Your Secret Source for Better Cocktails

Best cocktail instagram accounts to follow

Your Secret Source for Better Cocktails

Follow these boozy Instagram feeds to up your game

Words by

Christopher Doell

Photography by

Courtesy

Published

May 23, 2022

According to many, social media is the bane of modern existence. Of course, that criticism is not without its merits, but on the bright side, it's also a veritable well of valuable information and entertainment. Take, for example, the #drinkstagram community. Maybe you're interested in upping your cocktail game but you're reluctant to clutter up your crib with stacks of cocktail books? I get it, and not to worry—we pulled together five of our favorite cocktail-centric accounts on the 'gram. Giving them a follow is sure to improve your feed and bring you inspiration while elevating your cocktail knowledge and home bartending game.

#drinkstagram
Accounts to Follow

@highproofpreacher

Portland, Oregon's own Jordan Hughes is a must follow. His content is light, funny and charismatic, and his photography is exceptional—truly second to none. He is a pro at engaging with followers, and he's one of those dudes you'd just love to hang out with and have a drink.

How do you describe your IG feed?
I'd say a spirited mix of cocktail recipes, techniques and education, with a shot of photography inspiration.

Go-to drink on a Friday night?
I've been on a cognac-kick recently, so my current go-to is a Sidecar.

Bar tool you can't live without?
If I'm somewhere without many bar tools, I can make-due pretty easily but I always want to have a good jigger so I can make precise and accurate measurements.

Secret go-to ingredient?
It's not a secret anymore, but this Pineapple Demerara syrup has been a fav for a while.

What's your favorite cocktail platform to riff on?
I feel like I'm always riffing on Old Fashioneds or Negronis—maybe because they're so easy, but they're also so good.

@TheCocktailSuite

The photography on The Cocktail Suite captures the warm vibe of a well-appointed bar, but my affinity for this feed was bolstered big time when I tried his El Catrin cocktail, featuring tequila, blanco vermouth, pineapple syrup, Amaro Montenegro and bitters. It was one of my best cocktail discoveries of the last year.

Where are you from?
Richardson, Texas. It's famous for being the suburb that Arlen, TX was modeled after in the TV show, King of the Hill.

Favorite stirred cocktail?
I know it's a boring answer, but the Old Fashioned is my favorite stirred cocktail. I love its simplicity, along with the reward one gets from taking the time and care to properly build the cocktail.

Go-to drink on a Friday night?
The martini is my go-to. I always like to try changing something minor to see if I can come up with a new favorite version. Whether it's how dry the vermouth is, or trying different gins, to the ratio used in the cocktail, the end result is never the same but always delicious.

Secret go-to ingredient?
Cachaça. I love the funkiness it has. It seems to bring unity to any drink where the ingredients don't want to play nice with each other.

What's your desert island base spirit?
Wow, this is a tough one, but I think I'll go with an aged rum. They work great in so many ways whether it's Tiki, an Old Fashioned riff, or just neat.

@soundtrackmydrink

Adam Sloan pairs original recipes with specific songs, chosen from a wide range of musical tastes. His recipes have an experimental quality to them that feels adventurous, and he's adept at crafting creative captions that connect the tunes to the booze in unexpected ways.

All-time favorite shaken cocktail?
Oh man, I'll never say no to a Mezcal Margarita with extra salt. Banhez Mezcal is my go-to. And because I love to complicate things, I always have a homemade shrub at home. So I'll use that instead of Triple Sec. And in colder months, I'll add a splash of Cynar or Amaro Montenegro. So maybe I should've said “an overly complicated Mezcal Margarita?”

A bar tool or device you can't live without?
I'm a fan of complicated ingredients, not complicated bar tools. A couple of high-quality shaking tins, a simple jigger and a Hawthorne strainer work just fine for me. Cocktail Kingdom has black matte sets that look stunning.

What's your secret go to ingredient?
Salt. I'm a firm believer that a pinch of salt makes almost everything taste better—even homemade syrups. My Salted Demerara Syrup is a real crowd pleaser.

Favorite cocktail platform to riff on?
I absolutely love riffing on classic cocktails. Subtle changes, wild interpretations and everything in between. Instead of using a full ounce of sweet vermouth in a classic Negroni, try ½ oz sweet and ½ oz dry vermouth. Or, reverse the ingredients in a Black Manhattan to use more Averna and less rye whiskey.

What's your desert island base spirit?
If there's a desert island somewhere with bottles of Cynar, I may never leave. I put that stuff in everything. Cynar Daiquiris, 50/50 shots of Cynar and Campari, Cynar Negronis, Cynar-garitas ... ok, I'll stop now.

@ShakeandStehr

If I've been slacking on saving recipes to my favorites and I'm not sure what I'm in the mood for, I usually head over to check out what's going on at Shake & Stehr. Connor Stehr pulls things together like a pro, and he has good instincts for pairing complicated flavors.

Where's home?
Denver, CO, but I'm from Houston, TX.

What's your all-time favorite shaken cocktail?
Absolutely a well-made Mezcal Margarita. There was never a time where that marg doesn't hit the spot.

Favorite stirred cocktail?
Definitely an Old Fashioned. It's simplicity, versatility and flexibility. You can change it up in so many ways that it's a template that never gets old.

Latest go-to drink on a Friday night?
Recently I've been drinking just a bunch of special edition Chartreuse. I don't know if that makes me refined or a psycho!

What's a bar tool or device you can't live without?
I'd go with a clear ice mold. It's not going to change the taste of the cocktail, but a slow dilution and presentation will set your cocktails apart.

What's your secret go-to ingredient?
Piloncillo. It's an unrefined Mexican cane sugar that has great funk/terroir notes. In a syrup I use it in bourbon Old Fashioned's as well as Margaritas, but subbing it for demerara/agave can open up a ton of different flavors in your cocktails.

@RooseveltCocktailClub

Finally, you can find yours truly on the 'gram at Roosevelt Cocktail Club. This was the name I gave to a group of friends who enjoyed getting together to drink the cocktails I was learning to mix up—“cold cocktails, warm company” was the essence. The feed is an extension of that, featuring mostly classic or modern classic cocktails, with the occasional original concoction thrown in.

Latest go-to drink on a Friday night?
I agree with The Cocktail Suite that Martinis tend to be just right on a Friday night. We differ in that I rarely want to stray too far from classic specs - 3:1 with a twist of lemon. Because, well, why mess with perfection?

What's a bar tool or product you can't live without?
I have an admittedly strange obsession with glassware. I love choosing just the right vessel for the drink and the moment. But I also have a controversial confession to make—I hate jiggers! I don't like how you have to look down into them to pour, and they make such a mess on the counter when you alternate sides. I prefer a small measuring glass that has markings from ½ oz up to 5 oz, as well as other units of measurement. I like pouring at eye level, I can add multiple ingredients at once, and it doesn't leave my counters a sticky mess.

Secret go-to ingredient?
The wide world of Amari is pretty fascinating, and the bitter profile is something that appeals to me.

Favorite cocktail platform to riff on?
All the classics are fun to play around with, and Death & Company's “Mr. Potato Head” method is a great way to create new things.

Desert island base spirit?
It used to be whiskey, but I think gin is the way to go here —it pairs so well with so many different flavors and styles of drinks.

Your Secret Source for Better Cocktails

Your Secret Source for Better Cocktails

Words by

Photography by

Published

#drinkstagram
Accounts to Follow

@highproofpreacher

@TheCocktailSuite

@soundtrackmydrink

@ShakeandStehr

@RooseveltCocktailClub

FYI

The Smart Way
to Start Your Day

Your Secret Source for Better Cocktails

Your Secret Source for Better Cocktails

Words by

Photography by

Published

#drinkstagram Accounts to Follow

@highproofpreacher

@TheCocktailSuite

@soundtrackmydrink

@ShakeandStehr

@RooseveltCocktailClub

FYI

The Smart Way to Start Your Day

More on Cocktails

Game, Set, Batch

You Need a Real Cocktail Shaker

Love It or Hate It

Time to Rethink Frozen Drinks

#drinkstagram
Accounts to Follow

The Smart Way
to Start Your Day

More on
Cocktails

Game, Set,
Batch

You Need a
Real Cocktail Shaker

Love It
or Hate It

Time to Rethink
Frozen Drinks