The Spirit World

The name of the appetizer may have caught your attention but before we get to that let’s quickly touch on our beverage for this week’s Happy Hour at Home.
I’m selecting Ouzo on the rocks. This slightly sweet, anise flavored beverage is what we think of when we think of Greece. As the summer […]

For many of us the name “Bison Grass Vodka” evokes images of grassy, rolling plains in the heartland of the United States. We picture herds of massive beasts grazing their way through the golden fields of grain as it blows in the breeze. While that is a great visual, Bison Grass Vodka or […]

Jeff and Greg of Craft Beer Radio just got back from an all expense paid junket to Idaho to witness the Anheuser-Busch hop harvest. The trip was put together by A-B and it brought together craft beer writers and two craft beer podcasters to see for themselves just how much A-B cares about beer. […]

Just as summer clothes are disappearing from the department stores in preparation for fall, so too should we start thinking about libations that we can use to celebrate the turning of the season.
I’ve got a standard drink that I always march out at the beginning of Fall, and use it to celebrate this time of […]

I decided I’d better tell you about this new tool after reading about it in both the Sept/Oct issue of Imbibe and a special issue of Wine and Spirits that I picked up at a recent wine tasting event. I was glancing through both magazines last night and within 30 minutes had seen this […]

photo from Clear Creek website

Clear Creek Distillery has long been known for quality eaux de vies, grappa, brandy and whisky. Their Pear Brandy (Poire William) is a staple in my house and I love the idea (if not the price) of the version they do with the pear in the bottle! Now, according […]

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE, GQ and Gourmet Magazine are presenting a very interesting challenge in San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago, Miami, New York and Boston. I am so bummed! I just found out about this competition and the entry deadline has passed. At least for most of the teams. However, there is a site and a […]

If you are an aspiring flair bartender, do we have the show for you! On Sunday, Food Network will be airing a special, Bartender Battle, showcasing six top bartenders. They will be judged on flair; how fast they can pour a specific set of cocktails; and there’s a recipe competition. A little […]

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of participating in a wine-pairing dinner. We were each assigned a wine in advance and then tasked with coming up withe a food pairing. My assignment was Pinot Noir.
Pinot Noir styles run the gamut from lighter bodied, fruit-filled wines to stronger bodied wines […]

One of the most popular liquors here in Spain is Anís
By the way?that?s pronounced, ?ah-NEES.? Not ?AY-nis.?
Anís a clear, stong liquor?ranging from 80 to 90 proof?that is flavored with anise seed. It?s licorice-like profile is similar to that of Ouzo in Greece or Sambuca and Anisette in Italy.
But unlike the Greeks and Italians, Spaniards don?t […]