This review first appeared on AlcoholProfessor.com. Boozy Book Review: The Absinthe Forger by Evan Rail The history of absinthe is filled with drama. The spirit was created as a medicine but was adopted recreationally, particularly in France in the late 1800s. It became more popular than it might have been... Read more →
Four new whiskies that arrived at Alcademics Global HQ: Woodinville Bourbon Sauternes Finish (105 proof) 2XO Sneakerhead Blend (not aged in sneakers, I checked) Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey (84 proof) Larceny Barrel Proof (third 2024 edition, 125 proof batch C924) Read more →
I taught about 35 beverage directors and bartenders over three sessions how to carve ice diamonds and other shapes in Los Angeles at a villa that's a brand home for The Macallan scotch whisky. It was a great day! Here are a few photos I took. Read more →
I taught 50 students how to cut ice diamonds over three different one-hour sessions this year at Portland Cocktail Week! Campari Academy generously sponsored the classes and provided all students with a copy of The Ice Book at the end. Here are just a few pictures. Read more →
This story that I wrote first appeared on AlcoholProfessor.com. A New Era for San Francisco’s Iconic Starlite In early 2024, Starlite, the top-floor lounge in the Beacon Grand Hotel in San Francisco’s Union Square, reopened after a renovation. In its heyday, the venue was the hottest club in town, but... Read more →
I wrote my take on this subject for The AlcoholProfessor, where the story first appeared. Why is Distilled Alcohol Called Spirits? The word “spirit” has many definitions but most center around either the idea of the conscious self as opposed to the physical body; or an attitude, as in “the... Read more →
This story was originally published on AlcoholProfessor.com. From Salad in a Glass to Centrifuge: A Cocktail Evolution Recently I was thinking about the early years of the craft cocktail renaissance, and how many of the drinks were quite… chunky. And I realized that we can track a lot of the... Read more →
I picked up this newish (2022) book The Book of Sherry Wines by Cesar Saldana from the SF public library. It's over 400 pages, mostly text, and I think I might need to buy myself a copy. It's not on Amazon but you can find it at various stores online,... Read more →