All the Cocktail and Spirits Books Released in 2019
More than 70 cocktails and spirits books (plus a few on cider, beer, and spiritzes) published in 2019. Read more →
distilling
A Fascinating Interview with Remy Martin Cognac Cellarmaster Baptiste Loiseau
I was recently in Calistoga to meet with Baptiste Loiseau, cellarmaster for Remy Cognac. We had a quick interview early in the day but I wanted more info, so I ended up monopolizing his time after dinner. We spoke for a very long time (I promised it was "quick questions"... Read more →
Grains of Peril: The Frivolous Florida Gin Lawsuit and Adulterant Analysis by Lance Winters
In which Lance Winters of St. George Spirits analyzes the list of ingredients prohibited as alcoholic beverage adulterants in Florida that are the subject of a lawsuit. Read more →
Ramping up Aromatics in Cognac: How Camus Does it
When I was in China helping judge the Camus cognac Shanghai Shake, I had the opportunity to interview president Cyril Camus. Recently the language on Camus' core line changed to invoke "intensely aromatic" language on the branding. Cyril says that this has rolled out in the US and some other... Read more →
Sour Mashing as Industrial Waste Recycling
I never realized that the sour mash process is partly industrial waste recycling. Read more →
A Daylong Visit to the George Dickel Distillery
A great revisit to the George Dickel distillery. Read more →
An Oakland Gin Distilled Through Hog Island Oysters
A gin distilled through recently-crushed whole oysters. Read more →
Deeply Nerdy Stuff About Jack Daniel's Production - Charcoal, Souring, Fermentation
I learned a lot about Jack Daniel's from a microbiologist: enzymes, charcoal, pH, fermentation times, rye stickiness! Read more →