Liquid

Mocktail madness

Sara Faith Alterman — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT

So, you want to squeeze into a bathing suit this summer, but you don’t feel like sacrificing your favorite liquid accessories to do so? It’s a tall order, plumpkin, but it’s doable. Of course, you’ll have to make a bit of a drinking lifestyle switch to swing it, but hey, wouldn’t you rather feel confident when you hit the beach, instead of feeling, well, beached? Last summer, “skinny drinks” made our annual Hot 100 list, and damn if thin isn’t still in. Of course, if you really want to...

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Booze bag

Sara Faith Alterman — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Wouldn't sunny summer picnics be even better if your fried chicken and charcuterie were accented with a freshly shaken cocktail? It's nearly impossible to cram all of the necessary martini accoutrements into an overflowing picnic basket, which is why we're incredibly grateful for the Martini Backpack ($60) available from The Boston Shaker at Grand (374 Somerville Avenue, Somerville, 617.623.2429). This adorably sporty portable bar kit comes with everything you need to whip up the...

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Grape meets grain: Cocktails made with wine

Sara Faith Alterman — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Agonizing over having to choose between wine and liquor tonight? Yes, yes, it’s a tough problem to have. Wine is more appropriate with dinner, whereas cocktails can be more adventurous … a torturous decision indeed. Clearly, cocktails made with wine are the perfect solution. This isn’t reinventing the wheel, kids — mixing wine with fruit juice, spices, herbs, other booze … it’s all been done for ages, with all varieties of vino. To what extent? Glad you asked. A.J. Rathbun’s new book,...

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Hot shot: Tabasco Tequila

Sara Faith Alterman — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Considering that the cocktail market has been flooded with “kicked-up” margaritas over the past year or so, it seems only natural that someone, somehow, would come up with a spicy tequila. It was only a matter of time, especially given the recent infusions craze that had bartenders scheming up drinkable (though sometimes just barely) concoctions imbued with herbs, spices, fruits, and, um, pork products. And while they’re not the first to do so, the capsicum-happy pepperheads at McIlhenny...

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Make an impression

Sara Faith Alterman — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Protect your tables without sacrificing panache with these beautiful handmade paper coasters ($14) from local letterpress company Albertine Press. Inspired by delicate Chinese paper-cut art, the coasters come adorned with intricate patterns in bold hues, making each a fitting base for the most complex vintage or the burliest of brews. Every set features a dozen of the four-inchers, with two of each colorful design — wine-red flowers, a burnt-orange bird, chartreuse foliage, an emerald-green...

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Meat Your New Drinking Buddy

Thor Iverson — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:12:00 GMT

Steak. Grill. Fire. The next word in this sequence is “Man,” isn’t it? In some ancient Cro-Magnon family, I’m sure there was someone poking a mastodon filet with a stick as the meat carbonized over a roaring (albeit newly invented) fire. That someone was a guy, of course. Hey, the tradition had to start somewhere … But what was he drinking, you ask? It’s probably best that we not speculate. Instead, let’s talk modern times, in which any given evening will find men hunched over their...

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Brewed in Bruges

Sara Faith Alterman — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:05:00 GMT

The surge of warm-weather Sox-season barbecuing can only mean one thing — beeeeahs, kid. A frosty cold one is just about the perfect antidote to sticky weekend afternoons, and Bostonians are lucky enough to have several suds holes dedicated to crafting the perfect brew list. Widely considered the most intricate, even labyrinthine class of brews, Belgian beers are a particular favorite among the STUFF staff. And, thanks especially to Deep Ellum (477 Cambridge Street, Allston,...

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Pucker Up

Sara Faith Alterman — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:01:00 GMT

Sweltering summer months are just around the corner, and there are few flavors that scream “refreshment” like the sweet and tangy shades of citrus. Most classic summer beverages — like lemonade, limeade, or iced teas brightened with a generous squeeze of lemon — incorporate citrus in some way, and let’s not forget the intense satisfaction of spending a scorching afternoon sipping margaritas by the pool. Or the TV. Or the bucketful. A gimlet is a time-honored classic, involving a healthy pucker...

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Sibling Rivalry

Thor Iverson — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Younger brothers (or sisters) are mostly known for their ability to provoke annoyance. But who knew they were a bargain, too? No, I'm not suggesting buying and selling them. I’m talking wine. Here's an example: the Pegasus Bay Riesling ($28.99) is a terrific, ageable wine from one of New Zealand’s best producers. The price is a bargain given the quality, but there’s a cheaper alternative to be had in the Main Divide Riesling ($18.99), at about two-thirds of the cost. Both are available...

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Be the wine

Thor Iverson — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:38:00 GMT

It’s fun being a spectator, but you have to be in the game to be a real player. Wine doesn’t offer too many opportunities to do that, and so most people stick to drinking the stuff. Which isn’t too bad, except that it’s a little like football being all about tailgating, rather than what happens on the field. Sure, you can get in on the money side of things: working in a store or restaurant, schlepping boxes around for a distributor, and so forth. But — to torture the analogy a little longer —...

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Bar stars

Sara Faith Alterman — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:32:00 GMT

Love ’em or loathe ’em, celebrities are easy targets, but they’re also a go-to source of inspiration when naming sandwiches or hairstyles or shades of lipstick. Or, of course, cocktails. Why a mixture of Maker’s Mark, peach liquor, peach nectar, and water constitutes the Matthew McConaughey ($10.50) at The Beehive (541 Tremont Street, Boston, 617.423.0069) or why the A-Roid ($11) at Bonfire (50 Park Plaza, Boston, 617.262.3473) depicts Alex Rodriguez’s drug habits with tequila and house-made...

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Radical Radikon

Thor Iverson — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 23:33:00 GMT

Sometimes, we crave the comfort of the familiar — a well-loved book that’s been nearly dog-eared to death, the favorite T-shirt that’s been rendered super-soft by years of wear, that nostalgia-inducing song that has somehow found its way onto every one of your iPod playlists. At other times though, only the shock of the new will do. Some players in the wine world evidently agree, as a rising number of producers seem dead set on defying convention with every cask. A bunch of them...

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Hip flask

Sara Faith Alterman — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 23:29:00 GMT

All of your friends can attest to your drunken douchebaggery; you might as well just own it. The Slang Flask ($18) from Urban Outfitters (11 JFK Street, Cambridge, 617.864.0070) says it all. A classic stainlesssteel booze vessel, it comes with “Douchebag,” “Bitch,” or “Asshole” stamped on the front — your choice. Or collect all three for whatever mood strikes your fancy. These make excellent bridal party gifts, but only if you’re positive that your men/maids of honor have a sense of...

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Join the club

Sara Faith Alterman — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 23:27:00 GMT

Whiskey is one of those spirits with multiple personalities: the sure sign of a seasoned palate, a stodgy accessory for ascot-wearing octogenarians, and a long-revered fix-it-all home remedy. However, it can be intimidating for people who don’t know much about it, especially because whiskey is, as a subject, incredibly complicated. Whether you’re already an aficionado or simply a curious whiskey-drinkin’ wannabe, Canadian Club 30 Year is a stellar way to enjoy the wonders of grain-mash...

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Wine on a dime

Thor Iverson — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:39:00 GMT

Is cheap ever chic? If so, this would be the season. Alcohol has long been fairly recession-proof (who doesn’t need strong drink in hard times?), but not this go-around. Wineries, stores, restaurants... they’re all feeling the pinch. And so, most likely, are you. But if you’re interested in keeping that pinch at a fun, foreplay-ish level, rather than affixing industrial-strength C-clamps to your unmentionables, it’s time to make the acquaintance of the close-out bin: the Filene’s Basement of...

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