Good Eats: Raising the Bar

The man behind the bar is just as much a chef as the man in front of a stove. Alton demonstrates this from “Good Drinks,” the bar where he serves a Martini, a Daiquiri, and (with a little help from a certain southern gent) a Mint Julep. Alton claims that mastery of these beverages and the techniques and ideas behind them will enable even the amateur mixologist to prevail.

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Episode Info

Episode number: 9x16
Production Number: EA0917
Airdate: Wednesday January 25th, 2006

Writer: Alton Brown

Guest Stars

Deb Duchon
As Nutritional Anthropologist

Recurring

Recap

Now an adult, Alton sits on his couch and remembers a bit of his childhood: his father coming home, kissing his mother, dropping his hat on Alton’s head and then mixing up cocktails. That clinking ice signaled that the workday was over. These days it seems the workday is rarely over, but Alton intends to keep the cocktail tradition alive anyway. Master just three drinks and you will know most of the mixology you will ever need...

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Episode Notes

Cards

Ice blocks used to be harvested from frozen ponds with hand axes and saws.
The Bloody Mary is named after England’s Queen Mary, remembered for her bloody persecution of Protestants.
A martini containing equal portions of both sweet and dry vermouth is referred to as “perfect”.
1.5 oz of liquor contains about the same amount of alcohol as 6 ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer.
Strange but true: “rum” comes from rumbullion meaning “good soup”.

Cultural References

Stabbing the ice, Sharon Stone style
In 1992, Sharon Stone starred in Basic Instinct, a film that revealed... a lot, including Sharon’s skill with an ice pick. Fortunately Alton puts it to a less violent use in this episode.

The vodka martini, shaken... not stirred is the signature of just one man... Ian Fleming’s superspy James Bond. Various other references in this segment, including the ejector button under the bar, leave no doubt who Alton’s mystery guest must be.

Colonel Bob Boatwright, who has appeared previously, is clearly a send up of Harlan Sanders, who made a fortune selling fried chicken all over the country. Here he explains without apology how he prepares a signature Southern drink, the mint julep.

Episode References

The Good Drinks bar returns. It last appeared in "School of Hard Nogs."

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