Hot Stuff!
Despite the efforts of industry experts, market analysts and advertising executives, the formula for successfully establishing a trend remains a conundrum. The market moves like a plastic bag in the wind and the taste of the masses is far from quantifiable. In the liquor industry, when a seemingly good idea... Read More
The Rest of the Gin Story.
DEAR SUBSCRIBERS Due to a production error, a very important ingredient was omitted from last month’s Gin article, unfortunately altering the ultimate flavor of its final presentation. With my apologies to you, our readership, Old Raj importer Henry Preiss, owner of Preiss Imports, and Robert Bradford, here is, in full,... Read More
Breaking the Rules with Tania Oseguera.
The private dining room at Casa Romero was small. The undertaking was not.Tania Oseguera, brand ambassador for Corzo and Cazadores tequilas, set the tone for the night when she notified the small group that tonight was “an opportunity to break the rulesâ€. Breaking is one thing, but she didn’t warn... Read More
Gin 2008
Once upon a time, more than 5O years ago, for those old enough to remember, venerable rye whiskies and almighty gin ruled the waves in the American marketplace. Gin was the predominate white spirit of choice anywhere drinks were being served, although, admittedly, a great deal of it was of... Read More
Profile: Alex Ott
ALEX OTT • 35 • Master Mixologist/Consultant • New Amsterdam Straight Gin, New York City Take two parts German tradition, add one part each of Aussie dash, Thai spice, Parisian finesse, and top with liberal splashes of Gotham glory, swirl vigorously, and – voila! – you have the aggressively flavorful... Read More
New Zealand Wines.
New Zealanders are embracing their own wine industry with passion and pride. Their country’s small population and largely untapped viticultural potential has enabled the industry to rapidly develop its wine export trade, which represents 6O% of wine production. The United States now vies with the United Kingdom as New Zealand’s... Read More
Big House Wines
Nowhere else in Boston was suitable to meet head winemaker Georgetta Dane for a luncheon-tasting of her Big House Wines than the Liberty Hotel, a brilliant recasting of the notorious and historic Charles Street Jail which contains a bar called Alibi and an eatery known as Clink. I can attest... Read More
Blueberry Beer
I was at a summertime beer festival, about ten years ago, and I dropped by the back of the booth of a brewer I knew and asked him how things were going. His straight-faced answer: “Well, the lesbians are really liking the blueberry ale.†I must have given him a... Read More
Food and Beer
For Charlie Papazian, founder of the Brewers Association, inspiration struck twice in remarkably similar ways. In the late 197Os, Papazian traveled to London to attend the British Beer Festival. While sampling stouts, porters and cask conditioned ales from around the United Kingdom, Papazian, an avid home brewer, started thinking about... Read More
RE: David Singer
I will soon be putting my money – or my earning of it – where my mouth is. Starting the end of July, I am going back to my roots and picking up my Tastevin with corkscrew in hand again. An opportunity just too good to pass up has presented... Read More