IN THE SPIRIT FEATURING: DERRICK SCHOMMER
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TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF:
My team and I host and run an online youtube cocktail channel known as Common Man Cocktails. My wife does a lot of the recipe design when working on our own custom recipes (like the ones included here).
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR MOST RECENT PROJECTS?
Most recently we launched a new Youtube channel called The Craft Cocktail, more as an educational series, to try to help new cocktail enthusiasts get started from the ground up.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RECIPE YOU HAVE COME UP WITH USING AN AJC PRODUCT? WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND IT?
Gin Berry Blues, as it focused on blueberry as a base juice. Blueberries have been extremely hard for us to work with, infusions come out too subtle and infusions take a long time to get the correct balance of flavor and light sweetness.
WHEN YOU ARE COMING UP WITH NEW DRINKS, DO YOU HAVE A SOURCE(S) FOR INSPIRATION?
Our biggest inspiration is the current season, seasonality has a lot to do with our base spirit selection and direction we want to take a drink. In many cases we try to work them into themes or pop culture references as they tend to drive more interest that way.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAR, WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK DO YOU RECOMMEND IT, AND WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE CAN A VISITOR EXPECT?
I was really impressed with the Bourbon O in New Orleans French Quarter as well as the French 75. Every year we visit New Orleans we spend a few hours a week at The Bourbon O, they make great drinks, have a good deal of space and a nice selection--plus, a shaking machine for creating longer versions of the Ramos Gin Fizz.
WHAT INFO ABOUT COCKTAILS DO MOST PEOPLE MAKING DRINKS AT HOME NOT KNOW THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THEM?
Aspiring home enthusiasts should spend more time on sugar infusions. It's extremely easy to extract flavor with sugars, making basil simple syrups, sage syrups or mint verbena syrups can create flavor profiles that save you money hunting rare liqueurs. For example, creating an elderflower simple syrup can give you just the right base sweetness for a champagne or cocktail recipe without having to always hunt for expensive elderflower liqueurs. Lemon Verbena simple syrup creates a Lemon Head candy like infusion which can be used for many great cocktails that call for simple syrup to give them a light citrus zing.
FAVORITE AJC FLAVOR?
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE
We'd love for you to checkout our two Youtube channels:
Common Man Cocktails, http://youtube.com/everydaydrinkers
The Craft Cocktails, http://youtube.com/thecraftcocktail