VODKA
From the locally crafted to the iconic imports, vodka reigns as it’s poured. One conspicuous point of distinction has been that several so-called “value” brands have gotten more than their fifteen minutes of fame courtesy of the economy. Some consumers have traded down and have made the discovery that there’s... Read More
VODKA AGAINST THE GRAIN
As you’ve probably noticed, we LUPEC ladies don’t devote much time to the discussion of vodka cocktails. “It’s the predominant spirit on most cocktail lists,” you may be thinking, “so what gives? What do you broads have against vodka?” It’s not that we have anything against vodka, per se. We... Read More
ADAM LANTHEAUME AND THE BOSTON SHAKER
They say the devil is in the details, but it’s commonly accepted that the details are what can transform the mundane into something heavenly. That said, Adam Lantheaume has become something of an Archangel Gabriel figure to the local cocktail scene, bringing good news – and good products – from... Read More
Endangered Cocktails: LA PALOMA
LA PALOMA A recent trip to Mexico to learn about tequila introduced me to the joys of a simple, refreshing cocktail called La Paloma. If you find yourself sick of sipping Margaritas this Cinco de Mayo, we suggest you change it up. The drink was invented in the tiny town... Read More
TEQUILA
The economy may have been slow to rebound throughout the past 18 months, but gains for the tequila category have been strong and forceful, with high-end premium and super premium segments outpacing the pack. According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, suppliers’ gross revenue for tequila grew... Read More
THE RETAILER ROUNDUP
Massachusetts retailers have had a few tough years weathering the economic downturn and a state-imposed alcohol tax – all of which affected consumer spending. Luckily, 2O11 is starting out tax-free, and the economy seems to be slowly rebounding. So what does this mean for our business in the year ahead? ... Read More
YOUTH POTION’S DEMISE?
Has resveratrol’s reign as sovereign panacea abruptly ended? In early December GlaxoSmithKline PLC, the British pharmaceutical behemoth, announced it had given up on resveratrol research to extend life span because of ineffectiveness and adverse effects on the kidneys of subjects in a recent trial. Resveratrol (called SRT5O1 by Glaxo), the... Read More
MARTINE SAUNIER
Last January, Boston welcomed Martine Saunier with heaps of snow, freezing temperatures, and biting winds. She was a speaker at the 2O11 Boston Wine Expo. She lectured about her life and work as an importer of French wine. As she spoke, she guided the audience through a tasting of 9... Read More
The Wines of the Ribera del Duero
Their prices having converted Vega Sicilia and Pingus into theoretical wines for most of us should not put us off to the many affordable and fine wines of the Ribera del Duero (“banks of the Duero River”). Let’s see about this isolated region just east of Valladolid in north-central Spain,... Read More
Profile: SUZANNE SCHALOW and KATE BAKER
SUZANNE SCHALOW 4OKATE BAKER 41Co-owners, Craft Beer CellarBelmont, MA The Bay State’s craft brew craze is going – bacterial – and these gals are in the thick of it. The sisters in suds met as co-workers at the Lizard Lounge a decade ago, and struck up a coalition. They’d worked... Read More