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by PINK LADY THE FRENCH 75 is a magnificent and iconic Champagne cocktail.  Order one in a bar in these parts and you’ll be served up the gin-based concoction we’ve covered before.  Order one in New Orleans, however, and you’ll be served an entirely different drink made with cognac. Huzzah... Read More

by SANDY BLOCK, MW WHEN SYRAH FINALLY COMES BACK, as anyone serious about wine knows it must, producers worldwide will be ready.  Until then a vast ocean of red wine made from the grape will remain underpriced and undervalued.  I am convinced that only fashion and reputation have kept Syrah... Read More

Often called “America’s Hometown”– although hardly located within a viticultural region of wide renown – Plymouth has a relatively rich vinous history. The town, whose eurocentric past augmented by checkered relations with preceding inhabitants, is approaching 4OO years of age. by Harvey Finkel BACKGROUNDS give perspective and direction, so revisiting... Read More

By Pink Lady THE CORONATION COCKTAIL 1 ounce of Laird’s Bonded Applejack or Boulard Grand Solage VSOP Calvados 1 ounce of Noilly Prat sweet vermouth 1 ounce of Noilly Prat dry vermouth 1/4 ounce of Marie Brizard Apry apricot liqueur Add all ingredients to mixing glass. Add ice and stir... Read More

by Kirsten Amann For lovers of cocktails and other fine beverages, holiday gift buying options just keep getting better and better. As you gear up for this year’s busy season we’ve selected a range of dream gift ideas for all types of drinkers. Whether shopping for virgin soda sippers, beer... Read More

by Andy Vrouch MASSACHUSETTS has long been a competitive beer marketplace, attracting brewers from around the world. As its hub, Boston calls brewers from California to Belgium to Japan to send their ales and lagers to the city to battle alongside local brands. These brewers know that Boston is an... Read More

By Harvey Finkel Chenin blanc, a grape that gets little respect, sometimes with good reason, yields truly great wines when handled right, wines of character and balance, and the durability to age gracefully into honeyed treasures. It is versatile enough to be made credibly into almost any style of wine,... Read More

THE MODERN COCKTAIL No 2 1 ounce of blended Scotch whisky 2 ounces of Sloe Gin 1 dash of orange bitters 1 dash of Absinthe 1 dash of grenadine Stir ingredients with ice in a mixing glass. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. By Pink Lady AS THE MORNINGS GROW... Read More

By Sandy Block, MW GRENACHE, or Garnacha as it’s known in its country of origin, , is my favorite underdog red grape. Although it may be beginning to achieve some measure of the recognition it deserves, for decades Grenache has contributed anonymously to blends such as Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas,... Read More

by HARVEY FINKEL FERRATON PÈRE ET FILS, a respected northern Rhône family firm of vignerons, unfortunately no longer includes any Ferratons, but it still offers fine wines at affordable prices. Damien Brisset, Ferraton’s head of production and chief enologist, visited Massachusetts recently, carrying knowledge and tasting samples. He was conducted... Read More