Past Commons Kits

This month we will be learning how to make 2 cocktails. Our classic is the Bees Knees, a cocktail that came about in the late 1920s. Our modern riff is the Ivey League which is named for a dear friend of mine. If you can’t drink with them, drink to them. That’s how the old adage goes, right?

September is here and the heat is being less of a sweaty jerk. We’re looking forward to cooler weather and it’s so close we can almost taste it. Almost. But not quite. So let’s keep our whistles wet and our palates refreshed this month with some herbal libations meant for emancipation from this summer gestation.  

This month we are all about rum. Rum is so varied, diverse and full of character yet it is often overlooked in the U.S. Rhum agricole is the recommended style for this month’s kit. We love it because if it’s unique grassy character that keeps cocktails tasting fresh and bright rather than rich and savory.

This month is all about agave. Because we can’t think of a better way to stave off the summer swelter than with some distillate from one of our favorite succulents. 

The agave was considered a sacred plant with native Mexicans long before the Spanish arrived. Agave played an integral part in religious rituals, mythology and the economy. The heart of the agave plant is called the "piña".

As with most popular cocktails it is often difficult to find a concise origin story. The history of a cocktail requires tons of research which typically requires flipping through old newspapers and recipe books. There wasn’t a database or encyclopedia where bartenders stored recipes.

There is no better example of this than the French 75, a mixture of gin (or maybe Cognac?), lemon, sugar and Champagne.