Review of Art of the Drink

Anthony Caporale’s

mixology how-to vlog is based off his product Art of the Drink, which has the unusual charm of being able to claim its status as “America’s #1 Bartending DVD.” As a bar instructor and a “bar chef” for over 15 years and a contributor to Taste TV, he has seen his share of amateur bartenders and learned about the best ways to teach them: with a focus on the history of the drink, education about the liquors involved, and instructions that are easy to understand.

With an array of new co-hosts – called “DrinkArt Girls” – that rotate each month, Anthony’s videos are terse segments that get straight to the point. Each one is three to five minutes long and shows the master mixer explaining everything from the right glass and the right amount of ice, to which liquors to use for each drink and why. Except for his interview segments and On the Road spots, all the episodes are shot (with surprisingly multiple camera angles) behind Anthony’s simple bar, where he mixes everything from a Flaming Zombie to a Blue Motorcycle. The videos are accompanied by an equally informative blog, which discusses ideas that the how-to drink vids don’t have time for – like what the term “proof” means and the qualitative difference between shaking and basic straining.

Art of the Drink is incredibly informative. I learned a lot just by reading the blog entry on tonic water. On top of being knowledgeable, Anthony is also clear and concise. So if you’re at all interested in learning about how to mix a specific drink, search for the right video and get educated.