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Interview with a Water Sommelier

2013-06-18T08:30:00-07:00

In researching water in both both distilled spirits and at serving, I came across Martin Riese, a water sommelier. He is the General Manager at Ray's & Stark, a restaurant located at the LA County Museum of Art (LACMA). He is developing a water program for the restaurant, and has his own water brand, hilariously called Beverly Hills 9OH2O. I asked him for an email interview and he kindly consented. The interview is below, slightly modified in some places for clarity. How did you become a water sommelier? I had in 2005 the idea to create a water menu in the restaurant which I worked (in Germany). We had 1500 different wines and I always thought we needed to have a selection of waters to pair with the wines. The idea was a huge success, we started with 14 different waters and we ended up with over 40. I could almost not believe how different all the waters can taste and which impact they had to the wine and food experience. The media attention which I received gave me the name of water sommelier. So, I do not have really a certification as a water sommelier but I learned learned...

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Good Booze, Bad Booze: It's Not a Beer Belly, It's Just a Booze Belly

2013-06-17T10:42:00-07:00

One day science says drinking will make you live forever. The next day science says it will kill you tomorrow. Good Booze, Bad Booze is an Alcademics category where I put all these stories together. 6/17/13: Beer Bellies Are a Myth [link] From TIME: "According to University of California Davis food science professor Charles Bamforth, the colloquial notion of the beer belly — that beer somehow uniquely targets the gut – doesn’t jibe with medical science." Previous Good Booze, Bad Booze 5/14/13: Scientists reveal drinking champagne could improve memory [link] 4/07/13: Self-medication drinking may lead to alcohol dependence [link] 4/06/13: Binge drinking in your 20s can trigger heart disease, as being young has no protective effect against alcohol [link] 04/106/13: Three glasses of fizz a day 'could improve your memory' [link] 3/19/13: College enrollment does not lead to problem drinking in adulthood [link] 3/09/13: Heavy drinkers get extra brain fuel from alcohol [link] 2/15/13: Alcohol said to have big role in cancer [link] 1/29/13: Local bottle shops linked to mental health [link] 1/23/13: Alcohol and a Good Night's Sleep Don't Mix [link] 1/09/13: Resolved to give up alcohol for January? It could do you more harm than good [link] 12/31/12:...

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A Visit to the Fernet-Branca Distillery in Buenos Aires, Argentina

2013-06-14T09:15:00-07:00

Back in April I visited the Fernet-Branca distillery outside of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Some of you may remember me tweeting about it. Well, it's about time I gave it the formal write-up. Fernet-Branca owns two distilleries: the main one in Milan, Italy, and this one in Buenos Aires. In past years there used to be many Branca distilleries in different countries (including the US), but as global shipping has become easier this model makes the most sense. Production began in Argentina around 1905 or 1908 and has continued ever since. The current distillery was built in 2000 and it already at full capacity. Surprisingly, the Fernet-Branca we drink in the US is made in Milan. The Fernet-Branca made in Buenos Aires is consumed mostly in Argentina but also South/Latin America. I didn't directly ask if the Fernet-Branca made in Buenos Aires is made to the exact same recipe, but if you compare them side-by-side you can tell it is not. The stuff made for the local market is less sweet than the international version (makes sense given that they always drink it with Coke, never on its own), and some bitter elements seemed to be different in a way I...

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New Booze: Pimm’s Blackberry & Elderflower (UK Only)

2013-06-13T12:48:00-07:00

Here are some new spirits launching. The text is taken from these brands' press releases. Pimm’s Blackberry & Elderflower (UK Only) Pimm’s Blackberry & Elderflower is now available nationwide. This twist on the iconic summer favourite blends the quintessential British flavours of fruity blackberries and fragrant elderflower. Based on a new Pimm’s blend, this first ever flavoured infusion from Pimm’s is perfect served over ice, mixed with lashings of lemonade, and topped with the freshest blackberries you can get your mitts on, perfect choice for adding some sunshine to summer shin-digs with chums and it tastes just as good on those not so sunny days. RRP £15.49 for 70cl; 250ml pre-mix can (5.4%ABV), RRP £1.85 St. George California Agricole Rum (July 2013) St. George Spirits will release its initial bottling of St. George California Agricole Rum at the end of June 2013. Bottles will start hitting shelves nationally in July. St. George California Agricole Rum is the re-launch of the California craft distillery's Agua Libre Rum, first released in 2010. While St. George California Agricole Rum is a new name and sports a new label design, the rum itself is the same spirit under the name Agua Libre. St. George...

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