Alcademics

Below is a collection of new spirits launches this December from my Instagram page. Click on over to insta for more info. Read more →

A few cool tools, glasses, barspoons, and branch water that have shown up at the Alcademics Global Headquarters of late. Read more →

I vaped a cocktail in a "Vaportini" and did not die. Read more →

Have you seen enough gift guides yet? Answer: NO YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS ONE. Read more →

In the December issue of Oakland Magazine, I have a short piece about Japanese drinking culture in Oakland. The story is centered on UmamiMart, the online and brick-and-mortar shop selling Japanese bar (and kitchen) tools. I also mention big ice (of course) at places like Prizefighter, and Japanese whisky like... Read more →

Japanese mixing glasses are beautiful but they don't travel so well. Brand ambassadors and other traveling bartenders have come up with various creative solutions to this problem, but finally a commercial version goes on sale this week. Phillip Mauro, Vince Toscano, and Jon Gasparini, who work at Rye in San... Read more →

The "dry shake" is a technique that bartenders use to emulsify the egg in egg white drinks to give them a nice foamy head. Before adding the ice, they put the egg white and other liquid ingredients in a cocktail shaker and give it a good shake. Then they add... Read more →

Here are some things I liked reading. The Washington post has a rare story on bars in DC- rare in that it reveals the profits of each bar. Most people who collect wine probably have more than four bottles if they need a separate wine refrigerator, but you'd be pretty... Read more →