Everything But the Bottle

08/29/2026

Essential Equipment: The Shot Glass

Yep… we’ve talked about this one before.

But since The Frisky Witch made an appearance this week, we're bringing it back. 🧙‍♀️

The humble shot glass is one of those pieces of barware that tends to get overlooked.

Sure, it's made for shots. But it's also handy for:

🥃 Serving spirits & liqueurs for tasting
🍹 Pre-measuring ingredients before you start mixing
🧪 Testing a new combination before committing to a full cocktail
🖤 Serving those little recipes that are meant to be enjoyed in one or two ounces

And here's an important little reminder:

Not all shot glasses hold the same amount. Some are 1 oz, some are 1½ oz, and some are even larger. So while a shot glass can be useful for portioning, your jigger is still your best friend when you need an exact measurement.

Sometimes the most useful tools behind the bar aren't the fanciest ones.

They're the ones you actually reach for.

And yes… sometimes that's just a shot glass. 😉

Do you have a dedicated shot glass at home, or are you a “grab whatever tiny glass is clean” kind of bartender?

08/28/2026

🖤 Two Ways to Love Black Sambuca

We've been talking about that bottle of black sambuca sitting in the back of your cabinet… so let's give it something to do.

Here are two very different ways to enjoy it.

🖤 BLACK BEAUTY

1¾ oz vodka
¾ oz black sambuca
Olive

Stir vodka and black sambuca with ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with an olive.

Sipably smooth. Dark & sophisticated. With just enough anise to keep things interesting.

🧙‍♀️ THE FRISKY WITCH

½ oz vodka
½ oz black sambuca

Pour into a shot glass. And shoot.

That's it.

Because sometimes you don't need a complicated cocktail. You just need a little vodka, a little black sambuca, and a willingness to get a little frisky. 😉

Which one are you reaching for?

🖤 Black Beauty — “I have excellent taste.”

🧙‍♀️ The Frisky Witch — “This seemed like a good idea.” 😂

08/26/2026

Technique Tuesday: Let's Set This One on Fire 🔥

Black sambuca. Coffee beans. Fire.

It's definitely more dramatic than our usual Technique Tuesday.

The traditional way of serving sambuca sometimes involves three coffee beans, representing health, happiness, and prosperity. The coffee beans also bring a roasted bitterness that plays beautifully against sambuca's sweet anise flavor.

And yes — the sambuca can be briefly flamed.

But here's the technique:
The goal isn't to burn the drink. It's to briefly warm the sambuca and caramelize some of those aromatic flavors before extinguishing the flame.

🖤 Black Sambuca Coffee
1½ oz black sambuca
3 coffee beans
1 oz freshly brewed espresso
½ oz coffee liqueur
Ice, if serving chilled

For the flaming version:
Add the sambuca and coffee beans to a heat-safe glass and carefully ignite. Allow it to flame briefly, then extinguish completely before adding anything else.

For a chilled version, let it cool, then shake with espresso and coffee liqueur and strain over fresh ice.

☕ Why it works:
The sweet anise of black sambuca + bitter coffee + roasted coffee beans = a surprisingly sophisticated combination.

And if you still have that bottle of black sambuca gathering dust in the back of your cabinet after making that one cocktail…

Now you have another reason to pull it out. 😉

Safety first: Never pour alcohol from the bottle near an open flame, and only flame spirits in an appropriate heat-safe glass with proper fire precautions.

08/23/2026

You bought it for that one cocktail.

You made the cocktail. You liked it.

And now the bottle of black sambuca has been sitting in the back of the cabinet ever since.

We’ve all been there.

Sambuca is one of the best-known Italian anise-flavored liqueurs outside of Italy, but it’s definitely not the only one. And while black sambuca has a pretty distinctive flavor — sweet, herbal, and boldly anise-forward — it can do a whole lot more than make a single cocktail.

Try it with:

🍫 Chocolate – A splash in chocolate sauce, brownies, truffles, or cake can add a surprisingly delicious depth.

☕ Coffee & espresso – Think beyond the after-dinner shot. Black sambuca and coffee are a seriously good match.

🍊 Citrus – Orange, lemon, and grapefruit can balance the sweetness and complement those herbal anise notes.

🍒 Fruit – Black cherries, berries, and stone fruits are natural partners for that bold flavor.

🥃 Cocktails – Use a little as an accent in coffee cocktails, dessert drinks, Old Fashioned variations, or anything that could use a touch of herbal complexity.

And yes… you could just keep it in the cabinet until the next time someone asks for that one cocktail.

But why?

We’re here to help you find ways to use the ingredients you already have — because nobody needs a cabinet full of bottles that only get used once.

What’s the bottle in your cabinet that you bought for one recipe and haven't figured out what else to do with?

08/14/2026

🚨 BE SAFE! 🚨

If you're in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, or anywhere else affected by this weather, please take care of yourself and your family.

We've watched our neighbors across the region deal with flooding, rescues, damaged homes, power outages and so much uncertainty. The storms may pass, but the recovery is going to take time.

If you have the ability to help, we'd encourage you to consider Matthew 25: Ministries.

There are lots of ways to support them:
💰 Donate — even a small donation helps provide disaster relief and supplies.
🛍️ Shop — visit their store and support their work while finding something you need.
📦 Donate needed items — Matthew 25 accepts new and gently used products that can be redistributed to people in need and disaster victims.
🙋‍♀️ Volunteer — if you have the time and ability, your hands can make a difference too.

You don't have to be able to do everything.

Just do what you can.

Thrift & Consignment Store

08/10/2026

Tequila: It’s Not Just for Margaritas!

When you hear tequila, does your mind immediately go to margaritas?

We get it. 🍋‍🟩 But tequila can do so much more!

Tequila’s earthy, slightly sweet flavor can be a great addition to:
Marinades for chicken or shrimp
Citrus-based sauces
Salsas and fruit-forward dishes
Desserts like tequila-lime cake or sorbet
Cocktails AND mocktail-inspired drinks

And here's a fun little fact: real tequila can only be made in specific regions of Mexico, with most production centered around the state of Jalisco.

So today, we're raising a glass to an ingredient that deserves a little more creativity.

How do you use tequila—classic margarita, creative cocktail, or in the kitchen?

08/07/2026

Back to School Shopping? We've got you covered!

Who needs a tax-free weekend when our Moving Sale Prices stay active until Sunday!

We can't sell it to you tax-free, but we can still sell it for up to 50% off.

Order online today!

No discounts on Gift Certificates and shipping costs.

08/06/2026

✨ It's Poll Time! ✨

When you're making a drink at home, what's your biggest challenge?

A. I never know what flavors go together.
B. I get stuck making the same drink every time.
C. I want something that looks fancy without a lot of work.
D. I need ideas for great alcohol-free drinks.

Drop your letter (or tell us your own answer!) in the comments. 👇

Your answers help us decide what recipes, tips, classes, and products to share next.

08/03/2026

Happy National Watermelon Day! 🍉

Did you know watermelon is about 92% water, making it one of the most refreshing fruits of summer? It has been enjoyed for over 5,000 years, and there are more than 1,200 varieties grown around the world!

A few of our favorite ways to enjoy watermelon:
Just slice and eat.
Muddle it with mint and lime for a refreshing mocktail.
Add sparkling water for an easy summer cooler.
Pair it with basil, cucumber, or a splash of citrus for something a little unexpected.

Now it's your turn...

What's your favorite way to enjoy watermelon?
Fresh? In a cocktail or mocktail? On the grill? Or straight from the fridge?

Tell us in the comments!

07/31/2026

Today's Recipe is what happens when our Tuesday Technique post and Saturday's Spiral Bar Spoon have a baby:

🍋 The Meyer Lemon Collins!

Ingredients
• ¾ oz Meyer Lemon Syrup
• ½ oz fresh lemon juice (optional for extra brightness)
• Sparkling water or club soda
• Ice
• Lemon wheel & fresh mint for garnish

Directions
1️. Fill a Collins glass with ice.
2️. Add the Meyer Lemon Syrup and lemon juice.
3️. Top with sparkling water.
4️. Using your spiral bar spoon, gently stir by rolling the handle between your fingers so the spoon travels around the inside of the glass. Just a few smooth rotations are all you need!
5. Garnish with a lemon wheel and fresh mint.

Make it your own: Add 2 oz of gin for a classic Collins, vodka for a clean citrus cocktail, or bourbon for a smooth summer twist. Prefer zero-proof? Your favorite gin alternative works beautifully too.

The result? A perfectly blended, crisp, bubbly mocktail with every sip as refreshing as the first.

What's your favorite bar spoon trick? Let us know in the comments!