Hi, I’m Kevin Peterson
Tales of the Cocktail 2025 Talk
Sensory Analysis of Spirits: Testing Techniques, Tuesday July 22, noon-1:15pm, Audobon Room
with Dr. Kevin Peterson of Castalia and Stephen Shellenberger of Boston Apothecary
Before modern chemical analysis, spirits buyers, producers, and brokers had to rely on their senses to analyze the liquid they bought and sold, looking for counterfeits, quality, and cost-effectiveness. But beyond just sipping a sample, a number of cheap and easy tests were devised to highlight certain aspects of a spirit.
BooK Cocktail Theory
Cocktail Theory - A Sensory Approach to Transcendent Drinks, published in 2024, is a book about how perfumery, engineering, and bar ownership inform cocktail creation. It has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, on Sean Carroll’s Mindscape podcast, and is a Finalist for the Spirited Award for Best New Cocktail or Bartending Book. The book is for sale on my sfumatofragrances.com website and Amazon.
Book Signing at Tales of the Cocktail 2025: Thursday, 11:30am-1:30pm, Bookstore & Bitters Market
The Table of Contents, Intro, and Chapter 1 are available here to download for free. Get the intro and first chapter (PDF)
CONTACT ME
Interested in custom scents for your brand or bar? Staff training or cocktail menu consultation? Pop-ups? Shoot me an email at kevin@sfumatofragrances.com