Spirits
• What are you doing for World Gin Day, Saturday 6/15?
As if you lot needed an excuse, it’s World Gin Day on Saturday. An ancient rite, ever since some gin marketing people invented it a couple of minutes ago, World Gin Day traditionally sees families up and down the country gather round the Gin Tree to say prayers to Mother Juniper before the children take [...]
• Whiskey Makers Court Jewish Market
For avid whiskey lovers, few events are more eagerly anticipated than WhiskyFest, an enormous tasting that touches down in several American cities throughout the year. But when sponsors of the New York festival suddenly moved it last year from Tuesday to Friday and Saturday, many regulars were unable to attend. An alternative arrived suddenly in [...]
• How One Man Is Aging Whisky In A Week, Not Years
The aging process is an essential part of whisky-making. The charred oak barrel gives the liquor its caramel colour and imparts rich, subtle flavours. Problem is, this soaking step takes years to complete. But one enterprising distillery has figured out how to ripen sour mash in a fraction of the time. Cleveland Whiskey is an [...]
• When That ‘Local,’ ‘Craft’ Liquor You Pay Big Bucks for Is Neither
Last winter I visited a small new distillery housed on the ground floor of a Dickensian industrial building in a run-down part of an American city—exactly which city doesn’t matter, because I guarantee there’s a building just like it near you. It was occupied by what my friend Karen Rush has dubbed YUTs, or “young [...]
• Drink Like Frank With Jack Daniel’s Special Edition Whiskey
When legendary performer Frank Sinatra died in 1998, he paid alcoholic beverages maker Brown-Forman Corp. the highest compliment: he was buried with a flask filled with their Jack Daniel’s whiskey. Mr. Sinatra, according to Brown-Forman and the family estate, was a devoted fan of Jack Daniel’s for decades during his lifetime. He was first introduced [...]
• Infused Booze Front and Centre
Infused liquors are becoming more popular every year. Most restaurants have the standard Smirnoff Vanilla, Absolut Peppar, and Captain Morgan on the rail. In addition to these, many independent establishments offer specialty infusions. Bartenders and mixologists use their knowledge to create unique flavour combinations to tantalise our taste buds. Recently I spoke with Justin Cardwell, [...]
• Want to make your own custom whiskey? Yes, you can.
“MY WHISKEY” CUSTOM WHISKEY PROGRAM Do you have an idea for a great whiskey? Want your own custom whiskey for your bar or restaurant? You and some buddies want your own label for the hunting camp? Want an amazing one-of-a-kind holiday gift? Here’s your chance! We will custom make a 30 gallon barrel of whiskey [...]
• Tallarico Vodka: Too Pretty for the Freezer, Too Easy to Like
Ok, so vodka’s known as the blank slate of spirits. Usually, one can’t tell the difference between one and the other. Well, I just opened a chill bottle of Tallarico Vodka, watched it pour into my chill tasting glass with a viscosity not seen in other vodkas…at least not in my circumscribed experience. Okay, I [...]
• The French Laundry Finally Unveils Its Stellar Spirits Program
Included in today’s Inside Scoop print column is the ceremonious unveiling of the French Laundry‘s long-awaited spirits program. It’s something that’s been in the works for a while, and the 4-star Yountville restaurant has been quietly pouring prized liquors since re-emerging from its winter break earlier this year. The idea of the spirits program, explains [...]
• Trader Joe’s Scotch – Lismore Single Malt. Drinkable?
The Trader Joe’s in the South Loop has begun to sell hard liquor. The selection is not very deep, but it is interesting and pulls together classic stock like Stoli, Hennessey and Bailey’s, as well as local spirits such as FEW white whisky, Next Star vodka and North Shore gin. But what most caught my [...]
• Just in Time for Cinco de Mayo: Five Biggest Tequila Myths
Tequila has come a long way. The former spring break drink of choice is now a favorite of top bartenders around the country. That’s not to mention the selection of premium brands to choose from. But there are still all-too-common misconceptions about the liquor. So with Cinco de Mayo just a few weeks away, we [...]
• 10 Pantone Colored Cocktails For Spring
Every year Pantone declares a “color of the year,” setting the stage for trends for the year. For the second year in a row, Pantone partnered with Sephorato honor the 2013 color, Emerald, and we’ve been seeing the green hue not only in makeup, but in clothes and accessories, too. One area Pantone Universe has [...]
• American Distilling Institute Artisan Spirits Awards Results
Judging Specifics from Judging Director, Drew Faulkner On March 4-5, 2013, ADI judged 317 artisan American spirits at Huber Orchard and Winery in Starlight, Indiana: 127 whiskies, 66 gins, 36 moonshines, 47 rums and 41 fruit spirits were submitted from 124 independently-owned, small-batch, distilled spirits producers. Judges awarded 23 gold, 44 silver and 46 bronze [...]
• A grown-up’s guide to celebrating Cinco de Mayo in one word. Tequila.
Cinco de Mayo–which commemorates the 1862 victory of the Mexican army over the French—not Mexico’s Independence Day, as many mistakenly believe—is a day to celebrate Mexico’s heritage. And that rich heritage includes Tequila, the blue agave-based spirit made in Mexico’s hilly Jalisco province. Sure, in the United States, the liquor is often pigeonholed as the [...]
