Places

On my first trip to Vancouver Island, I visited the northeastern part of the island. When I returned in April 2023, the first item on my agenda was to visit to Victoria Distillers. Located in Sidney, British Colombia the distillery was one I followed virtually in...

The Ultimate Guide to All the Kansas City Distilleries

I've lived in Kansas City for more than 20 years and have learned a lot about its history since moving here. While Kansas has always had stricter liquor laws than Missouri, they were polar opposites during prohibition. Kansas enacted prohibition voluntarily in 1881,...

What is Brennivín and Some Creative Ways to Use it in Cocktails

With some of the cleanest water in the world, it's no surprise that Iceland has a signature spirit. Brennivín is a type of aquavit that came into the world in 1935. When prohibition in Iceland was partially lifted, it allowed for hard liquor, but not beer, to be...

The 9 Chicago Distilleries: Where to Find the Best Cocktails and Spirits

If you visit cocktail bars in the United States, you have likely had a spirit from Chicago. However, because Chicago is known as the food and drink capital of the world, the spirits produced there may be less top of mind. People know about deep dish pizza and...

9 of the Best Charleston Distilleries + Boozy Ice Creams

Since starting this blog nearly two years ago, I have changed the way I travel a bit. I still enjoy plenty of non-cocktail inspired adventures, but I also look for local spirits and distilleries. When I traveled to Charleston in June 2021, I visited some of the best...

The 13 Quality Hawaiian Distilleries: A Complete Guide by Island

When I visited Hawaii in March 2021, I enjoyed some locally distilled spirits in cocktails at several bars in Oahu. With a fantastic climate for growing things like sugar cane, it makes sense that you would find distilleries close by. I wish I had rented a car to...

Learning About Bitters and Visiting Creative Bars in Raleigh, North Carolina

I’ve been making craft cocktails at home for a while. Over the past few years, I have acquired all the tools and ingredients needed to create a variety of libations. However, I had been stumped about how to properly use cocktail bitters. I figured it was a good excuse...

A Visit to Vikre Distillery on the Shores of Lake Superior

Over the past six months, I have greatly improved my home bartending skills. While this is due mostly to the fact that I've been home to practice, I have also done a good deal of reading. My cocktail book collection has quadrupled with newly released books including...

How to Conduct a Quality Whiskey Tasting Just Like at a Distillery

The base of any good cocktail is a quality spirit. Many classic whiskey cocktails rely primarily on the flavor of the spirit, so it's important to find one you like. Tasting whiskeys at a distillery or in a barrel room gives you a chance to try before buying a bottle....

Making Gin in the World’s Oldest Gin Distillery

Arriving in Plymouth, England I woke up early to catch a train from London down to Plymouth, England where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for the New World from in 1620. I walked to this lighthouse from the train station. As you can see, it was foggy and drizzly. I...

Cocktails at Home

If you want to make yourself or your guests a drink at home, this is a great set of resources for you. More here.

3 Beautiful Blue Cocktails to Wow Your Party Guests

Some people are geniuses at tablescapes, or decor in general. Themed parties, fancy place settings, it's all lovely but exceeds my time and patience constraints. Instead, I focus on nice glassware with delicious drinks inside. For a festive pop, I might even make...

Is powdered aquafaba the easiest solution for egg white cocktails? Find out!

While I am not vegan, I have shared some information about aquafaba before. Some of these vegan cocktails were made using canned chickpea juice. Since I don't really cook, opening a can of chickpeas just for the juice seems wasteful. When Vör Foods reached out about a...

5 Cranberry Gin Cocktails That Will Make Spirits Bright

I've always been a huge fan of cranberries. From cranberry sauce to juice, I love it all. It's likely the tartness, but I also find cranberries interesting. They are one of the only fruits native to North America. Harvesting cranberries in a bog is high on my bucket...