July 2025

The Gin & Tonic is easily one of the world’s most famous cocktails, enjoyed far and wide for its simple preparation and refreshing, botanical flavors. Practically ubiquitous across Europe and the United Kingdom, the G&T might be slightly less popular in the United States, though no less beloved. And while some U.S.-based bartenders have been …

What’s the Correct Glassware for a Gin & Tonic? Depends on Where You Are. Read More »

Durham, North Carolina. Home of Duke University and its vaunted Blue Devils basketball team. An anchor of the so-called Research Triangle, with some of the nation’s top medical centers, numerous high tech companies like IBM and Lenovo, and life science firms like Merck & Co. And, monthly, Durham has also become the site of a …

Inside Durham’s Booziest Bar Fight — Featuring Robots Read More »

Thus far in our series on “The Fashion of Wine,” we’ve covered the slow-moving trends of antiquity and the Bordeaux boom of the 1800s. But what was the catalyst for embarking on this exploration in the first place? It traces back to a conversation between Keith Beavers and Sarita Cheaves, co-host of “The Swirl Suite” …

Wine 101: The Fashion of Wine Part III: Chatting With Sarita Cheaves of Swirl Suite Read More »

Each year, it seems the line between food and beverage continues to blur a little more. What started with drinks like the Cold Pizza cocktail at Double Chicken Please has evolved into even more culinary-inspired menu items (Sip & Guzzle’s Mirepoix Gibson and the Oreo Negroni at Happy Accidents are two such examples). Even though …

At LA’s Newest Margarita Bar, This Frozen Cocktail Doubles as Guacamole for the Table Read More »

Picture this: An expansive rooftop venue thrums with music and neon lights. Above, a sky full of stars. Below, a dance floor alive with people seeking an authentic human connection, and borders or barriers do not bind them. They’re drawn to quality, to reliability. Someone pours a round of tequila, the glasses rimmed with smoked …

Inside the World of Loca Loka: Tequila Through a Cross-Cultural Lens Read More »

Whether swizzled, muddled, blended, or used as a garnish, mint is one of the most versatile and frequently used herbs in cocktails. It brings a cooling refreshment to myriad classics like the Mojito, Southside, Mint Julep, Queen’s Park Swizzle, and Missionary’s Downfall. And beyond the tried-and-true templates, a few mint leaves can transform an otherwise …

Ask a Bartender: What’s the Best Way to Store Fresh Mint? Read More »

A decade ago, Williamsburg was in an in-between era — on the verge of reaching peak Smorgasburg but not yet succumbing to the modern conveniences of Whole Foods. The area definitely wasn’t as replete with natural wine bars as it is today. But the fabric of the neighborhood was irreversibly altered in June of 2015, …

The Four Horsemen Turns 10: How the Brooklyn Bar Changed the Natural Wine Scene Forever Read More »

It’s crisp, complex, has great fruit, and is a star of France’s Loire Valley. And no, we’re not talking about Sancerre, the Sauvignon Blanc appellation having a moment as wine drinkers turn increasingly to fresh whites with moderate levels of alcohol. The other Loire white you should consider is Chenin Blanc, a variety that produces …

13 of the Best Chenin Blancs From the Loire Valley Read More »

Champagne vineyards. Living and working conditions for more than 50 Champagne harvest workers, including undocumented migrants, have been the focus of a high-profile human trafficking trial in France.  A criminal court in Châlons-en-Champagne this week sentenced three defendants to prison sentences of varying severity, according to French media. Charges related to the treatment of workers …

Champagne: Three convicted in human trafficking trial Read More »

 Argentina has pretty much cornered the market for Malbec, but not so much at the top end.