CRAFTED
CRAFTED
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A Unified Theory of Cocktails with Dr. Kevin Peterson (Part 1)
59 minutes Posted Feb 11, 2026 at 2:16 pm.
For years, the “Mr. Potato Head” theory of drinks was accepted by bartenders to create new cocktails and memorize recipes. But until the release of Cocktail Theory, by Dr. Kevin Petersen, no one had taken the time to prove it, and now, Cocktail Theory is reshaping how bartenders are designing drinks. Today, Eli talks with Kevin about his diverse background and how it informs cocktail creation; the Mr. Potato Head theory of cocktails; the core concepts of the book; and much more.We Want to Hear from You!Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED.TOPICS & TIMES:Kevin’s Background in Food
Kevin’s Introduction to Cocktails
Pairing Food, Scents, & Cocktails
Opening a Bar vs. a Restaurant
Cocktail Families
Pitch for Cocktail Theory
Alternate Theories for Cocktail Creation
The Engineer’s Perspective
Scent & Taste Cohesion
Turning Theory Into Practice
A Sensory Approach to Drinks
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For years, the “Mr. Potato Head” theory of drinks was accepted by bartenders to create new cocktails and memorize recipes. But until the release of Cocktail Theory, by Dr. Kevin Petersen, no one had taken the time to prove it, and now, Cocktail Theory is reshaping how bartenders are designing drinks. Today, Eli talks with Kevin about his diverse background and how it informs cocktail creation; the Mr. Potato Head theory of cocktails; the core concepts of the book; and much more.We Want to Hear from You!Have a topic, craft category, or craft company you’d like to see us cover? Email us here to share those or any other thoughts you have about CRAFTED.TOPICS & TIMES:Kevin’s Background in Food (3:39)Kevin’s Introduction to Cocktails (9:48)Pairing Food, Scents, & Cocktails (11:40)Opening a Bar vs. a Restaurant (17:33)Cocktail Families (26:06)Pitch for Cocktail Theory (29:43)Alternate Theories for Cocktail Creation (32:02)The Engineer’s Perspective (34:05)Scent & Taste Cohesion (44:03)Turning Theory Into Practice (50:10)A Sensory Approach to Drinks (54:52)SEE OUR OTHER PODCASTS:Blister CinematicBikes & Big IdeasGEAR:30Blister PodcastBLISTER NEWSLETTER:Get It & Our Weekly Gear Giveaways Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.