Articles

Savory Liqueurs

Savory Liqueurs

The entire category of liqueurs is one to pay attention to, and you might want to consider carrying a bottle along on your next trip…
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About the Blends

About the Blends

An excerpt…In the realm of American whiskey, the term blend is a dirty word. Americans prefer to use “mingle” when referring to joining one barrel’s whiskey with another’s. Although the…
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Buffalo Trace E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch

Buffalo Trace E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch

As a founding father of the bourbon industry, Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. left a serious legacy. His dedication to distilling began at the close of…
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Toasting to the Hunt: The Golden Age of Whisky

Toasting to the Hunt: The Golden Age of Whisky

When the first whisky makers fired up stills, they did not document the aqua vitae production. Distilling was just another chore in the pursuit of staying alive. So, to tell…
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Bourbon Hunting

Bourbon Hunting

I have some bad news. There’s a bourbon shortage—and it’s only getting worse. Unprecedented domestic demand and export growth, combined with the lack of quality American white oak with which…
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Sublime Brandy

Sublime Brandy

If you’ve read this column for the past three years, you know I don’t like to stray from the topic of whiskey. But brandy—which essentially means distilled fruit—is sublime. Like…
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In the Heart of Wine Country

In the Heart of Wine Country

Situated on 80 pristine acres in St. Helena, California, a town whose motto is “the heart of Napa Valley,” The Napa Valley Reserve may literally be just that: the very…
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Defining Craft

Defining Craft

American whiskey is going through a growth spurt right now resulting in lawsuits, investors giving founders the boot, and debates starting over fanciful terminology. At the center of all this…
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An Uncommon Spice

An Uncommon Spice

Great food sends chills down my spine, puts tingles in my belly, and makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck, almost like a daydream. When Chef…
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Holiday Pairings

Holiday Pairings

When it comes to wine, there are two general rules for pairing vino with the main dish: Red wines go with red meat; and white wines with fish. While the…
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A Bit of the Bubbly

A Bit of the Bubbly

When we think of a celebration, what’s the first beverage we envision? Champagne. We toast to the bride and groom with Champagne, World Series winners spritz one another with the…
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Campfire Cocktails

Campfire Cocktails

Before the standardization of American whiskey distilling techniques and barrel maturation, whiskey often tasted unruly. People flavored their drinks with cinnamon, fruits, and even tobacco plugs. Then, bartenders started mixing…
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