2004: Another Top Vintage in Piedmont
In January of this year, Piedmontese wine producers released their 2004 Barolos to the world, after aging them the required three years. The wines of Barbaresco, Barolo’s neighbor in Piedmont, have had a one-year head start in the market, since they have only a two-year aging requirement. I have ... read more.

World Cocktail Week
It’s nice to know that 200 years after the cocktail was invented, it’s still being celebrated. May’s events revolving around World Cocktail Week illustrates there’s more enthusiasm than ever for the modern cocktail, that bartenders are getting more inventive and that education is the cornerstone of contemporary mixology. ... read more.

vodka’s room to run
Vodka was once just vodka. Not anymore. As consumer interest in the spirit continues to grow, new vodka brands proliferate, many of them targeted at very specific interest groups with distinct attributes, running the spectrum from flavored and organic to micro-distilled and premium. The good news is that quality ... read more.

A New twist on tonic
Shaking up quality cocktails is undoubtedly one of the biggest—and most exciting—trends we’ve seen in mixology over the past several years. These days, the emphasis is on premium liquors and precisely crafted drinks instead of thoughtless, pre-made concoctions. It seems bizarre then, that while bar chefs are hard at ... read more.