Milk Street Digital Class: Cocktails for Autumn with J.M. Hirsch

About this Pre-Recorded Class:

We love to change the way we cook according to the seasons. Why not do the same with cocktails? J.M. Hirsch, Milk Street’s Editorial Director and author of “Shake Strain Done” and the new book “Pour Me Another,” is the leader of this pre-recorded Zoom livestream class featuring four cocktails that are perfect for crisp autumn evenings. You’ll learn how to draw inspiration from classic fall flavors like apple, pumpkin, maple and citrus and translate them into drinks that are balanced, complex and fun to drink. We start with a spin on apple pie that—spoiler alert—doesn’t actually include any apple. Instead, a combination of apricot brandy and grenadine creates gentle sweetness atop a foundation of white rum and vermouth. Then, we turn to a pumpkin spice latte in cocktail form. Never fear: the cloying sugariness of most pumpkin treats is nowhere to be seen here, as a generous amount of bourbon and splashes of two types of bitters keep the sweetness in check. Next, for you gin lovers out there, we have The Mule’s Hind Leg, which combines gin with Bénédictine, the herbal French liqueur that will become a staple of your bar cart. Finally, we wrap up the journey through J.M.’s choose-your-own-adventure book with some buttered rum. He turns this classic on its head by using fat washing, a fancy-sounding technique that is actually well within reach of the home bartender. Join us to add some refreshing seasonality to your cocktail routine.