Gin and vodka are two very distinct spirits. Most obviously, one is associated with pine and herbal flavors, while the other is often positioned as an odorless, tasteless entity. Yet the two are frequent substitutes for each other in cocktails such as the Martini or Vodka/Gin and Tonic. It’s easy to think of gin as essentially a flavored vodka, but […]
England has a strong claim to gin. The Dutch originated the spirit, then the English people’s love for gin brought the juniper-flavored liquor to new levels. But now there’s a new innovative and exciting destination for gin: America. And it all started with Aviation, a homegrown craft spirit out of Portland, Oregon. Here are nine […]
Creating a cocktail that represents a person or character is an art. An imperfect art, but an art nonetheless. It’s a blend of understanding people and characters, and a confident knowledge of what makes a cocktail sing. Tommy Warren, the head bartender at Manhattan’s Bedford and Co. and the man behind the bar’s Writer’s Collection, […]
Whether relaxing on a boat, sitting by the beach, or simply sipping in your backyard, summer weekends were made for day drinking. There’s nothing better than sitting beneath the sun among friends and throwing back a glass of something cold.
The West Coast of the U.S. is known for a certain epicurean style. It’s a region defined by fresh, healthy food, and big, hoppy West Coast IPAs. Now it’s time to get familiar with another West Coast standout: West Coast gin. A West Coast gin follows the same ethos you’d expect from something bearing the […]
Whether your three-day weekend means a beach trip, grilling out in your backyard, or building the perfect picnic, you’re going to want drinks. VinePair’s got all you beer lovers covered on what to drink, but what if you want something a little more? Well, pre-batch cocktails are your answer. They’re delicious, relatively easy to make, and […]
Batya, Managing Editor — McKenzie Distillers Reserve Gin A friend was in town hosting a gin tasting, so I got to try a lot of really excellent gin this week. My favorite was a local one, McKenzie Distillers Reserve Gin, from the Finger Lakes. A London-style dry gin, it’s got a pithy citrus fragrance that’s […]
How should I order a martini without looking dumb? One should never worry about looking dumb when ordering drinks, especially a martini, since James Bond already went and screwed up how it’s actually supposed to be made in the first place, causing most people out there to order it wrong. The classic martini should always […]
Every time someone tells me that they hate gin, I’m immediately suspicious. Why, you ask? Because when I press for further details, I usually discover that the person only thinks they hate gin. The reality is that they have no idea what they’re talking about. There’s a pattern with people who make these dismissive, unequivocal statements […]
