On the job.

Cocktails and Culture

When I say "The Mix" is about "cocktails and culture," I'm merely saying it is a reflection of my long career as a journalist and author, at both The New York Times and the many other publications. While the bulk of my words over the past 15 years or so have been devoted to cocktails, spirits, bars and bartenders--including the books The Old-Fashioned, A Proper Drink, 3-Ingredient Cocktails, The Martini Cocktail, Mezcal and Tequila Cocktails and, most recently, Modern Classic Cocktails— I've also put in many enjoyable hours pursuing my other passions, including food, restaurants (mainly old ones), regional food traditions, hot dogs, travel, literature and book stores, New York history, Wisconsin stuff, cooking, and all sorts of whatnot. The Mix gathers all of that and more in one space. 

I cover these subjects in all sorts of ways. During my decades as a writer, I've worn many hats: news reporter, feature writer, critic, interviewer, photographer, pundit, historian, etc. I bring all those roles and skills to The Mix, matching each particular role to the post and task at hand. The Mix is both serious and lighthearted, in-depth and breezy, new-oriented and opinionated, critical and supportive. There are recipes, reviews, opinions, profiles, photos, interviews, conversations, sound bites, remembrances, tributes and observations. What there isn’t on The Mix are any punches pulled or sponcon, as I am happily unbeholden and untethered to liquor interests. So, if you see me writing about a brand of spirits or a bar or even a person, I and I only have chosen to write about them. 

Thank you for being a part of the cocktail community and supporting my work!

Why Subscribe?

Free Membership will get you access to occasional posts on The Mix and a taste of what I'm doing here. However, please note that all free posts will become archived after two weeks and will thereafter only be accessible to paid subscribers.

Paid Monthly Subscription ($6.00) or Paid Annual Subscription ($50) will get you everything: all the articles, news items, interviews, spirit reviews, sidebars, bar news, cocktail recipes, travelogues, restaurant and saloon visits, voice memos and other audio stuff, musings and what have you. Field Reports are exclusively available to paid subscribers. I’ll publish at least two times a week, but probably more. 

Bar Regular Subscription at $150 will get you all of the above, plus a signed copy of my book Modern Classic Cocktails which was released Oct. 2022; a Big Thank You; AND a “Regular” plaque on the virtual wall of The Mix!

Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and website. Never miss an update.

Subscribe to The Mix with Robert Simonson

Lively and varied reports on Cocktails, Food, Travel and Culture, with a personal touch, from Robert Simonson, longtime cocktail writer for The New York Times and James Beard-nominated drinks writer.

People

Award-winning career journalist and author of several books. He writes about cocktails, spirits and bars for The New York Times and others.
Comics & Illustration. Author of Lugosi, The Twilight Man, The Abaddon, Bionic & Highwayman. Teacher at School of Visual Arts.
Managing editor and photographer for The Mix.
Designer, illustrator, author of “Home Bar Basics (and Not-So-Basics)” and the “Drinkify Me” guy behind those boozy doodles.