America is thirsty for craft spirits. There are more than 1,500 craft distilleries in the United States as of August 2017, up 20.8 percent from the year prior, according to the Craft Spirits Data Project, a joint venture from Park Street, American Craft Spirits Association, and IWSR. In late 2017, the Project shared its Annual […]
When it comes to whiskey, the first place that comes to mind is Kentucky. The Bluegrass State has been producing some of the tastiest whiskeys for centuries — in addition to other American whiskey powerhouses like Tennessee, and even Virginia. Now there’s a new breed of distillers emerging in an unexpected place. Garrison Brothers. Whitmeyer’s. […]
People who say that success is a double-edged sword probably haven’t struggled to pay rent in a while. Still, certain gravy trains have their drawbacks. Take Jameson, the world’s most popular Irish whiskey. The brand moved 6.5 million cases last year and reported double- and triple-digit growth in 80 global markets in the latter half of […]
Many have tried to distill Portland’s essence, but few, other than perhaps Gus Van Sant, have done it well. Distillery Row, a collection of tasting rooms in the southeast area of the city, is another happy exception. After the early 2000s boomlet in craft distilling nationwide, Portland producers banded together in 2010 to create a […]
I was about five minutes into my tour of Casa Real, a family-owned distillery in Bolivia’s Tarija Valley, when I casually observed that its signature spirit, singani, sounded a lot like pisco. Both are made by distilling white wine, and both result in an alcohol suitable for sipping or mixing.
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 […]
Gin is an old spirit — “medicinal” juniper hooch dates back to the 13th century — but it’s an evolving category. Pleasantly flavorful botanical gins are now on the market, capturing the creativity of bartenders who consider them more versatile than the juniper-heavy dry gins that pretty much ruled the roost until the early aughts.
Virginia is in many ways the true birthplace of American whiskey. As we let that sink in, note that Kentucky will always be known as America’s preeminent whiskey destination. But its eastern neighbor is giving it a run for its money. Virginia distilleries bottle some of the best American whiskeys available today, and, more surprisingly, […]
When distiller couple Connie Baker and Carey Shanks were raising funding for their hybrid distiller-inn in Colorado, certain investors reportedly questioned the concept. Brewery hotels from the likes of Dogfish Head and Stone Brewing are ascendant, and many Old World wineries historically offered lodging. Standalone spirits labels, however, rarely invite guests behind closed doors — let alone […]
