So, what is the proper title for someone behind a bar? Is it a mixologist or a bartender? Is there a difference?

Over the last few years the term "mixologist" has been used more often than ever before in the history of bartending, but is a mixologist just a fancy, scientific-sounding name for a bartender? Technically, yes, but there is a generally accepted difference between the two job titles and the two are often used interchangeably. Still confused?

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As we stroll into the last week of the unofficial summer season it's a great time to enjoy the fresh tastes of the season. Some of the flavors that are still around include fruits like berries, melons, limes, lychees, mangos, nectarines, peaches and tomatoes and veggies such as cucumber, rhubarb and zucchini. All of these can be used for some amazingly fresh cocktails.

Here are some drink ideas for the finale of summer tastes that you have to get while they're hot (or cool). Read more...

There are only two semi-official weekends of summer left and this is a good excuse for a great gin highball. That's where we're going with this week's Saturday Sipping, straight to the Floradora featuring Damrak, one of the newest Dutch gins.

I like Damrak in a Floradora because its juniper background is significantly more subtle than some other gins and that profile is spectacular when sweetened with Chambord (or raspberry syrup if that's what you prefer). With this combination you get the botanicals of a garden and fruits of the season along with a cooling effervescence. Overall it is a great end of summer cocktail.

The drinking age debate is back. Over 100 college presidents in the United States are petitioning Congress to bring the issue up for debate and lower the drinking age to 18. A recent World Health Organization report stated that binge drinking is now a major problem and this is the reason for wanting to lower the drinking age back to 18. The theory is that because drinking is illegal for many college students they want to drink more and can get into more trouble. It’s the forbidden fruit theory: if you can’t have it you want it more.

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