, and the improved version is one of the best.
This is it. My masterpiece, my Magnum Opus. The culmination of all the advanced techniques brought together into one, beautiful cocktail. Shout out to all my hydro homies, this one's for you.
What is pisco anyway? Why does it work so well in a classic sour cocktail template? We answer these questions and more, while pissing off some Chileans in the process.
Bourbon 101 with The Educated Barfly
White Claw is basically a hard seltzer and it has officially won the summer of 2019, such that we now we find ourselves in a shortage. So let's learn how to make this home so you can get your fix, and since we're now in Fall, how about a pumpkin spice White Claw?
I didn't want to do it, but after hundreds of requests I'm finally making this monstrosity of a drink. Those with an aversion to fish are advised to turn back now. But fortunately I found a way to make a version that is actually pretty damn good.
The internet has a strange fascination with consuming things in pod form, fortunately the tide has turned from laundry detergent to cocktails. Here I discuss the science behind "reverse spherification", the technique used to create these fun cocktail pods that everyone is talking about.
The Vesper Martini is somewhat of an impossible drink to recreate as one of the key ingredients is no longer available. But we’ve found some viable substitutes that can get us pretty close, so let’s see what Bond was on about with this drink, and why he insisted it be shaken and not stirred.
The hot toddy. It’s basically winter’s version of the old fashioned. A template for a drink rather than a specific recipe, let’s have some fun with it and make 3 versions to keep your belly warm this winter.
Boy was I excited for this one, the fat kid in me meets the booze connoisseur in a warm mug of delicious spiked hot chocolate. Here I make three different recipes, ranging from a campfire style, Mexican style, and a third version that was my hands down favorite.
Fancy a beverage while snogging a muggle at a quidditch match? Butterbeer is the fictional beverage from the world of Harry Potter and while there is no official recipe, we do have some hints on how it’s made. Here I make both a cold and hot version of the drink and MERLIN’S BEARD are they tasty!
The Baby Yoda train keeps on rolling, and here we take our garnish game to the next level with this riff on a Last Word cocktail. Drink it, you must.
Hens love roosters, geese love ganders. Everyone else loves Ned Flanders! Except if he’s making drinks, then I don’t love Ned Flanders. Fortunately I made a massively improved Planter’s Punch courtesy of Smuggler’s Cove.
This video is about smoke bubbles. I'm gonna put smoke in a bubble, and then I'm gonna pop the bubble on a cocktail. It looks dope, and smells awesome. Oh and I'm gonna show you three ways to do it. Smoke bubbles.
We’re back to the danger zone to recreate this simple cocktail made from coffee liqueur and tequila. The improved version I created is one of the best cocktails I’ve had.
Did your boss bring in their daughter into the office to hawk her girlscout goods resulting in a guilt-ridden purchase of thin mints and peanut butter? When life gives you subpar cookies, make delicious cocktails. Here are two killer recipes inspired by the classics.
What started as a video on a fernet and coke quickly spiraled out of control. I now possess 9 bottles of fernet, so it's time for a showdown. Which is the best straight up, and which is the best in the classic Argentinian highball fernet and coke?
Quarantine Cocktails