Monthly Archives: February 2010

Widow’s Kiss

My favorite thing about this cocktail is that it makes inexpensive Calvados taste like a million bucks.  Calvados is an apple brandy with its own appellation in France, just like Cognac or Armagnac.  We can get into the specifics of … Continue reading

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Filed under Cocktails

Sour grapes

The beginning of the grape ripening process is referred to as veraison and in the northern hemisphere, it happens in the summer.  The term comes from the French véraison and it is the time in the vine cycle when the vine’s … Continue reading

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Filed under Videos, Wine

I want a drinkbot

In the article Just Like Mombot Used to Make in today’s Times, robots are delivering snacks, whipping up omelets, preparing octopus balls and making up to 800 bowls of ramen per day (with human staff reporting to them).  I couldn’t help but think … Continue reading

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Filed under Gadgets, Noteworthy articles

C is for cap

The cap (chapeau in French) is the layer of grape solids that forms on the surface during red wine fermentation.  I got to sample a grape and it was like eating pop rocks, because of the CO2 forming as a by-product of … Continue reading

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Filed under Alphabet Soup, Wine

Spirits Review.com

I was recently introduced to spiritsreview.com.  It’s been around since 2005, so I’m a little slow on the draw on this one. You gotta love a guy who refers to himself as a spiritual advisor.  You’ll find reviews of everything … Continue reading

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Filed under Websites

Reinheitsgebot in Vietnam

Beer for sixteen cents a pint?  Crystal Ale draft, a top-fermented beer made with passion fruit and the local, litchi-like rambutan?  Restaurants serving German and Vietnamese fare side by side?  Yes, please! Follow thirsty Russ Juskalian on his fantastic journey … Continue reading

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Filed under Beer

One week from today

Come taste Finger Lakes Distilling products with me at Morrell & Company!  I’ll be at One Rockefeller Plaza (on 49th between 5th and 6th) from 4-6:30 pm on Friday 2/26, so you can get your weekend started early.  Morrell sells … Continue reading

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Filed under Events, Spirits

Well-suited pair

We hosted a team building event at school last night for the Klingenstein Center, part of Columbia University’s Teachers College.  The group made a 3 course meal and then sat down together to enjoy the fruits of their labor.  Asparagus, … Continue reading

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Filed under Wine

B is for Baco 22A

Most of the wine we drink is made from grapes from the Vitis Vinifera species.  Vitis is the genus for many vine plants and vinifera comes from the Latin “to bear or carry wine”.  This species started out in what … Continue reading

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Filed under Alphabet Soup, Wine

Pink Gin

This is not a cutesy drink in honor of Valentine’s Day weekend. After sampling this cocktail, it made perfect sense that it had been created by the British Royal Navy.  Some say they were trying to find a way to … Continue reading

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Filed under Cocktails