v Mixology :: Williams College Winter Study :: 2012

Mixology :: Winter Study 2012


Contact Information

Professor: Brent Heeringa
Email: heeringa [at] cs [dot] williams [dot] edu
Office: Thompson Chemistry Laboratory 306
Phone: 413.597.4711

Course Information

Course Classroom: Thompson Physics Lab 106
Course Laboratory: 40 Laurie Drive
Course Texts: Imbibe! by David Wondrich and The Joy of Mixology by Gary Regan

Course Description

We will cover the following topics in class: We will also have labs that cover the recipes and creation of:

Course Grading

You will be graded on class participation, cocktail identifications, short quizzes, an in-class presentation accompanied by a short paper, and a final project involving the creation of a new cocktail.

Course Paper

This course has broadly covered the art, history, and science of mixed drinks. This includes distillation and blending or spirits, base spirits, modifiers (including liqueuers and aromatized wine), and flavoring agents (including syrups and bitters), cocktail history and etymology, techniques, proportion, brands, company trajectory, cocktail taxonomies, and ice. Please identify a topic that loosely falls into one of these categories and write a 5-10 page paper about it. References do not count toward the page limit. I prefer 1-inch margins and 12-point font. Please clear your topic with me (email is fine) before class on Thursday. The paper is due by 12.00 (noon) on Thursday, 26 January 2012. You may submit your paper electronically.

Class Cocktails

Class Trip to Brick + Mortar

Meeting No. 1 :: 03 January :: Cocktail History, Etymology, and Taxonomy; Bourbon; Sours

Lab No. 1 :: 04 January :: Syrups

Meeting No. 2 :: 05 January :: Bitters; Rye; Spirit-Forward Aromatic Cocktails

Meeting No. 3 :: 10 January :: Vermouth; Gin; the Martini; Fizzes; and Collinses

Lab No. 2 :: 11 January :: Distilling; A Field Trip to Berkshire Mountain Distillers

Meeting No. 4 :: 12 January :: Rum, master class on Tiki by Brother Cleve

Meeting No. 5 :: 17 January :: Brandy, Eau de Vie, Calvados, Cognac, and Applejack; Juleps

Lab No. 3 :: 18 January :: Maraschino Cherries and Ice

Meeting No. 6 :: 19 January :: Agave; Tequila; Mezcal; Some Classic Cocktails and Revivers

Course Resources