Have you ever topped off your glass of cabernet or pinot noir while saying, “Hey, it’s good for my heart, right?” This widely held impression dates back to a catchphrase coined in the late 1980s: the French Paradox. The French Paradox refers to the notion that drinking wine may explain the relatively low rates of …
For those who are looking to expand their whisky taste buds and who have sufficient means to spend on their whisky, Glenfiddich 15 and Macallan 12 are both great options for high-end whiskies. For Macallan, the whisky produced is very different because of its focus on sherry barrels and aging. It matures in a combination …
Ask most whisky drinkers what type of spirit they prefer and single malt will almost certainly steal the top spot. So what is it about the alcohol that makes it so revered? “Single malt resembles cognac in terms of prestige and spends most of its life asleep in wood, maturing, getting every last ounce of …
In 1889, the English author and journalist Rudyard Kipling toured America and wrote a series of essays about his experience, bound and published under the title From Sea to Sea. His chapter about San Francisco is, to put it mildly, unkind. Between critiques of our politics and an anecdote in which he apparently witnesses a …
Pisco Punch, the Delightful Cocktail With a Recipe the Inventor Took to the Grave Read More »
Kilchoman Distillery recently released its annual sherry-cask matured Loch Gorm. With the flavoring changing subtly from year to year, Loch Gorm 2021 is created from 24 500-liter oloroso sherry butts filled in 2011 and 2012. The sherry butts were sourced from Bodega Miguel Martin and filled with Kilchoman spirit peated to 50ppm. Once the casks …
Kilchoman Releases Loch Gorm 2021 Scotch Single Malt Read More »
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his Teremana Tequila brand are launching a new “Guac on The Rock” initiative to encourage the United States to support local restaurants. The Rock’s tequila brand, which has been a hit since officially launching in March 2020, are encouraging people around the country to go out and support their local …
Teremana Tequila Brand Launches New “Guac On The Rock” Initiative Read More »
Invented by legendary British barman Dick Bradsell in the early 1980s, the Espresso Martini soon became a beloved mainstay of bars worldwide. The original recipe combined a smooth elixir of espresso, coffee liqueur, and sugar to temper the punch of vodka. While Bradsell’s frothy concoction was a worldwide hit, the hallmark of a classic cocktail …
Why Bartenders Use Rémy Martin 1738 In Their Espresso Martini Riffs Read More »
Like any other spirit, rum has inspired culture far beyond the cocktail world: from Don the Beachcomber-era tiki bars and Hemingway wannabes, to boozy spring break culture and Jimmy Buffett beach bums. It also has a fraught history mired in colonialism, slavery, economic oppression, and organized crime. Rum, whether you know it or not, has …
If you want to know how to make a Piña Colada, and make it correctly, go straight to the drink’s homeland: Puerto Rico. On that beautiful Caribbean island, the frosty rum-centric sipper has reigned supreme for more than 60 years at the Caribe Hilton, where head bartender José Lopez serves them today. So fetch your …
Beyond its sweet coconut flavor and vague Caribbean (or was it Californian?) vibe, what most drinkers know about Malibu often begins and ends with how easily the stuff goes down. But there’s more to know about this 1980s-era coconut liqueur (not rum, see below) than its eye-catching bottle and sweet-tasting buzz. From its multicultural origins …
8 Things You Should Know About Malibu Coconut Rum Read More »
For nearly two centuries, Goslings has made a name for itself by reassuringly producing its iconic Black Seal Rum. For many rum drinkers and bartenders, there is no other dark rum worth bothering with. Critics tend to agree; Black Seal has been awarded the highest honor in the spirits industry: the Platinum medal at the …
Beyond Black Seal: Goslings’ Emerging Super-Premium Rums Read More »
Time was, rum was thought of as a summer drink, a light, ephemeral spirit to add booze to your frozen cocktails and little else. But times, thankfully, have changed. Rum is now widely regarded as a sipping spirit to rival the world’s great whiskies and cognacs. What’s changed? Well, there are plenty of new and …
Whether frozen or on the rocks, rum cocktails are often synonymous with vacation. And as much as we love sipping Daiquiris and Coladas poolside, rum is a multifaceted spirit that cannot be put into a box. From creamy Coquito to minty Mojitos, rum-based cocktails are year-round delicacies that pair as well with dinner parties and …
The Fabulous Thai Rum Company has released a range of three rum-based liqueurs to attract consumers seeking exotic flavours. The Fabulous Thai Rum Company has been created by Carl Stephenson, founder of The Bloomsbury Club in London, UK. The company’s initial range comprises three variants: lychee, kiwi and Thai basil; ginger, lemongrass and kaffir lime; …
The Ternary Project is the first in a series of revitalized small-batch experiments released from Bruichladdich Distillery. Taken from the inner workings of our Head Distiller’s sample room, these non-conformist spirits are revealed for curiosity’s sake. This Ternary Project, meaning to consist or involve three parts, pays homage to a time in our distillery’s past …
Spirit of York, Toronto’s newest craft distillery, boasts an impressive bitters bar with hundreds of tinctures, spices, barks, and peels that add complex flavors to mixed beverages. Bartender Simon Ho, who heads up the distillery’s bitters bar, tells us why we should be paying more attention to this cocktail enhancer. What is a cocktail bitters …
It turns out that you can have your chocolate and drink it too. It tastes just as good in liquid form, so instead of reaching for that box of truffles, why not enjoy a glass of chocolate liqueur as the perfect after-dinner indulgence? (Pro tip: it also tastes great over ice cream.) We’ve narrowed down …
The mere thought of an Asian liqueur conjures up images of the exotic, and with good reason – they bring new dimensions of aroma and flavour compared to their Western counterparts. You’ll find them made with yuzu (a hybrid of lime, lemon and grapefruit), ume (a sour fruit similar to plum and apricot), and aromatic …
When you start to explore the best cream liqueurs, you need to look beyond Baileys. What was essentially a one-product category has been invigorated by a host of producers using innovative ingredients to attract newcomers (particularly those with a sweet tooth) to this decadent, indulgent world. Like other liqueurs, cream liqueurs use a spirit as …
Whether you want to pimp up your prosecco, swirl something naughty around a tumbler, or you’re a fully fledged home mixologist – your drinking cabinet simply isn’t complete without a liqueur or two. Which one though, depends on personal taste. And that’s down the sheer variety of products that this stalwart drinks category spans. Put …
