We are avowed bibliophiles (book lovers) at DOTW and consume books on drink history, spirits and cocktails. There have been amazing books published in the last few years on drinking history, Prohibition and the exploration of cocktail culture. We can’t think of a better gift to give for the holidays.
Here are our top picks for for your favorite book lover:
This week’s high/low picks come from the famed French wine producing areas of Burgundy and Bordeuax.
You don’t normally associate Burgundy with value. But, believe it or not, this week’s low (value) wine comes from Burgundy and it’s a Bourgogne Rouge with a bit of funk.
I got home from work late and was hungry. Not surprisingly, I had plenty of wine but not so much food. The only thing in my refrigerator was bread … Read more
We received a bottle of Godiva Chocolate Vodka just in time for winter and the holidays! I don’t know what it is, but I love having a chocolate martini at the office holiday party. There is something festive, decadent and delicious about combining Vodka and chocolate (and in some cases, cream and Baileys too).
The great thing about the Godiva Chocolate Vodka is that the chocolate and the Vodka come combined. This means that making … Read more
The holidays are upon us. We know that most of you are expected to buy your boss a present for Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. We think that booze is the perfect gift to buy, unless your boss is a recovering alcoholic and booze only makes things worse.
To impress your your boss, you need to pick a spirit that is cool, but not too trendy. You need a bottle that is expensive enough without being … Read more
As the warm weather turns cold, I turn my attention to bigger fruity red wines. For some reasons, big red wines brings comfort. Maybe it’s because big red wines go so well with stews and heavy meat dishes, winter staples. I think of it as the macaroni and cheese of the wine world. For some reason, when I drink it, it increases my happiness level, or maybe that’s just the alcohol kicking in.
Believe it … Read more
In honor of Repeal Day, which was yesterday, we are highlighting an old-timey spirit recently brought back to life in America. Back in the days before Prohibition and immediately after, a significant number of drinks were made with Apricot Brandy. Like many ingredients in well fashioned cocktails, Apricot Brandy fell by the wayside as it fell out of flavor. While you could find versions of Apricot Brandy, the real stuff was all but dead and … Read more
Homemade holiday gifts are often the best! Aside from saving you a little money, they show the person getting the gift that you took the time out of your busy schedule to make something by hand with care. These DIY infusions and garnishes are simple and delicious. You even have enough time left before Christmas to experiment with your own variations on my recipes.
Of course, any of these homemade treats would pair well with … Read more
Our apologies for getting High/Low Weekend up a bit late, but these suggestions are great for the entire holiday season!
I jokingly tell people that I am a huge fan of anything that sparkles! But, I really love sparkling wine and jewelry (I know, join the long line of women that love those sparklers). Notice that I don’t say I love Champagne but that I love sparkling wine. This is because the world of sparkling … Read more
At Portland Cocktail Week, we attended a very informative seminar on how to drink healthier. You might ask, is that really possible? We think that it is. As part of the seminar, we reviewed a number of popular hangover cures to see if they were purely a myth or if there was some substance behind them. We thought that we would bring the most popular ones to you. Here you go, hangover cures – fact … Read more
The Chivas Brothers started as grocers in Aberdeen Scotland, then became purveyors of fine food stuffs and liquor, including rum, and starting in 1843, were given a Royal Warrant to supply Queen Victoria on her trips to Scotland. In the 1850’s, one of the famed Chivas brothers turned his attention to Scotch and developed a blended Scotch Whisky where softer grain Whiskys were blended with the aromatic but often harsher Single Malt Whiskys. Viola, a … Read more