Saturday night, I was lucky enough (or so I was told) to attend the Spirited Awards at Tales of the Cocktail.  I’ll say first off that it was dull, and the food (which had to be donated, despite the

I have been pondering why cocktail lists are always laid out in the same two ways: split into one page of classic cocktails and another of innovative drinks, or else divided by type of spirit, so there is a column

It’s time again for Tales of the Cocktail, the world’s biggest bartender convention. It’s going to be absurdly hot and humid, the parties are going to be outrageous, and I will get to learn a lot about booze.

If

I can’t believe I’ve never mentioned one of the greatest poems by my favorite American poet, Mr. Ogden Nash.
“Reflections on Ice-Breaking” is one of the most brilliant manipulations of the English language ever devised, and also my father’s favorite poem. 

In their monthly newsletter today, St. George Spirits announced the launch of their new website.  Cringing with fear, I clicked over to discover a site that was cleanly designed, thoughtful, and loaded in an instant, which leads me back to

I saw the band Frightened Rabbit last night at the Fillmore in San Francisco, and their latest album just happens to be called “The Winter of Mixed Drinks,” so I can justify referencing the concert here.

One of my favorites of

San Francisco Chronicle cocktail columnist Gaz Regan says the face bartenders make when they shake your drink is the same face they make during orgasm.  If you’ve dated any of our SF bartenders, or others from

I just received my membership confirmation from the Friends of Laphroiag, the most brilliant beverage marketing program ever conceived.

Every member is given a lifetime lease on a one-foot square plot on the island of Islay (pronounced

Behind the Tasting Panel, my latest article for Drink Me Magazine just posted to their website. Read my behind the scenes coverage of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition on the Drink Me Magazine website, or pick up

Recently released by the Scandinavian Design Center, the Baggy Winecoat is a poorly named purse that holds the internal bag from boxed wine with a convenient pour spout and sturdy base for fashionable picnic drinking.

In this age of