fact or fiction
Is it a fact or is it merely fiction? Exploring the myths surrounding the effects of alcohol beyond the classic 'beer before liquor, never been sicker'.
Spirit and Place: How Geography Shapes What We Pour
Behind every great spirit is a landscape. Not just in the poetic sense, but in the literal one: the soil, the water, the altitude, the temperature swings between dusk and dawn. These environmental variables shape flavor, but more than that, they shape culture. To pour a glass of mezcal or Scotch or Jamaican rum is to pour a geography—bottled, aged, and shipped from somewhere specific. Somewhere that matters.
By Sofia Mertinezz6 months ago in Proof
The Empty Barstool: What We Leave Behind When We Leave a Drink
In the quiet moments after last call, when the hum of conversation has faded and glasses have been cleared, something remains. A barstool still warm from its former occupant. A water ring on polished wood. A half-melted cube of ice marking time. These small remnants tell a story of presence—and of absence. In a bar, what’s left behind can speak louder than what was said aloud.
By Ava Mitchell6 months ago in Proof
Taste as Translation: Turning Emotions Into Ingredients
Some feelings resist language. They arrive in the chest, not the throat—inarticulate, layered, hard to name. But behind the bar, there’s a different vocabulary. Here, emotion finds form through flavor. The bartender becomes a translator, rendering longing into lemon zest, melancholy into amaro, exhilaration into effervescence. Taste, in this world, becomes not just sensory but expressive—a language spoken in ingredients, ratios, and ritual.
By Aisha Patel6 months ago in Proof
Repetition and Reverence: The Meditative Nature of Shaking a Drink
The motion of shaking a cocktail isn’t just functional—it’s ritualistic. Each precise movement, from the grip to the arc of the shake, becomes its own kind of meditation. Like the repetitive chants of a mantra or the brushstrokes of a calligrapher, shaking a drink engages body and mind in a synchronized effort. In a world that glorifies speed, the bartender’s deliberate, rhythmic shaking offers a moment of stillness in motion—a space where attention sharpens and everything else falls away.
By Ethan Chen6 months ago in Proof
Symphony in Syrup: Music, Rhythm, and the Flow of Mixology
Watch a bartender work, and you’ll see choreography. The clink of ice, the hiss of a soda gun, the soft metallic ring of a spoon against the glass — it’s not just functional. It’s musical. There’s a cadence to cocktail creation, a symphony made from repetition, memory, and motion. And much like music, the process of mixology is as emotional as it is technical.
By Sofia Mertinezz6 months ago in Proof
Do COVID-19 Vaccines Increase Heart Attack Risk?
Since the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, billions of people have been vaccinated in an effort to curb the devastating effects of the pandemic. While the vaccines have significantly reduced hospitalizations and deaths, some concerns have emerged—particularly regarding the risk of heart-related issues such as heart attacks. Reports, social media posts, and even some news outlets have fueled speculation that COVID-19 vaccines might increase the risk of heart attacks or other cardiovascular problems. But what does the science really say?
By Taimoor Khan6 months ago in Proof
A Bartender’s Still Life: How Arrangement Becomes Art
In the quiet lull before the first guests arrive, a bartender arranges bottles, tools, and garnishes with deliberate care. To the untrained eye, it might look like simple prep. But to those who’ve lived behind the bar, it’s a ritual—a composition of color, texture, and symmetry that transforms a practical space into something expressive. This is the bartender’s still life: a moment of calm, control, and artistic identity nestled in the heart of hospitality.
By Aisha Patel6 months ago in Proof
Quiet Luxury in a Coupe Glass: Minimalism Behind the Bar
In a world enamored with excess—oversized garnishes, viral concoctions, and drinks set ablaze for spectacle—there’s a quiet rebellion happening in the stillness of a coupe glass. Minimalism, often mistaken for lack, is in fact a philosophy of refinement: stripping away the unnecessary to spotlight the essential. And in the realm of cocktails, that means letting balance, proportion, and intention take center stage.
By Ethan Chen6 months ago in Proof
Why I Never Took the COVID Vaccine—
In 2020, I was the interim manager of a COVID testing center in Arizona. At the time, the air was thick with fear, compliance, and nonstop policy pivots. Most people were just trying to keep up. But I’ve worked in aDNA and DNA research since 2001, including forensic-level studies into cellular behavior, trauma, gene signaling, and long-range risk patterns. Way back in 1998, I worked on a prison system project with OSHA for college credit—and that’s where I learned how to read their chemical data sheets. So when the first vaccines were rushed through under emergency use, I didn’t line up. I paused. And I did what I’ve always done when something doesn’t sit right: deep research!
By Dr. Mozelle Martin6 months ago in Proof
WWE – Is It Real or Fake?
Introduction World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has captivated millions around the globe with its blend of high-octane action, dramatic storytelling, and charismatic superstars. From childhood memories of legendary wrestlers like The Undertaker and Stone Cold Steve Austin to today’s icons like Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, WWE has remained a cultural phenomenon. However, a persistent debate surrounds the sport: Is WWE real or fake?
By Fawad Khan6 months ago in Proof
The Intimacy of Bitterness: Why Not All Drinks Should Be Easy
There’s a quiet defiance in ordering a bitter drink. While sweet, fruity cocktails often greet the palate with immediate charm, bitterness is an acquired taste — one that doesn’t beg for affection but earns it slowly, sip by sip. And maybe that’s why it feels so intimate. Bitterness demands presence, patience, and a willingness to linger with discomfort. In a world addicted to ease and instant gratification, it whispers: “Not everything worth savoring comes sweet.”
By Ava Mitchell6 months ago in Proof
The Five Senses of a Perfect Drink: Beyond Flavor Alone
When we think about cocktails, flavor often takes center stage. But a truly perfect drink is a symphony played across all five senses — not just taste. Every sip is an immersive experience shaped by sight, smell, sound, and touch just as much as by the ingredients themselves. Understanding how these senses interplay can elevate your enjoyment and deepen your appreciation of mixology.
By Aisha Patel6 months ago in Proof
