Latest Post
Peninsula NYC Review: One of New York’s Grandest Hotels
There are hotel brands, and then there’s the Peninsula. I’ve been enamored with Peninsula hotels ever since 2010. I was living in Bangkok in a $200/month apartment. To celebrate my birthday I decided to go to the Mandarin Oriental on the Chao Praya river to visit Bamboo Bar – one of the best jazz bars in…
Continue Reading Peninsula NYC Review: One of New York’s Grandest Hotels
Cocktail Recipes
Oaxacan Old Fashioned: The Ultimate Tequila Cocktail?
I still remember the very first Oaxacan Old Fashioned I ever had. It was at Teardrop Cocktail Lounge in Portland, Oregon. When I travel to bars, people often…
Continue Reading Oaxacan Old Fashioned: The Ultimate Tequila Cocktail?
Bananerac Cocktail Recipe: This Banana Sazerac is Incredible
If you’ve read my list of best cocktail books, then you know what a fan I am of the Cocktail Codex book from the Death & Co team. …
Continue Reading Bananerac Cocktail Recipe: This Banana Sazerac is Incredible
Georgia Monk Cocktail: A Complex Green Chartreuse Cocktail
Every once in awhile you create a cocktail that catches you by surprise. That was the case with this green chartreuse cocktail, the Georgia Monk. I wanted to…
Continue Reading Georgia Monk Cocktail: A Complex Green Chartreuse Cocktail
7 of the Best Whiskey Cocktails To Make At Home
Over here at Slightly Pretentious, we love a good Whiskey. Bourbon. Scotch. Rye. We’re pretty much on board for whatever variety you can name. But you know what…
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A Slightly Pretentious Mai Tai Recipe
I still remember the first “Mai Tai” I ever had. It was 2006 and I was staying at the Embassy Suites in Maui with my friend Ryan and…
We Tested 5 Singapore Sling Recipes: This One Was by *FAR* the Best
I have a long history with the Singapore Sling. Years ago, I posted on my bucket list that I wanted to visit the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, and…
Continue Reading We Tested 5 Singapore Sling Recipes: This One Was by *FAR* the Best
Home Bar
Best Cocktail Books in 2022: 14 Must-Have Books for the Home Bartender
This post was updated in January 2022 to add “Welcome Home” to our list of best cocktail books. Amongst my friends, it’s safe to say I’ve developed a…
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How to Make Simple Syrup with Demerara Sugar
When it comes to keeping a well-stocked home bar, it doesn’t get much more basic than simple syrup. Along with bitters, simple syrup is one of the most…
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Blind Test Reveals Best Ginger Beer for a Moscow Mule
Now that Fall is upon us I want to tell you a bit about my go to drink for….last Summer. Ok, so the timing may be a bit…
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Hotel Reviews
Peninsula NYC Review: One of New York’s Grandest Hotels
There are hotel brands, and then there’s the Peninsula. I’ve been enamored with Peninsula hotels ever since 2010. I was living in Bangkok in a $200/month apartment. To celebrate…
Continue Reading Peninsula NYC Review: One of New York’s Grandest Hotels
Shangri-La London Review: Every Bit as Good as You’d Expect
My first experience at a Shangri-La hotel was, well, a little over the top. We went to the Shangri-La Villingili for our honeymoon in the Maldives. It was…
Continue Reading Shangri-La London Review: Every Bit as Good as You’d Expect
Four Seasons Atlanta Review: Still the Preeminent Mid-Town Hotel?
The first time I stayed at the Four Seasons Atlanta, I really didn’t want to be there. It was 2016. I was in Georgia to attend The Masters,…
Continue Reading Four Seasons Atlanta Review: Still the Preeminent Mid-Town Hotel?
Bar Reviews
15 Best Hotel Bars in the World (These Places are Insane)
There’s a good chance when you hear the words “hotel bar” you have visions of a business traveler in middle-America, drinking a Coors Light in a bar completely…
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Islay Scotch: The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Islay, Scotland
For the last five years, I’ve been a huge fan of Islay scotch. Like, the “I’m not an alcoholic, but if you look at my whiskey shelf at home you’d…
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Tales and Spirits Review: Why It’s the Best Bar in Amsterdam
It had been over ten years since I’d visited Amsterdam – and let’s just say my two trips couldn’t have been more different. My first Amsterdam experience was…
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Most Recent Posts
Peninsula NYC Review: One of New York’s Grandest Hotels
There are hotel brands, and then there’s the Peninsula. I’ve been enamored with Peninsula hotels ever since 2010. I was living in Bangkok in a $200/month apartment. To celebrate my birthday I decided to go to the Mandarin Oriental on the Chao Praya river to visit Bamboo Bar – one of the best jazz bars in…
Continue Reading Peninsula NYC Review: One of New York’s Grandest Hotels
Shangri-La London Review: Every Bit as Good as You’d Expect
My first experience at a Shangri-La hotel was, well, a little over the top. We went to the Shangri-La Villingili for our honeymoon in the Maldives. It was hands down the bougiest (is that a word?) week of my life, and I felt much cooler than I really am while staying at the resort. I first…
Continue Reading Shangri-La London Review: Every Bit as Good as You’d Expect
Four Seasons Atlanta Review: Still the Preeminent Mid-Town Hotel?
The first time I stayed at the Four Seasons Atlanta, I really didn’t want to be there. It was 2016. I was in Georgia to attend The Masters, and we were set to fly out the day after we attended the tournament. Unfortunately, some unprecedented stormy weather hit the region, which forced Delta to cancel…
Continue Reading Four Seasons Atlanta Review: Still the Preeminent Mid-Town Hotel?
Hotel Viking Review: A Newport, Rhode Island Gem
My long-time editor and colleague Liz Froment recently visited the Hotel Viking in Newport, Rhode Island. I knew this place was a perfect fit for Slightly Pretentious from the moment she said she was going. A beautiful hotel that also has placed a focus on its cocktail education program? Sign us up! Liz spent two…
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Best Cocktail Books in 2022: 14 Must-Have Books for the Home Bartender
This post was updated in January 2022 to add “Welcome Home” to our list of best cocktail books. Amongst my friends, it’s safe to say I’ve developed a bit of a reputation as the “cocktail guy.” What can I say, I appreciate a good drink! But over the last few years, my cocktail tastes have…
Continue Reading Best Cocktail Books in 2022: 14 Must-Have Books for the Home Bartender
Oaxacan Old Fashioned: The Ultimate Tequila Cocktail?
I still remember the very first Oaxacan Old Fashioned I ever had. It was at Teardrop Cocktail Lounge in Portland, Oregon. When I travel to bars, people often ask me if I have a “go-to” order. I tell them, I usually like to order from the menu, as when it comes to the best cocktail…
Continue Reading Oaxacan Old Fashioned: The Ultimate Tequila Cocktail?
Ritz Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee Review: A Wonderful Retreat
When someone mentions the Ritz-Carlton, you likely get a certain image in your mind. For me? It’s the oceanfront Half Moon Bay Resort, or the towering Hong Kong Ritz Carlton. But you know what doesn’t come to mind (or at least didn’t until recently)? A sprawling summer camp-like resort on a manmade lake about halfway…
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The St. Regis Atlanta Review: Why It’s the Best Hotel in the City
I still remember the first St. Regis hotel I ever visited. It was at the tail end of a 2 month round the world trip, at the St. Regis Shanghai. I was blown away. Sure at the time it was a brand new property, but everything about it was a step above. From the in-room…
Continue Reading The St. Regis Atlanta Review: Why It’s the Best Hotel in the City
Bananerac Cocktail Recipe: This Banana Sazerac is Incredible
If you’ve read my list of best cocktail books, then you know what a fan I am of the Cocktail Codex book from the Death & Co team. The reason it’s so great is because it does three things very well: It teaches you the essentials of creating a great cocktail. One read through the…
Continue Reading Bananerac Cocktail Recipe: This Banana Sazerac is Incredible
Georgia Monk Cocktail: A Complex Green Chartreuse Cocktail
Every once in awhile you create a cocktail that catches you by surprise. That was the case with this green chartreuse cocktail, the Georgia Monk. I wanted to make something new, so I literally sat looking at my bar and tried to choose a few ingredients that I thought might work, despite being, well, an…
Continue Reading Georgia Monk Cocktail: A Complex Green Chartreuse Cocktail