I recently had the opportunity to try the new single malt offering from The Balvenie, one of Scotland’s famed Speyside distilleries. The limited edition 17-year-old Balvenie Madeira Cask was aged in traditional American oak whiskey casks before being transferred to…
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Composed of cachaça, limes and sugar, the Caipirinha (pronounced kie-purr-REEN-yah) is Brazil’s national cocktail. Cachaça is the most commonly distilled alcohol in Brazil, and is often referred to as “Brazilian rum.” But unlike rum, which is typically distilled from the…
Read MoreIf each trip out of the house during the holidays—always with the best of intentions to get your shopping done—results in you huddled over a drink at a nearby bar, hiding from the crazed mass, then you may be in…
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The coca leaf has a long and storied history dating back thousands of years. From its use by Bolivian farmers for its energy giving properties to its use in the production of cocaine, the coca leaf is surrounded in a…
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Mixology Monday is a monthly (well, almost monthly. Heavy drinkers don’t abide by the same calendar as mere mortals) online cocktail party that rounds up drinks pertaining to a particular theme chosen by a rotating host. This month’s theme is…
Read MoreAfter four years in development, Samurai Love Sake is about to launch in the United States. With its distinctive red bottle and memorable name, Samurai Love Sake will hit liquor stores, hotels and bars beginning in January 2010, a move…
Read MoreWhile there’s always a place for intricate cocktails boasting fun ingredients like Benedictine, Orgeat or Maraschino liqueur, sometimes you just want to simplify your life and your drinks. Comprised of five simple ingredients found in any reasonably stocked home bar,…
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Canned cocktails from El Jimador Tequila are coming to stores this month. Beginning in California, and then rolling out to the rest of the country by late spring, El Jimador’s “New Mix” cocktails will be available in three varieties: Paloma,…
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Rye whiskey is back, and in a big way. The recently released 2010 edition of the Whisky Bible, the prominent whiskey book by Jim Murray, has named Kentucky’s 18-year-old Sazerac Rye as the finest whiskey on the market. It edged…
Read MoreHere’s some good news for cheese lovers. The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board offers a site called Cheese Cupid, which helps the discerning cheese fiend pair wines, beers and spirits with cheese. Everyone loves cheese (the lactose intolerant excluded), and if…
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With Thanksgiving nearly upon us and a slew of other holidays on the horizon, it’s time to pull out cocktails that you don’t make any other time of the year. Drinks with ingredients like pumpkin puree and vanilla liqueur are…
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I’m no fan of flavored vodkas, but I’ve long been a firm believer in combining vices. Enter Three Olives Triple Shot Espresso Vodka, which allows the drinker to take the bite out of winter with some caffeinated booze. From Three…
Read MoreRecently I mentioned the wine and spirits auction at Christie’s, which included the prized Bowmore Trilogy and other rare whiskies. The results are in, and the buyers of these fine spirits have racked up quite a bar tab. The Bowmore…
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The Auchentoshan Distillery was founded in 1800 and is located just north of Glascow, Scotland. It is one of only three active distilleries that remains in the Lowlands region, with Bladnoch and Glenkinchie being the others. Auchentoshan features a line…
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In October Japan’s Suntory Limited launched its Hibiki 12-year-old whisky in the United States. This is good news for U.S. drinkers. Hibiki 12 Year is a blend of more than 30 handcrafted malt whiskies from the Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries. …
Read MoreThe Singapore Sling was invented around 1910 by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon at the Raffles Hotel’s Long Bar in Singapore. And like many classic drinks, the recipe was lost decades ago, resulting in bartenders scrambling to make an interpretation of…
Read MoreOn rare occasions Christie’s auction house does something that makes me pay attention, like hock pricey bottles of hooch. On November 14, Christie’s will auction off upwards of $2 million worth of wines and spirits, including select bottles of whiskey,…
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Many cocktails have predecessors, but perhaps none was quite as important as the under appreciated Martinez, a gin and sweet vermouth concoction that helped pave the way for the ubiquitous martini. As with many cocktails, origins of the Martinez are…
Read MoreHere’s some good news for protein deficient vodka drinkers. Devotion Spirits has just launched a vodka that’s infused with protein. From Devotion – Whether enjoyed on the rocks, mixed, stirred or shaken, Devotion Vodka provides for the smooth, delicious ultra-premium…
Read MoreIn appearance alone, Bulldog Gin, a newish premium offering out of London, offers something different. Its charcoal gray bottle with purple hues is adorned with a spiked collar, which might be enough to entice your everyday purchaser of hooch. But…
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