The Spirit World

Do we really need another vodka? Jus thow many brands are available at the moment? It seems never a week goes by without another pitch for the next greatest vodka brand appears in my inbox.
Most recent details of another appeared at least this has a point of difference - it’s sparkling.
“An extremely versatile and smooth drink, Camitz […]

For those of us in the US, the quadrennial political season is drawing blessedly to a close. I suspect it is not outside the bounds of reason to think that some folks out there may be planning election night returns-watching parties. And while it is a completely valid option to plan a drinks menu around […]

Tequila Don Julio recently commissioned world-renowned architect Jeffrey Beers to design a limited edition, crystal tequila snifter glass (SRP: $350 for a set of two). The glass was designed specifically for Tequila Don Julio’s premium aged tequilas, especially the smooth, rich Don Julio 1942 (SRP $125).
With one eye on the impending holiday/gift season these rather […]

Honestly there are few things in this world as creepy or disgusting as the anatomy of an eyeball. Remember the scene from Hostel? I still can’t watch that one because my eyes are too near and dear to my livelihood and just the thought of an eye popping out of the socket creeps me out.
As […]

The first thing most viewers notice about AMC’s Mad Men TV series is the faithful recreation of an early 1960s “white shoe” ad agency. The costumes, the hairstyles, and the furnishings all seek to immerse the audience in a far-off, but still modern time. For those of us who pay attention to such things, the […]

While sipping a sazerac one evening during this year’s Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, I noticed a fellow patron conferring with the bartender over an iPhone. I guessed that this person must surely be using the new Cocktails iPhone application to share the recipe of a drink he wanted to order. Now that’s […]

Veev is a spirit made from Brazil’s National fruit, the Acai (pronounced ah-SIGH-ee) berry. The Acai is a packed with antioxidants, Omega3s, calcium, vitamin C & E and protein. The spirit also contains prickly pear and Acerola Cherry. I found Veev made from the Acai berry to be very refreshing and clean on the palette.  […]

Now that fall has arrived, I often turn to richer flavors in my cocktails.  On a recent visit to The Violet Hour here in Chicago, I tried a lovely cocktail created by one of their mixologists, Kyle, called The Orchard.  It contains apple brandy, fresh lemon, housemade pimento dram, and maple syrup.  Not just any […]

These were actually gifts from a friend for my birthday, hence the adorable little labels (I’m sure those bottles look familiar, though…) He has a lavender bush in his backyard that’s about to get zapped by frost, so he steeped some of the flowers in gin and simple (made with half white sugar, half brown […]

There are some liqueurs that make a splash in the market via great taste that fills a need that no others to date can touch and there are many who make that splash via innovative marketing. It’s increasingly more rare that both of these aspects are successfully pulled off in one product. The new TY […]