I've been playing around with mixology for a few years now. I've built a nicely stocked bar, I know when to shake and when to strain, I know the importance of using the right ice. I make myself a nice cocktail almost every night that I am at home. But I've found that I'm just flitting around from one shiny new bottle to another and I really haven't taken time to explore the depth of my bar. And I'm also developing anxiety around opened syrups and vermouths and sherries, oh my! I do refrigerate my perishables but that only buys so much time.
I realized I need focus.
So I decided for 2026 to theme my weeks. Each week will have one bottle or other ingredient in the limelight. And every fourth or fifth week will be a Use-Up week, for those syrups and vermouths and sherries.
This week's theme is Mr Black. The three drinks I chose for this week were all featured on Steve The Bartender's YouTube channel. These were original cocktails created for a Mr Black competition.
As prep for this week of cocktails, I made a cranberry syrup, a banana syrup, and a cocoa nib infused Campari. Pretty sure I am going to infuse whatever is left of the banana syrup with cocoa nibs to make a chocolate banana bread old fashioned or something, but that is for later.
Of the three drinks, I've made two so far and they were both insanely good. Flippin' Banana was on the sweet side, but not too sweet thanks to the healthy dose of Mexican chocolate bitters. The Coffee Chocolate Boulevardier was recognizably a boulevardier, but softer on the palate. The last one, IYKYK, I'll be making tonight.
Next week, Manzanilla Sherry!
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