Beverage journalists are used to receiving bottles in the mail, but until now those bottles have always been full. In a fun PR trick this June, Jim Beam brands sent writers a box with a neatly packed bottle of Knob Creek bourbon- empty- to show that this year's supply that... Read more →
Glossy Booze is regular Alcademics feature; a round-up of spirits stories in magazines. Details (June/July) has a story on punch and places to get it around the country, plus a small feature on Hauz Alpenz products. ReadyMade (June/July) has another story by Alex Day, this one on ice. Looks like... Read more →
I was trying to find the first reference to the El Diablo cocktail recently. Mexican El Diablo 1/2 lime 1 ounce tequila 1/2 crème de cassis Ginger Ale Squeeze lime juice into a 10-ounce glass; drop in spent shell. Add ice cubes, tequila, and crème de cassis. Fill glass with... Read more →
Yesterday I stopped in to Rickhouse, the new bar by the folks from Bourbon & Branch, Swig, Anu, and the liquor store Cask. The bar is located at 246 Kearny Street at the site of the long-time gay bar Ginger's Trois. (I believe Anu was built where Ginger's Too was... Read more →
A Slew of booze stories in the New York Times recently: Kim Severson says that a lot of sober people work in bars, focusing on Del Pedro of Pegu Club. Sounds a lot like this story from Edible Manhattan on Del Pedro of Pegu Club. Eric Asimov says that for... Read more →
This week (and last week, but I was slow on posting) guest bartenders will be holding down the fort at Conduit's bar while Reza Esmaili is away causing trouble elsewhere. Guest Bartenders are: Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday: Jacqueline Patterson from Heaven's Dog. Friday: Todd Smith, of Pacific Edge and formerly... Read more →
"Is it a Chai-Piranha or a Tri-Piranha?" (It was a caipirinha.) Read more →
Oh my, this advertisement song by Paradiso Girls featuring Lil Jon and Eve called "Patron Tequila" kind of has "major club hit" written all over it. I kind of love it, cheesy as it is. I have the refrain stuck in my head, where I do not want it. It... Read more →