Fermentation 101

Of all the topics discussed regarding the process of producing high-quality distilled spirits, fermentation always seems to get short shrift. People love to wax...

Top Ten Baltimore Bars

From my first visit to Charm City in 2016, I saw immediately that the crime reports and the shadow of nearby D.C. do not...

Walking on Broken Glass

Wine and spirits bottles had been exempt from California’s bottle deposit return program for decades. But in 2023, many distilleries were caught off guard...

Bartender Interview: Brendan Dorr of Dutch Courage

Maryland native Brendan Dorr moved to Baltimore in 1999 to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music....

The Distillation Will Be Televised

When the reality TV show Moonshiners debuted in 2011, it became an immediate pop culture sensation. It now spans 13 seasons and more than...

Distiller Interview: Eli Breitburg-Smith of Baltimore Spirits Company

With the tagline “Old World Distillation. New World Spirits,” Baltimore Spirits Company (BSC) is arguably the city’s most innovative distillery, crafting spirits you won’t...

The Élevage Evangelist

In the Berkeley hills, there’s a neighborhood of gracious old homes. In the neighborhood is a cul-de-sac. In that cul-de-sac is a white stucco...

Pot vs. Column for Whiskey Production

The pot still is known for having a higher degree of control and a greater diversity of spirits that can be produced, while the...

European Rye Whiskey

Rye, like its cousins wheat and barley, emerged from the Levant millenia ago and slowly spread into Europe. Although it grows perfectly well in...

Understanding the Rum Cover-Over

Imagine a world where the government returns half of your business taxes each year. As a bonus, the government also pays to market your...

The Future of American Gin

Jamie Baddour pours a cocktail in the tasting room of Half Moon Bay Distillery, its lower door opened toward frayed beach bungalows and sailboats...

Beyond the Distillery Walls

As the craft spirits landscape expands, distilleries of all sizes find tremendous value in bringing their products directly to target consumers through creative off-site...

In Full Bloom

Summer’s delicate flowers have a restricted season. Capturing this ephemerality isn’t just an exercise in bottling memories of warmer days; the abundance of edible...

Letter from the Editor: Summer 2024

One of my favorite traditions at the ADI International Spirits Competition takes place on the last night, after judging is complete, scores tallied, and...