There are numerous stories on the Sidecar’s origins. However, Harry’s Bar in Paris is generally credited with inventing the Sidecar for a patron who often rode in the sidecar of a motorcycle. Pictured is the Sidecar we drank at Harry’s.

I am grateful to this unknown and unsung mixologist who brought us this cocktail, as it is my personal favorite, and I am eternally grateful to the Bix in San Francisco for introducing me to … Read more

The Washington Post laid out this simple and affordable collection of spirits that will have you making Martinis, Mojitos and Manhattans in no time. These dozen well picked bottles can be had for a mere $187. Not a bad investment for the summer. Spend another $80 bucks on on 5 specialty bottles like Pernod and Campari, and you’ll have the ultimate summer bar.

The Well-Stocked Bar for Summer [WaPo]

Also see our own guide to … Read more

We thought that Cookout USA would be the perfect cookbook for Memorial Day. While not technically the start of summer, for many, Memorial Day signifies the start of summer and grilling season. I love everything about grilling season. The smell of the charcoal and grilling meats, the steamy weather and cold, refreshing drinks. Plus, there are fresh tomatoes, corn and watermelon to name a few of my food favorites! To me, summer, grilling and barbeques … Read more

Editor’s Note: This guest blog is by J.K.O’Hanlon and features content from her newest book, “12 Happy Hours,” available on Amazon and wherever books are sold in soft-cover and eBook formats.  It features drink and food recipes with monthly themes and entertaining tips for casual, stress-free parties. O’Hanlon, a former corporate attorney, gets her ideas and inspiration from years of hosting cocktail gatherings in her suburban Kansas home; so many, in fact, that she has … Read more

If you’re one of the many shoppers still struggling to find the perfect last-minute gift for family or friends, consider doing some good on their behalf by purchasing a limited edition firefighter-inspired Guinness t-shirt.

Proceeds from every transaction will go directly to The Leary Firefighters Foundation, Guinness’ charity partner, and will help the brand reach its goal of raising $1 million for firefighters by St. Patrick’s Day 2014.

You can also celebrate the holidays with … Read more

by J.K. O’Hanlon, author of “12 Happy Hours (Thirsty Jane Guides)” and “3 Ingredient Cocktails”

This is the time of year when the calendar pages for the next few months are red-lined with parties, making December through January look like they’re on fire. It’s a love-hate stretch of time, especially for hosts coming up with new ideas for drinks and food without pulling zombie-marathons in the kitchen.

I always suggest keeping it simple by … Read more

There is a trend for celebrities, alive and dead, to have their own wine labels. These wines are fun and make a great gift to bring for a party. This is important as we enter fall and the party season. I know that we are often scratching our heads as to a fun and appropriate gift to bring to a party. There is the added pressure given that we right about wine and booze.

We … Read more

Today marks the 80th Anniversary of the implementation of the 21st Amendment, also known as Repeal Day (for repealing the disastrous 18th Amendment, which went into effect on January 17, 1920). Make sure you enjoy a tipple today to celebrate!

Prohibition was a dark period in America. It pitted recent immigrants against Americans who had been in the country for generations and rural areas against urban. Hypocritical politicians voted dry and drank very wet. I … Read more

Ingredients:

1 whole turkey breast, 6-8 lbs. Brined in Bourbon Brine 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil ¼ cup Maker’s Mark Bourbon ¼ cup cider vinegar ½ cup apple juice 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, minced ½ lb slab bacon, cut into ¼-inch thick pieces 2 carrots, peeled and sliced into ½-inch thick pieces 1 head fennel, cut into ¼-inch thick slices vertically 1 large red onion,

A little more involved than our basic bourbon gravy, but worth the effort

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 pieces turkey wings, chopped into 2-inch pieces 1 onion, minced 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 bay leaf 1 sprig thyme 1 sprig sage ¼ cup flour ¼ cup Maker’s Mark Bourbon ½ cup red wine 3 cups chicken or turkey stock 1 tablespoon brown sugar Splash red wine vinegar, to taste Salt and pepper, to taste

This brine is meant for a turkey breast, but you can also use it for chicken and pork.

Ingredients:
 
½ cup Maker’s Mark Bourbon
1 cup kosher salt
1 cup sugar
6 cups water
1 piece cinnamon stick
10 pieces allspice berries
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
5 cloves garlic, crushed
2 bay leaves
1 sprig thyme
1 whole turkey breast, 6-8 lbs

Instructions:

1. Combine everything except the turkey breast in a large pot. Bring … Read more

This Thanksgiving you can give a little thanks for liquor! I know I’m certainly grateful it exists! Booze makes everything better and that could even include your turkey dinner. Here are some great ideas for how alcohol can add a little oomph to some Turkey Day classic dishes.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rum Glazed Turkey Whiskey Sausage Apple Stuffing Bourbon Gravy Drunken Cranberry Sauce Wildflower Honey and Scotch Whiskey Glazed Sweet Potatoes Bourbon Glazed Carrots Liquored-Up Alternatives

Making gravy is surprisingly easy. If you’re already making a Thanksgiving turkey, with about 15 minutes extra work you can also have homemade gravy. And like most foods, gravy is even better when you add booze.

4 cups turkey or chicken stock 3 tbs butter (unsalted) 1/3 cup flour Pan drippings from turkey (pour fat off first) ½ cup bourbon salt and pepper to taste

Cook butter in a large saucepan on medium … Read more

A little booze is a good way to brighten up a holiday. Here are some absolutely tantalizing desserts that are great alternatives to pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving. Enjoy!

Pumpkin-Chocolate Tiramisu — yes, please! This twist on the addictive classic uses almond liqueur along with pumpkin and chocolate. Pumpkin Rum Pie — how can pumpkin pie get even better, you ask? The answer is rum. Pumpkin-Pecan Pie with Whiskey Butter Sauce — everything in this beautiful

I was recently summoned to the historic Haas-Lilienthal House in San Francisco for US unveiling of Hendrick’s Quinetum Cordial.  Created over several years by Hendrick’s Gin Master Distiller, Lesley Gracie, this quinine cordial was formulated to perfectly compliment Hendrick’s Gin. The recipe developed by Gracie was inspired by the work of 19^th century chemist Thomas Whiffen. His pioneering work did much to develop the use of quinine in the 19th century.

A first run … Read more

Each year, less than two percent (2%) of port is declared “vintage”, meaning that it comes from the same year.  These wines can be found in vintage or late bottled vintage ports.  Generally, port contains wines from multiple vintages in order to preserve the style of the port house.  In this regard, it’s very similar to Champagne houses, like Veuve Clicquot or Perrier Jouet.  The decision to declare a vintage port is taken very seriously … Read more

You may not know it but your favorite celebrity might own a vineyard.  It’s very in vogue these days.  Many of you may know of Francis Ford Coppola, who I would argue is the best known celebrity vintner.  Coppola is very successful with a wide range of wine, including ones under the Coppola name, and to amazing wineries, Francis Ford Coppola Winery and Inglenook (formerly Niebaum-Coppola).  But, what you might know is that a number … Read more

Jacob’s Ghost is new and old white whiskey from Jim Beam. Named after Jacob Beam, founder of Jim Beam, Jacob’s Ghost is a direct descendent of the white whiskey he distilled way back in 1795.  Unlike most white whiskeys, Jacobs Ghost is aged for 12 months in new white oak barrels.

Our friend Daniel Yaffe, founder of Drink Me magazine, recently published his first book < Drink More Whiskey: Everything You Need to Know About Your New Favorite Drink
.  Daniel is clearly a lover of whiskey and this book is his personal homage to the spirit.  We can hardly blame him as it’s one of our favorite beverages as well.

In Drink More Whiskey, Daniel takes a new approach to examining the spirit that is fun, witty and bordering on irreverant.  Daniel doesn’t write a dissertation on whiskey in … Read more

Our friends at Hob Nob wine recently sent us a Halloween present of wine and candy. Seriously, it doesn’t get much better than that. If you added ice cream, you would be combining all of my vices. Plus the Hob Nob Halloween gift gave us an idea for an article on wine-candy pairings for adult trick or treating this Halloween.

We thought that the wine and candy pairing was a brilliant idea for Halloween. For … Read more

We love Halloween at DOTW but we know how much work it takes to throw a kick-ass Halloween party. This year takes your Halloween party to the next level by serving some spooky cocktails. Imagine the looks of horror and fright when serving a drink with an eyeball floater!

We have been working away in our lab coming up with ways to make your Halloween even more creepy and spooky this year. Check out these … Read more

We know that our readers love Halloween and it’s hard to believe that Halloween is only a week away. This weekend, the adult Halloween celebrations will be in full swing. We have been scratching our heads, trying to come up with new and innovation ways to make Halloween fun.

In my attempt to be new and innovative, I ended up rehashing the old. Thinking about Halloween had me remembering what I loved about it as … Read more

We recently partook in a scotch and sailing expedition.  Yes, you heard that correctly.  Scotch and sailing.  Bowmore scotch to be exact.  And, it was a blast!

The sail took place on a warm and balmy day in San Francisco.  You also heard that one correctly.  In San Francisco, our summer happens in September and October when the fog recedes.  The day happened to be one of those lovely days!  Clear blue skies, sun shining … Read more

John Taffer is the President of Bar & Nightclub Media and the Host of Spike TVs Bar Rescue (new episodes start October 6th!). I sat down (ok, had a call) with Mr. Taffer recently to discuss the new season of Bar Rescue, his new book and his years in the bar business.  John has been creating and running bars for over 35 years. To say the least, he’s seen it all.

How did you get … Read more

Hudson New York Corn Whiskey was one of the first whiskeys made in New York State following prohibition.

From the distiller, “We double distill the corn mash pure and simple. No other flavors or sugar added. It’s then bottled at 46% without charcoal or chill filtering, giving the crystal clear whiskey a silky smooth, creamy and clean drinking experience. It’s also distinctly corny – just like your wise-cracking uncle. Cut the wax and pour.” 

New … Read more

I have long been a Tiki fan.  Way back in the day before the cocktail revolution, I dragged a bunch of friends to the original Trader Vic’s (well, it’s second incarnation since the original location burned down) in Emeryville, California.  We had a great time and I still have the coconut glass to prove it.  I have made a few returns but the coconut glass is not longer as easy to procure!

So, you can … Read more

Appearance: clear, medium minus tawny brown with thick legs

Nose: clean, medium minus notes of corn, kernel, black cherry, sourdough, cola, vanilla and oak

Palate: dry, smooth, integrated alcohol with medium notes of corn, kernel, sourdough, black cherry, maraschino cherry, vanilla and oak.  Medium minus finish of maraschino cherry.

Rating:  Average.  I like the smoothness of the texture of the alcohol.  But, the cherry extract isn’t integrated with the bourbon and you either get notes … Read more

September is Bourbon Heritage Month!

Did you know? The U.S. Senate signed “Bourbon Heritage Month” into law in 2007, reinforcing the 1964 Act of Congress that declared bourbon “America’s Native Spirit”.

Bourbon production has more than doubled since 1999 and the state of Kentucky currently has 4.9 million barrels gently aging, the highest inventory since 1978. That’s about 262 million gallons of Bourbon. There’s 2 more facts for you!

 … Read more

The Amercia’s Cup Final is taking place here in San Francisco and two local brands are racing for the trophy.  The challenger, Team New Zealand is sponsored by Skyy Vodka, which was born about a mile from the Bay. The defender, Team USA, is sponsored by Shellback Rum, made in the Caribbean by wine giant Gallo based in nearby Modesto.

Who will win? Rum or Vodka?… Read more

Jordan Winery is launching an exciting new tour of it’s winery and pairing it with a food and wine, that might be a first! Not only is there food and wine pairing but it’s then set in gorgeous Sonoma countryside that makes up the vineyard. We were lucky enough to be among the first to experience Jordan’s Estate Tour & Tasting, and we can’t wait to go back.

Jordan is located just north of Healdsburg … Read more

Today, August 16th, we celebrate rum, the wonderful spirit that is the base of many classic cocktails including the Daiquiri, Mai Tai and Piña Colada. Rum was instrumental in the growth of the American colonies, Australia and was a staple for British sailors until 1970.

So What is Rum?

It is a spirit distilled from molasses, which is a byproduct of the sugar manufacture. There are a few instances where Rum is made from straight … Read more

We recently attended the Guinness International Champions Cup Soccer (er Football) tournament at San Francisco’s AT&T Park. Guinness wanted to show us some European Football and have us try their Black Lager. Black lager, you say? How is that possible, you say? We are talking about the folks at Guinness, so there. What makes it black is the dark roasted barley. This method also give Guinness Black Lager some very nice coffee notes.

Appearance: (hard … Read more

It’s National Tequila Day and Tequila is hot, hot, hot! These days tequila is the new Vodka. 40 new brands were introduced in the last year. These days Tequila drinkers are looking for a better quality Tequila, gravitating towards 100% Agave brands.

Tequila volume grew 2.9% to 12.3M cases
Tequila revenue up 4.6% to $1.9B
Performance by price segments:
Value: volume up 1.8% to 2.9M, revenue up 1.8% to $221M
Premium: volume up 1.0% to

It’s hard to believe, but it’s yet another day of celebration for a classic cocktail. Last week was the Pina Colada, this week is the Daiquiri. At least someone is picking seasonally appropriate drinks to celebrate this summer. With record setting temperatures around the country, a refreshing beverage can help keep you cool.

The Daiquiri hails from Cuba where it was invented by an American businessman during the Spanish-American war. It has since acquired a … Read more

Cider is becoming huge – again! There was a time in America when every farmer had a barrel of cider around. We don’t know why Cider fell out of favor? We’ve always marveled at the ciders in the UK and are excited to see it becoming popular on our shores again!

… Read more

Angie MacLean first tended bar in 1932. After 81 years she is the oldest living bartender in the world, according to the World Record Academy.

The Spirit Business writes:

“Born in 1915, MacLean is still working full-time as a bartender at Panama Joe’s Café in Bridgeport, pouring drinks for eight hours a day, six days a week. The geriatric bartender claims she’ll continue bartending for “as long as (she) lives,” and still makes the effort

Meat and whiskey is awesome!

Ingredients
Burger Patties and Cheese:

30 ounces ground chuck (20 percent fat)
2 ½ TBS. Bulleit Bourbon
1 ½ TBS. Worcestershire sauce
1 ¼ tsp. dried oregano
1 ½ tsp. ground cumin
1 ¼ tsp. table salt
30 grinds fresh black pepper
6 ounces Dubliner cheese (we recommend Kerrygold brand), thinly sliced and divided into 6 (1 oz.) servings

Directions: Combine well-chilled ground chuck with Bulleit Bourbon and Worcestershire sauce … Read more

Ingredients for Chipotle Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum BBQ Sauce:

8 oz. can chipotle peppers
2 cups BBQ sauce
1 TBS. molasses
2 TBS. Captain Morgan Black Spiced Rum
1 tsp.n vanilla extract
½ cup orange juice

Directions:
Blend ingredients together until smooth

Ingredients for the rub for the ribs:

2 racks of St. Louis ribs (about 4 pounds)
2 TBS. of smoked paprika
2 cups of brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 TBS. of … Read more

This is Mac and Cheese gone wild, or beef brisket gone cheesy. Either way Maker Mark makes it even better!

Ingredients for the Beef:
1.5 lb. beef brisket, trimmed of excess fat
1 quart chicken or beef broth
Salt and pepper

Ingredients for the BBQ Sauce:
2 cups bottled BBQ sauce, preferably Sweet Baby Ray’s Original
1/2 cup Coca-Cola
1/2 cup Maker’s Mark

Ingredients for the Mac and Cheese:
1 Tbsp. Butter
1 Tbsp. AP … Read more

New York, NY – Thousands of applications were submitted. Hundreds of cocktail recipes were created. The nation’s top mixologists competed and five internationally recognized cocktail luminaries assembled to select one bartender worthy of the title of U.S. Bartender of the Year. After proving his skills during five challenges and two days of competition, the United States Bartender’s Guild (USBG) and Diageo World Class are proud to announce Jeff Bell as the 2013 U.S. Bartender of … Read more

Yesterday we were invited to Tah Mah Lah, the greenest home in America, to experience the debut of the Bay Area iteration of Krug House.

What is Krug House?

Krug House is a pop up started in 2011 that allows guests to immerse themselves in the experiences that define Krug Champagne. In the words of Carl Heline, US Brand Director for Krug Champagne, “With each Krug House we strive to recreate Joseph Krug’s unique vision … Read more

AVIATION AMERICAN GIN “SHOW US YOUR COCKTAIL ART” FACEBOOK PHOTO CONTEST

WHAT: Aviation American Gin is excited to announce the launch of its, “Show Us Your Cocktail Art.” Photo Contest starting, Today, Wednesday, May 22. Aviation American Gin will announce a new cocktail art theme each week over a six week period, asking fans to upload their best cocktail photos to the Aviation American Gin Facebook page for the chance to win the ultimate cocktail-lover’s … Read more

… Read more

Sips & Apps is a fun cocktail and appetizer book from Kathy Casey.  Ms. Casey is a trained chef who loves her cocktails.  She consults on food, cocktails and pairing for many multinational companies and is the host of Liquid Kitchen on Small Screen Networks.  Her training as a chef and love of cocktails shine through in this innovative work.

In Sips & Apps, Ms. Casey starts out with the drinks and divides them into … Read more

Created by H. Joseph Ehrmann, proprietor at Elixr in San Francisco for their Cinco de Derby celebration. There is almost nothing better than a hint of peach in your Julep, a bit of ginger is better!

What Is It? 

Box For A Bottle is a wooden, engraved gift box with personality. Occasion specific designs on the outside, engraved gift messages on the inside with special compartments to put your favorite bottle of goodness.

Why We Like It?

They are made by some crazy drink lovers from responsibly harvested wood. Each box in hand engraved right here in the USA, St. Louis to be exact. They make a great way personalize a … Read more

Many moons ago, and not too long after we started DOTW (and before the recent cocktail revolution), we made a journey to Paris.  We were excited to try Harry’s Bar and at the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz, which was the modern incarnation of the bar at the Ritz. These were the famed watering holes of expatriate Americans in the 1920’s Paris I, like a number of people, had romantic visions of what it must … Read more

… Read more

The mint julep and the Kentucky Derby have become synonymous, but how and why? The history of the Mint Julep can be traced back to the 1700s on the southern east coast of the United States. Some say it was an evolution of a Arab drink called made of water and rose petals called a Julab. Regardless, the first instance of the Mint Julep in print was in 1803s Travels of Four Years and a … Read more

Broken Shed Vodka is a premium whey vodka based in Wanaka, a small lake town in the mountains of New Zealand’s Southern Alps.  Broken Shed vodka has been four-times distilled, gluten and additive-free. Broken Shed Vodka is distilled from whey (the liquid that remains after milk has been curdled and strained in the making of cheese). Some call the whey, Milk Honey, what we found is it gives the spirit a very creamy texture.

Started … Read more

We recently met bartender Nick Strageway at San Francisco’s Tick Dog to learn about his new line of all natural vodkas, Absolut Craft. Created by a master bartender, Absolut Craft was made specifically for bartending pros.

In the video below, Strangeway discusses the process of creating the Herbaceous Lemon, which contains no lemon at all. Rather, the vodka is made using a combination of lemon myrtle, lemon thyme, lemongrass and other other flavors that are … Read more

The third annual Madison Craft Beer Week hosts more than 100 events celebrating craft beer in and around Madison, Wisconsin.
 
Madison Craft Beer Week runs from Friday May 3 through Sunday May 12, 2013 and features a wide variety of events highlighting Dane County’s vibrant craft beer culture. MCBW 2013 will feature beer dinners, festivals, rare bottle tastings, cheese pairings, brewery tours, classes, movies, Friday Fish Fries, and more – there is truly something for … Read more

If you are always looking for the perfect drink for any occasion, then this little book is the one for you.  In The Perfect Drink For Every Occasion, the author will help you find drinks to help with the problems in your life, drinks that will impress a myriad of people and drinks for major life events.  I was particularly fond of the categories entitled Marriage, Second Marriage and Third Marriage and Up.  For the … Read more

Loki, is the second bottling in Highland Park’s Valhalla series. This limited edition single malt scotch is named for Loki, the Norse God of mischief or fire or both. He may not even be a full God, his status has been debated for many years. He is also a shape-shifter, for all you True Blood fans.  What does this have to do with Whisky?

Gerry Tosh, Global Marketing Manager, says,

“While everyone will recognize … Read more

New from Pernod Ricard comes Mama Walker’s, a new line of breakfast inspired liqueurs.

“Mama Walker’s delights with home-style, made-from scratch goodness in flavors consumers want,” said Juli Falkoff, Brand Director for Mama Walker’s, Pernod Ricard USA. “Breakfast isn’t just for breakfast anymore. Consumers are more and more adventurous, seeking flavors across a variety of categories,” Falkoff added. “Comfort food, sweet & savory flavor combinations and retro-inspired flavors are among three of the hottest trends … Read more

Matt Kramer is a nationally renowned wine writer who has been writing and teaching people about wine since 1976.  He brings an incredible amount of experience and expertise to the subject.  In his first book Making Sense of Wine, Mr. Kramer puts this knowledge to good use.  He covers a wide array of topics from how wine is made, stored and consumed.  The information contained in these chapters is invaluable, regardless of whether you are … Read more

We recently read about the final reunion of the Doolittle Raiders who were celebrating the 71st anniversary of their attack on Japan.  The Doolittle Raiders were 80 brave men who launched an attack on mainland Japan from an aircraft carrier in retaliation for Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.  Not only did these brave men lift the spirit of a nation recovering from Pearl Harbor, they managed to survive a virtual suicide mission.  Launching from an … Read more

Shellback Rum is a new offering from Grande Antilles Cane Spirits (Gallo). 

A mid-range offering, Shellback Silver and Spiced versions. Made at the famed West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados, Shellback Silver Rum is made using a combination of pot and column still distillates that are then blended together.  The resulting rum, is smooth and fruity. It makes a killer base for rum punch. 

Appearance: Clear with viscus legs

Nose: Clean, youthful with medium notes … Read more

New on the rum scene is Shellback Rum from the folks in Modesto, Grande Antilles Cane Spirits (Gallo). No, it is not produced in Modesto, the rum is made at the famed West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados.

A mid-range offering, Shellback comes in both Silver and Spiced versions. Shellback Spiced is made in a combo of pot and column stills and then  aged 12 months in former Bourbon barrels.

Appearance: Clear, medium amber with … Read more

Many, many moons ago, and not too long after we started DOTW (and before the recent cocktail revolution), we made a journey to Paris.  We were excited to try the Bar Hemingway at the Ritz (where we were turned away for not being dressed nice enough) and even more excited to try Harry’s Bar.  I am a huge fan of the Sidecar.  I have written many times of my love for that drink.  It has … Read more

Is The Macallan coming to your town? Check here.

more The Macallan coverage

Tony Abou-Ganim, one of America’s elder statesmen of mixology, recently released Vodka Distilled: The Modern Mixologist on Vodka and Vodka Cocktails, a masterpiece on the subject of Vodka.  Vodka is America’s most consumed spirit but is largely on the outs with the cocktail crowd.  Mr. Abou-Ganim thinks that this is an unfortunate state of affairs, and I happen to agree with him.  The same folks that might be guilty of sneering at the Cosmo or … Read more

With another season of Mad Men starting up, w thought we’d dip in the archive and pull out some classic they’d be enjoying in the 1960s. Along with the hard drinking classics like Martinis and Manhattan’s, we see Vodka creeping onto the scene with the Moscow Mule and others. I choose a few tropical drinks, as the word is out that this season starts with a trip to Hawaii.  All three drinks are Waikiki stalwarts … Read more

The Nature Conservancy is into Cocktail Culture! They had mixologist Ektoras Binikos create the Blessed Honeycomb Cocktail to celebrate Spring!

The cocktail uses single varietal honey from Bee Raw, which sources its honey from family-owned apiaries across the country. Each variety is derived from a single floral source, giving it distinct color, flavor and aroma; the Basswood honey used in this recipe features herbal notes and a clean finish.… Read more

from the folks at Slacktory.com

… Read more

(CHICAGO) — The National Restaurant Association invites professional mixologists to show off their most creative cocktail talents using American Harvest Organic Vodka to vie for the sought-after title of Star of the Bar. The competition, which features a $5,000 cash prize, will take place at the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) at NRA Show 2013 with the winner being selected at the Restaurants Rock party on Sunday, May 19 with special guest judges,

Two treats for National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day. We recommend having the drink first then the awesomest PB & J ever.

Ever wonder where it got started? According, to Wikipedia,

The first reference of peanut butter paired with jelly on bread was rumored to be published in the United States by Julia Davis Chandler in 1901. By the late 1920s, this sandwich eventually moved down the class structure as the price of peanut butter

Napa, California — Black Dragon, Mad Mary, Hot Summer Day Sorbet – You create it, you name it. In a new nationwide contest celebrating The Perfect Purée’s 25th anniversary, chefs and bar artists are invited to share their original recipes showcasing The Perfect Purée’s products.

Beginning April 1, The Perfect Purée Perfect Flavor Artist contest will accept video submissions of foodservice professionals demonstrating how they use the company’s products in original dishes or beverages. One … Read more

We recently attended the Nightclub and Bar Show in Las Vegas and here’s 5 trends we saw emerge from the 700 plus exhibitors.

John Taffer –  He’s everywhere.  He’s the President of the NCB, he’s the host of Spike TVs Bar rescue, he rescued hundreds of bars and nightclubs. I was a bit skeptical, after merely watching a few Bar Rescue episodes. But, I met a few owners he’s helped and I quote”everything Jon told

Once again The MCC promises to be one hell of a party!

“The fourth edition of the Classic is shaping up to be our best ever.  We’re upping the ante on our flagship Gala event, once again, with even wilder twists and turns – and our stellar line-up of crowd-sourced events provides countless opportunities for rollicking good times throughout the city,” said Lesley Townsend … Read more

There is probably no American city more affiliated with drinking than New Orleans.  A few come close but I don’t know if anyone can beat it.  Just because you don’t live in New Orleans doesn’t mean that you can’t have a Mardi Gras bash.  That is why we are highlighting Mixing New Orleans as this week’s Literary Monday pick.

Mixing New Orleans examines New Orlean’s cocktail culture through its favorite watering holes, drinking establishments (many, … Read more

In the town of Kilbeggan, Ireland sits one of the World’s oldest distillery. It dates back to 1757. After siting idle for over 50 years, Cooley Distillery (now Beam owned), began making whiskey in Kilbeggan once again. One of the 2 copper pot still used to make Kilbeggan is a 180 year old beauty from the Tullamore Dew Distillery.

They started distilling in Kilbeggan in 2010, so the whiskey we are drinking was made at … Read more

Absinthe is the high proof, anise-flavored spirit with quite a kick. Although Absinthe originated in Switzerland, it gained great popularity in France and became commonly referred to as la fée verte or the green fairy in art and literature. The spirit was created by mixing botanicals like flowers and leaves with anise, fennel and other herbs. 

To get you into the spirit, we’ve included a few of our tastiest Absinthe cocktails to aid … Read more

In the past, I have featured a number of selections by George Tabor, the author of Judgment of Paris.  This week’s Literary Monday is another offering from George Tabor and this time Mr. Tabor explores the wild world of wine tourism in In Search of Bacchus.  I have to admit that I am always a teensy bit jealous of Mr. Tabor.  First, he was the lone representative of the press to see the ascension of … Read more

In honor of National Margarita Day, test your skills by mixing up a Metate Margarita, created by molecular mixologist Don Lee.   Made with metate-infused Tequila Don Julio Blanco, fresh lime juice and agave syrup, this isn’t the simplest

Lee explains the background of his creation, “The recipe is inspired by the metate, which is a stone used to grind grains and spices in Mexico. It is used to make everything from tortillas to mole. The … Read more