Flavored vodkas, what will they come up with next? It's a very good question because we have gone from fruits to fruit combinations and spices to desserts, candies, and even cereals (and purely crazy flavors like salmon and hemp) in the past few years. When a company like Pinnacle Vodka announces a new flavor you have to wonder what can they do now? To top off their portfolio of 30+ flavors, this spring Pinnacle has two new releases that sound delicious: Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Sherbert....Read Full Post
Spirits
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Most Topular Stories
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New From Pinnacle Vodka: Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Sherbert
About.com Cocktails15 May 2013 | 6:26 am -
From Soda Fountain to Bar
Art of Drink22 Feb 2013 | 2:43 pmThe soda train keeps on rolling and this time it stopped in Antwerp for the 2013 edition of the Belgian Bar Show. The show is a fun 2 day event with presentations spread through out each day. I was the opening act for Ian Rum-Ambassador Burrell, on Tuesday. Below you will find a slightly modified edition of my presentation. So if you are curious about the soda trend, this will give you some insight, though without my witty commentary it may…...More -
The Hangover
Art of Drink21 Dec 2012 | 7:53 amTis the time of year for hangovers. This also means it is time for my annual message about the myth of caffeine and hangovers. If you drink coffee, tea or other caffeinated beverages your body has already adapted to the very mild diuretic effect of caffeine. In fact, scientific studies show caffeine does not have any diuretic effect at less than 550 mg (i.e. it won’t start dehydrating you until your fifth cup of coffee). So, when you have a hangover, it is absolutely okay to have a coffee.…...More -
The Cocktails of the Ritz Paris – Literary Monday
Drink of the Week » Drinks Wire6 May 2013 | 5:00 amMany moons ago, and not too long after we started DOTW (and before the recent cocktail revolution), we made a journey to Paris. We were excited to try Harry's Bar and at the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz, which was the modern incarnation of the bar at the Ritz. ...Read More -
Glenlivet #Alpha Tweet Tasting
A Wardrobe of Whisky17 May 2013 | 1:49 amHello there, Yesterday, we had another great tweet tasting with The Glenlivet and Steve from The Whisky Wire. To be honest I were not going to apply to this tasting because I had already tasted the Glenlivet 12, 15 and 18 ( oops, looks like I didn’t taste it ) and although Alpha was somewhat appealing I though I was just a marketing move. But I was offered a seat and who of you would reject free whisky, and what the hell, I really want to revisit the Glenlivet range. After touching the miniature of Alpha I started to get excited about the idea of such a mysterious whisky label and I…
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Art of Drink
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Tempus Fugit’s Cease & Desist (Abbott’s)
8 May 2013 | 6:36 amThe inevitable has happened. Tempus Fugit Spirits has sent me a cease and desist letter asking me to stop using the Abbott's Bitters name as they feel they have a legitimate trademark on it. I disagree and I will explain why below. Though the letter is polite, like all cease and desists, it is implied that it will get much less pleasant if I ignore them. Consider this the first response. And it should be noted that legal arguments are complex and this post isn't an attempt to deal with…...More -
Abbott’s Bitters
19 Apr 2013 | 9:42 amAfter 3½ years of extensive research, Abbott's Bitters is just about ready to be revived. This is not a reverse engineered project, this is based on an old recipe I found that had an Abbott's name on it. For the full history of my Abbott's research, check out this slidecast. I am taking pre-orders for bottles of Abbott's which should ship sometime in May or very early June. Pre-orders can be placed here for the Abbott's…...More -
From Soda Fountain to Bar
22 Feb 2013 | 2:43 pmThe soda train keeps on rolling and this time it stopped in Antwerp for the 2013 edition of the Belgian Bar Show. The show is a fun 2 day event with presentations spread through out each day. I was the opening act for Ian Rum-Ambassador Burrell, on Tuesday. Below you will find a slightly modified edition of my presentation. So if you are curious about the soda trend, this will give you some insight, though without my witty commentary it may…...More -
The Hangover
21 Dec 2012 | 7:53 amTis the time of year for hangovers. This also means it is time for my annual message about the myth of caffeine and hangovers. If you drink coffee, tea or other caffeinated beverages your body has already adapted to the very mild diuretic effect of caffeine. In fact, scientific studies show caffeine does not have any diuretic effect at less than 550 mg (i.e. it won’t start dehydrating you until your fifth cup of coffee). So, when you have a hangover, it is absolutely okay to have a coffee.…...More -
Patent Medicine, The Endless Search
14 Dec 2012 | 6:23 amOne of the historical blights on the soda fountain was the cure all patent medicines that were hocked for every know illness. Some were marketed as health supplements, while others were cures for specific ailments. The one common thread they all shared was their spurious health claims. This didn't go unnoticed and many publications from the period made barbed statements about the nature of the practice. Some of the illustrations are still relevant today, especially "The Endless…...More
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The Joy of Drinking
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A Much-Needed Rooftop Space Opens in San Francisco: El Techo de Lolinda
10 May 2013 | 12:40 amIt used to be that if you wanted to enjoy cocktails on a roof in San Francisco you had to either:Prepare yourself for the Tenderloin and cautiously make your way to 620 Jones, a trendy lounge.Make friends with a fancy SoMa high-rise dweller and convince them to let you up onto their roof.Scale the side of your own house and hope for the best. Good news for us all, though! A new rooftop bar and restaurant called El Techo de Lolinda is opening in mid-May, so when we don't feel like going to the TL on those rogue warm SF days, we have a new option (some might recognize it as the former… -
Where to drink: Prizefighter
29 Apr 2013 | 6:58 pmIt was 80 degrees in Oakland today, but BART cars had their heaters running. I fantasized about one thing as I stewed in the steel-on-steel petri dish: Prizefighter and its glorious patio. Prizefighter is Emeryville's greatest treasure (including Ikea), but too many San Francisco drinkers don't make it across the Bay. After taking a peak at the space, and they're gloriously simple three-ingredient cocktails, I hope more people make the trek.The interior is spacious and typifies the neighborhood bar. There's a shufflepuck table inside, which you'll never find at a good cocktail bar in San… -
Please Don't Tell's Jim Meeham was at 5th Floor! [photos]
11 Apr 2013 | 6:26 pmThis past week, Jim Meehan of New York's infamous speakeasy Please Don't Tell was in San Francisco. For one night, San Francisco's Fifth Floor (a bar in the Hotel Palomar) turned into PDT, and it was awesome. Here are some photos from the event:It was packed and dark, so it was hard to get good pictures but we tried our best:This bartender was a champ. There were so many people at his table, and he didn't even break a sweat.This East India Negroni (Banks 5 Rum, Campari, Lustau East India Sherry) was from Meehan's own hand. I loved this drink. Switching the gin out for rum is brilliant, and… -
Tony Devencenzi from Bourbon and Branch on How to Make The VOC Cocktail [VIDEO + PHOTOS]
5 Apr 2013 | 4:00 pmHappy Friday, you guys! Whew, what whirlwind a past few days it has been. Life is just go, go, go!We have been very busy for the past few week creating a video for Tony Devencenzi (see dashing photo below). If you don't know Tony, you totally should! In addition to being a very passionate and talented bartender at the Wilson and Wilson Bar, Tony is also the Beverage Academy Coordinator at Bourbon and Branch, President of the NorCal USBG, co-founder of the Bartenders' Relief Fund, and board member of SF Cocktail Week—so just a tiny bit accomplished and involved in the community. :-)This… -
Where to Drink: St. Regis Hotel
2 Apr 2013 | 6:34 pmI've been within two blocks of the St. Regis more times than I can count, but I never went inside. It's not that hotel bars are taboo in San Francisco, they're just not on the radar. It took an exceptionally cold night and a dearth of cabs to get me to visit the St. Regis, but boy am I glad that I did.The first thing that struck me was that the St. Regis space is really pretty. The interior is comfortable.Huge art that doesn't annoy me like other hotel bars. I actually kind of like it.Fireplace? Yes please.The cocktail menu is good, too.The Da Kine cocktail is a lot of fun. Da Kine is a…
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Cocktails News
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Azur Axes $40 Cocktail, Revamps Drink Menu
18 May 2013 | 1:56 amApparently there is a limit to how much people will pay for a cocktail, and it is somewhere south of $40. Chef Frederik de Pue 's new seafood spot Azur opened with a $40 cognac-based cocktail as well as several $20-plus drinks on it initial menu. -
The Salty Bird Cocktail: Welcome summer with pineapple, Campari and black strap rum
18 May 2013 | 1:56 amWe recently joined Theo Lieberman of NYC's Milk & Honey to try out his latest creation; a fruity and bitter cocktail ideal for tropical living. -
Wire: Mill Valley Chef at Four Barrel; Millennium Agave Dinner
17 May 2013 | 11:51 pmLooking for a taste of Mill Valley Beerworks ' acclaimed food, minus a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge? Head to Four Barrel Coffee tomorrow afternoon, when regular customer and MVB chef David Wilcox will offer $9 Prather Ranch porchetta sandwiches with radishes, pickled mustard seeds, and aioli, or beet Reuben sandwiches with cucumber, ... (more) -
EDC, Manhattan Cocktail and Great Googa highlight weekend of festivals
17 May 2013 | 7:41 pmIf you like big events that unite people behind themes like food, cocktails, or music this may be the best weekend of the year here in NYC. -
Food-O-File
17 May 2013 | 3:37 pmNews about this year's Fredericksburg peach crop is not good. Gillespie County Agriculture Extension Agent Brad Roeder estimates there will only be a 5% to 10% peach crop.
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About.com Cocktails
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New From Pinnacle Vodka: Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Sherbert
15 May 2013 | 6:26 amFlavored vodkas, what will they come up with next? It's a very good question because we have gone from fruits to fruit combinations and spices to desserts, candies, and even cereals (and purely crazy flavors like salmon and hemp) in the past few years. When a company like Pinnacle Vodka announces a new flavor you have to wonder what can they do now? To top off their portfolio of 30+ flavors, this spring Pinnacle has two new releases that sound delicious: Strawberry Shortcake and Rainbow Sherbert....Read Full Post -
Spiked Ice Cream for Summer
13 May 2013 | 8:20 amHere is a fun treat as we head into summer: SnöBar, a line of alcohol infused ice creams and ice pops. They are cold, lightly spiked, and delicious. SnöBar Brandy Alexander Chocolate Chip Ice Cream...Read Full Post -
May Cocktail Events & Competitions
8 May 2013 | 6:36 amMay is a busy month and beyond the holidays there are a few notable events that may interest you. World Cocktail Week - During the week of May 6-13th we will all be celebrating the cocktail's first recognition in print in the 1806 edition of The Balance and Columbian Repository. There are a few registered events, which you can find here. World Cocktail Day is the 13th and a fine classic cocktail seems appropriate, check out the classics here. Manhattan Cocktail Classic - This annual event is taking place May 17-21 and while many of the events are sold out, there are a number of tickets still… -
Martinis and Mocktails for Mom
8 May 2013 | 5:39 amMother's Day is Sunday and that means that it is time to pass on a few drink recommendations that you can mix up for you mother. Whether she's a drinker or a teetotaler, one of these drinks can add a little extra special to her day....Read Full Post -
May Cocktail Contest: Rum Cocktails
3 May 2013 | 5:45 amA new month means a new cocktail contest and May should be an easy one. Rum is the theme of the month and it is open to any kind of rum you choose....Read Full Post
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Liqurious
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Tamarind Dark and Stormy
17 May 2013 | 12:48 pmTamarind Dark and Stormy (Still thirsty? See Liqurious) -
Tipsy Lemonade and Peach Iced Tea
17 May 2013 | 3:50 amTipsy Lemonade and Peach Iced Tea (Still thirsty? See Liqurious) -
A Pomegranate Cocktail and a interview with...
16 May 2013 | 8:38 pmA Pomegranate Cocktail and a interview with James Beard Award winner Robin Davis. (Still thirsty? See Liqurious) -
Tarragon Strawberry Smash from Brooklyn Supper
16 May 2013 | 6:38 pmTarragon Strawberry Smash from Brooklyn Supper (Still thirsty? See Liqurious) -
Icy Citrusy Grapefruit Margarita...perfect for...
16 May 2013 | 4:38 pmIcy Citrusy Grapefruit Margarita...perfect for cooling off or entertaining (Still thirsty? See Liqurious)
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Drink of the Week » Drinks Wire
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Southern Pacific Julep
17 May 2013 | 7:13 pmCreated by H. Joseph Ehrmann, proprietor at Elixr in San Francisco for their Cinco de Derby celebration. There is almost nothing better than a hint of peach in your Julep, a bit of ginger is better! … Read more -
The Cocktails of the Ritz Paris – Literary Monday
6 May 2013 | 5:00 amMany moons ago, and not too long after we started DOTW (and before the recent cocktail revolution), we made a journey to Paris. We were excited to try Harry's Bar and at the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz, which was the modern incarnation of the bar at the Ritz. ...Read More -
Ladies, Sauza Wants You to Make It With A Lifeguard
5 May 2013 | 3:24 pmJust in time for Cinco de Mayo and “Margarita Season”, Sauza has extedended it’s YouTube Video ad series “Make it with a Lifeguard”. Enjoy! … Read more -
Mint Julep
3 May 2013 | 3:56 pmThe mint julep and the Kentucky Derby have become synonymous, but how and why? The history of the Mint Julep can be traced back to the 1700s on the southern east coast of the United States. Some say it was an evolution of a Arab drink called made of water and rose petals called a Julab. Regardless, the first instance of the Mint Julep in print was in 1803s Travels of Four Years and a … Read more -
Broken Shed Vodka Review
2 May 2013 | 6:00 amBroken Shed Vodka is a premium whey vodka based in Wanaka, a small lake town in the mountains of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Broken Shed vodka has been four-times distilled, gluten and additive-free. Broken Shed Vodka is distilled from whey ... ...Read More
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Drink of the Week
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Southern Pacific Julep
17 May 2013 | 7:13 pmCreated by H. Joseph Ehrmann, proprietor at Elixr in San Francisco for their Cinco de Derby celebration. There is almost nothing better than a hint of peach in your Julep, a bit of ginger is better! … Read more -
Box For A Bottle – Buyers Guide
7 May 2013 | 7:28 pmWhat Is It? Box For A Bottle is a wooden, engraved gift box with personality. Occasion specific designs on the outside, engraved gift messages on the inside with special compartments to put your favorite bottle of goodness. Why We Like It? They are made by some crazy drink lovers from responsibly harvested wood. Each box in hand engraved right here in the USA, St. Louis to be exact. They make a great way personalize a … Read more -
The Cocktails of the Ritz Paris – Literary Monday
6 May 2013 | 5:00 amMany moons ago, and not too long after we started DOTW (and before the recent cocktail revolution), we made a journey to Paris. We were excited to try Harry's Bar and at the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz, which was the modern incarnation of the bar at the Ritz. ...Read More -
Ladies, Sauza Wants You to Make It With A Lifeguard
5 May 2013 | 3:24 pmJust in time for Cinco de Mayo and “Margarita Season”, Sauza has extedended it’s YouTube Video ad series “Make it with a Lifeguard”. Enjoy! … Read more -
Tequila Honeysuckle
5 May 2013 | 3:08 pmA great non-margarita cocktail for Cinco de Mayo by Navarro Carr… Read more
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WhiskyCast
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WhiskyCast Episode 424: May 12, 2013
13 May 2013 | 2:15 pmOne of the fun things about WhiskyCast has been the opportunity to watch dreams come true, and that's the case with this week's episode. Back in 2006, we first met Barry Stein and Barry Bernstein as they were just getting started as Canada's first independent Scotch whisky bottlers and dreamed of making their own whisky. in 2009, they opened Still Waters Distillery in a Toronto suburb, and on April 27, the first cask of their Stalk & Barrel single malt whisky went on sale. This weekend, they were pouring it at the Spirit of Toronto festival, and we'll catch up with the guys on WhiskyCast… -
WhiskyCast Episode 423: May 4, 2013
4 May 2013 | 4:19 pmFamily-owned businesses often face obstacles that other companies don't, and the whisky business is no exception. This week, Fred and Stewart Laing dissolved their 40+ year partnership in Glasgow-based Douglas Laing & Co., with Stewart taking his half of the business to form his own company with his sons. Meanwhile, Fred has brought his daughter Cara into what remains of Douglas Laing, and both brothers are already working on new whisky ideas. We'll hear from both brothers on their views of the split and their plans for the future. In the news, Kentucky's Bourbon distillers had their… -
WhiskyCast Episode 422: April 28, 2013
27 Apr 2013 | 10:23 pmWhen Ireland's distillers joined forces in 1966 to merge their struggling distilleries into one company, they placed their bet on Jameson as their principal export brand. Powers became the leading whiskey in Ireland, with limited exports to the U.S. and other key markets. The bet paid off, and Jameson became the world's best-selling Irish whiskey. Now, Irish Distillers is giving the world a taste of the pot still whiskey John Ryan's family created seven generations ago. He's been in the U.S. for a series of Powers tastings, and joins us for this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, a… -
WhiskyCast Episode 421: April 20, 2013
19 Apr 2013 | 9:43 pmThe English Whisky Company has been distilling since 2006, and while it may not be able to claim the title of "England's only whisky distillery" for much longer, it'll be able to call itself "England's oldest whisky distillery". Andrew Nelstrop's been touring the U.S. to introduce his family's whiskies for the first time in the colonies, and joins us for this week's WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, South Africa's Distell Group has bought Burn Stewart Distillers, Chivas Brothers clears a hurdle to building a new distillery in Speyside, and we'll have the weekly update on new whiskies. -
WhiskyCast Episode 420: April 14, 2013
13 Apr 2013 | 10:33 pmWhen Magnus Eunson set up his illegal still on Orkney in 1798, the gaugers in the village of Kirkwall were a safe distance away. Graham Manson manages Highland Park now, and Kirkwall has grown up around the distillery. We'll hear from Graham on WhiskyCast In-Depth, and get some historical perspective from retired Highland Park and Scapa worker Davie Reid. In the news, U.S. craft distillers have broken away from the American Distilling Institute to set up their own organization, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society expands to India, and Chicago's getting ready for Whisky Week.
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Nonjatta
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“Deep Harmony” – a new, limited Hibiki
17 May 2013 | 3:22 amPost by Stefan Van Eycken, Tokyo A few days ago, Suntory released a new no-age-statement Hibiki entitled “Deep Harmony”. This new edition is built around Hakushu malt matured in ex-red wine casks and Chita grain matured in ex-sherry casks. The blenders consider this to be a variation on the sweet and elegant taste profile of the Hibiki 17 but it’s quite unique because of the use of ex-red wine cask matured Hakushu. It’s bottled at 43% abv, and retails for 13,000 yen. The label is a ‘sakuranezu’ [a traditional Japanese sort of mauve] coloured special type of washi, suggestive… -
Nikka Coffey Grain also to make debut in US
14 May 2013 | 5:38 amPost by Chris of the WhiskyWall It appears that Nikka Whisky is confident enough to introduce another expression to its US line up. Interestingly though it is a grain whisky release instead of a malt or even a blended release (wouldn't we all love to see Nikka From the Barrel here in the US?). It has not been officially announced by Nikka Whisky or their importer Anchor Distilling Co. but Nikka looks poised to release their Coffey Grain expression here shortly as it has recently cleared the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) labeling certification process. This coincides with… -
Karuizawas for Taiwan: 1970 Geisha with Paper Crane
12 May 2013 | 8:00 pmPost by Stefan Van Eycken, Tokyo We’re continuing our series of Karuizawas for Taiwan with the “Geisha with Paper Crane” 1970 (cask #6227, 61.9%abv) bottled last year. On the nose, it’s a feast of griottines, cherry pie, strawberries in confectioners’ sugar and frangipane. But it’s a feast outdoors, because underneath, there’s grass after rain, earthy tones (burdock and murasaki imo [‘purple yams’]) and also hints of wood smoke, a bit like a campfire after rain. Later, we return to fruitier realms: roasted apple pie, white peaches, then cherries again. Water makes the… -
Final Curtain Call for Yamazaki 10 and Hakushu 10
10 May 2013 | 6:05 amPost by Stefan Van Eycken, Tokyo When Suntory introduced their no-age statement versions of the Yamazaki and Hakushu single malt in May 2012, two things were immediately clear: (1) stocks of mature whisky were running low, and (2) the days of the 10-year old Yamazaki and Hakushu were numbered. Not in their wildest dreams two decades ago could the people at Suntory imagine that demand for their whiskies – both domestically and abroad – would be this high. When the NAS Yamazaki and Hakushu were introduced, they were obvious replacements for the resp. 10-year olds. Similarly priced and… -
From TIBS/Whisky Live 2013: A chat with Douglas Cook about the TIBS Glendronach and Benriach bottlings
8 May 2013 | 5:33 amPost by Stefan Van Eycken, Tokyo We were delighted to be able to spend some quality time with Douglas Cook of Benriach / Glendronach / Glenglassaugh at TIBS and we asked him about the special bottlings for the BarShow. We started with the Glendronach 2002 Sauternes Hogshead (10yo, #2534, 55.1%abv). Douglas: A sauternes-finished single cask is actually quite unusual for Glendronach. At Glendronach, we tend to only use sherry casks for the maturation of our whisky. However, we do have a small quantity of bourbon, port and sauternes casks, and we use those casks for finishing. In this case,…
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www.caskstrength.net - whisky blog
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Tie A Yellow Ribbon, It's The Merry Month Of May: The Glenlivet Distillery Only SIngle Malt And Big Peat Islay Blended Malt Whisky Reviews
14 May 2013 | 8:15 amBefore I kick off this post, we need to make a small announcement. Since we started writing this blog at the beginning of 2008, we’ve been on an amazing journey, met a lot of fantastic people and had some incredible experience in the world of whisky. There weren’t many whisky blogs around at that time (Dr Whisky and Whiskyfun take a bow for probably being the only other two – sorry if we’ve missed anyone out), with score-free whisky reviews seemingly like an idea from Mars.Now in our sixth year, we’ve been extra busy with everything from writing work with the likes of Whisky… -
None More Black. The Glenlivet Alpha Arrives.
8 May 2013 | 8:00 amThere's a line that sums up what is undoubtedly one of the finest films in cinematic history. Simple, effective and descriptive, the line, 'there's none more black' characterises the degenerating relationship between the members of seminal (fictional) heavy metal band Spinal Tap. If you're not familiar with the line, or the film, we urge you to buy it immediately and have a peak at the video below. Why are we telling you this? Well, frankly, there's a lot of crossover between the whisky and music businesses respectively, especially in the last 5 years. Both of us… -
Competition Time: Win A Pair Of Tickets to Jam & Dram 19th May
7 May 2013 | 3:48 amWith a wonderful weekend of relaxing in the garden under our belts (with lashings of Bains Cape Mountain Whisky and ice) the weather shows no sign of abating today either, so whilst we're in a good mood, we've decided to give away TWO pairs of tickets (that's two lucky winners, innit) for the splendid whisky event Jam & Dram on Sunday 19th May run by our friends at The Whisky Lounge. Caskstrength will be compering the day, alongside hosting a series of blending workshops. On top of this, you'll also get chance to see Neil's brand new band, Prince Adewale & The Endeavours… -
The Caped Crusader. Bains Cape Mountain Whisky
3 May 2013 | 9:50 amAGGGHHHH! My lower lumbar region!!Ain't life a funny one. A little while back, I was lifting a rather heavy speaker cabinet up several flights of stairs, without paying any attention to the proper way to carry things, as sported here in this instructional video. Of course, I ended up buggering up my back, which took a few months to get better. I was told by a back specialist that it would probably never be 100% again and only this week the swine decided to give way again. Alas, it meant that agonisingly, I had to cancel my attendance at the Spirit of Speyside festival this weekend,… -
A Bloody Brilliant Whisky Event... Jam & Dram
29 Apr 2013 | 10:14 amHello there folks, we trust you are in fine form, now we've had a spot of decent weather. Here at Caskstrength Heights we've gone from suffering the chilly months next to an asthmatic fan heater, to Joel purchasing a brand new pair of 'OFFICE SHORTS', specifically to wear at his desk during the warmer spells. That's dedication. Anyway, putting our minor weather news aside, we bring you much more exciting news of a sensational whisky and music event, thunk up by those smart people at The Whisky Lounge and featuring Joel and I as your guides and comperes for the day. The Jam & Dram…
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The Chuck Cowdery Blog
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Feel Free to Buy Something
17 May 2013 | 4:06 pmYou probably come here for the content in this column, but it's the stuff in the column to the right that supports it. There are books, such as Bourbon, Straight and The Best Bourbon You'll Never Taste. There's the newsletter, The Bourbon Country Reader. And there's also the one-hour documentary, "Made and Bottled in Kentucky."The reason these are being brought to your attention today is that there have been some changes made that will interest you dear readers who reside outside the United States. The prices for all of these items, for delivery outside the USA, have been… -
A Standards-of-Identity Brain Teaser
12 May 2013 | 3:49 pmRiddle me this, Batman. When is whiskey not whiskey?Arguably, when it's sorghum whiskey.Queen Jennie Sorghum Whiskey is a product of the Old Sugar Distillery in Madison, Wisconsin. The rules say whiskey is "an alcoholic distillate from a fermented mash of grain." The U.S. Grains Council describes Sorghum bicolor, the species in question, as the "fifth most important cereal crop grown in the world."So no problem, right? Sorghum is a cereal, i.e., a grain, so sorghum spirit is whiskey. The Federal regulators obviously agree, because Old Sugar got its label approved and is selling the product… -
Louisville's Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Joins the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
9 May 2013 | 4:29 pmToday, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail adventure barreled into River City, as Heaven Hill's new Evan Williams Bourbon Experience became the eighth stop on that world-famous journey, and the first ever in Louisville.Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer made the announcement at the downtown site on historic Whiskey Row where Heaven Hill is building its multi-million dollar artisanal distillery and immersive tourism experience, scheduled to open this fall. (Pictured here in an architectural rendering.)“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week,” Fischer said. “This… -
God-Like, Robert Parker Conquers (His Word) Bourbon in One Fell Swoop
8 May 2013 | 5:24 pmWhen you read wine guru Robert Parker's review of 29 bourbons and one rye, as posted by David Driscoll in Spirits Journal, you may wonder if it's not a wicked parody by David. It's not, or maybe it is, but the author is Parker, not Driscoll.Naturally, people who write about bourbon more than once in a lifetime are not amused. "Scotch and Ice Cream" took the first swat. That was picked up and amplified upon by Clay Risen, he of the New York Times and with a new encyclopedic bourbon book on the way, who quickly posted, "Robert Parker and the Douche-ification of Bourbon."For all true… -
How Craft Is the New Jim Beam Signature Craft Series?
5 May 2013 | 6:01 pmAbout 20 years ago, Jim Beam came out with a bourbon called Jacob’s Well, named for family patriarch Jacob Beam and the spring at his first Kentucky distillery. In advertising, they said it was, "the First Micro-Distilled Bourbon."It wasn't.Jacob’s Well Bourbon was made in the same big stills at Jim Beam as white label and everything else. Maybe you could call it ‘micro-bottled,’ because they never sold very much of it, but calling it ‘micro-distilled’ wasn't just an adroit turn of phrase, it was a lie. They could, conceivably, have made it on a small still, but…
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Liquid Irish
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New events listing feature
6 May 2013 | 6:16 amI know it has looked like a bit of a ghost town here over the last month. The truth, though, is that there has been quite a bit of metal-bashing behind the scenes. Last year I noticed a huge increase in the number of spirits-related events in Ireland. So many that it was hard to keep track of them all. I have now gathered every upcoming event in Ireland that I know of onto a single page. There is a link to it in the menu at the top of the blog too. If you are organising something and it's not already listed, drop me a line or a tweet. Why did it take so long to create a single web page? Well,… -
Knappogue Castle Twin Wood 16 year old
7 Apr 2013 | 11:24 amKnappogue Castle continues to explore the possibilities of sherried Bushmills-distilled single malt. We've had a 16-year old Twin Wood before, where the spirit had been finished in sherry wood for 9 months. They upped the sherry stakes a year later with a 17-year old Twin Wood, finished for 21 months. The new 16-year old shares that sherry depth, having also spent 21 months in Oloroso casks (after 14 years, 3 months in bourbon casks). Well, that's what the press release says but the numbers don't quite add up. The whiskey was distilled in 1995 and bottled in December 2012. At a minimum, the… -
Whiskey & Chocolate
6 Mar 2013 | 7:58 amLook at any whiskey review and you'll see a spirit evaluated in stark isolation. Not many can withstand the intense scrutiny that demands perfection in nose, taste and finish. It's the same when we try a whiskey at a whiskey society meeting, or even at home. We just don't envisage it as one part of a larger experience. It must stand or fall alone. It's a standard that doesn't seem to apply to wine. We know that some wines are good in the hand at a cocktail party, others better kept for washing down the roast duck. When I do whiskey and food matchings I'm reminded that I'm not getting as… -
Teeling Whiskey
10 Feb 2013 | 4:46 pmThe Teeling Whiskey Company is setting the pace these days, with a third release in only four months. This one is just called "Teeling Whiskey" so I think we can reasonably suppose it represents the company's house style and aspirations. There are lots of hints from the bottle that Teeling is setting its roots deep in Dublin distilling history. "Since 1782" flanks what I take to be a phoenix rising from the heat of a pot still. This refers to the recorded involvement of the Teeling family in whiskey manufacture way back then. There has been no distilling in Dublin since the 1970s so this is a… -
Carlow Brewing / Alltech Distillery
10 Feb 2013 | 6:27 amThis week I visited the Carlow Brewing Company (better known as O'Hara's) to meet the eponymous Seamus O'Hara, and Jack O'Shea of Alltech, a global biotech company. Last August Irish whiskey fans were surprised by the announcement that Alltech had just shipped new whiskey stills from the US for installation at the brewery. From my chat with Jack and Seamus, I get the impression that even those involved were surprised by just how quickly it all came about. The first spirit trickled from the stills in Carlow on November 1st, 2012, not six months after the first meeting between Seamus and…
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Olly Wehring's beverage industry blog - from just-drinks.com
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Tax issue is no small beer for US brewers
17 May 2013 | 9:41 amThe gloves are off in Washington DC as the big (and the not so big) brewers tussle with small brewers over tax. In the red corner, are the likes of Anheuser-Busch InBev and MillerCoors, who are backing the 'Brewers Excise and Economic Relief Act of 2013', otherwise known as the BEER Act. Under the Act, introduced in the House of Representatives last week, the federal excise tax on beer for all brewers and beer importers would be cut. This is the proposal: · Small brewers would pay no federal excise tax on the first 15,000 barrels; US$3.50 on 15,001 to… -
US$15m for Coca-Cola's original recipe? Not these days
15 May 2013 | 3:56 amYou can get all sorts of things on eBay - a new laptop, a car, the original recipe for Coca-Cola. Yes, really. Well, probably. A man called Cliff Kluge claims to have found the soft drinks equivalent of the holy grail in a pile of letters bought at an estate sale in Georgia and is now selling it on the online auction site for up to US$15m Sorry, how much? Cliff is obviously unaware of the declining value of full-sugar cola CSDs that has seen The Coca-Cola Co embrace low- and no-calorie ideals and PepsiCo attempt to reinvent the category with a sweetener shakeup. Now, if he were to find a… -
Iron Maiden rocked by Sweden's alcohol rules
14 May 2013 | 6:34 amWhen you're one of the most successful heavy metal bands in history, with nearly 9m Facebook fans, you can probably cope with the odd setback. Last week, Iron Maiden launched their own ale - Trooper - brewed by Cheshire-based family brewer Robinsons. According to beer writer Marverine Cole, the brewery has secured pre-orders from a whopping 184 countries, while Robinsons has been forced to move to a six-day week to meet demand. But, the brew (4.8% abv in cask, 4.7% in bottled format) has hit a stumbling block in Sweden. The country's state-run liquor store monopoly, Systembolaget,… -
Reputation re-building as Mr 'New Coke' heads to Castle
10 May 2013 | 7:38 amThere's an old joke that riffs on an unfortunate elderly farmer who can't live down an amorous encounter with a fluffy farm animal. Never mind that it happened once, and a long time ago at that, he's destined to be forever known around his local village by a nickname I can't repeat here. I remembered the joke today when I read about a former CMO of the Coca-Cola Co who is joining the board of directors at Castle Brands, a spirits and wines brand developer based out of New York. Sergio Zyman is a multiple author, writer of such memorable slogans as “Coke Is It” and a man who… -
MAY-DAY! MAY-DAY! just-drinks is closed on May Day
3 May 2013 | 10:33 amIt's the May Day Bank Holiday here in the UK this coming Monday (6 May). So, we'll be spending the day watching the garden get a thorough drenching for the day, rather than mining the drinks world for news. We're back on Tuesday. Up the workers!
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eGullet Forums Recently Started Topics
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Is wine the best gift for father on fathers day in USA?
17 May 2013 | 11:26 pmI read somewhere that wine is the best gift for fathers day in USA, UK. So, I ask this question here, if anybody know about it then share your information here. -
Japanese Chocolate Chip Chops
17 May 2013 | 2:37 pmDoes anybody know how this things are made? I have a dear friend, who loved them when living in Japan. Would be a great gift to bring along. -
Cocktail using Champagne
17 May 2013 | 12:31 pmI need to come up with a cocktail using Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label for a small (under 20) group of female lawyers. They want something fun and fruity. Suggestions? Thanks! -
The Brooklyn Cocktail
17 May 2013 | 12:31 pmI decided to start this new thread after some discussions with mkayahara (thanks Matt for the inspiration!). The question of ratios for the Brooklyn came up. It became apparent that there were very different recipes floating around. I first encountered this cocktail in Ted Haigh's Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails (I have the 2009 edition). It is essentially a dry Manhattan with a touch of Picon and maraschino liqueur. Ted Haigh's Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails 2 oz rye 3/4 oz dry vermouth 2 tsp [~1/3 oz] Amer Picon 2 tsp [~1/3 oz] maraschino The… -
Marlin en Escabeche recipe needed
17 May 2013 | 11:26 amhello ! im looking for marlin en escabeche recipe
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eGullet Forums Recently Started Topics
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Is wine the best gift for father on fathers day in USA?
17 May 2013 | 11:26 pmI read somewhere that wine is the best gift for fathers day in USA, UK. So, I ask this question here, if anybody know about it then share your information here. -
Japanese Chocolate Chip Chops
17 May 2013 | 2:37 pmDoes anybody know how this things are made? I have a dear friend, who loved them when living in Japan. Would be a great gift to bring along. -
Cocktail using Champagne
17 May 2013 | 12:31 pmI need to come up with a cocktail using Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label for a small (under 20) group of female lawyers. They want something fun and fruity. Suggestions? Thanks! -
The Brooklyn Cocktail
17 May 2013 | 12:31 pmI decided to start this new thread after some discussions with mkayahara (thanks Matt for the inspiration!). The question of ratios for the Brooklyn came up. It became apparent that there were very different recipes floating around. I first encountered this cocktail in Ted Haigh's Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails (I have the 2009 edition). It is essentially a dry Manhattan with a touch of Picon and maraschino liqueur. Ted Haigh's Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails 2 oz rye 3/4 oz dry vermouth 2 tsp [~1/3 oz] Amer Picon 2 tsp [~1/3 oz] maraschino The… -
Marlin en Escabeche recipe needed
17 May 2013 | 11:26 amhello ! im looking for marlin en escabeche recipe
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Alcademics.com
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Perfectly Clear Ice Balls - A Clever Trick
15 May 2013 | 8:29 amOne of Alcademics' readers figured out a simple way to make perfectly clear ice balls by using a silicon ice ball mold, a piece of wire, and a pot of water. His name is Craig Belon and so he calls it the Belon Method. No actual parrots are required. Artwork by Craig Belon, as are all photos in this post except the next one. The method is this: 1. Get yourself a silicone ice ball tray like this one that comes in a pack of six. 2. Over a pot of water (or better yet, a cooler as that will produce lots of clear ice) make a wire loop that the ice ball mold will sit on. 3. Fill the pot with water… -
New Booze: 110-Proof Tapatio Tequila
14 May 2013 | 1:32 pmHere are some new spirits launching. The text is taken from these brands' press releases. Tapatio 110-Proof Blanco Tequila (May 2013) Carlos Camarena, the iconic distiller of Mexico’s 75-year-old Tequila Tapatio brand has launched a 110-proof Tequila. Tapatio 110-Proof Blanco (55% alc. by vol.) was distilled at Alteña Distillery from 100% estate-grown blue agaves in the Arandas Highlands of Mexico. Under Master Distiller Carlos’ Camerena, the agaves were hand-selected for ripeness and slow-baked for four days. After being crushed, the agave ‘Mosto’ was fermented in small wooden… -
Good Booze, Bad Booze: Remember the Champagne
14 May 2013 | 10:46 amOne day science says drinking will make you live forever. The next day science says it will kill you tomorrow. Good Booze, Bad Booze is an Alcademics category where I put all these stories together. 5/14/13: Scientists reveal drinking champagne could improve memory [link] From the University of Reading: "New research shows that drinking one to three glasses of champagne a week may counteract the memory loss associated with ageing, and could help delay the onset of degenerative brain disorders, such as dementia." Previous Good Booze, Bad Booze 4/07/13: Self-medication drinking may lead to… -
Building Better Mineral Water: Deconstructing Mineral Waters
13 May 2013 | 10:22 amIn the Water Project here on Alcademics, I'm looking at what is in commercial brands of sparkling mineral waters and reconstructing them. To do so, first I looked at how to get all the dissolved solids out of tap water. Then I measured properties of commercial mineral waters - pH and dissolved solids- and compared them with publicly available information. The next step was to examine what each mineral in mineral water tasted like on its own. Again referring to the information on Khymos.org, I could see that the primary minerals in mineral water are Calcium, Sodium, Magnesium, and Potassium.
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Chowhound's Latest » Spirits
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the nature of flavored vodkas?
17 May 2013 | 11:24 pmI've read the beverage manufacturers are trying to target the younger market with all these new fruit/novelty flavored liquors. Personally I wouldn't waste the money on a whole bottle of any of them, since I would have a hard time drinking the whole thing. -
What are you drinking tonight?
17 May 2013 | 5:10 pmNice cocktail. -
Hot chile and cool cucumber in a cocktail -- AWESOME!
17 May 2013 | 9:14 amSorry, I assumed because you mentioned a restaurant in NYC that you lived here. You have to visit your daughter more often. ;-)> In Philadelphia there are several really good cocktail bars. The Franklin Mortgage and Investment company comes to mind right away. Here's a link to some of the best. I haven't been to any yet, but a friend just took over as bar manager at one and I'm going to go visit in a few weeks and do a several day bar crawl seeking the best cocktails. http://phillyhotlist.cityvoter.com/best/cocktail-bar/nightlife/philadelphia -
Which bitters?
16 May 2013 | 2:11 pm+1 to the bitters in soda water. For some dumb reason no place around here has Angostura orange. It's driving me nuts not being able to compare the Fee Bros. orange to anything. -
Pineapple syrup
16 May 2013 | 9:03 amIf you want more flavor, also consider juicing some of the chunks. There are purists who say no, others that insist on it, and a scant few who just claim that fresh pineapple juice + sugar is the best (i.e.: no pineapple chunk + sugar syrup infusion). http://cocktailvirgin.blogspot.com
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Bottoms Up
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Announcing Session Beer Month & the NorCal Session Fest
6 May 2013 | 11:55 amBack in February, during SF Beer Week, it hit me that we needed a Session Beer Festival in the Bay Area. California is already known for big, hoppy beers but I was convinced that not everybody wants an extreme beer all the time. Don’t get me wrong, I love a hop bomb IPA or an [...] -
New Style Guidelines Released by Brewers Association
4 Mar 2013 | 9:20 amThe Brewers Association this morning released the 2013 Style Guidelines. According to the press release: Updated annually, this year’s version defines 142 styles of beer, up from 140 in 2012. Compiling the guidelines annually is a collaborative effort, and the 2013 version incorporates more than 100 suggestions from U.S. and international beer judges and experts, [...] -
More on Anchor’s Pier 48 San Francisco Brewery
19 Feb 2013 | 4:47 pmWith the news breaking last night about Anchor Brewery building a second, and much larger, brewery near the waterfront at Pier 48, I was immediately keen to find out more. I knew from my earlier discussions with the new owners, and especially Keith Greggor, that they wanted to build the business but were dead set [...] -
Anchor Announces Second Brewery in San Francisco
18 Feb 2013 | 7:32 pmThe San Francisco Chronicle broke the news tonight that Anchor Brewing Co. will be building a second brewery near the waterfront at Pier 48, in partnership with the San Francisco Giants and their 27-acre Mission Rock development project. The Anchor Brewery space will apparently be 212,000 sq. ft., and will include “production and distribution facilities, [...] -
Russian River Brewing Honored By California State Legislature
14 Feb 2013 | 9:19 amCalifornia State Senator Noreen Evans, from District 2, honored Russian River Brewing Co. with a Resolution from the California Legislature. The resolution was also signed by Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro, who joined me and the crew from the Celebrator Beer News, at Beer Camp #93 at Sierra Nevada. Evans was also joined on stage by State [...]
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Diner's Journal
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Weekend Fare
17 May 2013 | 2:01 pmFood-related events around New York. -
The Village Voice Loses Its Restaurant Critic
17 May 2013 | 1:38 pmRobert Sietsema has been a food critic for several decades. -
Fast and Neat, Female Bartenders Compete
17 May 2013 | 1:26 pmThe national finals of Speed Rack, a competition for female bartenders, is in its second year. -
Tamarind in Its Many Forms
17 May 2013 | 12:43 pmThere is a lot of confusion about tamarind products. -
Starter: With Costata, Chef Goes Back to the Future
17 May 2013 | 11:44 amMark White sets up Costata in the same location as Fiamma Osteria, where he started 11 years ago.
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The Intoxicologist
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A Londoner’s Guide to London Cocktail Bars
17 May 2013 | 3:00 amYou're reading A Londoner’s Guide to London Cocktail Bars, originally posted on The Intoxicologist and copyrighted by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist. Visit The Intoxicologist so you don't miss a thing! The Intoxicologist - Dabbling in the world of cocktails one spirit at a time...Guest Post by Mark Gill aka The Cocktail Geek writing for Social and Cocktail. – We are in a fortunate position in London of being utterly spoilt for choice when it comes to quality drinking. From the opulence of five … Continue reading →The post A Londoner’s Guide to London Cocktail… -
Mai Tai Drink Mixes Up Sweet Heat
16 May 2013 | 3:00 amYou're reading Mai Tai Drink Mixes Up Sweet Heat, originally posted on The Intoxicologist and copyrighted by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist. Visit The Intoxicologist so you don't miss a thing! The Intoxicologist - Dabbling in the world of cocktails one spirit at a time...The classic Mai Tai drink recipe is commonly known to include Orgeat, almond syrup. I created this variation of the Mai Tai drink while reviewing Blackheart Spiced Rum. I found this particular rum worked well in tropical drink recipes and … Continue reading →The post Mai Tai Drink Mixes Up Sweet Heat appeared… -
Girls Night Out Cocktail: Harvest Moon
15 May 2013 | 3:00 amYou're reading Girls Night Out Cocktail: Harvest Moon, originally posted on The Intoxicologist and copyrighted by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist. Visit The Intoxicologist so you don't miss a thing! The Intoxicologist - Dabbling in the world of cocktails one spirit at a time...Many fine Italian wines for sale. Girls Night Out sometimes comes with a few misconceptions. It isn’t necessarily a gab fest of complaints about significant others, how the office queen is trying to ruin our next step up the ladder … Continue reading →The post Girls Night Out Cocktail: Harvest Moon… -
A History of Drinking Guest Post: Louis XIV
14 May 2013 | 3:00 amYou're reading A History of Drinking Guest Post: Louis XIV, originally posted on The Intoxicologist and copyrighted by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist. Visit The Intoxicologist so you don't miss a thing! The Intoxicologist - Dabbling in the world of cocktails one spirit at a time...Guest Post by Greg Priebe of A History of Drinking – On May 14, 1643, Louis XIV, the only surviving son of Louis XIII and Anne of Austria, became the king of France at age 4 upon the death of … Continue reading →The post A History of Drinking Guest Post: Louis XIV appeared first on The… -
Happy Birthday Italian Cream Cake Martini & Giveaway
13 May 2013 | 3:00 amYou're reading Happy Birthday Italian Cream Cake Martini & Giveaway, originally posted on The Intoxicologist and copyrighted by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist. Visit The Intoxicologist so you don't miss a thing! The Intoxicologist - Dabbling in the world of cocktails one spirit at a time...I shared my favorite cookie with you a few weeks ago when National Oatmeal Cookie Day graced the calendar. Today I’m sharing my all-time favorite cake with you; Italian Cream Cake. There isn’t a holiday for it that I know … Continue reading →The post Happy Birthday Italian Cream…
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Wild Scotsman Whisky
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Straus Diamond Crown Lounge, Bobby Newman, and Wild Scotsman…oh my
25 Apr 2013 | 10:05 amStraus Diamond Crown Lounge, Bobby Newman, and Wild Scotsman…oh my by Jeffrey Topping After an amazing night at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse with Bobby Newman and J.C. Newman Cigars it is time to do it all again! April events for Straus Tobacconist Florence kicks off with special guest Bobby Newman from J.C.Newman Cigar Company America’s oldest family premium cigar company. Cigar featured will be from both the Cuesta Rey and Diamond Crown cigar brands. Jeffrey Topping aka The Wild Scotsman from Wild Scotsman Whisky will be on hand sampling his signature Cigar Malt, Wild Scotsman… -
New Wild Scotsman Single Cask 22yr for Spring
28 Mar 2013 | 5:23 pmNew Wild Scotsman Single Cask 22yr for Spring by Jeffrey Topping hand signed labels Spring is almost here and its time to release a new dram for the occasion. I have been busy getting labels made and signed for a Single Cask, Single Malt, bottled at cask streangth 49% alc./vol from our friends at the Bunnahabhain Distillery located on the Isle of Islay. If you are a fan of this wonderful distillery than this bottling should be a treat as it has been aged for 22 years to reach perfection or at least to my perfection. Labels ready to sign Distribution will be limited, however, keep your eyes… -
Happy New Year 2013
1 Jan 2013 | 7:06 amHappy New Year 2013 by Jeffrey Topping May you have, Glasses for the Whisky And a roof for the stillhouse, And Scotch bedside the fire Laughter to cheer you And those cigars you love near you, And all that your heart may desire -Wild Scotsman Blessing Wild Scotsman Black Label Come join us for a Tasting: Event Registration Online for Robert Burn’s Birthday Celebration 2013 powered by Eventbrite -
Twas The Night Before Christmas Scotch Whisky Style
24 Dec 2012 | 3:12 pmTwas The Night Before Christmas Scotch Whisky Style By Jeffrey Topping My personal adaptation of the famous “Twas the night before Christmas” written by Clement Clarke Moore (1779 – 1863). This year I decided instead of posting my written prose that I would read it too you! From My Family to Yours, Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Years! Or as one might say in Scots, “A Blythe Yule an a Guid Hogmanay” Merry Christmas, Zalige Kertfeest, Feliz Natal, Sheng Tan Kuai Loh, Gladedelig Jul, Happy Chritsmas, Hauskaa Joulua, Joyeux Noel, Frohliche… -
Robert Burn’s Birthday Celebration 2013
13 Dec 2012 | 12:51 pmRobert Burn’s Birthday Celebration 2013 By Jeffrey Topping Online Ticketing for Robert Burn’s Birthday Celebration 2013 powered by Eventbrite
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12 Bottle Bar
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El Tamarindo
4 May 2013 | 11:28 ama 12 Bottle Bar original 1.5 oz Pusser’s Rum 1.5 oz Agua de Tamarindo (recipe below) 3 – 4 oz Club Soda, to top Add all ingredients to a collins glass with ice Stir gently Garnish with a lime wedge Without tequila among our bottles, you might be inclined to think that 12 Bottle Bar would sit out Cinco de Mayo. In fact, when we’ve asked the experts, a few of them have suggested that we replace one of our bottles with one from south of the border. While we certainly love tequila (in particular, great mezcals), we hold to the belief that its use in classic cocktails is limited. … -
Announcing Beefeater Burrough’s Reserve Oak Rested Gin
22 Apr 2013 | 8:00 amBy Lesley Jacobs Solmonson It’s fun keeping secrets, especially when you finally get to share them. Only two short weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to be the guest of Pernod Ricard for a week-long sojourn to the Beefeater and Plymouth Distilleries. (Tune in this week for details of my gin-soaked escapades.) While at Beefeater, Master Distiller Desmond Payne hinted at what would soon be Beefeater’s newest offering. You, dear readers, are some of the first to hear of this exciting development, a true labor of love for Mr. Payne: Beefeater Burrough’s Reserve Oak Rested Gin. The new… -
Income Tax Cocktail
14 Apr 2013 | 10:15 amThis is a re-post. 1.5 oz Dry Gin 0.75 oz Dry Vermouth 0.75 oz Sweet Vermouth 0.50 oz Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters Add all ingredients to a mixing glass. Stir with ice and strain into a coupe. Garnish with an orange twist. This drink is from the Savoy Cocktail Book, and it is a Bronx with bitters, which is fair enough – new drinks have been created on shakier foundations. Ted Haigh says that “the bitters add another dimension to the construction, and with correct measurements… and the fresh-squeezed juice, it is memorable and delicious.” Which, in a… -
Easter Sorbet Punch
31 Mar 2013 | 7:29 amBy Lesley Jacobs Solmonson. A 12 Bottle Bar original. Gin-Pineapple-Mint Sorbet (recipe below) Champagne Add a scoop (or, if you’re feeling fancy, a quenelle) of sorbet to a chilled coupe. Fill glass with champagne. Garnish with a sprig of mint. For the kids: Leave the gin out of the sorbet and fill with ginger ale or 7UP. “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” – George Bernard Shaw As an only child, I have always attached enormous significance to holidays. Without siblings or extended family to help create a festive mood, I… -
Cashel Palace Irish Coffee
11 Mar 2013 | 11:30 amRecipe courtesy of Denis Heffernan 1.5 oz Powers Gold Label Whiskey 2 tsp Brown Sugar 4 oz Hot Coffee Unsweetened Whipped Cream Place a metal spoon in an Irish coffee glass, then fill the glass with boiling water (the spoon will keep the glass from breaking) Once glass is hot, add sugar, then whiskey Fill glass to the three-quarters mark with hot coffee Stir to dissolve sugar Carefully lay cream atop the drink, filling the rest of the glass Happy St. Patrick’s Day! If you’re in Los Angeles today, east of the 405, and you’re looking to get your Irish on, there’s a good chance you might…
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Drink Spirits
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Drink Spirits Gets Tales of The Cocktail Nomination
17 May 2013 | 1:09 pmTales of The Cocktail Nomination We are extremely excited to announce that Drink Spirits Editor Geoff Kleinman has been nominated for a 2013 Tales of The Cocktail Spirited Award for Best Cocktail Writing – Author. Tales of The Cocktail is the nation’s largest annual cocktail festival that brings together the best of the best in the industry for a week-long conference, celebration, and gathering. The 11th Annual Tales of The Cocktail and Spirited Awards take place in New Orleans, July 17-21, 2013. Here are the nominations: Best Cocktail Writing – Author Dan Priseman Derek Brown Gary… -
Review: Dewar’s Highlander Honey Flavored Whisky
17 May 2013 | 8:28 amDewar’s Highlander Honey Mixing honey and whisk(e)y isn’t a new concept – Drambuie has been doing it with their honey and herbal liqueur since the 1800s – but this category of mixing honey and whiskey really didn’t take off until 2011, when Jack Daniels released the enormously successful Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey. The sheer volume of product that Jack Daniels moved in this space pushed many other whiskey producers to expand their offerings to include some sort of honey option. For the most part, the honey and whiskey boom has been focused in the American… -
Verrazano Cocktail: Where Bourbon and Mezcal Meet
15 May 2013 | 11:25 amVerrazano Cocktai For the past couple of years the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo have fallen on the same weekend. Historically, this could have created a conundrum as Derby Day was often the official kick off to bourbon season, and Cinco de Mayo was the kick off for tequila. In many ways, this past Derby/Cinco was an important milestone as both bourbon and tequila have transcended a “season” and are now enjoyed year round. The collision of these two major drinking holidays does create a difficult choice between sipping on the crisp, minty, bourbon-based mint julep for Derby or… -
Review: Jim Beam Signature Craft 12 Year & Rare Spanish Brandy
13 May 2013 | 6:31 amJim Beam Signature Craft American Whiskey has been on an explosive growth path and it’s not just rye whiskey that’s getting a tremendous amount of attention. The demand for premium bourbon so outstrips supply that it has created a virtual frenzy around brands like Pappy Van Winkel, George T Stagg, and Parker’s Heritage. The problem with many of these premium brands, aside from the fact that they’re impossible to get, is that they are all monster whiskies. The premium bourbon category is often defined by whiskey that is high proof, with monster oak and explosive… -
Drink Spirits Walks Into A Bar: The Regent Cocktail Club in Miami
10 May 2013 | 8:11 amThe Regent Cocktail Club Classy isn’t the first word that pops into mind when describing the bar scene in South Beach, Miami, but it’s one of the best ways to describe The Regent Cocktail Club. The Regent is not quite a speakeasy, but it does have the feeling of exclusivity of a private club. The bar’s walls are all adorned with dark wood paneling, a big open space is dotted with leather couches and sectionals, and behind the bar is a wide selection of spirits, many of which are behind glass. Regent Cocktail Club Menu In Miami’s flashy nightlife scene, The Regent is…
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Drink Spirits
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Drink Spirits Gets Tales of The Cocktail Nomination
17 May 2013 | 1:09 pmTales of The Cocktail Nomination We are extremely excited to announce that Drink Spirits Editor Geoff Kleinman has been nominated for a 2013 Tales of The Cocktail Spirited Award for Best Cocktail Writing – Author. Tales of The Cocktail is the nation’s largest annual cocktail festival that brings together the best of the best in the industry for a week-long conference, celebration, and gathering. The 11th Annual Tales of The Cocktail and Spirited Awards take place in New Orleans, July 17-21, 2013. Here are the nominations: Best Cocktail Writing – Author Dan Priseman Derek Brown Gary… -
Review: Dewar’s Highlander Honey Flavored Whisky
17 May 2013 | 8:28 amDewar’s Highlander Honey Mixing honey and whisk(e)y isn’t a new concept – Drambuie has been doing it with their honey and herbal liqueur since the 1800s – but this category of mixing honey and whiskey really didn’t take off until 2011, when Jack Daniels released the enormously successful Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey. The sheer volume of product that Jack Daniels moved in this space pushed many other whiskey producers to expand their offerings to include some sort of honey option. For the most part, the honey and whiskey boom has been focused in the American… -
Verrazano Cocktail: Where Bourbon and Mezcal Meet
15 May 2013 | 11:25 amVerrazano Cocktai For the past couple of years the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo have fallen on the same weekend. Historically, this could have created a conundrum as Derby Day was often the official kick off to bourbon season, and Cinco de Mayo was the kick off for tequila. In many ways, this past Derby/Cinco was an important milestone as both bourbon and tequila have transcended a “season” and are now enjoyed year round. The collision of these two major drinking holidays does create a difficult choice between sipping on the crisp, minty, bourbon-based mint julep for Derby or… -
Review: Jim Beam Signature Craft 12 Year & Rare Spanish Brandy
13 May 2013 | 6:31 amJim Beam Signature Craft American Whiskey has been on an explosive growth path and it’s not just rye whiskey that’s getting a tremendous amount of attention. The demand for premium bourbon so outstrips supply that it has created a virtual frenzy around brands like Pappy Van Winkel, George T Stagg, and Parker’s Heritage. The problem with many of these premium brands, aside from the fact that they’re impossible to get, is that they are all monster whiskies. The premium bourbon category is often defined by whiskey that is high proof, with monster oak and explosive… -
Drink Spirits Walks Into A Bar: The Regent Cocktail Club in Miami
10 May 2013 | 8:11 amThe Regent Cocktail Club Classy isn’t the first word that pops into mind when describing the bar scene in South Beach, Miami, but it’s one of the best ways to describe The Regent Cocktail Club. The Regent is not quite a speakeasy, but it does have the feeling of exclusivity of a private club. The bar’s walls are all adorned with dark wood paneling, a big open space is dotted with leather couches and sectionals, and behind the bar is a wide selection of spirits, many of which are behind glass. Regent Cocktail Club Menu In Miami’s flashy nightlife scene, The Regent is…
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Cocktail Enthusiast
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Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey Review
15 May 2013 | 10:16 pmAngel’s Envy Rye Whiskey is a new product from the Louisville Distilling Company, maker’s of Angel’s Envy Bourbon. While the bourbon is finished in port casks, the rye whiskey is finished for 18 months in Caribbean rum casks before bottling. Both are the product of Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson, who bucked some whiskey traditions with both of these releases. “We considered finishing a spirit in rum casks for some time and ultimately felt that the spiciness of a well-rounded rye provided the best pairing,” said Henderson. He and his team sourced and sampled more… -
Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey Review
14 May 2013 | 9:12 amDad’s Hat Rye Whiskey is a recently released offering out of Pennsylvania. Rye was a major Pennsylvania export prior to Prohibition, when the 18th amendment closed down many of the state’s distilleries. The guys behind Dad’s Hat, John Cooper and Herman Mihalich, want to pay homage to the rye whiskeys of their state’s past. So they’re making rye the old fashioned way, in small batches with locally sourced ingredients. Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey is aged in charred white oak quarter casks for at least six months. It pours a light amber in the glass, and on the… -
Bombay Sapphire East Gin Review
8 May 2013 | 4:29 pmBombay Sapphire East is a twist on the original Bombay Sapphire Gin. The main difference here is the addition of two more botanicals — Thai lemongrass and Vietnamese black peppercorns — to the 10 botanicals already present in Sapphire. The gin first launched in 2011, with more widespread availability in late 2012. It made its way across our desk this week, so let’s take it for a spin. On the nose, Bombay Sapphire East is full of lemon, juniper and black pepper with some floral undertones. Take a sip, and you’ll get a soft entry that’s predominantly lemon peels… -
Introducing Sugar Daddy Rums
6 May 2013 | 2:28 pmSugar Daddy Rum is the latest product release from Prohibition Spirits, the Sonoma based company that also makes the line of Hooker’s House whiskeys. Sugar Daddy Rums are available in three expressions — Light Rum, Amber Rum and Dark Rum — and all three rums are originally sourced in the Caribbean before being aged in wine and bourbon barrels at Prohibiton Spirits’ California distillery. Sugar Daddy Light Rum is a light pot still rum that hails from Jamaica. It’s matured in large puncheon barrels that previously stored Chardonnay. According to the company, this… -
Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey Review
1 May 2013 | 10:46 amIn the Jameson Irish Whiskey lineup, Black Barrel falls between the standard, ubiquitous Jameson and the 12 year old special reserve. Black Barrel was first introduced in 2011, and it’s composed of a high proportion of Irish pot still whiskey and a rare small batch grain whiskey. This blend is then matured in flame charred bourbon barrels, hence the “Black Barrel” designation. Jameson Black Barrel is an overall richer experience as compared to the standard bottle. It’s full of sweet fruits like nectarines and apricots, but also adds noticeable bourbon characteristics…
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It's just the booze dancing...
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Booze Research – The Best Way To Enjoy Branca Menta
17 May 2013 | 8:00 amWay back in mid February, I received an email from a NYC PR firm asking if I’d be interested in trying Branca Menta, a mint version of the potent Italian digestif known as Fernet Branca (click here to read this excellent article about Fernet Branca from The Atlantic ). Since I am a fan of the bold, bracing, and ultimately polarizing Fernet Branca, I took them up on their offer, and a bottle arrived on my doorstep shortly thereafter. I immediately tried the Branca Menta when it arrived, but found it to be way too sweet to drink on its own (Fernet Branca is bottled at 39% ABV while the… -
Beer Review – Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale
15 May 2013 | 8:00 amA while ago, I had stopped at Roger Wilco to pick up a mixed six and grabbed a Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale as one of the six. Sadly, over the ensuing months, the beer fridge has seen its fair share of Gogurts and yogurts and half pint water bottles tossed about , so the Old Man Winter much like the old man in the house had been cast aside and neglected. During a restock, I found the Old Man and rescued it. I had initially bought the Old Man as I enjoy winter ales and we have enjoyed the Harvest Ale, the Imperial Pumking and the 2XIPA. Now, that it is mid-Spring it may be a bit out of… -
Beer Review – Flying Dog Wildeman Farmhouse IPA
13 May 2013 | 8:00 amI first heard about Flying Dog’s Wildeman Farmhouse IPA last May when reviews of it started popping up all over the blogosphere (click here to read one such review). Since I love Farmhouse Ales and IPAs, I figured this beer would totally be “in my wheelhouse”. While pulling together a mixed six pack a couple weeks ago, I saw this beer on the shelf and just had to pick up a bottle for a proper review. Here is what Flying Dog Brewery has to say about their Wildeman Farmhouse Ale: His axe is stained with the blood of a thousand adversaries. We fall in behind him as he leads up… -
Craft Beer News Flash: The Launch of Beerporium!
11 May 2013 | 8:00 amClick the pic to visit Beerporium.com! Yesterday morning, we received an email from our Craft Beer blogging buddy Will Carlson of the Brew Trek blog. In his email, Will asked if we could share some information about his latest Craft Beer-centric business opportunity: the launch of his Beerporium website. Will is incredibly passionate about his beer, and his Brew Trek blog is all about his Craft Beer journey, i.e. “ever since his first visit to Wynkoop Brewing back in 1988, he has been hooked on craft beer and it’s culture, seeking out breweries and brew pubs wherever he… -
Beer Review – Uncommon Brewers Siamese Twin Ale
10 May 2013 | 8:00 amIt was a crisp, clear Saturday afternoon. The wife was away at a conference in San Francisco, the kids were playing in the back yard, and I was attempting to read Stephen King’s 11/22/63 on my Nexus 7 tablet as I sat on my patio. I was about two pages into a new chapter when I heard someone whistling off to my left. When I turned my head, I was greeted by a grinning Wookie that was poking his head out of his sliding patio door and waving a bottle of Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye in my general direction. He asked if I wanted one, but since it was only 2PM, I summoned up some willpower and…
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A Wardrobe of Whisky
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Glenlivet #Alpha Tweet Tasting
17 May 2013 | 1:49 amHello there, Yesterday, we had another great tweet tasting with The Glenlivet and Steve from The Whisky Wire. To be honest I were not going to apply to this tasting because I had already tasted the Glenlivet 12, 15 and 18 ( oops, looks like I didn’t taste it ) and although Alpha was somewhat appealing I though I was just a marketing move. But I was offered a seat and who of you would reject free whisky, and what the hell, I really want to revisit the Glenlivet range. After touching the miniature of Alpha I started to get excited about the idea of such a mysterious whisky label and I… -
Ardbog: Tasting the newest Ardbeg Whisky
15 May 2013 | 7:55 amI am a huge fan of Ardbeg since the moment I tasted for first time their 10 years old whisky. I love so much the peat, the honey and the motor aromas that I always have two bottles of Ardbeg around: one of 10 years old and one of Uigeidail when I need a bit more of peat-power. So there I was at home when the whisky fairy knocked on my door and let a big envelop from Glenmorangie. Umm, could it be… Woof! Woof! Right! This is Ardbog! The latest whisky from my beloved Ardbeg to celebrate with all their fans worldwide the Ardbog Day on June, 1st 2013. With the whisky comes also a coin that… -
Viva Mexico! My first Tequila roundup
14 May 2013 | 6:03 amHello Amigos!, Barely a month ago I drank an ice-cold Tequila Sunrise after lunch, and so impressed I was that I decided I had to learn more about Tequila. So here it is this huge ( and I mean HUGE! ) article about Tequila, Mezcal and Mexico. I have tasted twenty tequilas for the occasion and to my surprise ( and your perhaps ) I have tasted one better than many Scotch whiskies I have tried in the last three years. So, click play on the video to get the spirit into you and keep reading with me. So, what the hell is Tequila? Point one, forget any stuff that you have previously drank and made… -
WTF 004: The Older, the Better, right?
8 May 2013 | 11:52 pmHello friends, Welcome to another blind tasting session with lots of interesting surprises. Three really old whiskies followed by two new whiskies introduced recently. This is exactly the other way round I like to do tastings but surprisingly I was shockingly impressed with the little ones So, in case you missed it, WFT Tasting sessions ( like this and this one ) is just a way to force myself into tasting stuff that I wouldn’t otherwise… I love young peated whiskies, mid age sherried monsters and those lovely very old bourbon cask matured whiskies. So I tend to taste more of this… -
Small oak cask for whisky maturation: Second attempt
6 May 2013 | 1:04 amThe story of four litres of whisky, one American oak cask and a free morning. If you read my previous post about this cask you know how it ended. If you don’t, I will try to be brief about it, I fucked spoiled two awesome Laphroaig 10 years old Cask Strength by ageing it a bit more of what it was needed. So, now that you know where we came from, keep reading about what I did. The cask, full of wine. Moscatel and Oloroso. Everything perfect. Well, no. The wine tastes a lot of wood and Laphroaig, but it has imparted the wood the desired profile. I forget about it for almost two years (…
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WhiskyNotes
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Teaninich 1973 (Malts of Scotland)
17 May 2013 | 11:10 pmVery few casks of Teaninich hit the market as a single malt, most of it is blended into Johnnie Walker. We’ll compare this Teaninich 1973 by Malts of Scotland head-to-head with a sister cask that has just been bottled by The Whisky Agency (review coming up tomorrow). Teaninich 39 yo 1973 (41,8%, Malts of Scotland 2012, bourbon hogshead, MoS 13011, 198 btl.) Nose: needs some airing, but folds open in a fruity way with a tropical twist. Banana, apple, kiwi, mango and sour berries. Nice sweet & sour balance. Also floral notes, with a faint potpourri edge. Hints of honey and… -
Miltonduff 1982 (Whisky Agency)
16 May 2013 | 11:24 pmThis Miltonduff 1982 is part of the Faces series by The Whisky Agency. Every label features artwork with… well… faces. Other drams in this batch: Teaninich 1973, Bowmore 1996 and Littlemill 1988. Miltonduff 30 yo 1982 (50,1%, The Whisky Agency ‘Faces’ 2013, refill bourbon hogshead, 269 btl.) Nose: nice fruits, but slightly shy. Grapefruits and unripe peaches. Crystallized oranges. Fresh and slightly tart. Some grainy notes. Vanilla in the background. Becoming more floral and fragrant after a while, coming close to women’s powder at times. Mouth: quite malty, with hints… -
Glencadam 1973 (Perfect Dram)
15 May 2013 | 11:16 pmTrying the latest Whisky Agency releases is always a joy and whenever the festival in Limburg takes place, you know there’s going to be a new batch of releases. There’s a new ‘Faces’ series and in the Perfect Dram range we have a Tomintoul 1968, Laphroaig 2000, Bowmore 1997 and this Glencadam 1973. Glencadam 39 yo 1973 (44,1%, The Whisky Agency ‘Perfect Dram’ 2013, bourbon hogshead, 221 btl.) Nose: a very ripe fruitiness. Yellow plum jam, blueberry jam, tangerine, banana and apricots. Also a creamy note of coconut butter and vanilla. Honey. Warm leather. Some mature oak… -
White & Mackay 19 years ‘Old Luxury’
14 May 2013 | 11:02 pmWhite & Mackay 19 years old is a ‘double marriage’ blend: it was blended and then married together in Matusalem sherry casks. Its components are aged between 19 and 21 years. White & Mackay 19 yo ‘Old Luxury’ (40%, OB 2013) Nose: medium rich, showing malt, buttery toffee and baked apple. Honey and soft spices. Chocolate. All this covered in an elegant sherry blanket. Easy to like, but rather shy, I would have liked it to be more expressive in showing the aromas. Mouth: fairly dry and peppery for a blend. Chocolate and malt again. Some caramel and brown sugar. Just a… -
Brora 1982 (Silver Seal)
13 May 2013 | 10:11 pmDistilled in 1982, this Brora 1982 was bottled in 2001 by Silver Seal. This makes it the youngest Brora I could try so far. Brora 19 yo 1982 (50%, Silver Seal 2001, sherry cask, First bottling, 240 btl.) Nose: a fruity nose, Clynelish-style rather than Brora. Lemon, peach, even a subtle coconut / banana note. Some pink grapefruit. A generous amount of coastal notes as well (sea air, oyster), getting the upper hand over time. Waxed paper. Quite rounded, it doesn’t have the austerity of most 1981 Broras. Mouth: really fruity again. Grapefruit, lemon, hints of pineapple. Almonds and…
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Cocktail Enthusiast
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Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey Review
15 May 2013 | 10:16 pmAngel’s Envy Rye Whiskey is a new product from the Louisville Distilling Company, maker’s of Angel’s Envy Bourbon. While the bourbon is finished in port casks, the rye whiskey is finished for 18 months in Caribbean rum casks before bottling. Both are the product of Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson, who bucked some whiskey traditions with both of these releases. “We considered finishing a spirit in rum casks for some time and ultimately felt that the spiciness of a well-rounded rye provided the best pairing,” said Henderson. He and his team sourced and sampled more… -
Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey Review
14 May 2013 | 9:12 amDad’s Hat Rye Whiskey is a recently released offering out of Pennsylvania. Rye was a major Pennsylvania export prior to Prohibition, when the 18th amendment closed down many of the state’s distilleries. The guys behind Dad’s Hat, John Cooper and Herman Mihalich, want to pay homage to the rye whiskeys of their state’s past. So they’re making rye the old fashioned way, in small batches with locally sourced ingredients. Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey is aged in charred white oak quarter casks for at least six months. It pours a light amber in the glass, and on the… -
Bombay Sapphire East Gin Review
8 May 2013 | 4:29 pmBombay Sapphire East is a twist on the original Bombay Sapphire Gin. The main difference here is the addition of two more botanicals — Thai lemongrass and Vietnamese black peppercorns — to the 10 botanicals already present in Sapphire. The gin first launched in 2011, with more widespread availability in late 2012. It made its way across our desk this week, so let’s take it for a spin. On the nose, Bombay Sapphire East is full of lemon, juniper and black pepper with some floral undertones. Take a sip, and you’ll get a soft entry that’s predominantly lemon peels… -
Introducing Sugar Daddy Rums
6 May 2013 | 2:28 pmSugar Daddy Rum is the latest product release from Prohibition Spirits, the Sonoma based company that also makes the line of Hooker’s House whiskeys. Sugar Daddy Rums are available in three expressions — Light Rum, Amber Rum and Dark Rum — and all three rums are originally sourced in the Caribbean before being aged in wine and bourbon barrels at Prohibiton Spirits’ California distillery. Sugar Daddy Light Rum is a light pot still rum that hails from Jamaica. It’s matured in large puncheon barrels that previously stored Chardonnay. According to the company, this… -
Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey Review
1 May 2013 | 10:46 amIn the Jameson Irish Whiskey lineup, Black Barrel falls between the standard, ubiquitous Jameson and the 12 year old special reserve. Black Barrel was first introduced in 2011, and it’s composed of a high proportion of Irish pot still whiskey and a rare small batch grain whiskey. This blend is then matured in flame charred bourbon barrels, hence the “Black Barrel” designation. Jameson Black Barrel is an overall richer experience as compared to the standard bottle. It’s full of sweet fruits like nectarines and apricots, but also adds noticeable bourbon characteristics…
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Boozenik
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WhiskeyFest NorthWest
3 May 2013 | 1:17 pmAnother upcoming NW spirits festival — this time whiskey-focused! WhiskeyFest NorthWest Presented by the Luna Foundation WhiskeyFest NorthWest is the largest Whiskey-centric festival to ever hit the Pacific NorthWest. On May 11th, WFNW will bring together 100+ local, national and international distilleries to pour samples for Portland’s whiskey-thirsty community. The one-of-a-kind festival will feature whiskey tasting booths, full bars serving up specialty craft cocktails, mixology competitions, back-porch & foot stompin’ live music performances, a cigar smoking lounge,… -
NW Spirits & Mixology Show 2013
23 Apr 2013 | 9:03 amThe 2013 NW Spirits and Mixology Show brings the craft cocktail world to you. This is Central Oregon’s chance to meet and mingle with the Northwest’s most exciting craft distillers and bartenders. Sample over 150 varieties of Whiskey, Brandy, Liqueurs, Vodka, Gin, Mezcal, Tequila and Rum, representing the Northwest and beyond. Join Master Distillers, Craft Bartenders and Connoisseurs, and feed your palette and imagination with cutting edge artisan cocktails, distilling education and spirits tastings. The Northwest Spirits and Mixology Show is it’s own pavilion within the Bite of… -
Review: Denizen Rum
10 Apr 2013 | 12:00 pmWhat newcomers to rum often don’t understand is that clear doesn’t always mean faux vodka, and dark doesn’t always mean funky and strong. There are several different paths from the cane field to the bottle, and whether a spirit is made from the sugar, or the molasses, or the juice, or all of the above, varies with local tradition, and wildly changes the flavor and nose and feel of the rum. You can probably guess with that preamble, that this is probably not going to be one of those clear, almost flavorless faux vodka rums, but instead be funky and strong. You would be correct… -
TOAST 2013
20 Mar 2013 | 2:47 pmOn Friday, March 22nd and Saturday March 23rd, the Oregon Distillers Guild presents the 3rd annual TOAST, the largest public tasting of artisan spirits in North America. TOAST will feature more than 50 local, national, and international artisan producers, pouring over 150 different spirits for enthusiasts and industry professionals. TOAST allows small distillers to showcase their handcrafted spirits, while providing an opportunity for the public to experience the diversity and quality of craft spirits from Oregon and beyond. From Absinthe to Whiskey, virtually every spirit category will be… -
Tales of the Cocktail: Tangled Up in Blue
31 Aug 2012 | 2:10 pm“Welcome to the first, and maybe the last, technical analysis of blue as a cocktail color, especially as presented by people in white suits that stain really quite well”. And with that, Jacob Briars, Sebastian Reaburn, and Philip Duff began their entertaining discussion of the color blue in historical and modern cocktails. Firstly, there was the obvious discussion of what is actually blue, as far as unadulterated food and drink. “Nearly nothing” is the actual answer. Even blueberries are more or less purple, rather than blue. But that rarity is why the color blue…
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Master of Malt Whisky Blog
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Feis Ile - Islay Competition 1: Flag down the Master of Malt Mobile!
17 May 2013 | 2:47 amIn just 7 days time a crack team of MoMers (MoMists? MoMians? Something that sounds less like a cult?) will be setting off in the direction of the Fèis Ìle whisky festival on Islay! Excitingly, as mentioned in our earlier Islay blog post, we will be running 3 Competitions while we are out there! The time has now come to break it down even further with a little more detail on each competition starting with numero uno... DX like to Break it Down. (Or is that just some student type in fancy dress? I couldn’t possibly comment...) Competition number 1 is really very,… -
Win a dram of The Glenlivet Alpha!
16 May 2013 | 7:00 amSomething this way mysterious came…and went! If you’ve been paying attention to whisky news, you’ll have heard about The Glenlivet’s new release: The Glenlivet Alpha. This Single Malt Scotch Whisky was bottled with the minimum legal information allowed in order to encourage whisky drinkers to “master their senses” and not be influenced by age statements, the colour of the whisky, or any other characteristics. Everyone likes a bit of mystery... If you weren’t lucky enough to purchase a full-sized bottle of The Glenlivet Alpha,… -
Talisker Port Ruighe: The Pride of Portree
15 May 2013 | 5:12 amHot on the heels of Talisker Storm comes another no age statement whisky from the very same distillery: Talisker Port Ruighe. So, what’s the story with Port Ruighe? Wouldn’t you like to know? Well, it’s pronounced Portree, as in the largest town on the Isle of Skye, with ‘Port Ruighe’ being an old Gaelic spelling. The town is based around a large natural harbour, which has been key for business and trade for centuries and latterly has featured some of them there brightly coloured buildings made infamous by a certain children’s television programme. The… -
Spirit of Hven: Swedish Whisky, Vodka, and Gin
14 May 2013 | 2:48 amRolling on with our recent trend of bringing new brands to the UK market (and beyond), we are pleased to introduce you to the Spirits of Hven. A Swedish whisky distillery which produces gin and vodka in a most nontraditional way (most gin does not take 2 years to produce), Hven is located on a tiny island that was home to astronomer Tycho Brahe in the 16th Century. When I imagined the journey to an island off the coast of Sweden in early March, I pictured snow, ice, and travelling in a boat exactly like like the one below. Exactly as I had imagined it... Perhaps I’ll give the sun deck a… -
World Whisky Day - Sat 18th May
13 May 2013 | 1:13 amThe second World Whisky Day™, organised by Aberdeen University student Blair Bowman, is just around the corner. A new date of Saturday 18th May has been chosen for this year’s celebrations, a date that Blair hopes one day could even become a national holiday in Scotland. World Whisky Day however, as the name suggests, is not just limited to Blair’s home country. Over 20,000 people participated in over 200 events around the world last year, as #worldwhiskyday trended in the global top ten on twitter as well as featuring on the BBC News homepage. Using Master of Malt’s…
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DBR - Spirits News
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Indian spirits maker John Distilleries unveils two new single malt whiskies in London
15 May 2013 | 10:48 pmJohn Distilleries, a Bangalore-based maker of Original Choice Whiskey, has launched two new single malt Indian whiskies in London on 14 May 2013. -
La Altena distillery unveils new Blanco Tequila under Tapatio brand
14 May 2013 | 11:12 pmLa Altena, a Mexico-based distiller of tequila brands, has unveiled a new spirit, Blanco Tequila, under its Tapatio brand. -
New distillery to come up in Eastern Market, Detroit
14 May 2013 | 10:21 pmA new distillery, Detroit City Distillery, is set to come up in the Eastern Market, Detroit in spring 2014. -
Coley Porter develops new branding for Beefeater gin
13 May 2013 | 11:23 pmColey Porter Bell, a London-based full-service brand design agency specialising in packaging, corporate identity and other tasks, has created the new proposition, name and packaging for the ultra premium hand-crafted gin, Beefeater Burrough’s Reserve. -
ASCC selects Ignite Advertising to drive sales of new vodkas
13 May 2013 | 10:47 pmThe Aristocrat Group Corporation (ASCC) and its brand management division, Luxuria Brands, have selected Ignite Advertising, a Portland-based packaging design, graphic design, web design, branding and advertising agency, to drive sales for its two vodkas slated to release later this year.
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Easy Cocktail Recipes
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Gin Sangaree
16 May 2013 | 1:41 amSangria and sangree are usually red, but there is a precedent for a white drink in sangria blanco, made with white wine. Ingredients: Gin – 4 parts Sugar Syrup – -
Moonshot
16 May 2013 | 12:58 amThis apparently strange combination of gin and clam juice will really hit the spot. Ingredients: Gin – 4 parts Clam Juice – 6 parts Tabasco Sauce – 2 dashes Ice -
Glass Slipper
13 May 2013 | 6:58 amIs this why Cindrella was so anxious to get to the ball – and why she missed her midnight curfew? Ingredients: Gin – 6 parts Blue Curacao – 2 parts -
Strega Sour
13 May 2013 | 6:45 amMade from almost 100 aromatic herbs, Strega is the Italian word for “Witch”. You’ll be under a spell after this! Ingredients: Gin – 4 parts Strega – 2 parts Lemon -
Old Etonian
9 May 2013 | 8:43 amWith its clever sophistication, this is definitely one of the wheels of the old boy network! Ingredients: Gin – 2 parts Lillet – 2 parts Orange Bitters – 2 dashes
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Social & Cocktails » Blog
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Spring Cocktails – Strawberry Spring Punch
13 May 2013 | 8:21 amSpring cocktails have the unique opportunity to take advantage of fresh ripe fruits plucked from the vine during peak season. Strawberry Spring Punch combines lush, sweet strawberries with aromatic rosemary and a hint of spicy ginger. The result is fresh, clean sweetness that lilts over the tongue. Strawberry Spring Punch – recipe by Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist Makes 12 – 4-1/2 ounce serving Ingredients 1-750ml Bottle Strawberry Vodka or Rum 6 ounces Fresh Lime Juice 2 ounces Simple Syrup 16 ounce package Fresh Strawberries 20 ounces Ginger Ale 6 to 8 Rosemary Sprigs Candied Ginger… -
Corporates, cocktail masterclasses & cocktail culture!
8 May 2013 | 1:54 pmIn recent years, corporate entertainment has become a major focus for some of the more experienced cocktail service companies which have shot up over the last decade, offering a range of joys from comprehensive cocktail masterclasses, cocktail tasting sessions to straightforward cocktail bartender hire and mobile cocktail bar hire. Recessions–aside, many businesses are still on the look-out for something fresh and innovative to help motivate employees, dazzle clients and incentivize customers, and the world of cocktails can tick all those boxes. Cocktail masterclasses are becoming… -
COXTAILS Interview – “a cocktail barman hire service” & much more
8 May 2013 | 11:11 amAs cocktail parties at home and other cocktail fuelled events become all the rage, companies that offer a cocktail barman hire service have found themselves in big demand. From relatively small gatherings such as birthdays or engagement parties to large weddings and corporate events, cocktails are the new “must-haves” and several companies have emerged across the UK offering everything from cocktail barman hire service, cocktail waiters & waitresses, mobile cocktail bar hire, cocktail masterclasses, cocktail tasting sessions and even naked butlers! One of the most successful… -
May Poll – What is your favourite Cocktail Base Spirit?
8 May 2013 | 6:27 amCocktails are sometimes categorised by their base spirit on menus or cocktail books. Vodka cocktails include classics such as the Moscow Mule and the White Russian whereas Rum Cocktails have brought us popular mixed drinks such as the Mojito and the Daiquiri. We`d love to know which type of base-spirit you like your cocktails made with, so please choose one option from the 7 spirits below: Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. -
Cocktail Bar Review: Bar Americain, London
2 May 2013 | 3:02 pmIt is one of the enduring pleasures of London living that every now and then you come across something to bring an unexpected smile of surprise to your face. Particularly pleasing is that my latest such experience took place just a few yards from the horror that is Piccadilly Circus. Head north onto Sherwood Street and you’ll soon come across an innocent and not particularly startling brasserie place where only the magpie-eyed will notice the unassuming advertisement for it’s other two attractions, the bar and cabaret.
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Drink Music City
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Sorry Mom, Angels Envy is Saving Their Rye for Father’s Day
10 May 2013 | 8:28 amIf you haven’t already bought your Mom a present for her big day this Sunday, you’d better get cracking. Flowers are ridiculously expensive and vendors jack up the prices on roses the week before Valentine’s and Mother’s Day, so I steer clear of them. But you know who doesn’t raise their prices when they know you are panic shopping? Your favorite liquor store, that’s who. For momma, may I suggest a nice bottle of wine like a crisp, floral Chardonnay from Ferrari-Carano or a peppery Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region of New Zealand. Allan Scott… -
No Glass on Grass
10 May 2013 | 5:54 amSteeplechase is now just one day away. A rule that has always been there but plagued a few too many people is no glass in the infield. To help you out, I have hand selected a few no glass products that are perfect for steeplechase. Here is the Top 8 glass-free products for Steeplechase weekend. 1. Jim Beam Traveler- Nothing speaks to a horse race more than Kentucky Bourbon. Keep to the traditional one of choice - Jim Beam. It's light on the wallet too. 2. Old Charter 8 Year Old Traveler- Get a little classier and kick it old school. This stuff is unbelievable – Ask your dad… -
Wine BTG, WTF?
22 Apr 2013 | 7:12 amIn the restaurant/bar industry parlance, “BTG” means “by the glass,” and refers to bottles of wine that establishments open to serve in individual servings to customers. While everybody knows that the mark-up on wine by the bottle in restaurants can seem pretty steep (up to 200-300% depending on many factors), but keep in mind that you’re also paying for an additional 15% on-premise tax, the cost of the restaurant to inventory that particular perfect accompaniment to your dish, the stemware to serve it in, a sommelier to help you choose it, a server to pour it… -
Have a Drink WIth Big John Daly
9 Apr 2013 | 1:02 pmIf you’ve ever been blessed enough to visit Augusta, GA during Masters week during the last few years, you’ve probably seen former PGA star John Daly hanging out in front of his bus in the parking lot of the Hooters Restaurant on Washington Street. It’s not like Big John is hard to miss with his epic mullet, wispy blonde moustache and garish pants from Loudmouth Golf. He’s a walking billboard for all the products he endorses, including I imagine his Slix Closers boxer shorts. And he’ll sign anything you buy from him. (Except maybe those boxers.) But the two-time… -
Help Mutineer Magazine Train the Next Generation of Dipsomaniacs
1 Apr 2013 | 6:47 amAdmit it, at some point in a bar late one night, either you or your friends has probably said something like “Man, this is the life! We should get into the liquor business!” Or maybe you want to turn your home brewing hobby into a business or live the glamorous life of a liquor rep, buying drinks for everyone in a bar and leaving as a hero. (In truth, that particular career is much less flashy than you would imagine with many hard hours of juggling spreadsheets and pushing cases of product. Maybe you were thinking of the Fireball girls.) And there are many different aspects to…
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Intoxicology 101 | Drinks Made Better
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Cocktails for Mommy: Mothers Day Cocktail Recipes
10 May 2013 | 11:24 pmThis weekend we come together for one big tribute to mom and there’s no better way to let mom know you love her than by giving her a bunch of booze and spending some quality time with her. We’ve managed to turn every other holiday into a drinking extravaganza, so why should we leave mom out of the fun? After all, she did birth us right? Just in time, we received a few awesome cocktail recipes courtesy of SkinnyGirl Cocktails and wanted to share them with our fans. If you make mommy a drink she’ll love you, if you make her a drink that still helps her keep her figure… -
Liquid Pancakes?: Tap 357 Maple Rye Whisky Review
8 May 2013 | 4:13 pmI‘ll admit, I’m a sucker for a well marketed or gimmicky brand of anything, especially when it comes to alcohol. So when I originally heard of and saw the advertisements for Crown Royal Maple Whisky I pretty much mentally crowned it champion of its kind before even tasting it. The results, underwhelming, but still a good sip-able whisky that bordered on becoming a liqueur because of its sweet intensity. Then a few weeks back I was surfing on Caskers.com, an awesome site that creates a platform for customers to find and buy some of the finest craft spirits available, and heard… -
Celebrating Cinco De Mayo: The Marion Ave Margarita
3 May 2013 | 6:07 pmOnly two more days until Cinco De Mayo! Are you ready? In case you’re a poor planner you’ve probably realized Cinco falls on Sunday this year. That means a lot of us will be celebrating tonight and tomorrow, and if you haven’t had enough after two days of fun, you can use the excuse that it’s officially on Sunday to get in a 3rd day of Margaritas, Palomas, and more. Did you know that most of those that celebrate Cinco De Mayo are under the assumption it is Mexico’s Independence Day? That would be September 16th. It is actually a multinational celebration of… -
5 Must Try Mint Julep Recipes
3 May 2013 | 4:12 pmIf you aren’t prepared to try a Julep this Derby weekend, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. The mint Julep isn’t for everyone, and that’s why we like to find multiple ways to fit every ones taste. Bourbon and Mint are pretty strong and definitely an acquired taste, so we can’t blame you for passing But how about we make a deal and meet half way in the middle? Try one of these tasty concoctions and see what works or doesn’t work for you. Mint Julep Lemonade 2 oz. mint-infused Woodford Reserve® 2 oz. simple syrup 1 oz. fresh squeezed lemon… -
How to Drink at the Kentucky Derby
29 Apr 2013 | 8:00 pmIt’s that time of year again. The gaudy hats, the seersucker’s and sundresses, and who could forget the endless amounts of bourbon waterfalls. It’s the Kentucky Derby of course and we’re keeping you covered with our guide today on how to drink for the Kentucky Derby. Everyone knows at the Derby the Julep is king, but don’t be fooled into thinking that’s all you can/should be sipping on. We’ve never been the biggest of fans of the Julep, at least not the classic recipe. We’ve found several fun variations that we’ve tinkered with over time…
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Single Malt Whisky Shop | Buy Whisky Online | Whisky Exchange
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World Whisky Day
17 May 2013 | 10:44 pmToday is World Whisky Day. If you’ve not heard of it before, that is because it was only started last year. That turned out to be such a success that the organisers have arranged for it this year. To celebrate this, courtesy of the Whisky Exchange, we are offering some great [...]The post World Whisky Day appeared first on Single Malt Whisky Shop | Buy Whisky Online | Whisky Exchange. -
Great Deals At the Whisky Exchange
12 May 2013 | 11:21 pmJust now at The Whisky Exchange (TWE) you can pick up some fantastic deals on single malt whisky, with up to 40% off some Scotch whiskies! Why Buy At The Whisky Exchange? TWE is the best place to buy whisky online. Originally it was set up as a place to [...]The post Great Deals At the Whisky Exchange appeared first on Single Malt Whisky Shop | Buy Whisky Online | Whisky Exchange. -
Rare Glenfiddich Sells For Record Price
6 May 2013 | 10:57 pmThe Glenfiddich distillery, set in Speyside whisky producing region of Scotland, produces some of the finest and rarest single malt whiskies on the market. One of the rarest single malts that they produce is a 55 year old called the Glenfiddich [...]The post Rare Glenfiddich Sells For Record Price appeared first on Single Malt Whisky Shop | Buy Whisky Online | Whisky Exchange. -
Six Facts Why Glenfiddich Single Malt Is Unique
3 May 2013 | 10:51 pmHere we’ve put together a short list of 6 facts as to why we think that Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whisky is unique amongst all the hundreds of different kinds of single malt whiskies that are on the market. Unique Facts About Glenfiddich Single Malt Whisky 1. It’s family owned [...]The post Six Facts Why Glenfiddich Single Malt Is Unique appeared first on Single Malt Whisky Shop | Buy Whisky Online | Whisky Exchange. -
The Most Expensive Single Malt Glenfiddich Whisky Stolen From Shop
24 Apr 2013 | 1:58 pmGlenfiddich produce some of the best single malt whiskies that are sold. It seems though that it’s also appreciated by thieves. In Canada Police are looking for a man who, it is alleged, stole an expensive single malt whisky from a store. The single malt in question is a rare
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Drinking Made Easy » Spirits
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Q and A with Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine founder Joe Baker
12 May 2013 | 2:51 amOle Smoky Tennessee Moonshine is as authentic as is comes without having to worry about going blind from imbibing. This Gatlinburg, Tennessee, family business puts out legal, “mountain-made” moonshine. When a Tennessee law recently changed to allow the distillation of moonshine, the folks at Ole Smoky decided that the time was right to let the world enjoy the moonshine that has been made in the Great Smoky Mountains for the last two-hundred years. Ole Smoky makes six varieties year round. They are Ole Smoky Original Moonshine (“For sippin.” made from 80% corn and 20% mystery… -
Sour Cocktails: A Mixology Boot Camp
8 May 2013 | 2:00 amAre you an amateur mixologist with a home bar that could use a good refresher course? Well, I certainly am. That’s why I recently took a class at Union Square Wines & Spirits called Mixology Boot Camp, taught by Kelley Slagle. Slagle is part of Cocktail Kingdom – an Internet outlet where you can purchase many different kinds of bar tools and accessories. If you’re in New York City, you can find Cocktail Kingdom at this location. In this class, we learned about the various types of shaken cocktails that are frequently referred to as “sours”. To start off the evening, we… -
The Brandy Pipe
18 Apr 2013 | 2:47 amThe glass you use to drink can make as much a difference to the experience as the drink itself. The Uni-Clear Footed Brandy Pipe takes the brandy experience a step further. The glass is supposed to enhance the flavor of the brandy while providing an awesome conversation starter. What is really important is that the glass looks cool and you may feel just a little bit cooler than you would with a normal brandy glass. Yes, you may feel inclined to raise your pinky a bit while drinking but its ok, the brandy counters it. -
Spring Gin
14 Apr 2013 | 2:43 amTo me, no spirit makes me think “Spring” more than Gin. This easily mixable, juniper berry flavored, herbal tonic has the perfect taste and characteristics for use when mixing up your favorite warm-weather cocktails. Whether it’s the simple, gin and tonic or the more advanced Tom Collins, you can’t go wrong with gin. In fact, if you don’t have one already, you should do out and buy a bottle now of this, sometimes mysterious, indispensable, tasty spirit What exactly is gin? On the most basic level, gin is a clear alcoholic spirit distilled from grain or malt and flavored with juniper… -
Mark The Moment With The Glenlivet
5 Apr 2013 | 2:00 amFollowing a long holiday weekend, it was with great surprise and delight that I received an e – mail from The Glenlivet inviting me to an unusual event – a dinner where various expressions of their scotch would be strategically paired with each course served throughout the evening. Unfortunately, the invitation arrived early that afternoon with extremely short notice – the dinner was to be held that same evening and if I wanted to attend, I had to RSVP immediately! Thankfully for me, I had nothing urgent scheduled for that night, so I was available – but would my RSVP arrive in…
