A History of Rye in the US: Part 2
Between 1810 and 1840 it’s estimated 14,000 to 20,000 distilleries, licensed and otherwise, operated in the young United States. Most of its population was northerly with rail transport yet to be developed. But once railroads were built, it was...
Bring Back the Medicine
As imbibers, we saunter up to a bar and ask for our medicine with a sagacious smirk. The bartender knows what we mean. Libations have been affectionately referred to as “medicine” for as long as they have existed. From...
The Mexican Spirits Tradition You Don’t Know About: Flavored Bacanora
With over 15 years writing about and judging spirits under my belt — not to mention traveling to dozens of distilleries and literally thousands of the world’s best bars — it’s easy to have “seen it all.” Drink is...
American Fernet is Here
Flash back a quick decade and fernet was among the most niche of all drinks, passionately beloved by a tiny, dedicated contingent largely consisting of bartenders and only the most dedicated imbibers. Since then, as all things amaro have...
The Spirit[s] of Colorado Agriculture
Nestled in Colorado’s southeastern corner, in the shadows of the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountains, barley fields in the San Luis Valley struggle to blossom. Over 7,000 feet above sea level, hot days, plenty of sun and...
Leafy Lemon
Lemon, like vanilla and salt, is an ingredient so ubiquitous in food and drinks that it is sometimes more apparent in its absence, manifested as something lacking, because it is such a good harmonizer of disparate ingredients and adds...
More Than Juniper
Unlike other spirits, the flavor profile of gin is carefully selected before production. With whiskey, mezcal, rum, vodka and other commercially produced spirits, flavor compounds mostly result from a combination of effects relating to fermentation, distilling and aging processes....
All About The Base
In the US, the renaissance in craft gin distilling has been underway for over a decade and, today, there are over 350 producers throughout America. The UK is starting to catch up (at least relative to its size) since...
