Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Proof.
How to Tip Your Bartender
If you’ve ever been desperate to know exactly how to tip your bartender in a restaurant, why you should tip them and even if you really have to, then stay tuned because this post is for you. Eating and dining out generally always requires a tip, but when you’re going to the local for a few pints or a couple glasses of rose wine… do you really need to think about tipping? Polls and studies show that in actual fact, you should be.
By Aaliyah Williams9 years ago in Proof
What to Do When You’re the Only One Not Drinking
I hate being the only one not drinking. I hate the awkward silences and muffled whispers when you announce your sobriety for the night and people awkwardly start to shuffle away from you. I mean, you would want to distance yourself from a weirdo too right? That’s exactly how my thought process used to be... Until I actually tried being the only one not drinking.
By Aaliyah Williams9 years ago in Proof
Facts About Alcohol You Didn't Know
Many people feel they have a good grasp on the various elements of alcohol after just buying one drink, as if that somehow makes you know every aspect of the drinking world. However, while many know that alcohol makes you drunk, most people seem to know only that.
By Shinji Kazuma9 years ago in Proof
Weird Drinking Laws in Europe
I wrote an article awhile back on weird American drinking laws, and, while there are more than enough to fill a second list, it's time to look across the pond at Europe. Europe has a long, storied history, which stretches back to the era of Imperial Rome to Imperial Britain. A lot of Imperialism, it appears.
By Miranda O'Conner9 years ago in Proof
Beginner's Guide to Brewing Beer
Many of us have wondered what it would be like to brew some beer, but very few of us ever have the confidence to start. The idea may birth itself in our minds, but we'll just shrug and go "Well, I don't know how to start, so maybe I ought to just give up now and do something else, like drink beer."
By Paul Barker9 years ago in Proof
Beer and Chocolate: A Match Made in Heaven
Have you ever thought about pairing beer and chocolate? Want to know more about it? Here are some things I learned from Cheryl Cade beer sommelier at The Thirst Consultants (yes real job who knew) when we sat down with a group of chocolaholics to pair 16 chocolates and 6 beers at Brew Dog in Norwich.
By David Greenwood-Haigh9 years ago in Proof
Refreshing Summer Vodka and Gin Cocktails
Considering how many different cocktails and mixed drinks there are, and the number and variety of new concoctions that are created every year, it's surprising to discover that two of the most popular drinks are still gin & tonic and vodka & tonic. Not far behind are two famous vodka based drinks--the Bloody Mary and the Screwdriver. And climbing back up on the charts is the most famous cocktail of them all, the Martini, made with either gin or vodka.
By Anthony Gramuglia9 years ago in Proof
How the Swizzle Stick Made a Comeback
Swizzle sticks may appear to be a bit of a relic from the 70s, but, in recent years, have made something of a comeback thanks to old-school nostalgia. Nostalgia tends to bring a lot of antiquated or outdated material back to the mainstream. It brought vinyl back from the grave, after all.
By Ray Shikinami9 years ago in Proof
10 Hilariously Creative Cocktail Books
It sometimes feels, after you've mixed a few drinks, that no one is creative anymore when asking for special cocktails. White Russian. Manhattan. Screw-driver. Long island ice tea. Every recipe is the same. Every one of them, snatched up from the same reprinted volume of classic drinks. Everyone knows what they are, so is there any point really getting creative when everyone drinks the same thing?
By Miranda O'Conner9 years ago in Proof
Tips for Making Classic Drinks
Pick up any bartender's guide and you'll find recipes for more than 1,000 drinks, and that doesn't include the latest cocktails created to promote a product or commemorate an event. Despite this proliferation of concoctions, an increasing number of people are rediscovering the classic cocktails of another era. The return of the Martini has been well documented; other popular drinks include the Bloody Mary, the Daiquiri, the Margarita, and the Old Fashioned. All of these can be given a contemporary twist with the addition or substitution of an ingredient or two.
By Lynne Shumaker9 years ago in Proof
Hacking Cheap Liquor
Nobody wants to drink from the bargain bin. Cheap liquor leaves a bad taste, ruins mixed drinks, and is a quick way to dampen the good vibes at a party. So, what if there was a way to turn that value-brand booze into something fit for royalty? Sound too good to be true? Behold, the magic of refiltering...
By Brent Smith9 years ago in Proof
