This season offers up a wealth of drink-focused books covering a broad swath of categories, from history to recipes to psychology to technical guides. This kind of diversity in the drink category is not exactly new. But what sets the season apart is the number of new books that already feel iconic—from Robert Simonson’s expertly reported narrative history of the cocktail renaissance, A Proper… Read more »
Yes, you read that right: mass market beers. No, this isn’t branded content. We’re seriously here to celebrate American, mass-market beer. It’s been the beer snob’s whipping post for too long. We’re not looking forward to the angry tweets for saying this, but the fact is that most craft beer is not refreshing, and the ones that are… Read more »
It’s been just over a year since I last took a 50-state spirits tour, and the craft-distilling scene has only continued to grow. Hundreds of scrappy brands are churning out booze of all kinds across the country, and, often, the best part of exploring is getting to taste the weird stuff: the limited editions, regional specialties… Read more »
A whole lot of people think bourbon can only legally be made in Kentucky. That’s not true. But the oft-repeated myth shows how indelible the relationship between Kentucky and bourbon is, a relationship that dates back to Alexander Hamilton and a despised whiskey tax that drove distillers from the mid-Atlantic region to the friendlier Southern state. The absolute… Read more »
The Background Norman Keith Collins—who would later be known by his nickname, Sailor Jerry—was born January 14, 1911 in Reno, Nevada, though he spent his childhood years in Ukiah, California (about 150 miles northwest of Sacramento). As a child, he was given the nickname Jerry by his parents, who had a donkey of the same… Read more »
The bottle: Von Humboldt’s Turmeric Cordial, $40 The back story: Turmeric is increasingly being hailed as one of those chock-full-of-antioxidants superfoods that can cure all sorts of ills. But does the root, typically found in curry dishes, translate into an alcoholic drink? That’s the challenge Tamworth Distilling & Mercantile, a small New Hampshire distiller known for all sorts of… Read more »
The days of London dry gin—and London dry gin alone—are long gone. Ever since Hendrick’sturned the gin world on its ear with its unorthodox use of cucumber, rose petals and chamomile, the juniper spirit has never been the same. Both craft and large-scale distillers have since started experimenting with botanicals far beyond the traditional array of coriander,… Read more »
PHOTO BY ALEX LAU I definitely wasn’t looking for turmeric liqueur when it came into my life. Turmeric, the root that functions like a reverse Tide stick, staining everything in its path with that relentless goldenrod hue, is very popular right now. You already know this, though, because you’re reading a site called Healthyish. You… Read more »
By now, you’ve most likely heard of the phrase “farm to table.” You know, the concept where everything on your plate is locally sourced and derived from neighboring farms and gardens. Deliciously plated meals aside, distillers around the world are turning to the local land to create award-winning spirits that are both smooth and satisfying… Read more »
GOOD NEWS FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE WACKY BOOZE You have your favorite whiskeys or vodkas, but what about your go-to cherry bounce or beet spirit? Your beloved under-the-radar fennel spirit or out-of-the-box gins? These are eight American-born spirits from around the country that call on (and surprise) with unusual flavors. Just out this fall, Colonial-style cherry bounce is… Read more »
