Welcome to our first episode of The Art of Drinking with Join Jules and Your Favorite Uncle

In every episode after today, we will be teaching you how to make awesome cocktails at home, give you tips to be the best damn home bartender in your ‘hood, and give you a little back story on the drink so you have something interesting to say when you hand your new favorite cocktail to your guests. 

This season we will share: 14 foundational + a twist, so 28 in total or 2 per episode

Now this episode, you’ll get to know us a little better but more importantly, we are going to share with you how to set-up your home bar.

So, who is Uncle Brad and why is he your favorite uncle? Let’s have him tell you

I’m Brad Sutton, known as Uncle Brad. I am a self-proclaimed cocktail historian and home bartending geek. I love a good classic cocktail and a good story to go with it. I don’t have anything against modern cocktails and the twists and turns they take on the classic cocktail canvass… but I do believe you need to learn how to make the cocktail right the first time, so you know what good tastes like.. 

 So Uncle Brad, where did you get your start?

There are a few things that came together that put me where I’m at today.

#1 Bartending is in my blood – grandpa owned bars my Dad was a career bartender from the 1950s through the mid-90’s when he retired. I grew up in bars (not in a bad way) and as a result, the bar to me feels as comfortable as my own living room.

 #2 I mixed my first cocktail at the age of 8 in the back of my Dad’s car as we headed to our cabin in Northern MN… True story

What was it? Windsor Canadian and Tab!

Seriously though, I really enjoy mixing drinks. I bartended in college, I dove deep into studying how to be a bartender because I had to lie to get my first job, but kept the passion well after I got my 9-5 because it connected me to my father.

What was the lie, how did you study?

#3 The cocktail revolution happened about the same time I began to wonder, “there must be more to mixology than margaritas”. Prohibition cocktails became “a thing” and I had been amassing a huge collection of booze that was largely going unused

How did you amass a huge collection? 

I wanted to figure out how to use all of this alcohol I had and started buying recipie books, attending cocktail classes in bougie bars. But there was a problem… all of these classes and a lot of the recipe books I was reading called for proprietary or flat out absurd ingredients and techniques

Like what? Like a centrifuge. Or using Sodium Alginate (al juh nate)

Finally I got my hands on a prohibition eara cocktail book, took some tips from some of classes I was taking, rounded out my homebartending set-up… and boom. I started making some outstanding cocktails and teaching others how to do it. 

#4 I started to make a name for myself (teaching) and one day I was auctioned off at a charity event, and boom… I’m doing in home bartending classes and teaching soon to be influencers how to make classic drinks.

And I am Julianna McIntosh, better known as Join Jules!

You may know me from Instagram, Tik Tok, or you’re a regular here. But let me reintroduce myself. I am the creator and mixologist behind Join Jules cocktails! 

Growing up in Northern California, surrounded not only by a beautiful coastline, but also some of the best agriculture you can find. I was raised to understand the importance of freshness and experienced first hand what that truly meant. 

Now, all this said, you may be wondering… how did you get into cocktails? Well, it’s simple, really – I couldn’t cook and I really didn’t like to! Both my parents and sister were the chefs in the family and I was always left wondering… what’s my hobby? Having all this knowledge about fresh produce, seasonality, and most importantly, an appetite for great tasting flavors, I wanted to do something different. My friends reminded me that I love to host, ensure that everyone was taken care of, drink in hand (alcoholic or not). I have always loved to entertain. 

Well… I met with my Uncle. My uncle Brad is truly the one who got me into crafting these cocktails. So, I met with my uncle and he knew I had taken an interest in craft cocktails. So, one day he decided to give me a 1 on 1 lesson for three classic cocktails. It’s funny, you never really understand what goes into craft cocktail making until you start making them yourself. I learned that a little bit of lime juice goes a long way, that you don’t need to add simple syrup to everything, and that measuring is your best friend. Remember that cocktail making is like baking: you need to know the right measurements. And thanks to my Uncle Brad, my passion for craft cocktailing was born.

This long story boils down to this: Join Jules focuses on fresh flavors, seasonal cocktails, and most importantly, no matter what level of experience that anyone can create craft cocktails at home.

Now let’s get into the Art of Drinking

Get your pen and paper out, it’s time to take some notes. Here’s what we suggest to be one of the best home bartending, in your neighborhood.

Philosophy A: build your bar out 1 drink at a time, by following this show

Philosophy B: buy the foundation of what you’ll need (note, it’s going to be expensive) and supplement as you go

Base Spirits – we promise to use all

1. Gin

2. Vodka

3. Tequila – reposado

4. Rum (light)

5. Rum (aged) 

6. Bourbon

7. Rye

8. Brandy

9. Cognac

10. Scotch (blended)

11. Scotch single malt if you have scotch drinkers

Liqueurs – I strongly recommend you buy as needed

1. Sweet vermouth

2. Dry vermouth

3. Orange Liqueur 

4. Campari 

Bitters

1. Angostura

2. Orange

3. Peychaud’s (pronounced like: Pey Show – it’s red)

Mixers

1. Tonic – good tonic

2. Lemon/Lime Soda

3. Soda water – get a device to make your own

4. Gotta have coke

Equipment 

1. 2 double-sided jiggers – 1oz / 2oz and ½ oz & ¾ oz

2. Boston Shaker – I like the 28 / 18 tin on tin

3. Hawthorn Strainer

4. Juice Press (handheld ok, go for the electric)

5. Clear squeeze bottles (syrups and fresh juices)

6. Funnel

7. Pairing knife

8. Y-peeler (vegetable peeler)

9. Muddler

10. Fine mesh cocktail strainer

11. Barspoon

12. Mixing glass

13. Small cutting board for fruit

14. Bar towels

15.  Barmat if you like

16. Ice bucket 

17. Bitters bottles

Glassware – most drinks are going to be around 4oz – low-side 2.5oz to high-side 6 oz – then you add ice

1. Double Rocks glass

2. Coupe glass

3. Highball glass

4. Pint glass

5. Champagne flute

6. Martini glass

7. Collins glass

8. Lowball glass

9. Specialty glasses after this are your call

If you are more of a modern cocktail person, do that (I’m thinking this is where mezcal and your fancy liqueurs come in)

Make sure to listen every Wednesday at 12pm Est so you have time to go to the store, get the goods, and get ready to make your cocktail at home.

Episode 1 will be released next week and you won’t want to miss it. We are talking about the Old Fashioned… stay tuned and follow along!