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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...

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...

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...

The Ultimate Guide to All the Kansas City Distilleries [Updated 2021]

Although I've lived in Kansas City for nearly 18 years, I didn't know that much about its history. While Kansas has always had stricter liquor laws than Missouri, they were polar opposites during prohibition. Kansas enacted prohibition voluntarily in 1881, nearly...

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....

Fall in the UK with Scotch in Edinburgh

After enjoying a train ride up from London in October 2018, and settling into our garden cottage, we headed out to enjoy a day of Fall in the UK with scotch in Edinburgh. From the crisp air, to the regal castles, it was a beauty, highlighted with a Scotch whisky...

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 Perfect Fall Cocktails with Apple Juice and Rum

As I established in last year's Fall cocktail post, I will pass on pumpkin spice but love everything apple. I grew up in Maine picking a variety of apples every fall. We would come home and turn them into pies, cobblers, and applesauce. I love an apple cider donut and...

French 75 Variations That Are Super Delicious Including A Frozen French 75

I have been a long-time fan of the French 75 cocktail. It's classic, yet sophisticated, and is easy to make. You can sip one at brunch or in celebration of something big or small. I have yet to meet someone who doesn't enjoy one. Even if people aren't familiar, once...

New Non-Alcoholic Spirits: A Review of Three Spirit Drinks

I'm sure I'm not the first cocktail blogger to be skeptical of non-alcoholic spirits. I've tried a few in cocktails over the years with varying results. So far, I've liked the ones that don't profess to be specifically mimicking a specific type of liquor. (Although, I...

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9 of the Best Charleston Distilleries + Boozy Ice Creams