Spirits

• Most Topular Stories

• Tales of the Cocktail - Vancouver

  Art of Drink

  Darcy O'Neil (dso@artofdrink.com)

  22 Jan 2012 | 8:08 pm

  With the start of the new year, the cocktail events for 2012 begin once more. One of the first is Tales of the Cocktail Vancouver (February 12-15) which takes the Tales experience on tour. Every year it gets better and this year is no exception. Some of the esteemed presenters include Audrey Saunder, Charlotte Voisey, Wayne Curtis, Harold McGee, Dushan Zaric, Paul Pacult and Jacob Briars to name a few. For anyone on the west coast looking to increase their knowledge on all things drink related,…...More

• American Harvest Organic Vodka Arrives for Review

  Liquor Snob

  Jake

  26 Jan 2012 | 10:28 am

  American Harvest is an organic vodka made right in Idaho, smack dab in the middle of America's heartland. They've got an American flag emblazoned on the bottle, and the word "America" is right there in the name of the spirit. Kind of feels like Sidney Frank (the gent who brought you a little brand called Grey Goose - you might have heard of it) is targeting Red Staters, doesn't it? We'd say he's a genius for releasing it during an election year to attract patriotic voters from either side of the aisle. American Harvest is an organic vodka with "organic flavor" and an ABV of 40% (80 proof). It…

• Drinking in Season: Persimmon Sour

  Cocktails News

  28 Jan 2012 | 5:13 am

  You may have noticed the orange fruit that looks like a cousin to the tomato, but have you tried a persimmon lately? There are two common varieties available in the United States: Fuyu and Hayachi.

• Booze News: January 25, 2012

  About.com Cocktails

  25 Jan 2012 | 8:45 am

  This week's headlines can be enjoyed with a steaming cup of Irish Coffee as today is National Irish Coffee Day and this last week of January is Irish Coffee Week....Read Full Post

• The Horse's Neck. A great bourbon mixed drink...

  Liqurious

  Nonesuch13

  27 Jan 2012 | 1:30 pm

  The Horse's Neck. A great bourbon mixed drink made fun with distinctive garnish. (Still thirsty? See Liqurious)

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  Art of Drink

• Tales of the Cocktail - Vancouver

  Darcy O'Neil (dso@artofdrink.com)

  22 Jan 2012 | 8:08 pm

  With the start of the new year, the cocktail events for 2012 begin once more. One of the first is Tales of the Cocktail Vancouver (February 12-15) which takes the Tales experience on tour. Every year it gets better and this year is no exception. Some of the esteemed presenters include Audrey Saunder, Charlotte Voisey, Wayne Curtis, Harold McGee, Dushan Zaric, Paul Pacult and Jacob Briars to name a few. For anyone on the west coast looking to increase their knowledge on all things drink related,…...More

• Layman’s Guide to the 100 Point Wine Scale

  Darcy O'Neil (dso@artofdrink.com)

  17 Dec 2011 | 9:56 am

  When I was at the Moscow Barshow (September 2011) I had the opportunity to judge the cocktail competition that pitted the best bartenders in Russia against one another. Robert "Drinkboy" Hess was also one of the judges and afterwards we had a discussion on the best way to rate cocktails in a competition. The discussion is ongoing and at some point we'll probably have some refinements, meanwhile I've been doing some digging around and looking at other rating scales. Obviously,…...More

• Bitter Recipe List is Back

  Darcy O'Neil (dso@artofdrink.com)

  26 Nov 2011 | 7:31 pm

  For those who don't follow me on Twitter or Facebook, I have finally recreated the bitters recipe database. It was originally "lost" when I migrated from one hosting company to another, but I have managed to find most of the recipes and have put them back together. I have also been adding more recipes from sources I discovered while writting Fix…...More

• When the Drink Comes Calling

  Darcy O'Neil (dso@artofdrink.com)

  19 Nov 2011 | 12:11 pm

  This morning I woke up, infused my body with caffeine and then read some news. An article in the Toronto Star seems to have "gotten my goat". It is an allegory written by Ann Dowsett Johnston for the Atkinson series on women and alcohol titled "When the Drink Comes Calling". The evils of alcohol are discussed, which is nothing new, but the tone and how alcohol is portrayed…...More

• Chocolate Phosphate

  Darcy O'Neil (dso@artofdrink.com)

  12 Nov 2011 | 8:38 pm

  The Phosphate was the defining category of drink during the soda fountains golden era and the Wild Cherry Phosphate was the most popular, but not far behind in popularity was the Chocolate Phosphate. That's right, chocolate soda. This wasn't an egg cream or chocolate milkshake this was a carbonated drink that combined a chocolate syrup…...More

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  Liquor Snob

• American Harvest Organic Vodka Arrives for Review

  Jake

  26 Jan 2012 | 10:28 am

  American Harvest is an organic vodka made right in Idaho, smack dab in the middle of America's heartland. They've got an American flag emblazoned on the bottle, and the word "America" is right there in the name of the spirit. Kind of feels like Sidney Frank (the gent who brought you a little brand called Grey Goose - you might have heard of it) is targeting Red Staters, doesn't it? We'd say he's a genius for releasing it during an election year to attract patriotic voters from either side of the aisle. American Harvest is an organic vodka with "organic flavor" and an ABV of 40% (80 proof). It…

• Arehucas Ron Miel Arrives for Review

  Jake

  25 Jan 2012 | 3:17 pm

  We just received a bottle of Ron Miel, known to us English-speaking American types as honey rum. Arehucas honey rum is a product of Spain's Canary Islands, consisting of seven-year-old rum blended with honey. Weighing in at 40 proof (20% ABV) and dosed with natural honey, this is far sweeter than your average rum, so we can see it being an acquired taste - or an excellent sweetener for cocktails. We'll do some investigative reporting and write up a full review ASAP. Get the full scoop at Arehucas.es

• Margaritaville Chillin' Pour Liquor Chiller

  Jake

  16 Jan 2012 | 8:35 am

  Some might say a liquor chiller is unnecessary in a time when pretty much everyone has access to a refrigerator, but we say those people lack vision. Margaritaville's Chillin' Pour liquor chiller holds 750ml (a full bottle) and chills liquids down to 15 degrees Farenheit. Some might put a margarita in there as the designers intended, but others might use it for something more nefarious - such as a Jagermeister chiller? Possibilities are endless. At the time of this post Amazon is selling the Chillin' Pour machine for a huge discount - the retail price is $200 but they're selling it for under…

• How 1940s Whiskey Ads Predicted the Future

  Jake

  4 Jan 2012 | 7:07 am

  The time - the mid-1940s. The place - somewhere in Canada. The action - commercial prognostication. The folks over at Technologizer found a cool old set of Seagram's ads where they attempted to predict the future of technology, with some interesting results. Among their predictions include some hits (cell phones, video conferencing and sports bars) and some misses (coin-operated fax machines, package delivery via bomber plane). Check out the full list at Technologizer and if you're anything like us, stop to think about what today's Madison Avenue Nostradamuses are saying about our future.

• The Perfect Drink for Every Occasion

  Jake

  13 Dec 2011 | 7:01 pm

  It may not come as a shock to you that we like to drink, but you may not know how much the Liquor Snob staff likes to read. We're only asking for books and booze this Christmas, and not in that order. That's why we dig the title of the book we just found - The Perfect Drink for Every Occasion. We like the way it just rolls off the tongue. This book features 151 cocktail recipes, and claims its cocktails "complement every situation imaginable . . . and then some." We're doing our best to come up with 5 situations that probably aren't included in this book - though we suppose you'll have to buy…

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  Cocktails News

• Drinking in Season: Persimmon Sour

  28 Jan 2012 | 5:13 am

  You may have noticed the orange fruit that looks like a cousin to the tomato, but have you tried a persimmon lately? There are two common varieties available in the United States: Fuyu and Hayachi.

• Diner's Journal Blog: What We're Reading

  28 Jan 2012 | 12:58 am

  Specialty Food : Hot trends from last week's Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco: heritage grain products proliferate in snacks and pastas; pickling of beets, carrots, peas, okra and fruits is increasing; oats and almonds are coming to juice drinks; coconut is in everything, and the gluten-free category is expanding rapidly .

• Canard Mort lives

  27 Jan 2012 | 8:59 pm

  LE CANARD MORT Complete dinners for $45 per person, including tax, tip and a beer cocktail.

• This weekend's great craft cocktails

  27 Jan 2012 | 4:49 pm

  Tequila Sunrise is what you order in a dark coffin bar with some lonely soul dirty dancing by a jukebox filled with Eagles tunes.

• Serious Reads: The American Cocktail vs. The Seasonal Cocktail Companion

  27 Jan 2012 | 2:44 pm

  The recent cocktail resurgence has followed a somewhat predictable trajectory. First, there was a general interest in the art of cocktails.

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  About.com Cocktails

• Booze News: January 25, 2012

  25 Jan 2012 | 8:45 am

  This week's headlines can be enjoyed with a steaming cup of Irish Coffee as today is National Irish Coffee Day and this last week of January is Irish Coffee Week....Read Full Post

• What to do this week: San Antonio Cocktail Conference

  24 Jan 2012 | 10:43 am

  If you are in the San Antonio area and need something to do this weekend, or if you want an excuse to get out of town and fly somewhere with a purpose of some sort, I have a suggestion. This week many of us will be headed down south to the join in the fun of the inaugural San Antonio Cocktail Conference....Read Full Post

• Warm and Toasty Mocktail: Sweet Adeline

  22 Jan 2012 | 7:34 am

  If you are seeking a gentle drink to warm up with on a cold winter night I have a new creation to share. Sweet Adeline Sweet Adeline began as a desire to change up my tea routine and finished off with a sweet cup of warm goodness. In it I've combined three juices - apple, cranberry, and pomegranate - which are warmed and then steeped with chamomile tea. It is an easy drink to make, almost as easy as brewing a cup of tea and the lack of alcohol makes it an ideal drink for everyone anytime of the day....Read Full Post

• Championship Football Drink Menus

  21 Jan 2012 | 7:10 am

  Four teams are left in the NFL playoffs and tomorrow's conference championship games will determine who plays in Super Bowl XLVI on February 5. This means that it is once again time to talk about cocktails for game day....Read Full Post

• Booze News: January 18, 2012

  18 Jan 2012 | 10:48 am

  This week we're talking about a conference, new competitions, a bit of fun legalese, and fancy drinking. Also, I found this 'Original Liquor Prescription' form on the History.com to be of some interest....Read Full Post

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  Liqurious

• The Horse's Neck. A great bourbon mixed drink...

  Nonesuch13

  27 Jan 2012 | 1:30 pm

  The Horse's Neck. A great bourbon mixed drink made fun with distinctive garnish. (Still thirsty? See Liqurious)

• The Tipsy glasses by LORIS&LIVIA make you feel...

  crackerjack

  27 Jan 2012 | 11:30 am

  The Tipsy glasses by LORIS&LIVIA make you feel as if you've had one too many before you've even had one (Still thirsty? See Liqurious)

• A look at zinc bars in Paris from Inside Bars

  immortalpie

  27 Jan 2012 | 9:30 am

  A look at zinc bars in Paris from Inside Bars (Still thirsty? See Liqurious)

• Winter Sun Cocktail: Clementine, lemon, and...

  two-tarts

  27 Jan 2012 | 7:28 am

  Winter Sun Cocktail: Clementine, lemon, and vodka with a citrus sugar rim and the herbal piney scent of a rosemary garnish. (Still thirsty? See Liqurious)

• Simple and delicious, with just the right...

  smartkitty

  27 Jan 2012 | 5:28 am

  Simple and delicious, with just the right amount of pirate essence ~ DIY Spiced Rum (Still thirsty? See Liqurious)

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  Drink of the Week

• Gung Hay Fat Choy!

  Kristian Richards

  25 Jan 2012 | 4:40 pm

  The Chinese Lunar New Year is one of the most widely celebrated cultural and religious events among Chinese communities worldwide! Considered the most important holiday, the centuries-old tradition marks the end of the winter season with giant festivals around the world featuring dragon and lion dances and fireworks.  Welcome in the Year of the Dragon by trying out a few of these recipes inspired by this special holiday! Year of the Dragon – this vodka cocktail has the perfect name for getting you in the New Year spirit. Sparkling Dragon – fizzy sparkling water and bitters are…

• Ice Cream Happy Hour Review – Literary Monday

  Rachel Halpren

  23 Jan 2012 | 10:43 pm

  If you love booze and you love to to make your own ice cream, sorbets and granitas, then this book is the one for you. Ice Cream Happy Hour is an innovative book that brings you “50 boozy treats you spike, freeze and serve”. The authors of Ice Cream Happy Hour have covered a number of old and new classics in their book and most of them seem down right yummy. I will freely admit that I love ice cream drinks. Growing up in Wisconsin, special occasions were celebrated dining at supper clubs where ice cream drinks made regular appearances on the menu. And, it was with common…

• A Trip To Volcano Winery

  Michelle Hoppe

  23 Jan 2012 | 2:38 pm

  On a recent trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, I visited the Volcano National Park and nearby town of Volcano where I discovered the Volcano Winery. Situated on the slopes of Mount Kilauea, the Volcano Winery produces a number of unique wines. After a day of hiking around the rim of the caldera, through lava tubes and across fields of sulfur vents, nothing could be better than sampling locally-produced wine!  I was intrigued by the winery’s history as well as its wines. In 1986, retired veterinarian Lynn “Doc” McKinney decided to take his home wine-making hobby to the next step and…

• New World and Old World – High/Low Weekend

  Mario Miranda - CS CSW WSET Advanced

  21 Jan 2012 | 3:34 pm

  This week’s high/low weekend is a comparison of the new world and old world styles of wine. Australia is representing the new world with a Riesling from Edna Valley. I bet a few of you didn’t even know that Australia made Rieslings (you are not alone). But, they certainly do and if you enjoy Riesling with petrol characteristics, then you should really try Australia. The old world is being represented by Spain with a traditional, classic Rioja based on the Tempranillo grape. Both of these wines are great food pairing wines. 2010 PEWSEY VALE, Dry Riesling, Edna Valley Australia This…

• The NFL Cocktail Playoffs: Championship Sunday

  Justin Good

  21 Jan 2012 | 11:17 am

  The eyes of the world will all be on the two-storied fields this Championship Sunday. The big question is: where will you be to enjoy it? If you can’t make it to the game, I’m here to showcase the best places for you to watch, celebrate and most importantly pound the best local brews your bartender can pour!  Kezar Pub, San Francisco, California – This Haight-Ashbury watering hole has a rich pub atmosphere where fans of sports from around the globe congregate to watch, cheer and savor a pint of their favorite lager. While Kezar is known to be one of the best places for a pint of…

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  WhiskyCast

• WhiskyCast Episode 353: January 22, 2012

  Mark Gillespie

  22 Jan 2012 | 7:53 pm

  The end of January means many things, but in the whisky world, it means a trip to the Victoria Whisky Festival in British Columbia. The VWF is one of the world's best whisky festivals, and this week's episode features some of the highlights from this weekend's event. We'll get the latest on new whiskies from Cooley, Glenfarclas, Glenmorangie, and many more distillers, along with the results of the Canadian Whisky Awards and the newest chapter of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

• WhiskyCast Episode 352: January 14, 2012

  Mark Gillespie

  13 Jan 2012 | 10:59 pm

  A year ago, the owner of Glasgow's Pot Still Bar, Ken Storrie, passed away. At first, Glasgow whisky lovers were sad...but they quickly became mad after the Pot Still's landlord threw Ken's family and managers out. Now, they're happy...and going back to the Pot Still once again now that former manager Frank Murphy and his family have taken over one of Scotland's best whisky bars. Frank explains the whole sordid story and shares his memories of Ken and his hopes for the Pot Still in this week's episode.

• WhiskyCast Episode 351: January 7, 2011

  Mark Gillespie

  6 Jan 2012 | 9:03 pm

  Irish whiskey is enjoyed around the world, but perhaps not with as much passion as in Dublin. Leo Phelan is the president of Dublin's Irish Whiskey Society, and shares some of that passion with us in this week's episode. We'll hear his excitement about the revival of Pot Still Irish Whiskey, discuss some of Dublin's distilling history, and look at the future for Irish Whiskey. In the news, Redbreast 12 Cask Strength is on its way to the U.S., Masterson's Rye is headed home to Canada, and Whyte & Mackay isn't going up for sale any time soon.

• WhiskyCast Episode 350: December 31, 2011

  Mark Gillespie

  30 Dec 2011 | 10:24 pm

  Glen Grant's Dennis Malcolm marked 50 years at the distillery during 2011, and spent Christmas Day on a special mission. On Christmas Day in 1961, he filled a sherry hogshead with new make spirit, and three years ago, he moved that cask to a cave in the distillery's garden. On Christmas, he retrieved that cask, and what the angels (and Dennis) didn't get over the years will be bottled as a special anniversary edition of Glen Grant. Dennis shares some of his 50 years of stories with us, and helps quash a report out of Australia that Glen Grant was demolished years ago.

• WhiskyCast Episode 349: December 24, 2011

  Mark Gillespie

  23 Dec 2011 | 2:02 pm

  Mike Padlipsky had two loves...software and whisky. He also had one mission...to find what he thought of as the world's best single malt whisky. Sadly, his last act before his death was to find a bottle of that whisky...and he never got to open it. Bill Ricker is the keeper of Mike's dual legacies in computing and whisky. He'll tell us about his friend's passions in this week's episode, and exactly what that whisky was that Mike sought out until his dying day.

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  Nonjatta

• Nikka Malt 100 The Anniversary 12-yo

  27 Jan 2012 | 3:28 am

    Whisky type Pure malt Review by Nonjatta contributor - Dramtastic: "Nikka Malt 100 The Anniversary Aged 12 Years. 40 percent alcohol. Nose: Oak, engine oil, a little dry sherry, orange, cola, caramels. Palate: A little oily. Cola and caramels. Some rasberry, nutmeg and licorice. Finish: Short with the flavours of the palate and dying to dry oak. Rating: 72/100." (Dramtastic's ratings explained.)

• Nikka Whisky Grand Age

  27 Jan 2012 | 3:19 am

    Whisky type Blended whisky Review by Nonjatta contributor - Dramtastic: "Nikka Whisky Grand Age blend. 45 percent alcohol. Nose: Very oaky(grand age). Varnish, toffee, bran and hay.  Not particularly inviting. Palate: Improves on the nose. The oak tones down and there's lots of sweet spice. Quite nutty. Clingy mouth feel. Some ginger ale. Finish: Toffee and ginger ale. The oak makes a big return but a little too big unfortunately. The spicy sweetness remains. Rating: 72/100" (Dramtastic's ratings explained.)

• Suntory Aqua Vitae Pure Malt

  27 Jan 2012 | 3:12 am

    Whisky Type Pure Malt Review by Nonjatta contributor - Dramtastic: "Suntory Aqua Vitae Pure Malt. 40 percent alcohol. Nose: Preserved plums. pomegranate, merlot infused oak, nectarine and a little menthol. Palate: Sweet red grapes, preserved plums, light oak, cranberries, marzipan, butter, ginger. Finish: Short on red grape, cranberries, marziapan then quite some ginger. Rating: 80/100." (Dramtastic's ratings explained.)

• Suntory Special Reserve Aged 12 Years

  27 Jan 2012 | 3:10 am

  Whisky type Blended whisky Review by Nonjatta contributor - Dramtastic: "Suntory Special Reserve Blend Aged 12 Years. 40 per cent alcohol. Nose: Immediately reminded me of its younger brother the Special Reserve Aged 10 Years. Apple custard, stewed pears. tinned peaches, banana, sawdust. Very creamy with a big dollop of Demerara sugar. Palate: Yum. Very creamy mouth feels. 5 spice, mashed bananas, apple custard, tinned peaches, smooth oak. Finish: Fresh cream-covered peaches, stewed apples and banana, sprinkled with sweet spices. General comment: Never loses its composure.

• Kirin Emblem

  27 Jan 2012 | 3:02 am

    Whisky type Blended whisky Review by Nonjatta contributor - Dramtastic: "Kirin Emblem. 43 per cent alcohol. Nose: Bran, wheat, oats. Lemon and lime. New oak and potato skins. Palate: Toffee and grain. Golden syrup on pancakes with a light squeeze of lemon. Finish: Medium on golden syrup, oak, a little poppy seed and cinnamon. General comment: Solid blend in the Scottish style. Kirin blends often use Scottish whisky in the mix. Ratings: 78/100." (Dramtastic's ratings explained.)

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  www.caskstrength.net - whisky blog

• Smokin'

  26 Jan 2012 | 1:08 pm

  The world of whisky and cigars is an often maligned subject. Do the two really work together? Sometimes we're inclined to think not. A visit to Fox's of St James recently proved to be a mixed bag for us - three superb cigars: Bolivar's superbly rich Belicosos Finos, a Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial and a moreish Montecristo Edmundo. We'd chosen some interesting whiskies to go with our sticks: Ardbeg Uigeadail, Highland Park 21yo and a single cask Glenfarclas, providing a meaty mix of wood and sherry influence. But despite the wealth of wares on offer, we just couldn't get a handle on any…

• Let's Go Clubbing: The Balvenie Craftsman's Reserve No. 1 Whisky : The Cooper

  20 Jan 2012 | 6:05 am

  It’s not a lot different to most peoples’ houses... if you ever come over to my abode, you’ll learn a lot about me from the objects that fill the space in which I live. Of course, there is plenty of whisky and whisky related artefacts scattered around, but that’s not all. Strewn around the house are clues to other interests and hobbies of mine; a framed ticket for the 2009 / 2010 Conference Play Off Final at Wembley between (the mighty) Oxford United and York City for example or a few books about street art, piled high on my coffee table. However if you look closely, you can see keys…

• A Mid-Morning Caol Ila

  19 Jan 2012 | 4:33 am

  Blink and all of a sudden, you're nearly at the end of the month, with a head full of plans and plenty to be getting on with. I'm right in the thick of co-writing a brand new whisky book 'Let Me Tell You About Whisky') with the mighty Gavin Smith, the samples are racking up here and it's high time we got down to the business of looking at a few crackers to put on your late January/February wish list.Duncan Taylor have come out of the traps early with a couple of new releases from their Dimensions range and what a way to start today off - a gorgeous looking (and smelling) Caol Ila from…

• Is that a Linkwood in your pocket...?

  13 Jan 2012 | 11:24 am

  New Year resolutions: they can be both frustrating and fascinating at the same time. They can provide an opportunity for a clean slate, a fresh start, a new dawn. Maybe you have the desire to lose weight. You’ve adjusted your diet accordingly and the fridge is full of fresh veg, salad and lean meats. After some online research, you’ve joined a local gym. Two hours in the Nike store and you’ve walked out with a pair of trainers seemingly made from a kitchen sponge for the sole with an upper consisting of less made-made material than you’d see Jody Marsh wear on a night out. And…

• Having A Bal.

  10 Jan 2012 | 4:39 am

  Just before Christmas, both Joel and I had an interesting trip up to the Highlands to visit the Balblair Distillery. A stones throw away from the Glenmorangie distillery Balblair have been hard at work developing their series of vintage bottlings including the majestic 1978, 1989 and recently the 2000.But this trip also marked the opening of the distillery's very first 'visitors centre' - tastefully developing some of the older warehouse space into a precise time line charting the distillery's history, as well as providing Balblair with the first onsite bottling - a distillery-only single…

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  The Chuck Cowdery Blog

• Bike The Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

  28 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

  The Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) and the Bluegrass Cycling Club have teamed up to provide back-road bike routes for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour. The routes are designed to take you through the rolling hills and scenic countryside of Central Kentucky on your way to visit six historic distilleries.Maps and cue sheets can be found at the Kentucky Bourbon Trail web site under the Map and Guide tab. Links to the maps are also posted on the Bluegrass Cycling Club web site.“We’ve been surprised at the growing number of requests for bicycling routes,” said Eric Gregory, KDA…

• Journeyman Distillery Added To Feb. 8 Lineup.

  27 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

  Michigan's Journeyman Distillery has been added to the lineup for 'Meet Your Chicago Distillers Night' at Jerry's Sandwiches on February 8, starting at 7 PM. Jerry's is in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood at 1938 W. Division. The other featured distilleries are Koval, Few Spirits, and North Shore Distillery. A surprise guest DJ has been added "to carry the party on into the night." Admission is still $10.For more info go here and here.

• Mistruth In Alcoholic Beverage Marketing.

  26 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

  Mistruth, if it’s even a word, is an interesting one.You won’t find it at Merriam-Webster Online. It’s not in Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (Unabridged) either. MS Word is okay with it but Blogger's spell checker is not.Scrabblefinder and similar sources say it is a legitimate Scrabble word, but they don’t provide a definition for it.Lexic.us defines it as “a lie” and offers examples of its use dating back to 1823. Wiktionary defines it as “untruth, falsehood.” You can find many examples of its use and, from context, that is how most writers seem to mean it,…

• U.S. Defines TN Whiskey Through Back Door.

  24 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

  This information came via comments posted on an old thread, here. Go there if you want to get deep into some American whiskey esoterica.It's about to get geeky over here too.Most striking is a statement contained in Canada's Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870), which define different kinds of alcoholic beverages, in this case Tennessee whiskey."Tennessee whisky...is a straight Bourbon whisky produced in the State of Tennessee and manufactured in the United States as Tennessee whisky in accordance with the laws of the United States applicable in respect of Tennessee whisky for…

• Cool Things Craft Distillers Are Doing Right Now.

  23 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

  Here are some cool things craft distillers around the country are doing right now.Tom’s Foolery Distillery near Cleveland has established itself making apple brandy but since they got the old Michter’s barrel-a-day still, they’ve been laying down bourbon. Erik, their first employee, is a brewer by training so they’ve been experimenting with different malts and using two to three times the normal percentage of malt in their bourbon mashes. The first one was 64 percent corn, 14 percent rye and 21 percent malt. That was with a standard whiskey malt. They just finished running several…

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  Irish Whiskey Notes

• Irish whiskey shorts

  David Havelin

  18 Jan 2012 | 2:27 pm

  Beamed up Beam has completed it's acquisition of Cooley Distillery. Onwards and upwards now. I'll be interested to see what happens with Cooley's many collaborations and private label bottlings. The other two distillers (Bushmills and Irish Distillers) have been far less approachable in this regard and now Cooley has deep enough pockets to ease out of the low end and low volume markets, if it chooses to. When Bushmills was hived off from Irish Distillers in 2005 I expected some robust, global competition that would further energise the Irish whiskey category but Bushmills has been very…

• Concannon Irish Whiskey

  David Havelin

  17 Jan 2012 | 6:02 pm

  I spent a couple of years in Silicon Valley once, oblivious to "California's first Irish-American winery" practically on my doorstep (or at least closer than Napa, which I did visit). It has taken the launch of a new Irish whiskey to finally clue me in to the Concannon Vineyard. It's run by John Concannon, great-grandson of James Concannon, who emigrated from the Aran Islands in 1865 at the age of 18 and who, remarkably, established himself and a winery in California. Yesterday, Concannon Irish Whiskey was launched at a party in San Francisco, involving 300 people and a "traditional Irish…

• Inish Turk Beg

  David Havelin

  12 Jan 2012 | 7:04 pm

  Update 13 Jan 2011 A commenter below who sounds familiar with the situation remarks: The island of Inishturkbeg is in receivership, which just covers the hospitality business. The brand business, of which whiskey is the principal part, has always been run independently and is not in receivership. Plans continue for the development of whiskey, branded Inish Turk Beg (and Eternal Voyage is the follow up to Maiden Voyage as a product) and other iterations from Clew Bay, more generally. Reassuring news! The Sunday Times last weekend reported that receivers have been appointed to the company that…

• Irish whiskey shorts

  David Havelin

  10 Jan 2012 | 7:08 pm

  Let's try something fresh for 2012. There are lots of scraps of news and info about Irish whiskey that I think are interesting but that might never make it into a longer article. Instead of sitting on them - or worse, forgetting them - I'm just going to push them out there, in a big heap. With the optimism of all new year resolutions, this will happen regularly. Like clockwork! Here, then, is some stuff I noticed recently. Around the blogs A reflection on the year in whiskey would have seen off 2011 nicely but I never got around to it. Luckily, another blogger was not so slack and banged out…

• John Teeling comments on sale

  David Havelin

  18 Dec 2011 | 6:58 pm

  Update 21 Dec 2011: Ronan Morris kindly pointed me towards a new video interview with John Teeling, conducted by Clontarf.ie (the place, not the whiskey). Worth a look. The Sunday Business Post carries some revealing comments from John Teeling, founder and chairman of Cooley Distillery, regarding the acquisition by Beam. The most interesting points: Sales of Cooley whiskey are up 50% this year, a trend that will see the warehouses run dry by 2014. To cope with the forecast growth, an investment of €50m over the next 5 years is required. This drove the decision to sell now. There were…

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  Dowd on Drinks

• Celebri-quote: Pat Sajak

  Bill Dowd

  27 Jan 2012 | 4:03 pm

  • TV game show host Pat Sajak admitted in an interview with ESPN2 that he and longtime eye candy Vanna White used to knock back numerous drinks during breaks in taping their “Wheel of Fortune” show. “Our dinner breaks would be 2½ hours long while they drove in new cars and boats and gazebos and [...]

• Everything is a matter of perspective

  Bill Dowd

  27 Jan 2012 | 2:58 pm

  Get all the latest news on my Upstate Restaurant Examiner column and check out what’s coming up on my NY Drinks Events Calendar.

• Somali pirates strike again?

  Bill Dowd

  26 Jan 2012 | 2:22 pm

  Get all the latest news on my Upstate Restaurant Examiner column and check out what’s coming up on my NY Drinks Events Calendar.

• ‘Taste of Compassion’ set for Friday night

  Bill Dowd

  26 Jan 2012 | 1:27 pm

  ALBANY — Time is running out to purchase tickets for Friday night’s 8th annual “Taste of Compassion.” Tickets for the fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Upstate New York/Vermont Chapter are available online or by calling (518) 474-5877 at $75 each, or $65 for persons 35 and under. The event will begin at 7 [...]

• North American winery count: 7,834

  Bill Dowd

  25 Jan 2012 | 3:33 pm

  The number of wineries in North America grew to 7,834 in 2011, according to WinesVinesDATA, the research arm of Wines & Vines magazine. Publisher Chet Klingensmith released the count at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium on Tuesday in San Francisco, the same day the magazine’s annual Directory & Buyer’s Guide went on sale. The [...]

• 

  Olly Wehring's beverage industry blog - from just-drinks.com

• Truman's moving back to London

  27 Jan 2012 | 11:11 am

  It's become pretty common to dislocate beers from their geographic homeland in the present era of brewing industry consolidation, which is why the Truman's story caught my eye this week.  Provenance is a buzzword in marketing circles, yet it receives homage only intermittently in the world of big brewing. Partly, of course, global distribution needs mean that brands often have to be brewed at scale and close towhere they are sold. Proponents of the 'nothing is sacred' attitude would argue that things cannot simply stay the same, to be preserved as some memorial to the past at the expense…

• Burger... hic... Kebab ... hic ... Hot DoHOWMUCH?!

  25 Jan 2012 | 5:43 am

    We've all done it. The morning after, as the haze starts to slowly ascend, you check the pockets of last night's trousers to see if you've got any cash left. Among the coppers, you find a receipt from a fast-food joint, the time and date confirm that it wasn't that you slept with a cat in your mouth; that fur lining of your mouth comes from the dirty burger you wolfed down around midnight on the bus. My sympathies go out to the residents of Vancouver, however, who have been given yet another late night food-related pitfall to navigate on the way home. DougieDog Hot Dogs, a food outlet…

• They shall drink beer, says FIFA

  19 Jan 2012 | 11:15 am

  Just imagine a football World Cup without beer? Go on, imagine it. You can't, can you? Well, neither can FIFA. The world football body has told its next World Cup host, Brazil, to forget about continuing to ban alcoholic drinks at the nation's stadiums. It's an issue causing some political problems in Brazil, which, like other host nations before it, will have to subjugate its laws and customs to those of the Democratic People's Republic of FIFA for the duration of the four-week tournament in 2014.    Brazil banned alcohol from stadiums in 2003, but FIFA general secretary Jerome…

• Suck & Blow - the worst idea for an alcoholic drink of all time?

  19 Jan 2012 | 9:27 am

  The UK's Portman Group has clattered US-based SAB Enterprises over its Suck & Blow alcoholic jelly tubes.  I mean, really, what were they thinking? Portman basically said today (19 January) that Suck & Blow breaks nearly every rule in its book. It criticised the product for potentially attracting children with its "childish font", linking alcohol to sex (I'm not sure I understand that one...), and for encouraging "rapid drinking". According to Portman, the product is a tube that opens at both ends and is designed for one person to blow half the contents into another…

• Coors Light unseats King Bud

  11 Jan 2012 | 12:23 pm

  Coors Light has achieved its expected coup in the US by knocking Budweiser off its perch as the second biggest selling beer in the country. SABMiller's CEO, Graham Mackay, confirmed to just-drinks last year that this was on the cards. It has now come to pass, according to Beer Marketer's Insights, which this week put Coors Light 0.5m barrels ahead of Budweiser for calendar 2011. No doubt there will be a few celebratory beers at MillerCoors HQ. Beer Marketer's Insights estimates that Budweiser - self-styled the King of Beers - lost 4.6% of volume last year. Coors Light, meanwhile, picked up…

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  Bevlog | beer, wine, spirits trends | beverage blog

• Flavor Flav Flavored Vodka

  admin

  17 Jan 2012 | 7:55 am

  Who is this joker and why does he have a vodka? Flavor Flav has a flavored vodka, and it happens to be Bubba Gum flavored. It took almost three months to get the label approved, and so I am enjoying a vision of William Jonathan Drayton, Jr. calling in regular and increasingly anxious status checks to TTB, and arguing about font sizes. Le Flav joins the swelling ranks of celebrity-endorsed vodka products, alongside Voli (Fergie, Pitbull), Ciroc (Sean Combs), Aftermath (Dr. Dre) and many others.   Related Posts: Wicked Wine (0) Who’s the Real Maverick, Anyway? (0) Who is Ed Hardy?

• Bacon Brown Ale

  admin

  4 Jan 2012 | 7:55 am

  As this blog enters its fifth (gulp, yes, fifth) calendar year, it has covered many bacon-related concoctions. There was of course this bacon flavored vodka in 2009 and this bacon flavored beer in 2010. Although it’s not clear that any of the earlier-featured bacon-related products contained actual bacon, it was only a matter of time until something like Bacon Brown Ale came along. It is Ale Brewed with Buckwheat and Bacon, made by Uncommon Brewers, of Santa Cruz, California. The brewer explains: We’re not faking our flavor with smoked malts, Bac-O Bits or other tricks that some…

• Old Bay Beer

  admin

  27 Dec 2011 | 7:55 am

  I do believe this Olde Bay Saison label raises at least a few legal issues. First of all, I sure hope the brewer had permission to use this famous branding. McCormick owns the Old Bay seasoning brand and probably would not have a sense of humor about any unauthorized uses. Even if the beer is loaded up with the same seasoning, and even if the reference tends to be flattering. I can not imagine that changing one letter (from Old to Olde) is likely to help any more. The total production for this ale with spices seems to have been tiny, so that may help somewhat more to avoid problems. A second…

• Molotov Cocktail

  admin

  20 Dec 2011 | 7:55 am

  Because the term “Molotov Cocktail” has been so widely used (for at least 70 years), I would have expected somebody to grab onto it and apply it to alcohol beverages sooner. It was not until July of 2011 that somebody grabbed onto it, as in the case of Evil Twin Brewing above. In this case the name relates to the “explosive” and “arrogant” amount of hops in this beer. A few years earlier, Molotov Hoptail had roughly the same idea. Hoptail gets extra points because the brewpub is just down the street and a delightful addition to the neighborhood. I probably…

• Poor, Unprintable Stu

  admin

  13 Dec 2011 | 7:55 am

  Last week The New York Times had a good article entitled “With Rude Names, Wine Stops Minding Its Manners.” The article focused on the wide variety of Bitch-themed wines in the US marketplace. The article describes Royal Bitch as: one of a teeming sisterhood of cabernets and chardonnays from a variety of producers with labels like Sassy Bitch, Jealous Bitch, Tasty Bitch and Sweet Bitch. They’re reinforcements for a growing army of rude, budget-priced wines that have shoved their way into wine stores and supermarkets in the past few years — most recently Happy Bitch, a Hudson…

• 

  DrinkBoy: Adventures in Cocktails

• Cocktail: Biter

  24 Jan 2012 | 9:42 am

  You wouldn’t be wrong to look at this drink as being fairly similar to the now well-known “Last Word”, the difference of course, is that the ratios here are slightly different, the use of lemon juice instead of lime, the added touch of absinthe, and no maraschino liqueur. Together, these changes make this clearly a different drink.

• Cocktail: Ford

  20 Jan 2012 | 7:41 am

  The Ford Cocktail makes its first appearance in George J. Kapeler’s “Modern American Drinks”, published in 1895. The ingredients are the same as found in the “Caprice” cocktail, but the change in ratios makes this a very different cocktail indeed.

• Cocktail: Washington

  20 Jan 2012 | 7:36 am

  This drink, from The Savoy Cocktail Book by Harry Craddock, basically follows the very early renditions of the Martini and the Manhattan, although using Brandy as the spirit. It also uses dry vermouth instead of the sweet that was commonly used in the Manhattan, as well as the early Martini as well. Following the common nomenclature for these “Modern” cocktails of the late 1800’s, I suppose technically this drink should be called a “Dry” Washington Cocktail.

• Cocktail: Attention

  16 Jan 2012 | 9:20 am

  The original recipe for this called for equal parts of all four ingredients. Such a drink would be far too unbalanced, but feel free to give it a try if you want. The recipe shown here is more of a modified dry Martini, with the absinthe and violette being supporting actors instead of co-stars.

• Cocktail: San Martin

  9 Jan 2012 | 12:36 pm

• 

  Alcademics.com

• Tequila, Honey, Maraschino, Bitters

  Camper English

  27 Jan 2012 | 9:51 am

  In a recent blog post on FineCooking.com, I post a recipe from Brendan Dorr of Baltimore. The drink contains Partida tequila, Barenjager, Marschino liqueur, and bitters. El-Oso By Brendan Dorr 1.75 fl. oz. Partida Anejo Tequila .75 fl. oz. Barenjager Honey Liqueur .3 fl. oz. Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur 2 dashes Jerry Thomas' Own Decanter Bitters Orange Peel for Garnish Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass, add ice and stir until very cold. Strain into an old fashioned glass with... [Visit Alcademics.com for the full post.]

• Book Review: Barrels & Drams

  Camper English

  26 Jan 2012 | 10:22 am

  I recently read Barrels and Drams: The History of Whisk(e)y in Jiggers and Shots . It's an anthology edited by William M. Dowd. The book contains essays by people like Bill Owens, James Rodewald, F. Paul Pacult, Charles Cowdery, Daniel Okrent, and David Wondrich. Most of them have been previously published in distiller biographies, category books, history books, Whisky Magazine, and Scottish Field Magazine, but a few are brand new. The book has sections, each with several essays. The sections... [Visit Alcademics.com for the full post.]

• Show Us Your Sugar: The Sugar House in Detroit

  Camper English

  25 Jan 2012 | 10:01 am

  As part of my ongoing study of sugar in spirits and cocktails, I am curious to know what sugars bartenders are using in their bars - raw sugars, simple syrups, and any other sugars. Bartenders: I'd love it if you'd send me a picture of your sugar and tell me about your program. I got the idea for a series from Dave Kwiatkowski of Sugar House in Detroit, who sent a picture of his sugar. Kwiatkowski says, "It's certified fair... [Visit Alcademics.com for the full post.]

• Book Review: The PDT Cocktail Book

  Camper English

  24 Jan 2012 | 10:15 am

  By now, you've probably heard of The PDT Cocktail Book: The Complete Bartender's Guide from the Celebrated Speakeasy by Jim Meehan. With the many wonderful illustrations by Chris Gall, the book is basically a modern Savoy Cocktail Book. Its 300+ recipes include both the classic canon of cocktails and recent inventions, with a particular focus on the drinks served at PDT and in New York by other notable bartenders. And unlike the Savoy Cocktail Book, all of the recipes' creators... [Visit Alcademics.com for the full post.]

• 

  Chowhound's Latest » Spirits

• What bourbon are you enjoying?

  27 Jan 2012 | 12:44 am

  So far in this tasting we did JTS Brown BIB, AAA 10YO and the Bulleit. I thought they were all pretty good for the price. Reviews where mixed on all, but the majority scored them well. Not great but good, better than average bourbons

• Bar Spoon

  26 Jan 2012 | 10:47 pm

  I like Rosle products and it seems they do not make the bar spoon any longer (it has been out of stock for several months) so it is time to pull the trigger on a replacement Who else makes a high quality bar spoon that would be of similar quality to Rosle

• lillet rouge and the manhattan

  26 Jan 2012 | 7:00 pm

  I'll have to ask Jake the proportions. When I do I'll post it.

• What's the peatiest, smokiest scotch?

  26 Jan 2012 | 1:56 pm

  Keep your eyes peeled for the Ardbeg Supernova. And for my money, the Lahproaig Cask Strength is still the best Islay malt made.

• Looking for a cocktail made with blueberry juice

  25 Jan 2012 | 4:38 pm

  Bellini! Now you're talking! I had been looking for a liquor based cocktail, but your idea is definitely a contender. Thank you!

• 

  Bottoms Up

• There Are 1,952 Craft Breweries In The United States

  jbrookston

  9 Jan 2012 | 6:03 pm

  This is a pretty cool piece or artwork that would look great on your wall. Los Angeles-based artist David Odere has created a poster entitled There Are 1,952 Craft Breweries In The United States, in which the glass of beer, head included, contains the names of every one of those 1,952 breweries. The poster is [...]

• Winter Brews Festival In Concord January 28

  jbrookston

  4 Jan 2012 | 10:17 pm

  The 3rd annual Winter Brews Festival, sponsored by the Brewing Network, will be held this year on Saturday, January 28 from Noon to 4:00 p.m. Thanks to the Occupy Berkeley movement, last year’s location was not available and BN thought they’d have to cancel. But the City of Concord came to the rescue, and this [...]

• Oakland’s Nicole Erny Becomes First Female Master Cicerone

  jbrookston

  4 Jan 2012 | 6:16 pm

  Perhaps you’ve already heard about the thousands (just over 8,800) of beer industry professionals who have become Certified Beer Servers in Ray Daniels’ Cicerone program since it was launched in 2007. It’s essentially the beer equivalent of a sommelier. But what you may not know is that there are actually three levels of Cicerone certification? [...]

• SF Beer Week Opening Event for 2012 Announced

  jbrookston

  20 Dec 2011 | 12:30 pm

  The opening celebration to kick-off SF Beer Week for 2012 has been announced. Having outgrown our space last year, this year it’s been moved to a new, larger location at the Concourse pavilion at the Concourse Exhibition Center in SOMA. Here are the details: On February 10, 2012, over 50 Northern California breweries will converge [...]

• The Artist Behind 21st Amendment’s New Cans

  jbrookston

  16 Dec 2011 | 1:57 pm

  UK-based illustrator Joe Wilson, whose clients include such high-powered companies as Adidas, British Airways, De Beers, GQ, Random House and Wired, designed the new artwork adorning the new 21st Amendment Brewery beer cans. So given his work for Wired, I suppose it’s no surprise that they featured his art on their Underwire Blog in a [...]

• 

  Diner's Journal

• Salad From the Soup Pot

  By MELISSA CLARK

  27 Jan 2012 | 2:56 pm

  After making the beef broth for French onion soup, shred the meat and make a salad with it.

• Weekend Fare

  By BAO ONG

  27 Jan 2012 | 10:51 am

  Food-related events around New York.

• For Super Bowl, JoeDough and No. 7 Sub Go the Extra Yard

  By FLORENCE FABRICANT

  27 Jan 2012 | 10:25 am

  Two new sandwich shops in New York are selling six-foot heroes for Super Bowl Sunday.

• What We're Reading

  By THE NEW YORK TIMES

  27 Jan 2012 | 9:07 am

  A collection of links from the reporters and editors of the Dining section.

• Dragon Wings

  By DAVID TANIS

  27 Jan 2012 | 7:15 am

  Chicken wings for the Super Bowl or the Chinese New Year.

• 

  Comments on: Blog

• By: | The Postman

  | The Postman

  9 Jan 2012 | 4:48 pm

  [...] I really liked the mood in this video and the love that the owner, Dave Kwiatkowski, transmits in describing his bar. If I ever met him, I am sure that we would have a lot in common. If you feel like preparing a special cocktail, don’t miss his blog! [...]

• By: Un brindisi al 2012! | The Postman

  Un brindisi al 2012! | The Postman

  9 Jan 2012 | 4:41 pm

  [...] Mi è molto piaciuto il mood di questo video e l’amore che Dave Kwiatkowski, il proprietario, ci trasmette nel descrivere il suo locale. Se mi capitasse di conoscerlo, sarei sicuro di condividere molte cose con lui. Se poi avete voglia di prepararvi un cocktail speciale, non perdetevi il suo blog! [...]

• 

  Wild Scotsman Whisky

• Happy Birthday Robert Burns!

  The Wild Scotsman

  25 Jan 2012 | 12:07 pm

  Happy Birthday Robert Burns! by Jeffrey Topping For those of you who do not know this is Robert Burn’s month. Burns is the National Poet of Scotland who wrote in the dialect of the working Scot and not English. If you have never been to a Burn’s dinner to here is address to the Haggis you might recall a tune called, “Auld Lang Syne” on New Years Eve which was written by Burn’s. So grab some Haggis and a wee dram of Wild Scotsman and salute o’l Robert Burns.

• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-01-22

  The Wild Scotsman

  22 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am

  It's a nice 27 F this morning. Looks like it's going to be a nice morning for a coffe and a fuente short story cigar #

• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-01-15

  The Wild Scotsman

  15 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am

  It January and time once again for Robert Burns to be celebrated by millions of people across the globe. Here is my Address to a Haggis,… # Here is my Address to a Haggis in honor of Robert Burns, http://t.co/qsn1tgXP # My empty Scotch Casks have arrived for a lucky Craft Beer Maker http://t.co/wKcENt71 # Brand new Wild Scotsman Single Cask Single Malt bottlings. A 38yr and 21yr! http://t.co/l2R80GLg # Many FF Thanks to @grd400 @spiceboxWhisky @twlJoe @patsWineWhisky @kintrawhisky Have a great Weekend! # Enjoying a Liga Privada #9 with an ardbeg 17yr in the wonderfully chilly night air.

• Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-01-08

  The Wild Scotsman

  8 Jan 2012 | 12:00 am

  Happy New Year and Hogmanay! # RT @ScotchHunter: The Angel's Share is out! http://t.co/LibWVaJn ? Top stories today via @wildscotsman # A bit of snow happening today. It is time to break out the cold weather whisky # Snow, whisky, the Rose Bowl Parade, and spending the day watching collage bowl games. Just another great New Year #

• The State of Scotch a 2011 Year end Review

  The Wild Scotsman

  1 Jan 2012 | 5:29 pm

  I am pleased to announce that according to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) latest news bulletin, NEW CHAIRMAN FOR SCOTCH WHISKY ASSOCIATION AS EXPORTS BREAK RECORDS posted in December of 2012 that Scotch whisky is, “earning £125 every second for the UK balance of payments. The value of exports over the nine month period totalled almost £3billion – an increase of 23% on the same period of 2010.” The United States led the way with £430.7m in export value and France led consumption (USA 2nd)with 39,409,542 Liters of Pure Alcohol (LPA) exported. The down side for 2011 was the…

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  12 Bottle Bar

• Newton’s Special

  twelvebottles

  16 Jan 2012 | 1:29 pm

  By Lesley Jacobs Solmonson   2.25 oz Brandy 0.75 oz Orange Liqueur (Cointreau specified) 1 Dash Angostura Bitters Add all ingredients to a mixing glass Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass   Featured Glassware: New Cottage Amber by Villeroy & Boch     Given that we have dubbed 2012 as The Year of the Doctor, it seems only fitting that we begin with a short preamble paying tribute to a scientist whose work has helped shape our concepts of Ye Olde Space-Time Continuum.  In considering the myriad of choices available to us – Einstein, Neils Bohr, Werner…

• 2012 is… The Year of The Doctor

  twelvebottles

  4 Jan 2012 | 3:17 pm

  At the beginning of 2011, we picked a theme – The Year of the Sportsman – which we would highlight throughout the year.  Our themes are an informal thing, of course, and we use them only as a guide – something to feature here and there as the mood strikes and appropriate situations arise – and while we hardly scratched the surface on our sporting posts, we did cover American football, horse racing, gambling, baseball, motorsports, lawn tennis, and cricket. After discussing where we wanted to go with the site in 2012, the most appropriate declaration was that this would be The Year of…

• 2011 Top Drinks and Bottles

  twelvebottles

  1 Jan 2012 | 12:00 pm

  Happy 2012! We want to thank all of our readers and friends for making 2011 our best year yet.  Not only did we achieve our top day, week, and month during 2011, readership was up 290% over the previous year.    Needless-to-say, we’re pleased as punch. As we did at the end of 2010, here’s a look back at what was popular during the past 12 months.  October and December continue to be our biggest months, so it’s no surprise that holiday drinks of one stripe or another dominate our top list.  What was surprising was the staying power of some of last year’s drinks.  Thanks to a…

• Stockholm 75 from Jacob Grier

  twelvebottles

  24 Dec 2011 | 5:04 pm

  1 oz Krogstad Aquavit 0.75 oz Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice 0.50 oz Simple Syrup (1:1) 0.50 tsp Brooklyn Hemispherical Sriracha Bitters Dry Sparkling Wine Add aquavit, juice, syrup, and bitters to a mixing glass Shake with ice and strain into a champagne flute Top with dry sparkling wine and garnish with a lemon twist Featured Glassware:  Miss Desiree Flute by Villeroy & Boch   This is our final Christmas drink for 2011, and before we do anything else, I want to thank everyone who was kind enough to provide a recipe for us.  Our goal this year was to step outside of the 12 Bottle…

• The Gourmet from Gaz Regan

  twelvebottles

  23 Dec 2011 | 6:15 pm

  By Lesley Jacobs Solmonson   1.5 oz Hennessy VSOP Privilège Cognac 1.5 oz Ruby Port 0.75 oz  Monin Gingerbread Syrup Mix together at room temperature in a snifter Featured Glassware:  Modern Grace Brandy by Villeroy & Boch When mixology becomes the official religion that it should be, Gaz Regan will surely be the patron saint of bartenders – long after his tenure as first pope, of course.  For, in his heart of hearts, Gaz is just that, a bartender who cares deeply for the trade and for other bartenders.  This perspective has led him to write a myriad of books, many of them…

• 

  Drink Spirits

• Adam Carmer and The Carmer Spirits Tasting Enhancement Method

  Drink Spirits

  22 Jan 2012 | 4:28 pm

  Adam Carmer in The Attic in Las Vegas Freakin’ Frog, a little beer and whisky bar on the border of the UNLV campus in Las Vegas, is probably the last place you’d expect for a game-changing discovery. While this bar appears to cater to the college crowd, it actually has one of the best curated selection of beers we’ve seen, and upstairs “the attic” has one of the most extensive collections of whisky in America. Freakin Frog may seem like an unlikely setting for a revolution, but the owner, Adam Carmer, seems even less likely as a revolutionary. Carmer spends as…

• Behind the Scenes of Jack Daniel’s Barrel Making

  Drink Spirits

  11 Jan 2012 | 5:51 pm

  Jack Daniel's Whiskey Barrels on Fire When it comes to American whiskey (or bourbon), a tremendous amount of the flavor you taste in your glass (as much as 60%) comes from the barrel that the whiskey was aged in. As a result, the time and attention that whiskey manufacturers like Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey put into making that barrel is extremely significant. Drink Spirits had an opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Brown-Forman Cooperage in Louisville, Kentucky to see firsthand how these barrels are made. Brown-Forman Cooperage in Kentucky The Brown-Forman Cooperage is…

• Red Stag Spiced with Cinnamon and Red Stag Honey Tea

  Drink Spirits

  3 Jan 2012 | 3:38 pm

  Red Stag Honey Tea and Red Stag Spiced Whiskey is one of the hottest segments of the spirits industry, and many of the American whiskey producers are working to lure more customers with products that appeal to the non-traditional whiskey drinker. Many of these products are sweeter, softer versions of the classic whiskey offerings, and the flavors run the gamut.  Most of the major American whiskey producers have played around with honey in some form or another. Of these, the Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey is the best of the lot, providing a sweeter and softer Jack Daniel’s…

• 10 Unique Vodkas Reviewed

  Drink Spirits

  28 Dec 2011 | 2:56 pm

  10 Vodkas Reviewed At Drink Spirits we get a LOT of spirits to review, far more than it’s possible to cover. We recognize, though, that the people behind these spirits work very hard to bring them to market, and so we feel it’s important to cover as many as we possibly can. Assembling a blind tasting panel for vodka is like pulling teeth; although it’s the biggest selling spirit category, tasting vodka (which by definition is considered a neutral spirit) is sometimes a palate-crushing task, so we convened a special vodka session to address 10 of the interesting…

• 6 Spirits under $40 that Make Great Gifts

  Drink Spirits

  17 Dec 2011 | 1:54 pm

  Great Spirits Under $40 Of all the guides we’ve done on Drink Spirits, the one that seems to get the most attention is Spirits That Look Expensive But Aren’t. This year we decided to pick a group of spirits that you could give as a gift that are unique, high quality, and under $40. Two of our picks, Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Old Rye and The Yamazaki 12 year old Japanese Single Malt Whisky, come close to our budget. We found The Yamazaki 12 year at K&L Wine Merchants for $37.99 and Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Rye at Drink Up NY for $36.99.  Both of these spirits can be a…

• 

  Drink Spirits

• Adam Carmer and The Carmer Spirits Tasting Enhancement Method

  Drink Spirits

  22 Jan 2012 | 4:28 pm

  Adam Carmer in The Attic in Las Vegas Freakin’ Frog, a little beer and whisky bar on the border of the UNLV campus in Las Vegas, is probably the last place you’d expect for a game-changing discovery. While this bar appears to cater to the college crowd, it actually has one of the best curated selection of beers we’ve seen, and upstairs “the attic” has one of the most extensive collections of whisky in America. Freakin Frog may seem like an unlikely setting for a revolution, but the owner, Adam Carmer, seems even less likely as a revolutionary. Carmer spends as…

• Behind the Scenes of Jack Daniel’s Barrel Making

  Drink Spirits

  11 Jan 2012 | 5:51 pm

  Jack Daniel's Whiskey Barrels on Fire When it comes to American whiskey (or bourbon), a tremendous amount of the flavor you taste in your glass (as much as 60%) comes from the barrel that the whiskey was aged in. As a result, the time and attention that whiskey manufacturers like Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey put into making that barrel is extremely significant. Drink Spirits had an opportunity to go behind the scenes at the Brown-Forman Cooperage in Louisville, Kentucky to see firsthand how these barrels are made. Brown-Forman Cooperage in Kentucky The Brown-Forman Cooperage is…

• Red Stag Spiced with Cinnamon and Red Stag Honey Tea

  Drink Spirits

  3 Jan 2012 | 3:38 pm

  Red Stag Honey Tea and Red Stag Spiced Whiskey is one of the hottest segments of the spirits industry, and many of the American whiskey producers are working to lure more customers with products that appeal to the non-traditional whiskey drinker. Many of these products are sweeter, softer versions of the classic whiskey offerings, and the flavors run the gamut.  Most of the major American whiskey producers have played around with honey in some form or another. Of these, the Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey is the best of the lot, providing a sweeter and softer Jack Daniel’s…

• 10 Unique Vodkas Reviewed

  Drink Spirits

  28 Dec 2011 | 2:56 pm

  10 Vodkas Reviewed At Drink Spirits we get a LOT of spirits to review, far more than it’s possible to cover. We recognize, though, that the people behind these spirits work very hard to bring them to market, and so we feel it’s important to cover as many as we possibly can. Assembling a blind tasting panel for vodka is like pulling teeth; although it’s the biggest selling spirit category, tasting vodka (which by definition is considered a neutral spirit) is sometimes a palate-crushing task, so we convened a special vodka session to address 10 of the interesting…

• 6 Spirits under $40 that Make Great Gifts

  Drink Spirits

  17 Dec 2011 | 1:54 pm

  Great Spirits Under $40 Of all the guides we’ve done on Drink Spirits, the one that seems to get the most attention is Spirits That Look Expensive But Aren’t. This year we decided to pick a group of spirits that you could give as a gift that are unique, high quality, and under $40. Two of our picks, Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Old Rye and The Yamazaki 12 year old Japanese Single Malt Whisky, come close to our budget. We found The Yamazaki 12 year at K&L Wine Merchants for $37.99 and Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Rye at Drink Up NY for $36.99.  Both of these spirits can be a…

• 

  American Drink

• Nice Job, Einstein

  sloganeerist

  17 Jan 2012 | 9:22 pm

  In the early days of the Dry Era, nobody on the Federal Prohibition Bureau infiltrated and took down more NYC speakeasies than master-of-disguise agent Izzy Einstein and his partner, Moe Smith. But sometimes it took more than clever deceit to fool a wary bootlegger. Sometimes it took cold, calculated honesty. One of Izzy’s first assignments was to bust a Manhattan speakeasy that had a reputation for spotting revenue agents. With his badge affixed to his coat, he asked the proprietor, “Would you like to sell a pint of whiskey to a deserving Prohibition agent?” The bar owner laughed and…

• "You have your folk remedies or your comfort foods or your routine that all help just because they..."

  irreverend

  1 Jan 2012 | 12:41 pm

  “You have your folk remedies or your comfort foods or your routine that all help just because they give solace … . But really a hangover is a physical process, or at least the result of one, and there do exist actual remedies that help reverse it.” - Best day-after breakfast, according to science: eggs and a tropical smoothie.  Happy new year, Drinkers. 

• If you’re thinking about making a batch of Christmas gin,...

  irreverend

  12 Dec 2011 | 2:00 pm

  If you’re thinking about making a batch of Christmas gin, now would be an excellent time to raid your neighbors’ juniper bushes. See those blueish-grayish berries? That’s what you’re looking for. Shake a branch and the ripe ones will fall right off.  For some reason, government landscapers seem to love this shrub. If you’re having trouble finding a good one, try the nearest public school (after hours, lest your motives for lurking in the bushes be mistaken) or courthouse (same). 

• A man, a woman, a caper and a bourbon

  billbarol

  8 Dec 2011 | 11:00 am

  “Tell it to me again,” Robin said. They were sitting in her kitchen with an open bottle of something called Black Maple Hill on the table between them. It was the color of very good, very expensive mahogany furniture and it tasted of cherries and caramel and wood smoke. They apparently aged the stuff for 21 years in white oak barrels down in Kentucky, and Albert paid about two hundred dollars a bottle for it. So far they’d downed a good hundred bucks’ worth. Finney had never cared much for bourbon, but he thought it was pretty much the most delicious thing he’d ever tasted. That’s…

• ourpresidents: Repeal of Prohibition - Elephants and Donkeys...

  seoulbrother

  5 Dec 2011 | 2:49 pm

  ourpresidents: Repeal of Prohibition - Elephants and Donkeys Celebrate Over a Barrel of Beer During his 1932 presidential campaign, FDR promised to end Prohibition. The 18th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1921, prohibited the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors within the United States. When Roosevelt took office in 1933, a constitutional amendment to repeal Prohibition was already making its way through the state legislatures. Roosevelt acted immediately to ease Prohibition with the Beer-Wine Revenue Act. Passed on March 22, 1933, this act legalized the sale of…

• 

  Cocktail Enthusiast

• Jefferson’s Rye Whiskey Review

  Kevin Gray

  25 Jan 2012 | 9:09 pm

  Jefferson’s Straight Rye Whiskey is the newest addition to the Jefferson’s portfolio, which also includes three small batch bourbons. Released in August 2011, Jefferson’s Rye is a 10-year old 100% North American rye. Though the bottle doesn’t specify, the rye is purportedly from Canada. Given its age, origin and similar flavor profile, one has to wonder if the rye whiskey source is the same as WhistlePig, another 100% Canadian rye. Jefferson’s founder and master blender Trey Zoeller combed through many barrels of aged rye whiskeys before settling on the right components for…

• Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon Review

  Kevin Gray

  23 Jan 2012 | 1:04 pm

  Woodford Reserve recently announced the newest addition to its lineup – Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Available in March, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked isn’t a limited time release or part of the brand’s Master’s Collection; it’s a permanent line extension. The new whiskey gets its name from its double aging process. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is first aged in toasted, charred barrels created at Woodford’s cooperage. This initial maturation provides much of the color and flavor, but the second step is what makes the spirit unique. It’s moved to another custom barrel – one…

• Science Confirms that Drinking is Fun

  Kevin Gray

  20 Jan 2012 | 5:45 pm

  Leave it to well-funded scientific studies to tell us what we already know. A recent University of California study examined the endorphin release that results from drinking alcohol and the particular regions of the brain affected by this release. Scientists hope to better understand how alcohol affects the brain, and to one day use this knowledge to combat addiction. The study pitted heavy drinkers against non drinkers and found that both parties experience increased endorphins when drinking, which leads to feelings of pleasure. But the brains of heavy or problem drinkers are actually…

• Shit Bartenders Say

  Kevin Gray

  19 Jan 2012 | 1:17 am

  You might have seen this floating around the Web of late. If not, it’s definitely worth a look. Many of us have witnessed this bartender at work – the one who scoffs at your light beer request or bristles at your inability to shoot Fernet. Or the patron with encyclopedic knowledge who tests your knowledge of 1860s French aperitifs and refuses to drink any cocktail not sitting on Kold-Draft ice. Hell, some of us might even be that guy, mustache included. Regardless, this spoof is a good time. Click below to view, then share it with your cocktail-swilling pals and bartender “call me a…

• Happy Hot Buttered Rum Day

  Kevin Gray

  17 Jan 2012 | 3:33 am

  File this under the I-can’t-believe-this-is-a-real-holiday-but-I’m-sure-glad-it-is category. January 17th marks Hot Buttered Rum Day, and as with all drinking holidays, we’re happy to partake. Hot Buttered Rum is one of our favorite seasonal drinks and is a nice change-of-pace from egg nog and spiked cider. Rum is the perfect base for this buttery libation, which is spiced up with allspice dram and apple cider. There are several quality recipes for Hot Buttered Rum, but this year we’re making the below recipe, courtesy of Kenneth McCoy and NYC’s Rum House. Hot Buttered Brugal 2 oz…

• 

  It's just the booze dancing...

• Whisky Review – Compass Box Asyla

  G-LO

  27 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am

  While browsing Compass Box’s online whisky shop, I noticed the sampler set that you see in the above photo. This set includes five of their core expressions, presented in a black lacquered, clamshell box, and also comes with a tasting notes brochure. Although this sampler set was love at first sight, I was unwilling to part with the online price of $60+. But then about about two weeks ago, while shopping for a house warming present at Wine Works in Marlton, NJ, I noticed that they were selling this set for $40. All I can say is, “SOLD!“. $40 for 250ML may seem expensive,…

• Beer Review – Great Divide Titan IPA

  limpd

  26 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am

  photo courtesy of www.dailybeerreview.com A while ago, I went to Roger Wilco and picked up a six of the Great Divide Titan IPA. This is another example of the great craft beer that comes out of Colorado with the likes of Avery, Left Hand, and Oskar Blues. Here is what Great Divide has to say about their Titan IPA: Titan IPA is a big, aggressively hopped India Pale Ale brewed for hop disciples. It starts out with piney hop aromas and citrus hop flavors, and finishes with a nice rich, malty sweetness that is balanced with crisp hop bitterness I found the Titan IPA to have the following…

• Beer Review – 21st Amendment Fireside Chat Winter Spiced Ale

  G-LO

  24 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am

  I know I usually start these reviews with a little story, but there really isn’t one this time around. I picked up this can of 21st Amendment’s Fireside Chat as part of a recent mixed six pack purchase at The Foodery. I read some positive reviews, so I thought I’d give it a try. That’s all I got. Here is what 21st Amendment Brewery has to say about this seasonal beer: Like FDR’s Depression-era radio addresses, which were like a kick in the butt and a hug at the same time, our Fireside Chat is a subtle twist on the traditional seasonal brew. We begin with a rich,…

• Beer Review – Trappistes Rochefort 8

  limpd

  23 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am

  photo courtesy of beermentor.wordpress.com A few weeks ago, I went to Roger Wilco in search of Harviestoun and wound up with a mixed six of various Trappistes and Abbey ales. The first bottle that I opened was the Trappistes Rochefort 8. Always a fan of products imported by the folks at Merchant du Vin, I was confident that this beer would be good, but I did not know much about the Abbey or the monks. A brief history from the Merchant du Vin site: The Abbey of St-Remy, in the southern part of Belgium, was founded in 1230, and the monks began to brew beer sometime around 1595. The beautiful…

• Beer Review – Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted

  limpd

  20 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am

  photo courtesy of onebeeratatime.wordpress.com During the summer, I had the good fortune to try the Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, so when I saw the Bitter & Twisted at Roger Wilco, I jumped at the chance to try another Harviestoun product. Here is what Harviestoun has to say about their Bitter & Twisted: It is a delightfully refreshing blond beer with a finish that is like a twist of lemon. Bitter & Twisted has a very fresh hoppy profile and the judicious use of aromatic Hersbrucker and the spicy Challenger. The distinctive finish comes from late hopping with Stryian Goldings,…

• 

  A Wardrobe of Whisky

• Tomatin 19 years old Master of Malt Single Cask Tasting note

  28 Jan 2012 | 6:38 am

  “Excellent whisky with just a dry touch. It is amazing this Tomatin is just bottled at 40%.” Single cask single malt whisky. Rich and Biscuity, big and crunchy. A mouthfilling, malty dram from the Highland distillery, Tomatin. This dram has a white wine-like color. Nose (91): more than average. malt, honey, citrus, wood, spices, floral. Taste (89): powerful, oily. honey, citrus, wood, cloves, oranges, floral. Finish (87): average. malt, honey, citrus. Score: 89 Buy this drink at Save money when you buy Single Malt Whisky online. Check for the best prices from most relevant online…

• Port Ellen 26 years old 1983 Old Malt Cask Tasting note

  27 Jan 2012 | 3:08 am

  “Lovely peat, like sweet marine dark espresso coffee. Must have!” This was distilled not long before the Port Ellen distillery closed for good. Bottled in August 2009 by Douglas Laing, there are 610 bottles of this, from refill butt number 5441. This dram has a gold-like color. Nose (91): more than average. peat, iodine, honey, citrus, pepper, toffee. Taste (94): smooth, powerful, oily. peat, floral, apples, pears, spices, wood, toffee, salt, coffee. Finish (93): long. peat, spices, sweet, wood, roasted coffee. Score: 93 Buy this drink at Save money when you buy Single Malt Whisky…

• Port Dundas 20 years old 2011 Release Tasting note

  26 Jan 2012 | 6:30 am

  “Very good grain whisky but for that price you can get real jewels.” The first ever Diageo Special Release of Grain whisky! From the 2011 releases, this Port Dundas really got people talking. Aged for three years in refill casks, it was then split up into equal parts and aged in either American oak Bodega casks, new charred European oak casks, or first fill American oak Bourbon barrels! The result is delicious! This dram has a mahogany-like color. Nose (91): strong. corn, honey, toffee, vanilla, spices, cinnamon, wood. Taste (91): powerful, oily, creamy. corn, honey, floral,…

• Bruichladdich Valinch As the Current Flows Tasting note

  25 Jan 2012 | 3:09 am

  This Bruichladdich was distilled on the 27th May 1998, and it was aged for 12 years. It was finished in a Calvados cask from Christian Drouin, and it was bottled by none other than us at the Bruichladdich distillery whilst we were over in Islay during Feis Ile 2011. This dram has a white wine-like color. Nose (88): more than average. honey, peach, apples, floral, spices. Taste (89): powerful, oily. honey, peat, citrus, spices, wood, coffee. Finish (88): average. honey, peat, floral, cardamon. Score: 88 Buy this drink at Save money when you buy Single Malt Whisky online. Check for the best…

• Laphroaig 15 years old Tasting note

  24 Jan 2012 | 3:03 am

  “Very good Laphroaig with some notes of burnt wood.” Zesty oak and warm peat smoke top notes, with sweet undertones, reminiscent of fresh nutmeg and toasted almonds. Faintly salty. Laphroaig 15yo is a smoother and more elegant elder sibling to the robust 10 year-old. This dram has a fino-like color. Nose (90): more than average. sweet, peat, iodine, citrus, peaches, wood, coffee. Taste (89): powerful, oily. peat, salt, wood, burnt wood, seaweed, cocoa. Finish (89): average. sweet, peat, pepper. Score: 89 Buy this drink at Save money when you buy Single Malt Whisky online. Check…

• 

  WhiskyNotes

• Ardmore 1992 (The Whiskyman)

  Ruben

  26 Jan 2012 | 8:55 pm

  You may remember we had a wave of Ardmore 1992 releases last year (by Malts of Scotland and Daily Dram among others). Now The Whiskyman has one in its series with the 1970′s-style label.   Ardmore 20 yo 1992 ‘Peat fighting man’ (49,9%, The Whiskyman 2012, 146 btl.) Nose: starts earthy, mineral and slightly sooty but after a while this is nicely balanced by rounder, fruity notes. Seville oranges. The longer you wait, the more it becomes (tropically) fruity, with great papaya / banana notes. Some oils, maybe even a hint of diesel. All very lovely and perfectly integrated. Mouth:…

• Bruichladdich Br2 (Elements of Islay)

  Ruben

  25 Jan 2012 | 9:07 pm

  One of the latest additions to the Elements of Islay series by TWE is this Bruichladdich Br2.   Bruichladdich Br2 (49,3%, Elements of Islay 2011, 50 cl) Nose: a fairly rounded malt with a gristy touch. On the one hand fruity notes (apple, lemon, melon) and on the other hand a soft, coastal saltiness. Some mineral notes. It also shows a “green” element of grasses or fresh herbs like parsley. Mouth: sharper than expected from the nose, and a great deal drier. Herbal and spicy notes at first, with some ginger and a peppery kick. Then faint notes of lemon and honey before settling on dry…

• Glenburgie 1998 (Dun Bheagan)

  Ruben

  24 Jan 2012 | 6:49 pm

  The Dun Bheagan label was introduced in 1999 by Ian McLeod Distillers who are also behind the “Chieftain’s” and “As we get it” ranges, the Smokehead label and the Glengoyne distillery. Since I’ve tried a nice Glenburgie 1988 Duncan Taylor and the Glenburgie 1997 Asta Morris, I’m on the lookout for other versions.   Glenburgie 11 yo 1998 (43%, Dun Bheagan 2010, cask #4980 + 4983, 642 btl.) Nose: starts a little undefined and overly malty, but after a few minutes it becomes nicely rounded with plenty of vanilla and some toffee sweetness. Apple, lemon candy, sugar cane,…

• Strathmill 1974 (Archives)

  Ruben

  23 Jan 2012 | 6:16 pm

  Archives is the proprietary range of bottlings from the Whiskybase shop. Now if you remember the Strathmill 1974 Daily Dram, this could be great.     Strathmill 37 yo 1974 (44,5%, Archives 2011, bourbon hogshead #1231, 180 btl.) Nose: very fruity and honeyed, although maybe a tad less thick and buttery. Big hints of sweet orange juice. A little pineapple, less banana this time. Some vanilla cake. Over time it also shows some softly herbal, “green” notes and mint. Mouth: still fruity but again it’s less warm with more sourish and slightly bitter fruits (oranges, tangerine).

• Longrow 18 years (2011)

  Ruben

  22 Jan 2012 | 6:31 pm

  In 2008, Longrow released its first 18 year-old followed by this second version in 2011. The spirit is distilled twice with a peating level of around 50 ppm. One of the Islay-style whiskies produced on the mainland. It used to be an experiment at Springbank but distillation has taken place regularly since 1992.   Longrow 18 years (46%, OB 2011, 2280 btl.) Nose: great nose with a smooth mixture of mineral notes (wet stone, sand), coastal notes (soft brine, seaweed) and rounder fruity notes (apple and pear). It shows a kind of gentle peatiness and balance that reminds me of some of the…

• 

  Cocktail Enthusiast

• Jefferson’s Rye Whiskey Review

  Kevin Gray

  25 Jan 2012 | 9:09 pm

  Jefferson’s Straight Rye Whiskey is the newest addition to the Jefferson’s portfolio, which also includes three small batch bourbons. Released in August 2011, Jefferson’s Rye is a 10-year old 100% North American rye. Though the bottle doesn’t specify, the rye is purportedly from Canada. Given its age, origin and similar flavor profile, one has to wonder if the rye whiskey source is the same as WhistlePig, another 100% Canadian rye. Jefferson’s founder and master blender Trey Zoeller combed through many barrels of aged rye whiskeys before settling on the right components for…

• Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon Review

  Kevin Gray

  23 Jan 2012 | 1:04 pm

  Woodford Reserve recently announced the newest addition to its lineup – Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Available in March, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked isn’t a limited time release or part of the brand’s Master’s Collection; it’s a permanent line extension. The new whiskey gets its name from its double aging process. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is first aged in toasted, charred barrels created at Woodford’s cooperage. This initial maturation provides much of the color and flavor, but the second step is what makes the spirit unique. It’s moved to another custom barrel – one…

• Science Confirms that Drinking is Fun

  Kevin Gray

  20 Jan 2012 | 5:45 pm

  Leave it to well-funded scientific studies to tell us what we already know. A recent University of California study examined the endorphin release that results from drinking alcohol and the particular regions of the brain affected by this release. Scientists hope to better understand how alcohol affects the brain, and to one day use this knowledge to combat addiction. The study pitted heavy drinkers against non drinkers and found that both parties experience increased endorphins when drinking, which leads to feelings of pleasure. But the brains of heavy or problem drinkers are actually…

• Shit Bartenders Say

  Kevin Gray

  19 Jan 2012 | 1:17 am

  You might have seen this floating around the Web of late. If not, it’s definitely worth a look. Many of us have witnessed this bartender at work – the one who scoffs at your light beer request or bristles at your inability to shoot Fernet. Or the patron with encyclopedic knowledge who tests your knowledge of 1860s French aperitifs and refuses to drink any cocktail not sitting on Kold-Draft ice. Hell, some of us might even be that guy, mustache included. Regardless, this spoof is a good time. Click below to view, then share it with your cocktail-swilling pals and bartender “call me a…

• Happy Hot Buttered Rum Day

  Kevin Gray

  17 Jan 2012 | 3:33 am

  File this under the I-can’t-believe-this-is-a-real-holiday-but-I’m-sure-glad-it-is category. January 17th marks Hot Buttered Rum Day, and as with all drinking holidays, we’re happy to partake. Hot Buttered Rum is one of our favorite seasonal drinks and is a nice change-of-pace from egg nog and spiked cider. Rum is the perfect base for this buttery libation, which is spiced up with allspice dram and apple cider. There are several quality recipes for Hot Buttered Rum, but this year we’re making the below recipe, courtesy of Kenneth McCoy and NYC’s Rum House. Hot Buttered Brugal 2 oz…

• 

  Whisky Advocate Blog

• Compass Box Whisky, Dave Wondrich, and breakfast cocktails for 500 people

  John Hansell

  24 Jan 2012 | 7:34 am

  So, I told you about the whole day-long seminar thing we have going on during WhiskyFest New York 2012 weekend this October already here. I said that it’s going to be very cool. Well, here’s one example. I approached John Glaser of Compass Box Whisky if he would debut a whisky for us at WhiskyFest during the seminar program, and he agreed. A few days later he came to me with this idea: For our New York WhiskyFest slot on Saturday at 9:15 am, I would like to unveil a special, limited release Great King Street blend, inspired by and made just for New York City. To help me present…

• 18th Annual Whisky Advocate Awards: daily posts beginning February 1st

  John Hansell

  23 Jan 2012 | 11:50 am

  The Whisky Advocate Awards program is the longest-running annual whisky awards program, now in its eighteenth year. The awards recognize excellence in the world of whisky. The awards are announced annually in the spring issue, which subscribers receive in early March. But the 2011 award recipients will be announced here, first, beginning February 1st. The daily posts will also reach my Twitter feed (@JohnHansell) and the Whisky Advocate Facebook page.  (More details on the foundation of the Whisky Advocate Awards program–how they are chosen and why–will precede the awards…

• Some new bourbons and my thoughts on them

  John Hansell

  20 Jan 2012 | 8:33 am

  The holidays are over, but the whiskey companies are still pumping out new releases. Here’s an overview of some bourbons (and one wheat whiskey) that have come my way in the past few weeks. Formal reviews will follow in due time, but here are my informal thoughts. First up is the first new permanent line extension from Woodford Reserve. They’re calling it Woodford Reserve Double Oaked (pictured). I just received this sample yesterday and tasted it last night. I really enjoy it. It’s richer and creamier than the standard Woodford Reserve. Smooth too, with a kiss of sweetness…

• WhiskyFest NY 2012 Seminar Program Agenda

  John Hansell

  13 Jan 2012 | 8:38 am

  We’ve completed the agenda for the Saturday seminar program for our 15th Annual WhiskyFest New York, which has now been expanded to an entire weekend. (The Saturday seminars will be book-ended by grand tasting events on Friday and Saturday nights. Follow my link above for more details.) I include the agenda below. We are still putting together the list of whiskies that will be poured and whiskymakers that will be participating as panel members for each seminar topic. Two things I know for sure already: The whiskies you will be tasting during the “Whisky Auctions and…

• Cornish whiskey

  John Hansell

  10 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

  Today, Dominc Roskrow marks another day in whisky; make that whiskey history. Hicks & Healey Cornish Single Malt 7 Year Old Whiskey, to be exact. Another ‘country’ joins the whisky diaspora By Dominic Roskrow The oldest whisky ever released in ‘England’ has been snapped up after a huge public demand. The whiskey is actually from Cornwall and was the result of a unique partnership of two Cornish drinks producers. Hicks & Healey Cornish Single Malt 7 Year Old Whiskey, which adopts the Irish/American spelling of the world ‘whiskey,’ is the first new whiskey to be bottled in…

• 

  American Drink

• Nice Job, Einstein

  sloganeerist

  17 Jan 2012 | 9:22 pm

  In the early days of the Dry Era, nobody on the Federal Prohibition Bureau infiltrated and took down more NYC speakeasies than master-of-disguise agent Izzy Einstein and his partner, Moe Smith. But sometimes it took more than clever deceit to fool a wary bootlegger. Sometimes it took cold, calculated honesty. One of Izzy’s first assignments was to bust a Manhattan speakeasy that had a reputation for spotting revenue agents. With his badge affixed to his coat, he asked the proprietor, “Would you like to sell a pint of whiskey to a deserving Prohibition agent?” The bar owner laughed and…

• "You have your folk remedies or your comfort foods or your routine that all help just because they..."

  irreverend

  1 Jan 2012 | 12:41 pm

  “You have your folk remedies or your comfort foods or your routine that all help just because they give solace … . But really a hangover is a physical process, or at least the result of one, and there do exist actual remedies that help reverse it.” - Best day-after breakfast, according to science: eggs and a tropical smoothie.  Happy new year, Drinkers. 

• If you’re thinking about making a batch of Christmas gin,...

  irreverend

  12 Dec 2011 | 2:00 pm

  If you’re thinking about making a batch of Christmas gin, now would be an excellent time to raid your neighbors’ juniper bushes. See those blueish-grayish berries? That’s what you’re looking for. Shake a branch and the ripe ones will fall right off.  For some reason, government landscapers seem to love this shrub. If you’re having trouble finding a good one, try the nearest public school (after hours, lest your motives for lurking in the bushes be mistaken) or courthouse (same). 

• A man, a woman, a caper and a bourbon

  billbarol

  8 Dec 2011 | 11:00 am

  “Tell it to me again,” Robin said. They were sitting in her kitchen with an open bottle of something called Black Maple Hill on the table between them. It was the color of very good, very expensive mahogany furniture and it tasted of cherries and caramel and wood smoke. They apparently aged the stuff for 21 years in white oak barrels down in Kentucky, and Albert paid about two hundred dollars a bottle for it. So far they’d downed a good hundred bucks’ worth. Finney had never cared much for bourbon, but he thought it was pretty much the most delicious thing he’d ever tasted. That’s…

• ourpresidents: Repeal of Prohibition - Elephants and Donkeys...

  seoulbrother

  5 Dec 2011 | 2:49 pm

  ourpresidents: Repeal of Prohibition - Elephants and Donkeys Celebrate Over a Barrel of Beer During his 1932 presidential campaign, FDR promised to end Prohibition. The 18th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1921, prohibited the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors within the United States. When Roosevelt took office in 1933, a constitutional amendment to repeal Prohibition was already making its way through the state legislatures. Roosevelt acted immediately to ease Prohibition with the Beer-Wine Revenue Act. Passed on March 22, 1933, this act legalized the sale of…

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  Master of Malt Whisky Blog

• Caption Contest Winners!

  The Master of Malt

  27 Jan 2012 | 9:09 am

  Well, it’s been an interesting week of nervously checking the comments to make sure none of them were *too* near the mark, but we’ve made it, and no one’s lodged any formal complaints. By all accounts it was a rip-roaring success. Huzzah.   I think Christian Bale’s pretty face may have had something to do with the great reponse, but regardless there were some very witty suggestions, and so we’ve picked not only three winners (we’ve been feeling extra beneficent recently) – but 5, each of whom will receive a dram of the astonishingly good…

• Caption Contest #3 – Win a dram of Lagavulin Feis Ile!

  The Master of Malt

  19 Jan 2012 | 9:39 am

  In our last caption contest, I posted a doctored still from the movie Scarface. I was pushing my luck a little, particularly as it involved editing out a machine gun and replacing it with a bottle of Bathtub Gin and a Martini. Ben let me get away with it.   This time, I think I may be in for a telling off, but it’ll be funny while it lasts, and delicious for all as the best three caption suggestions will each win a 3cl sample of the staggeringly good Lagavulin Feis Ile 2011, a whisky that we just loved when we first tried it on Islay last year (in a little cottage in a powercut in…

• The World's Hottest Chilli Vodka

  The Master of Malt

  18 Jan 2012 | 9:58 am

  We’re going to introduce you to our latest product, but you’ll probably wish we hadn’t. You’ll wish we never even made it. You’ll wish I tried my best to detain Ben with duct tape and string when he first told me how he was making this vodka, rather than just saying “I’m not so sure that’s a good idea…”   You see, folks, we’ve created the world’s hottest chilli vodka, the aptly named: 100,000 Scovilles – Naga Chilli Vodka   It’s also our first product to come with a lengthy warning on the product…

• Duncan Taylor Dimensions Tasting...

  The Master of Malt

  17 Jan 2012 | 9:13 am

  This morning I mentioned to Ben it was high time we posted something on the blog for this week, his suggestion:   “Something about whisky. We don’t do enough of that.”   To be fair, he has a point. We’ve been so caught up in the recent excitement of Christmas, making and launching new stuff, and my imminent emigration, that we’ve neglected that one little thing we’re here to write about first: Whisky! So, dutifully I had a rummage through the assortment of drams, miniatures, cask samples and all the other messy accoutrements strewn over my desk…

• Wanted: Online Editor

  The Master of Malt

  6 Jan 2012 | 6:32 am

  Note how careful I was with the punctuation there. It’s not that our online editor is wanted, but rather that we want an online editor.   If Mike - our current online editor- was wanted, it might at least go some way towards explaining his decision to move from the sunny, safe, really rather delightful climes of Royal Tunbridge Wells, to Perth. Nope, not that Perth (the sensible Perth, the Perth that’s within just a few miles of a load of great distilleries), the other Perth. The one in Australia.   So – after initially being a bit sad, then more than a bit excited…

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  MicroLiquor

• 4 Cool Liquor Gadgets

  MicroLiquor

  24 Jan 2012 | 1:12 pm

  Cool liquor gadgets and gifts for every liquor enthusiast and all those who drink spirits.

• Old Mill Rum – Gold Rum

  MicroLiquor

  22 Jan 2012 | 5:59 am

  Bob Beresh reviews The Old Mill Gold Rum. It was a joy to sample, because unlike other rums, I had it neat. Like a fine whiskey, I pulled the cork and with a turn, squeak, and low pop, poured "The Old Mill - Gold Rum" and enjoyed it for its own characteristics.

• Domenico Winery

  MicroLiquor

  21 Jan 2012 | 2:01 am

  Domenico Winery hand-crafts in small lots to produce high quality wines. We take a closer look at Domenico's Nebbiolo, Primitivo, and Aglianico wine labels. Dominick and Gloria Chirichillo’s choice of name for their winery is a reflection of their commitment to their Italian heritage and the tradition of family winemaking.

• Vinturi Spirit Aerator Review

  MicroLiquor

  21 Jan 2012 | 1:56 am

  Professional bartenders knows that spirits improve with aeration. Vinturi Spirits Aerator review.

• Tempest Soul Liqueur

  MicroLiquor

  20 Jan 2012 | 5:45 pm

  Tempest Soul Liqueur is a mystical blend with 6 herbs and absinthe-laced drops that float gracefully throughout the bottle.