Places

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...

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.

The Basement Bar: How to Build One You’ll Love for Years

Ever since I was a little kid, my favorite part of any house shown on television or in movies was the basement bar. Granted, most of them were pretty ugly, but I liked the concept of having a place to chill with drinks and friends. When I moved into my last house, the...

A Pineapple Gin Cocktail You Can Serve Frozen, Hot, or On the Rocks

While most tiki drinks are rum-based, you will find a couple with gin. The complexity of tropical drinks can sometime overpower gin. But, when balanced correctly, they're a real treat. I also love using pineapple in different ways in cocktails. Recently, I was...

The Best Sustainable Bar Supplies to Green Your Home Bar

Looking for ways to make your home bar more eco friendly? Try some or all of these sustainable bar supplies!