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MIKE GILLY 48Wine Buyer • Blanchard’s Liquors, MA Mike Gilly opens the door of Blanchard’s Liquors in Jamaica Plain and steps into the sunshine, carrying a case of Ostatu Viura.  Rick Dunfey awaits with his back hatch open, and Mike slides it into the trunk.  Rick, who publishes red sox... Read More

The World Health Organization (WHO) is famous both for monumental good works and for embarrassingly shoddy judgment when allowing politics to enter its activities. WHO’s just-published global status report on alcohol and health is not one of the former. It is more than abundantly clear, from clinical observations, epidemiologic studies... Read More

COLRAIN, MA  An absence permeates the peaceful, rustic premises of West County Cider, that of Terry Maloney, the guru of American cider making, particularly in New England. Terry died in early 2O1O in a freakish accident in the cellar, deeply shocking his family, everyone who knew him, and the wider... Read More

These are tough times for big brewers.  The craft beer industry continue to nip at the heels of long established beers from international companies.  Consumers are also demanding new products and are causing some of the world’s best known breweries to rethink their own portfolios.  Despite possessing one of the... Read More

IT’S THURSDAYRyan Maloney’s on the phone with his contractor – he had to talk about floor tiles.  Then there was the new stairway.  These days Maloney is part liquor store owner, part commercial developer.  His Westborough store, Julio’s Liquors is often under construction.  It’s not like anything at Julio’s needed... Read More

Most Scotch fans balk at the idea of mixing their beloved “water of life” with anything but, well, a little water.  We LUPEC ladies know a bit better.  A whole world of delicious whisky cocktails awaits the adventurous spirit.  Proud among these is the Mamie Taylor, a great old highball... Read More

MICHAEL SCHLOW + THOMAS HOLLANDExec-Chef/Owner + GM – TICO, Boston Specializing in 1OO% agave tequilas (112 and climbing), this snazzy bar-risto opened in February at Berkeley and St. James, in the former spot of Cottonwood Cafe.  Tico’s long bar boasts a stunning gold glass tessera mosaic wall of beautiful bottles. ... Read More

All of us must wonder sometimes what happens to the alcohol we drink. How much consumed translates to what blood alcohol concentration (BAC)? What might be the effects, good and bad, on various body organs and functions? How much might it take to get us in trouble with the law?... Read More

Set in the evocative Castelli Romani area of the Alban hills southeast and within sight of the Eternal City, Frascati is the source of the white wine that floats down much of Roman food. Our attention was captured by the Boston visit of Mauro Merz, Director of Winemaking of Fontana... Read More