For the past month or so, San Francisco bars have been in a panic as the ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) decided to crack down on a few bars for having infusions. These, it turns out, are technically illegal in California, as are homemade bitters, tinctures, and liqueurs like limoncello. I... Read more →
Both the limited edition Absolut Los Angeles and the new permanent flavor Absolut Berri Acai contain pomegranate, blueberry, and acai flavors. Are they the same flavor or different? I asked PR representative Alison McGlone of Ketchum PR. She responded: ABSOLUT Berri Acai is a blend of Pomegranate, Blueberry and Acai... Read more →
42Below Vodka held a regional cocktail competition at the Regency Center in San Francisco. The winners of this event will fly to New York for the national competition, then those winners will fly to New Zealand for the international competition. The surprisingly hot ingredient of the night was fennel, which... Read more →
First, they came for our bitters. Then they outlawed our egg whites and our infusions. What more could go wrong for bartenders this year? I'll tell you what: Chartreuse now costs $11 more per bottle. The wonderfully complex liqueur made by monks has been a favorite of bartenders who mix... Read more →
The 11th annual Whiskies of the World event in San Francisco is March 27th, 2010 at the Hotel Nikko. I will be giving away three pair of VIP admission tickets to folks on the Alcademics A-Plus email list. Sign up now for your chance to win! If you don't win... Read more →
Leblon cachaca threw a heck of a party at Rickhouse last night. Here are some photos. To see the rest, click below! Camper English and beverage PR superstar Debbie Rizzo Musical guests Diego's Umbrella. Super fun music. Guest bartender Phil Ward from Mayahuel in NYC Guest bartender Misty Kalkofen of... Read more →
I stumbled across two cocktails made with sweet potatoes in one week. The first one I actually tried. It was served at Beso, Eva Longoria-Parker's restaurant that recently opened in Las Vegas. It was surprisingly drinkable. The Jimador Spice contains Chinaco Reposado tequila, Orange Curacao, Sweet Potato Puree, Lime Juice,... Read more →
Fernet-Branca is not the only fernet in the world. I hadn't tried any others but recently I received a bottle of R. Jelinek Fernet. The bottle says, "Product of the Czech Republic. This digestive beverage was created during the period of the Hapsburg dynasty in the latter part of the... Read more →