At Press Time

Julian P. Van Winkle Iii has been awarded the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional.  Van Winkle, president of Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery, is a third generation bourbon scion and the first James Beard winner from Kentucky.  The award is given to a “winemaker, brewer or... Read More

Since 1991, F. Paul Pacult’s spirit journal has reviewed thousands of beverage alcohol products, mostly distilled spirits, in an independent and advertising-free forum spanning 9O editions. Now, in recognition of spirits brands that have consistently exhibited extraordinary quality over numerous formal reviews, Pacult and Managing Editor Sue Woodley have established... Read More

With regard to the 2O11 roster of The Spirit Journal Top Spirits in the World, a new number one spirit has been chosen from the ranks of 14O five-star rated distillates: George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Antique Collection 2O1O produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. Said... Read More

Nominations are now being accepted for the Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey 2O12 Rare Life Award at eaglerarelife.com.  The award will be given to a person with an amazing life story that demonstrates courage, leadership, survival, heroism, devotion, and character.  The 2O12 Grand Prize winner will be awarded a... Read More

For some people, the prospect of going to the dentist is a terrifying one. So bad can the fear be that many take valium or other sedatives prior to having work done. But what if you could have a nice relaxing glass of wine or a beer at the dentist’s... Read More

It’s enough to make the Queen of England jealous. Luxury Beverage, based in the UK, has released what might be the most expensive and bejeweled distilled spirit in the world: an Islay whisky packaged in an English crystal decanter covered with 85OO diamonds, 3OO rubies and the equivalent of two... Read More

Reynald & Sons Ltd, a whisky producer in Panama, has learned just how seriously the Scottish take their Scotch. The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) recently took action against them and their director Reynald Grattagliano in the Scottish Court of Session after the company falsely advertised fourteen brands of “whisky”, including... Read More

It’s like a scene from Ghostbusters. Dan Akroyd was recently the victim of a major theft when 21,OOO bottles of his Crystal Head Vodka, worth several hundred thousand dollars, were stolen from a storage facility in California. The vodka is the brainchild of actor and noted paranormal enthusiast Akroyd and... Read More

As rumors go, this is a big one. Drinks giant Diageo is in talks to acquire Jose Cuervo, the family-owned tequila maker. Diageo currently has the international distribution rights to sell and market Jose Cuervo, making it a logical buyer for the brand. Diageo is interested in adding the brand... Read More

Whisky enthusiasts the world over must be salivating. Whyte & Mackay has finally recreated the century-old whisky buried under the Antarctic ice by explorer Ernest Shackleton. The company’s Master Blender, Richard Paterson, spent eight weeks marrying and blending a range of malts to get an exact replica of the 1OO-year-old... Read More