Five Adventurous Mixologists to Watch in 2021

There are a lot of mixologists on the web, and they tend to cover a lot of the same ground. Here are five mixologists that are doing things differently. From leveraging the chemistry of cocktails to foraging for ingredients, these mixologists mix things up. They will introduce you to new ways of making cocktails. But they’ll also provide insight into the history of mixology and where it is headed in 2021.

Amy Traynor ~ Moody Mixologist ~ New Hampshire

Amy is a self-professed “forager of wild edibles with a love of botanical ingredients and moody imagery.” She is also a cocktail recipe developer. Her blog is filled with exquisite images of her cocktail creations.

Her version of the Bees Knees (a Prohibition-era drink), the Yellowjacket, adds the herbal liquor Chartreuse.

One of the best sections of her blog is on foraged cocktails. Her Botanical Gin Cocktail uses tea sachets to infuse chamomile into a martini flavored with bitters and rosewater. Other concoctions use bee balm, mint, dandelion, and wood sorrel.

Her step-by-step guide to garnishes is a beautifully photographed exploration of not just how, but why, garnishes are used for cocktails.

Nick Fisher ~ Cocktail Chemistry (YouTube) ~ San Francisco

Nick’s YouTube channel is a showcase of unique ways to present cocktails and instructions on various techniques. He goes from the basics--how to make simple syrup, stirring vs. shaking, and the fundamentals of how to set up a home bar--to the more unusual. If you’ve ever wondered how to smoke a cocktail,  flame a citrus peel, or make a flaming cocktail, or how color-changing spirits work, this is the place to watch the step-by-step instructions.

At the top of his oddly excellent list of techniques are the coffee-filtered cocktails. Using a pour-over coffee set up, Nick tries out a Manhattan, a Boulevardier, and a Banana Cognac, each mixed up and then poured through 15g of freshly ground coffee.

His quirky sense of adventure includes recreating drinks from film and TV, including the Gibson from The Queen’s Gambit, and concoctions like the Horatio Cornblower and Peppermint Patty, among others, from the animated show Archer.

Corinne Mossati ~ Cocktails & Bars ~ Australia

A great resource from Down Under, Corinne Mossati is regularly on the list of influential Australians in the bartending and whiskey community. Her site includes an exhaustive list of cocktail recipes, book reviews, DIY home projects, and videos. Her series on Lockdown Cocktails showcases cocktails made from one bottle of spirit--Gin, Rum, Tequila, or Whiskey--matched with common pantry ingredients.

Her DIY Home Bar Projects range from making your own vermouth and flavored syrups to fermented mixers. Australia is a melting pot of influences, from Jalapeño infused tequila for a twist on a classic Paloma, to making your nori seaweed syrup for The Seaside--a Highball made with peated scotch whiskey. Not to mention her exquisite Penicillin Hot Toddy or Aged Home Made Eggnog, the perfect ending to a cold, snowy day.

If your idea of eggnog is a store-bought custard-like flavourless mixture that’s poured out of a carton, this recipe will change your mind. When made from fresh ingredients and left to mellow for a minimum of two weeks, eggnog is a rich, sweet and creamy drink with warm spice notes that make it ideal to enjoy in the colder months.

This version of eggnog is big and punchy, a recipe where that does not skimp on fat and booze. It has thickened cream, full cream milk, egg yolk, sugar and three dark spirits in equal parts: rum, brandy and bourbon. ~ Corrine

Chris Parish ~ The Joy of Drinking (Instagram) ~ Big Island, Hawaii

Chris Parish’s Instagram account is filled with beautiful cocktails ranging from classic martinis to Mai Tai's side by side with original creations. Layering drinks is Chris’ superpower, and he loves different densities of spirits and mixers, using his knowledge to create beautiful tiered drinks.

Chris’ posts also include garnishes as unique as caramelized bananas for a Mai Tai.

He also infuses gin, vodka and tequila to alter their colors, for drinks like his Violet Velvet variation on the classic margarita. If you feel in need of inspiration, The Joy of Drinking is a great place to spend some time.

Natalie Bovis ~ The Liquid Muse ~ Santa Fe

One of the first female mixologist bloggers and still going strong, Natalie Bovis founded her blog, The Liquid Muse, in 2006. The blog encompasses everything from the nitty-gritty of how to design your home bar, to the history of prohibition, and of course, cocktails!

From modern twists on classic cocktails--from the Bees Knees to her Chocolate Sidecar--reviews of her local Santa Fe cocktail scene are always informative with a dash of humor.

“I remember when the Blood and Sand cocktail was first described to me: equal parts scotch, orange juice, sweet vermouth and cherry brandy (sometimes Maraschino liqueur). My face did one of those crinkly things where your chin pulls back into your neck and your mouth turns, ever so unattractively, downward.

“Gross,” I quipped. It sounded like one of those nasty things people made in high school… mixing together literally anything in their parents’ liquor cabinet in a red plastic cup.

But, I rose to the occasion, and gave it a try… and it remains one of my fave whiskey drinks to this day.” ~ Natalie

Take a moment can check out these fantastic mixologists.

If you are interested in trying out some of the infusions mentioned above, the new Liquor Infuser is a great way to start. It works like a metal tea strainer, is reusable, and prevents the flavor contamination you sometimes get with infuser bags. 

Know a mixologist we should be watching? Think you might try one of the techniques or cocktails listed above? Let us know in the comments!

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