Episode 6: Dale DeGroff

Dale DeGroff is one of the pioneers of the cocktail renaissance, and Episode 6 is devoted entirely to his stories of being a bartender in New York City and Los Angeles in the closing decades of the 20th century; his thoughts on the growth of the modern cocktail movement and the future of bars; and the recently released The New Craft of the Cocktail, a revised and updated edition of his influential 2002 book.Martini Cocktail 18881 oz. Old Tom gin (DeGroff uses Ransom)1 oz. sweet vermouth1 dash gomme syrup2 or 3 dashes bitters (DeGroff uses Bitter Truth Bogart’s Bitters)1 dash curaçao or absinthe (optional)Tools: barspoon, strainerGlass: cocktailGarnish: cherry or olive, lemon zestStir all of the ingredients with ice, then strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a cherry or an olive, then express the lemon peel over the top of the drink and discard.Adapted by Dale DeGroff Smoky Martini #2 2 oz. Hendricks Orbium gin1 oz. Reyka vodka1 oz. Martini Riserva Speciale Ambrato vermouth1 tsp. blended malt Scotch whisky (DeGroff uses Monkey Shoulder)4 dashes Dale DeGroff’s Pimento Aromatic BittersTools: barspoon, strainerGlass: cocktailStir all of the ingredients with ice, then strain into a chilled glass.Dale DeGroffRadio Imbibe is the audio home of Imbibe magazine. In each episode, we dive into liquid culture, exploring the people, places, and flavors of the drinkscape through conversations about cocktails, coffee, beer, spirits, and wine. Keep up with us at imbibemagazine.com, and on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and if you're not already a subscriber, we'd love to have you join us—click here to subscribe.