Review: 2007 Dow’s Late Bottled Vintage Port
There is considerable confusion over what Late Bottled Vintage Port is. Vintage-dated, it sounds like it should be very expensive, yet it’s cheaper than many blends. Late Bottled Vintage (or LBV) Port is Port that was originally intended as Vintage Port, but which didn’t make it into a bottle, for whatever reason (typically the barrels…
Book Review: Vodka Distilled
Tony Abou-Ganim is a happy guy. In fact he’s so happy that within the first twenty pages of Vodka Distilled, the reader is treated to not one, but four photographs of Mr. Abou-Ganim flashing his pearly whites in various states of pose. And well he should be pleased himself: his 2010 opus The Modern Mixologist…
Review: New Holland Zeppelin Bend Straight Malt Whiskey
American malt whiskeys are as rare as winning seasons from the Houston Astros, and good ones are even harder to come by. Michigan-based New Holland Artisan Spirits distills this 100% malt whiskey twice before aging in American oak barrels for a minimum of three years and bottling at 90 proof. The results are, well, like…
Recipe: Effen Vodka Valentine’s Cocktails 2013
This week in Valentine’s Day recipes just keeps on coming, this time courtesy of the folks over at Effen vodka. The following recipes were tried and tested in our own bar, and were received with approval and enthusiasm. Effen Chocolate Covered Black Cherry 1 1/2 parts Effen Black Cherry Vodka 3/4 part DeKuyper Dark Crème…
Recipe: Skyy Vodka Valentine’s Day Cocktails 2013
With Valentine’s Day around the corner we felt it only appropriate to offer up a few suggestions for cocktails that might tickle the fancy of someone you love, or to enjoy by yourself. These recipes come to us courtesy of the folks at Skyy Vodka, which just launched a new strawberry vodka (review coming soon).…
Review: 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey
Reader Alex Trembley turned me on to 2 Gingers in the middle of 2012, and finally we’ve been able to track down a bottle of this Irish Whiskey to review. Why the trouble? It’s only sold in Minnesota… at least for now. The name 2 Gingers connotes spicy, ginger beer-laced drinks, but the moniker has…
Book Review: Kentucky Bourbon: The Early Years of Whiskeymaking
The title is most certainly not a misnomer, as Henry G. Crowgey’s Kentucky Bourbon: The Early Years of Whiskeymaking wastes no time in immersing the reader in his world, beginning with a discussion of Egyptians, Moors and the migration of distillation practices to Europe. Originally published in 1971, this challenging read holds a venerable place…
Recipe: Valentine’s Day, James Bond-Themed, Balsamic Vinegar Cocktails, 2013
Superstar cocktail creator Carlo Splendorini is no stranger to those familiar with the world of exotic drinks. He helped establish the Michelin-starred restaurant Michael Mina as a front-runner in San Francisco’s cocktail scene while racking up prizes in national and international competitions. For this Valentine’s Day, he offers up some twists using balsamic vinegar as…
