Skip to main content

The anti-artisanal movement: Cocktails for drinkers

the anti artisanal movement cocktails for drinkers
We know that many of you love indulging in a high-end craft cocktail. You know the sort — fresh ingredients, muddled this, frothy that, a twist of something and an endless list of elements that result in a complex drink that costs, oh around $15 a drink. Now there’s a book for those of you who actually like to drink. Jennifer McCartney came up with the idea for the cheeky, yet clever Cocktails for Drinkers: Not-Even-Remotely-Artisanal, Three-Ingredient-or-Less Cocktails That Get to the Point.

Sold as the, “The anti-hipster drink book, perfect for hipsters and their haters,” the book’s description goes like this: “Homemade pineapple-Sriracha syrup, giant spherical ice cubes, gin made from herbs picked by Armenian nuns and distilled with holy water . . . all for the low low price of $16 (in Brooklyn dollars). The artisanal cocktail movement is, let’s face it, not for everyone. What about drinks for the rest of us? The boozers who just want a good, stiff cocktail we can make at home after a day at work? What if you don’t own an ice-shaving kit or grow organic rosemary in your backyard? What if you’re using a mug with your hand over it to mix your gimlet instead of the bespoke copper cocktail shaker you see at every joint in Bushwick? Rejoice, this book is for you.”

Related Videos

Cocktails for Drinkers goes back to the basics, with recipes of drinks that don’t contain any fancy ingredients. The book tells you how to make cocktails with only three ingredients or less, so you don’t have to go make trips to your local speciality store or ship in exotic ingredients from who knows where. It’s the drink for people who like to imbibe the easy way.

Cocktails for Drinkers: Not-Even-Remotely-Artisanal, Three-Ingredient-or-Less Cocktails That Get to the Point, $11.58 at amazon.com.

Editors' Recommendations

Feeling adventurous? 5 of the weirdest cocktails from around the globe
Would you order a cocktail with a pickled human toe? You can in Canada, apparently
unusual and unique cocktails sourtoe cocktail

We all love a good cocktail, but it's easy to tire of the classics. There's nothing wrong with a perfectly frosty, salted-rimmed margarita, or a warm-to-your-bones, cherry-topped old-fashioned, but sometimes, you just want something new. Something that makes you think. Something that, perhaps, gives you a chuckle. These are those cocktails.
Pig's Blood Piña Colada (USA)

Back in 2014, bartender Jason Brown of Chicago's Kinmont restaurant and bar, concocted this cocktail after listening to a Werewolves of London lyric about a werewolf drinking a pina colada. His creativity sparked, and the "Werewolves of London" cocktail was born.

Read more
These foods high in melatonin will help you sleep better
Get a better sleep naturally by eating these 9 melatonin foods
Hands holding wine grapes.

Getting a quality night's sleep becomes more and more of a challenge as we age. Some of us have tried blackout curtains, sleep masks, weighted blankets, or any number of supplements promising better rest. If you're looking for an all-natural solution, though, melatonin is the way to go. Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally in the pineal gland in the brain. Among several functions, melatonin plays a key role in regulating the body’s circadian rhythms, or sleep-wake cycles. Accordingly, the pineal gland produces more melatonin when the sun goes down, and levels dip at daybreak. Foods high in melatonin or even melatonin supplements are a popular way to increase the concentration of melatonin and possibly improve the quality and quantity of sleep.
Melatonin supplements are typically non-habit-forming and safe for adults and children in doses of around 0.5 to 5 milligrams. However, melatonin supplements may cause drowsiness, nausea, and dizziness, and they can interfere with certain medications.

Fortunately, if you’re looking to support your body’s own natural melatonin levels but you don’t want to rely on supplements, there are several sleep-aid foods that contain melatonin. Adding any of these foods high in melatonin to your dinner plate or bedtime snack routine may help regulate your sleep patterns over time and help you get more restful sleep. Though little nutritional data exists about the specific concentration of melatonin in different foods, the following foods are known to be particularly high in melatonin.

Read more
The 8 best protein shakes that are ready-to-go
These shakes come with all the good stuff, and none of the crap
Svelte

With as busy as we have become as a society, we always seem to be on the go. This can make life challenging, especially when it comes to wellness goals. In a perfect world, you could hit the gym hard, crush a workout, then immediately refuel with a balanced, home-cooked meal. But, since life happens and we are always on the go, it’s not always feasible to take the time to actually cook up a muscle-building meal right after your workout. Whether you’re on the go and short on time, or just can't stomach a full meal after exercising, having a quick and easy, protein-packed option that doesn’t require kitchen time, is a helpful alternative to refuel your body and maximize your results.

This is where protein shakes come in handy. Numerous ready-to-drink shakes are available that provide muscle-building protein, vitamins, minerals, and calories to fortify your body after a workout. They offer the benefits of protein powders with the convenience of eliminating the need for a shaker bottle, or high-speed blender, let alone making a mess with powders. Simply give the bottle a quick shake, pop the top, and you’re good to go.

Read more