CHAPTER 9

BEER, WINE BUBBLES

When you pop a can of beer or uncork a bottle of wine, odds are you’re planning to enjoy that drink on its own. But beer and wine can integrate beautifully into cocktails, too. Sparkling wine, of course, is essential for numerous drinks, from the Aperol Spritz to the French 75. But recently, bartenders have experimented with still wines as well. Many cocktail ingredients are themselves wine-based, from vermouths to aperitifs like Lillet to grape brandies, and become natural pairings. Depending on the wine, it can add acidity, fruit flavors, herbal or earthy flavors—all characteristics a mixologist might want to play with in a cocktail. And beer, too, not only adds lift and carbonation, but can contribute the piney, herbal hops of an IPA or the weight and heft of a stout.