Alcademics

Behold a slew of new whiskies, plus a certified gluten-free vodka, estate-distilled gin, American Campari, apple brandy, and more! Read more →

I wrote a piece for Liquor.com on armagnac - not so much on armagnac generally, but on how bartenders might quickly describe to customers armagnac and how it's different from cognac. Read more →

Hey American barfolk: It's time for the annual Merlet Sidecar cocktail competition, and this year I'll be helping to judge the SF regionals. The gist: Enter a Sidecar variation and an original cocktail with Merlet products by June 28 (for West Coast and Southern regions), or by August 23 for... Read more →

In my latest story for PopularScience.com, I wrote about the new Hangar 1 Fog Point Vodka, which was diluted with fog-harvested water from San Francisco; most of it from beneath Sutro Tower on Twin Peaks. Read more →

This year's Disaronno Mixing Star contest is less of a contest than usual, though there is still a casual challenge resulting in increased visibility/promotion for the entering bartenders, and one person from each of the nine countries will be invited to a to special event to present their cocktail to... Read more →

In a post for PopularScience.com I wrote about a technology being employed to toast wine and now whiskey barrels with infrared light. Read more →

The convention is a meeting of the second tier of the three tier system: the distributors who buy from the producers and sell to either bars or liquor stores as required by US law. Read more →

Behold a big batch of new drink books, from drink recipes to cocktail culture to history and architecture. Read more →