Zach McCabe

Latest Author Features

Two Strong Legs | Lux Libations

I’ve lived in Augusta for almost six years now. I’m hardly nomadic, but I’ve lived in quite a few places in the eastern United States: Pennsylvania, Virginia, Atlanta, Maryland. I’ve always thought that I could live anywhere. Big city, small town, whatever — as long as I have a friend or two and my amazing wife, I can make it work. Then I moved to Augusta. Maybe it is the friends we made, or the community, or the southern hospitality, but I fell in love with this town. When Chris and David over at Drop Disgusta reached out to me about being on their podcast, I jumped at the opportunity.

Red Snapper | Lux Libations

My dad, born and raised in Pennsylvania, attended Mercer in Macon and graduated with a degree in education and a love for southern food, especially fried chicken — I’ve never seen someone get so excited over a Bojangles. My first experience with true southern cuisine happened on a road trip with him — we were following my sister’s softball team all over Georgia. I was 15. Okra, collard greens, and real BBQ were all foreign to me. I think I had seen My Cousin Vinny by that time, so I may have known about grits but had never tried them. I tried all the foods my father enjoyed, but the

Irish Coffees | Lux Libations

Irish whiskey cocktail is obligatory for March because the whole month is basically St. Patrick’s Day, right? What else is there in March? Well … Julius Caesar’s death, but what would we drink to honor that? Wine? Ouzo? Exactly — so whiskey it is. You immediately reach for your bottle of Bailey’s. Et tu Brute? Hold on, y’all. What if I told you the best Irish coffee has exactly zero Bailey’s Irish Cream in it? Sure, you can definitely end up with a tasty beverage with the quintessential Irish cream, but hear me out. This recipe will make you forget everything you thought you knew about the Irish coffee. The

NOLA Cocktails | Lux Libations

It’s difficult to think about the month of February without summoning romantic memories or without perhaps considering the awkwardly introspective question, “Are we serious enough to go out on a date for Valentine’s Day?” Thankfully, I’ve been happily paired up for over a decade and am past the over-the-top Valentine’s Days and early relationship oddities. Not that we aren’t romantic — we just choose to wait until Valentine’s to show it. Or at least that is what we tell ourselves. Regardless, the holiday I tend to think of when February rolls around is Mardi Gras! Yes, I know sometimes it arrives in March, but not this year. This year it

Scotch Cocktails | Lux Libations

At least 2020 is behind us. It’s hard to imagine a more absurd year than we just had. Usually around this time I like to sit around and reflect on the happenings of the last 12 months, but let’s not spend too much time thinking about all that nonsense, unless you were really into binge watching Netflix or working from home in your PJs for months on end. Let’s look forward together. The first part of 2021 may still be hard, but at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Rather than getting upset about missing out on big holiday gatherings, Super Bowl parties, and other

Sparkling Wine Cocktails | Libations

I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so maybe you thought 2020 rocked. Yeah. Maybe you’re into pandemics, polarizing elections, systematic racism, murder hornets, wild fires, impeachment, and the Sonic the Hedgehog movie. No? Didn’t think so. It’s safe to assume that I’m not alone in looking forward to ringing in 2021, and what better way to do that than with a little bubbly? Sometimes you just gotta pop some bottles. I’m definitely into some champagne (or cava, prosecco, or whatever — I don’t discriminate) but, really, I’m into some sparkling wine cocktails. French 75s are delicious, but in the midst of celebrating, we can’t be bothered

Lux Libations | Traditional Sours

Jack Rose — not quite a household name when it comes to cocktails, but maybe it should be. At first glance, there isn’t anything special about a cocktail like this. Simple measurements, three ingredients, two of which are quite common (you’ll recognize them if you read last month’s article), but then you taste it. It’s lush, delicious, clean, and complex, and it’s PINK! What more could you possibly want? A traditional “sour” like the Jack Rose utilizes a tried and true cocktail template. The basic 2:3/4:3/4 ratio is darn-near perfection. Don’t believe me? Ever hear of a gimlet? Whiskey sour? daiquiri? (Yeah, that’s right, a daiquiri!) They all use the

Lux Libations

Whether you are 21 or 90, a Cosmo drinker or an IPA drinker, odds are that you’ve at least tried an Old Fashioned. It’s one of the few drinks you can order at just about any bar, nightclub, or restaurant and end up with something involving whiskey, sugar, and bitters. Now, will it be a sugar cube or simple syrup? Muddled orange or cherry? Bourbon or rye? I prefer mine with rye whiskey, simple syrup, and without the muddled fruit, but to each his own. So why can we find some variation of an Old Fashioned just about anywhere? Well, for starters, it’s usually pretty good, so people feel confident