Martini, martini, martini. James Thurber once said: “One martini is all right. Two are too many, and three are not enough.†And wasn’t it W.C. Fields who said: “Buy me a drink and I’ll sing like a canary?” These quotes are more than just quips. They reveal the truth. Nobody likes a sloppy drunk. This week the gents go behind the bar to encourage you to drink in style. But what exactly is your style?

Starting with Where’s The Party?

The guys at The Table Set have a cautionary tale to tell about booze. How to enjoy it and how to avoid the ugly pratfalls that come from too much of a good thing. Straight vodka poured from the bottle to the glass is one way to become a sloppy drunk. Take the example of Arrested Development’s Lucille Bluth. Andy had a party to celebrate the return of one of his favorite TV shows. It involved costumes and sluts… and vodka. Girls With Low Self-Esteem indeed.

Drinking can be fun if you Keep it a Treat as Nathan reminds us. Before we get to the Do‘s, Greg wants to remind you of the Don’ts. Especially when flying. You don’t want to end up in the arms of a TSA agent now do you?

So how do you avoid the cocktail pitfalls? Drink what you enjoy and enjoy the process. But not everybody or every bar is a master at mixology. Greg has the the 3 M’s rule. When in doubt most bartenders can at least make some version of a Martini, Manhattan or Margarita. They may not always be good versions, but at least the bartender won’t stare blankly at your face when you say, “make me a Negroni or Boulevardier please.”

There are bars that know good cocktails though. Naturally the guys seek them out. From bitters through infusions– many of today’s bartenders are reaching for unexpected ingredients and employing culinary techniques to expand and sometimes challenge the palate. Herbs and spices are moving from the kitchen to the bar as more and more bartenders develop cocktails with a ‘from scratch’ approach– utilizing innovative ingredients and modern techniques to create a new category of beverages. That’s because we are in the midst of a cocktail renaissance. It may have started in the 80′s and 90′s with concoctions like the Sex in the City drink of choice, the Cosmopolitan. But as this renaissance develops the trend is becoming more sophisticated than those sweet pink drinks that Carrie Bradshaw and crew enjoyed.

So listen up before you drink up. The guys at The Table Set have something to say.

Bartender’s Choice app by the master bartenders behind New York City’s Milk & Honey

Nathan’s apple bitters recipe

Setting up your home bar

Home Bar Basics by Dave Stolte

How To Mix Drinks or A Bon Vivant’s Companion by Jerry Thomas

Bitters: A Spirited History of a Classic Cure-All, with Cocktails, Recipes, and Formulas by Brad Thomas Parsons