The Spirit World

Grand Armagnac Janneau has just launched the ‘Single Distillery’ range of Armagnacs.
Selected from Janneau’s large stocks, the new line comprises four Armagnacs with different minimum periods of ageing: 8 year old, 12 year old, 18 year old and 25 year old that is clearly defined on each of the 50cl contemporary style bottles.
Unusual in Armagnac, […]

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 […]

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.  […]

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 […]

I almost missed the sour cherry season this year—bad booze nerd! All the smart cocktail geeks know that now is the time to put up cherries for this winter’s Manhattan season. There are many different schools of thought as to how best to make these treats. What is universally agreed upon is that anything is […]

Ok, so I got really sick of having the choice of paying out the wazoo for true maraschino cherries or needlessly suffering through the lye-soaked mess that they pass off as “cherries,” so I made my own. I made a mishmash of brandied cherries and maraschino cherries, and they turned out fantastically.
Cherries A La Kincke […]

An Organic and Biodynamic Wine Cellar Created by Scott Pactor of West Chelsea’s Appellation Wine & Spirits
Bright, Modern, and white, it’s exterior wall of glass, Appellation Wine & Spirits – in eco chic, delightfully designed West Chelsea, is the first Biodynamic Wine Boutique in New York City.
Opened in September 2005, Appellation has established itself as […]

Usually when people give a bottle of wine as a gift, it’s in one of those pricier velvet-style gift bags that get lost before it can get reused, or those metallic ones.  The folks at Random House are offering a new, unique alternative and, best of all, if won’t break the bank.
These Wine Lovers Gift […]

Fuller’s Vintage Ale makes is making its brief annual appearance. Fuller’s lovers should be aware!
Because Vintage Ale is 90 percent pre-sold on allocation, only a limited number will be available in retail stores throughout the holiday season.
“Using the best ingredients from each year makes Vintage Ale a truly complex and immense beer and, being bottle […]

The cocktail shaker for your mid-century modern ranch is undeniably the 870 by Luigi Massoni and Carlo Mazzeri for Alessi.  The perfect combination of beauty and functionality has made it a classic in bars worldwide, and its sleek design will look stunning in your home regardless of your décor aesthetic. 
Designed when Luigi Massoni was only […]