What is In the Mix?
In the Mix is a personal blog about history and craft of mixed drinks. Though I like thinking of it as more of a “journal.”
In the spirit of a journal, I aim to document my personal exploration into the world of spirits and cocktails. It will be a place for me to collect recipes and notes as I make various drinks, from the common and everyday to the rare and unusual.
When it comes to cadence, I’m aiming for a slow and steady pace. I’d like to publish a new recipe or note at least once a week, maybe more, likely on the weekends, when I’ll have the time and opportunity to make a drink (or two).
Initially, posts will fall into three categories: spirits, recipes, notes. Spirit posts will include history, tasting notes, and personal commentary. Recipe posts will add ingredients, assembly, and tools to that formula. Notes will cover a range of topics, like lists of drinks based on certain themes, bar tools, glassware, and more. Every post will include photographs of the spirit or assembled drink, so in some ways it’s also a visual journal too.
Eventually, if I’m posting enough, I may roll recent posts into a newsletter that will go out to anyone who subscribes. Cadence to be determined.
Why make In the Mix?
You may ask, “Does the world need another website with cocktail recipes?” And I’d say, “Nope.” There are so many fantastic ones out there. So why make a new one? Well, this ones for me! And who knows—maybe you too.
Here’s my three personal reasons.
First, In the Mix is first and foremost for me—an audience of one. For years I have enjoyed the process of both assembling drinks, as well as enjoying them, primarily as a hobbyist. I’ve never worked at a bar or made drinks for others outside of hosting a party. By starting to document, it’s leveling up my hobbyist interest to someting a bit more serious—both deepending my knowledge of the subject and developing a point-of-view that’s my own. Rather than jumping around to various other sites, I like the idea of gathering my favorites all in one place.
Second, in addition to exploring the history and craft of cocktails themselves, In the Mix will give me an opportunity to put into practice other interests. First, writing. I want to work on being a better writer, and there’s no better route than getting down and writing to do that. Second, photography. By including a photograph of the assembled drink with each post, I’ll have the opportunity break out the camera and do my best to capture a nice shot.
Third, given my background as a web designer and tinkerer, that I came of age at a time when blogs and blogging were new, and where we are today with the social media landscape, something about the idea of a personally published blog feels fitting for me at this stage in my life.
Who’s behind In the Mix
Hi there, I’m Jason. Husband to Molly and father to Louisa and Suzanna. I live in Gallatin, NY. I’m a marketer at a tech company. Outside of work, I have many areas of interest, and the craft and history of mixology is one. If you’d like to know more about me, check out my personal website, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Here goes nothing
If you’ve read this far—thanks for sticking around. If you’re into this sort of thing, I’d love for you to bookmark the site, subscribe to the RSS, leave a comment, or just come back every so often.
This is my first post, and to kick things off in the coming weeks, I’ll be working through a series of gin-based recipes from the official list of cocktails from the International Bartenders Association. I’ve been enjoying gin-based drinks over the summer, and it seemed like a good place to start. From there, we’ll see where it goes.
Best, Jason
