I wasn't always a wine drinker. The first thing I liked to drink was vodka: vodka with cranberry juice, or a Black Russian with a slice of lime. Now, though, I am entirely too hip to drink vodka. I sneer at vodka, and at people who drink vodka. If I
There are whiskies that seduce, whiskies that inflame, whiskies that captivate. And then there are whiskies like Laphroaig, a big, briny, smoky punch in the gullet that has been winning friends, or not, for 200 years. Peat is the secret to the distinctive, love-it-or-hate-it medicinal, seaweedy character of Laphroaig (la-FRYOG,
Back in my bartending days (many, many years ago) we rarely ventured outside of anything more complicated than a martini or a Manhattan, and we hated anyone asking for a blender drink. (“Sorry, the blender is broken. “) But now we are in the grip of the craft cocktail craze.
Meat and whiskey lovers have known for a while that pork and rye are a great pairing. Templeton Rye is taking the match just a bit further, raising heritage pigs on spent mash left over from the distilling process. The idea formed when Scott Bush, president and CEO of Templeton
Meet FOAM, the Napa Valley’s top secret, well kinda secret, cocktail society After a hard day working in the cellar, or the vineyard, or the office filling out paperwork, winemaker Judd Finkelstein likes to relax with an adult beverage … and it’s probably not the one you’re expecting. Sure, Finkelstein
In Friuli, the Nonino family makes grappa in a sophisticated spirit Earthy, rustic, fiery -- grappa's got a reputation as a real party animal, white lightning, Italian style. But did you know there are elegant, single-varietal grappas that can hold their own at the fanciest of soirées? Or grappa cocktails
The color is gorgeous, a rich dark golden hue. The nose is even prettier. Aromas of vanilla cream and honeyed almond are joined by hints of distant magnolia blossoms. On the palate honeyed tropical fruits, mango and sweet tangerine, lead, through brilliant crescendo, to beautiful florals, from fresh honeysuckle to
Hardy ages its V.S.O.P. (Very Special Old Pale) Cognac for 8 years, twice the minimum permitted under French law. The eaux-de-vie comes from Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, the Cognac region's two finest crus. Packaging is very fine for the VSOP level, and pricing very reasonable. The rich nose shows butter,