Nick Fisher - Cocktail Chemistry: The Art and Science of Drinks from Iconic TV Shows and Movies

The Art and Science of Drinks from Iconic TV Shows and Movies

Cocktail Chemistry

Nick Fisher

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Copyright 2022 by Cocktail Chemistry, LLC

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First Simon Element hardcover edition May 2022

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Photography Copyright 2022 by Aubrie Pick

Drinks Stylist: Amanda Anselmino

Prop Stylist: Glenn Jenkins

Photo Assistant: Nathaniel Yates Downes

Interior design by Matt Ryan

Cover design by Patrick Sullivan

Cover photographs by Aubrie Pick

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Fisher, Nick (Mixologist), author. | Pick, Aubrie, photographer.

Title: Cocktail chemistry: on-screen drinks recreated and reimagined /

Nick Fisher; photography by Aubrie Pick.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021039137 | ISBN 9781982167424 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781982167455 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Cocktails. | Cocktail Chemistry (YouTube show) | LCGFT: Cookbooks.

Classification: LCC TX951 .F524 2022 | DDC 641.87/4dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021039137

ISBN 978-1-9821-6742-4

ISBN 978-1-9821-6745-5 (ebook)

TO MY WONDERFUL PARTNER, RISHITA, WHOSE ENDLESS SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT ENABLED COCKTAIL CHEMISTRY TO GROW FAR BEYOND WHAT I EVER IMAGINED POSSIBLE.

With a complex ginger kick and a mild rum funk, it was a perfectly balanced drink that I kept thinking about on the taxi ride home from the newly opened Clover Club bar in Brooklyn. I was in my early twenties and suddenly found myself in the heart of a New York City cocktail renaissance, which planted the seed for my love of craft cocktails. After moving to the East Village in Manhattan and frequenting legendary downtown cocktail bars like Death & Co, PDT, and Pegu Club, I was hooked.

I continued my quest after moving to San Francisco, but these cocktails werent easy on the wallet. I started to wonder if one could recreate those fifteen-dollar Old Fashioneds at home, and with a little trial and error, I was able to hack together a passable replica. Then a gift from my partner, Rishita, changed everything. It was a Cocktails 101 class at a famous local speakeasy called Bourbon and Branch. Ill never forget showing up solo to an event that was clearly designed for couples on a date.

I awkwardly took my seat for one at the bar, surrounded by couples making small talk, meaning the bartender instructor then had 100 percent of my attention. In that class I learned some key fundamentals of cocktail making: how to balance a drink with sugar and acid, the importance of fresh ingredients, and that there are really only a few foundational cocktail templates to learn.

Once I mastered the basics, I moved on to more elaborate experiments, often involving manipulation of ice. My ice ball cocktail (see ) was a ridiculous trick I created where I inject a cocktail into a hollow ice ball shell then smash it open for guests. After enough requests to explain how to make it, I filmed a low-budget video of the process on my smartphone and posted it to YouTube. Somehow that video took off, and Cocktail Chemistry was born in my kitchen!

Playing around with cocktails developed into a passion, which evolved into a YouTube channel, which resulted in the book youre holding today. Ive never worked as a professional bartender, but through rigorous home experimentation, studying the science of flavor and balance, and no shortage of immediate (and often harsh) feedback from an online audience of hundreds of thousands of cocktail enthusiasts, Ive developed a unique perspective on home bartending.

We home bartenders are growing in numbers every day, and with so many quality spirits, ingredients, and bar tools now on the market, theres never been a better time to go beyond your whiskey on the rocks or gin and tonic.

My YouTube channel has been designed for the home bartender and to meet you where you are in your cocktail journey, from classic recipes to advanced techniques. But I believe cocktails should also be about having fun, and that inspired the structure of the channel. In that spirit I started recreating drinks from pop culture as a fun callback to iconic drinks, such as the Vesper martini from Casino Royale or butterbeer from Harry Potter, also improving on the original versions when needed (which is very often!).

This book follows the same format. Each section starts with a cocktail I recreate from pop culture. From there we explore related recipes and techniques, like how to make the ultimate martini or how to infuse bourbon with brown butter. These pages represent the culmination of the knowledge Ive gained, both learning and teaching the craft of cocktails, and I couldnt be more excited to share it with you here.

Cheers,

Nick