Those who equate wine with sophistication and civility must not know about the Battle of the Wines. Called La Bataille des Vins in its original French, this circa-1224 poem by Henry d’Andeli depicts an epic, wine-soaked battle royale. It’s rich with trash-talking clergy, nationalistic rivalries, and bathroom humor. The hero of our story is King […]
Summer is here, and with longer days and poolside lounging comes the need for a good book. This is not, however, the time for challengingly cerebral volumes like Jancis Robinson’s (excellent) ”Wine Grapes.” Nor is it the time for dense histories on the origin of corn whiskey. The best summer reads bring the season’s easy-breezy […]
For those of us with a passion for spirits who like to kick it old school, cocktail books are vital. The best include ”Meehan’s Bartender Manual,” by PDT’s legendary Jim Meehan, and Mr. Harry Craddock’s ”The Savoy Cocktail Book.” Somewhere in the middle of a very extensive collection lies ”Esquire’s Handbook for Hosts.” This long-forgotten […]
Don’t call it a comeback. Just a generation ago, our entire planet was pretty much Gose-free. Today, however, the craft beer world has fully embraced Gose, the once-extinct, sour-salty beer style from Germany. Sites like Ratebeer.com list thousands of commercially brewed versions, with more added every week. It has become a go-to recipe for homebrewers […]
We’re firm believers that most things are made more enjoyable with a little alcohol, and many notable fiction authors and characters seem to agree. For bookworms who are also boozehounds, we’ve compiled a selection of famous works paired with corresponding cocktails, wine, and beer. Break out the books and break open the bottles — it’s […]
Staring down a cheese case can intimidate even the most confident cook. The array of styles, textures, hard-to-pronounce names (bonjour, chabichou!), and ingredients is puzzlingly labyrinthine. Is goat’s milk stronger than sheep’s? What is a bloomy rind, exactly? Cheesemonger Liz Thorpe, formerly of NYC’s legendary Murray’s Cheese, devised a system to demystify cheese, helping mere mortals explore […]
An iconic Scotch whisky, Lagavulin is synonymous with Islay’s signature peat. Its range spans golden pours aged in new American oak, amber single malts ideal for those presently or aspirationally wearing Shetland sweaters, and a rich, russet, sherry-aged distiller’s edition. Its celebrity fan base and pop cultural allure abet more than 200 years of history […]
There are plenty of resources out there for cocktail enthusiasts from novice to pro, but with tons of information to sift through, what are the essential texts for the lover of all things spirited? From mastering basic techniques and understanding the classics to getting experimental and nerding out, here are the eight essential cocktail books […]
The wine world is up in arms over a new book. Bianca Bosker’s Cork Dork is a deep journalistic dive into the exclusive world of sommeliers, or “cork dorks,” as they call themselves. Already a New York Times bestseller, Cork Dork was hailed as “the Kitchen Confidential of wine” by wine writer Madeline Puckette. “Read […]
