The Story of Black Distilling Is Being Written Now
When I took my first steps into the world of whiskey, let’s be honest: The whiskey was its own reward. But part of the lure for me was also the history. There were tales that I wanted to learn....
The European Union: 2023 in Review
The European craft spirits market is in full swing. Currently valued at $3.3 billion, the industry is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 12.66% over the next four years, reaching $6.17 billion by 2028. Despite such a dynamic...
Robert Dawson of Kō Hana Distillers
Kō Hana Distillers is a pioneering Hawaiian distillery specializing in agricole-style rums. The company began in 2009 as a farm, launching its first agricole-style rum made entirely from Hawaiian-grown sugarcane in 2014. Founders Robert Dawson and Jason Brand have...
Interview with James Downs
Moving from Detroit to Cleveland and San Francisco, then back home to Detroit, James Downs first fell in love with cocktails and spirits working at a historic Detroit bar, then honed his craft in pioneering cocktail city, SF.
He is...
Interview with Jaime Windon of Lyon Distilling Co.
Born and raised in Laurel, Maryland, Jaime Windon is Maryland through and through, eventually going to college in Baltimore. But her experience — and her palate — were shaped by also living in San Diego, London, South America, Florida,...
Alayne & Jason MacIsaac of Sheringham Distillery
Sheringham Distillery’s commitment to sustainability is not just admirable, but crucial to our future. And it’s a vision they hope the craft distilling world will unite behind. Founded by husband-and-wife team Jason and Alayne MacIsaac in 2015 on southern...
Interview with Duke’s Spirited Cocktails
In 2016, a very special bar opened in downtown Healdsburg from three Spoonbar (https://spoonbar.com) alums: Laura Sanfilippo, Tara Heffernon and Steven Maduro. Since its initial days when Wine Country bartending pioneer Scott Beattie first helmed Spoonbar’s bar, cocktails in...
Travel Report
Download 13 May 2003 Issue
Recently William and I had the pleasure of meeting up with some of the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. gang in Scotland as we had all generously been invited to the annual barbeque at the Crisp...
New Release Roundup for July 2020
My bottle review column (last month’s edition here) is less about tasting notes and more about what is unique, new or trending in spirits alongside my ratings (on a 1-5 rating scale). Now more than ever, small-batch distillers and...
