Cocktail Recipes, Punch Mixes, Culture, Bartending, and Drinking Supplies

Drinks Wire

Chateau de la Cantrie 2009 Muscadet Sur Lie Review – Wine Wednesday
ByRachel Halpren July 27, 2011March 9, 2012

As the US continues to swelter in the heat (a fact that we can appreciate given our recent return from Tales of the Cocktail in hot, steamy New Orleans), Muscadet is the perfect antidote to the heat. Muscadet wines come from the Loire in France and are made from a grape called Melon de Bourgogne. (It’s originally from Burgundy but was evicted from there years ago in favor of Chardonnay.) Another interesting fact is that … Read more

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Tales of the Cocktail: Day 4 & 5
ByRachel Halpren July 25, 2011March 9, 2012

The last two days at Tales of the Cocktail were packed with tasting rooms and (more) big parties!

We spent a lot of time talking to great bartenders, writers, liquor makers and people just out for a good time. We’ll be sharing what we learned from our seminars and some fantastic recipes soon. So sad to be leaving New Orleans, but here are just a few highlights from the last two days in one of … Read more

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Tales of the Cocktail: Day 2 & 3
ByJonas Halpren July 23, 2011March 9, 2012

Two more exciting days at Tales of the Cocktail:

The morning kicked off with a New Orleans take on an English Breakfast with Oxley Gin. Fried crumpets, oh my!

A packed day of sessions and tastings covered everything from colonial punches (including drinkmaking with hot iron sticks) to lunch made with angostura bitters to the annual Tales of the Cocktail parade. New Orleans definitely knows how to put on a parade.

In the evening, … Read more

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Tales of the Cocktail: Day 1
ByRachel Halpren July 21, 2011March 9, 2012

This year’s Tales of the Cocktail started off right! Yesterday was the first day, and we just had to share some highlights of our favorite experiences so far.

Before “Day 1” of Tales officially started, Grey Goose welcomed us to New Orleans with a party at Latrobe’s in the heart of the French Quarter the evening before. Our favorite concoction of the night was a watermelon and basil cocktail (the only thing we liked better … Read more

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Drinks Wire

Brugal Añejo Rum Review
ByDOTW Staff July 21, 2011November 27, 2012

Brugal Añejo is a Dominican rum that’s a blend aged three to five years in American white oak casks. The first thing I noticed when they sent me a bottle for review was the gold net over the bottle, which made me think of pirates … for some reason.

But once I cracked it open, I found a pleasing rum that’s a good value at $20 a bottle. The nose is almost all wood and … Read more

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Drinks Wire

Moulin de Gassac Aniane Rose Guilhem 2010 Pays d’Herault Review – Wine Wednesday
ByRachel Halpren July 20, 2011March 9, 2012

It’s July with days of unseasonably warm weather in San Francisco (almost shocking really and am convinced it’s to make up for the horrible Spring). In warm weather, my mind wonders to rosé which is perhaps the most understood wine of modern times (thanks to White Zinfandel). Rosés are wonderful wines—an almost perfect blend between white and red—and works perfectly with fish and summer tomatoes.

I went hunting for a rosé to bring you for … Read more

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Drinks Wire

How to Muddle
ByDOTW Staff July 18, 2011March 9, 2012

Many cocktails have “muddled” ingredients, so recipes tell you to grab your muddler and muddle away. But what does that even mean?

A muddler is a wooden pestle that looks like a miniature baseball bat. The flat end is used to smash ingredients, such as the lime and mint in a Mojito. We recommend wood because it won’t damage your glasses. Some muddlers have teeth on the end, which is great for fruits but too … Read more

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Drinks Wire

Drink Me Island Paradise Party
ByJonas Halpren July 16, 2011March 9, 2012

Our friends at Drink Me Magazine are throwing an exclusive bash at the incredible man-made floating island on the San Francisco Bay, Forbes Island.

The evening features live music, delicious cocktails and spirit tastings. Profits will be donated to Spark, a San Francisco based non-profit supporting women-led programs that ignite global change. So you can drink, eat and ignite global change all in one fantastic evening on Fisherman’s Wharf.

When: Friday July 29th, 2011 7:30p … Read more

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Drinks Wire

No. 3 London Dry Gin Review
ByRachel Halpren July 14, 2011March 9, 2012

A London dry gin brought to you by the oldest wine and spirit merchant in London. No. 3 refers to their address on St. James Street, the home of Berry Brothers & Rudd since 1698.

No. 3 is a clear, viscous spirit with a nose of juniper, grapefruit with a hint of orange and cardamom. On the palate, No. 3 is smooth with a nice mouth feel with flavors of juniper (but not in a … Read more

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Drinks Wire

Bruscus Lambrusco Review – Wine Wednesday
ByRachel Halpren July 13, 2011March 9, 2012

One of my current wine obsessions is lambrusco. As I tell my husband, I love all things that sparkle with diamonds (hint, hint) and champagne is my favorite! I also love red wine. lambrusco is the perfect marriage of red wine and “the sparkle” and has quickly become an obsession. Who other than the Italians could have brought us a sparkling red wine?

This week’s Wine Wednesday is the Bruscus 2009 San Valentino Reggiano lambrusco … Read more

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