Happy Hour

Cocktail creations by Umami Mart: shaken, stirred, and remixed.

July 15, 2009

Happy Hour: Hotel Nacional

by Payman Bahmani

Last week I shared with you the history and recipe of one of the most refreshing cocktails on the planet (in my humble opinion), the Daiquiri. Last Sunday, as I was sitting out on my Brooklyn balcony (read fire escape) and throwing one back I thought to myself, the readers deserve more Daiquiri action! So […]

July 8, 2009

Happy Hour: The Daiquiri

by Payman Bahmani

It is difficult to think of a classic cocktail that has gone through as many unflattering permutations–to the point where nearly all resemblance to the original has vanished–as the Daiquiri. That the word Daiquiri instantly conjures images of umbrella-laden, too-sweet-for-consumption slushees served to retirees on cruise ships only punctuates this point, since this modern-day mutation […]

July 1, 2009

Happy Hour: Tommy Collins (aka Thyme Collins)

by Payman Bahmani

This past week has been quite a bittersweet one for me. On the bitter side, one of my favorite musicians passed away; my people in Iran are facing unimaginable cruelty in their fight to take back a dream stolen from them first in 1953 and again in 1979; and of least relative importance, my computer’s […]

June 24, 2009

Happy Hour: Gin & June Part 4, Sloe Gin

by Payman Bahmani

Previous:Gin & June Part 1, London Dry & Plymouth GinsGin & June Part 2, GeneverGin & June Part 3, Old Tom Gin For the fourth and final installment of Gin & June, I’ve decided that sloe is the way to goe. I am, of course, referring to sloe gin. Of all the gins discussed this […]

June 17, 2009

Happy Hour: Gin & June Part 3, Old Tom Gin

by Payman Bahmani

Previous:Gin & June Part 1, London Dry and Plymouth GinGin & June Part 2, Genever June’s journey into the world of gin continues this week as we explore another long-lost type of gin called Old Tom. Old Tom is a lightly sweetened gin that reached the height of its popularity in 18th and 19th century […]

June 10, 2009

Happy Hour: Gin & June Part 2, Genever

by Payman Bahmani

Previous: Gin & June Part 1, London Dry & Plymouth Gin Last week I declared that gin would be Happy Hour’s operative agent of inebriation for the month of June. In accordance with that declaration, part 2 of Gin & June is about a lesser known variety of gin called Genever, the forefather of modern-day […]

June 3, 2009

Happy Hour: Gin & June Part 1, London Dry and Plymouth Gins

by Payman Bahmani

Summer is finally upon us, though at times the calendar seems to be the only evidence of its presence. As you prepare your summer plans and getaways, I’d like to supply you with information and inspiration that will be invaluable to your inebriation this season. The subject that I would like to discuss is Gin, […]

May 27, 2009

Happy Hour: Añejo Tequila Cocktails

by Payman Bahmani

Welcome back to Happy Hour, which for the month of May has been transformed into a tabernacle of tequila, where each week I have been featuring cocktails made with different types of tequilas (previous posts can be found here, here, and here). As the title indicates, the focus of this week is añejo tequila. Añejo […]

May 20, 2009

Happy Hour: Reposado Tequila Cocktails

by Payman Bahmani

For Happy Hour this week we are knee-deep in fermented agave and that’s just the way I like it. Last week I promised to feature tequila all this month, so this week I am featuring cocktails made with reposado tequila. You can see the past two weeks’ posts here and here. Reposado tequila is a […]

May 13, 2009

Happy Hour: Amaro Twilight

by Payman Bahmani

During last week’s Cinco de Mayo redux I mentioned flirting with the idea of featuring tequila all month long for Happy Hour. Well the flirting and foreplay is over, and it’s safe to say carnal knowledge has been obtained. For this week and the next two Happy Hours in May I will feature cocktails made […]