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 Coupe, Tall, Iridized
This weekend turned out to be a good one for glassware. As many of you know, I am a big fan of recycling vintage glasses to showcase great cocktails. That usually means that I am on the hunt for coupes, the bowl-shaped champagne goblets from days gone by. But I try not to limit myself to just one style.
I was pretty excited when I spotted a bunch of iridized coupes in perfect condition. These are actually a match to a pair already available in the Summit Sips Store and they are probably my favorite cocktail glasses. I have used them in numerous photographs here. They are slightly larger than what I typically look for, but they are not so big that they overwhelm classic recipes. It felt great to bump up the inventory for this particular stem to a total of seven. If you
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 As many of you know, I have somewhat of an obsession with antique glassware. But, my interest doesn’t actually force me to buy every stem that I see. With only a few exceptions, I try to find good values when I am out on the hunt. I like knowing that I have something unique, but that I didn’t have to pay an arm and leg for it. That way I can use them at parties and I won’t be upset should an accident occur. Some people like matched sets. I understand that. I used to feel that way too, but one of the joys of owning even a single stem of a given style is that it helps to underscore how each cocktail you serve is unique. Rarely do guests all want the same thing, and giving them their selection in a special cocktail glass is another way to
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 Obsessive (Compulsive?) I don’t have everything on my wish list, but I’m a little embarrassed to admit that with all of the spirits, liqueurs, syrups and bitters in my cabinet, I could stock a small bar with a respectable selection. If that weren’t enough, I am a sucker for unique glassware. I adore vintage coupes, sour glasses, tumblers, copper mugs, silver julep cups, trumpet flutes and so on and so forth. Don’t even get me started on wine glasses. The variety can make for some nice photographs and interesting recipes, but it got me thinking that my strange obsessions are probably not the norm, not even for those of you that regularly visit Summit Sips.
Less Is More There is another philosophy exemplified by David Solmonson and his excellent blog, 12 Bottle Bar. Rather than collect every odd liqueur, gin and aged rum on the planet, David embraces practical
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  For some people it’s a burden and for others it’s a joy—that time of the year when everyone is expected to exchange gifts. Whether or not you enjoy the holiday season there is one thing most of us agree upon: how frustrating it can be to try to come up with good gift ideas. Sure, there’s amazing and expensive technology out there with plenty of fun gadgets that will be obsolete by this time next year, but how about a more traditional approach? Why not give a gift that will inspire or will teach, or will assist? I’m talking about useful gifts for the mixologist in your family.
A Shopping List
I’ve written before about using good tools and technique with an emphasis on making the most of what you already own. That’s fine for the rest of the year, but this is the perfect time to consider items that can help elevate your mixologist’s skills and abilities so they (and you) can enjoy even better cocktails in the coming year. These suggestions are in no particular order, and some of the best resources for buying these items are listed at the end:
- Boston Shaker – It has to be the most useful tool for the home imbiber. The Boston Shaker is what almost every professional bartender uses to mix cocktails. It’s comprised of a large, 28 ounce metal tin and a 16 ounce pint glass. This simple tool will have your mixologist shaking in no time! They are easy to clean and usually very inexpensive. What’s that you say? They already have a 3-piece (cobbler style) cocktail shaker? Get them a Boston Shaker anyway—trust me—they will be glad you did. A 3-piece shaker might look convenient, but they are messy, they don’t seal (or don’t come apart!) and they are often just more clumsy than they need to be. Since the Boston Shaker is so cheap, you’ll want to add:
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