National

Season’s Menu: December 2011 Edition

Monday, December 19th, 2011

SOBIESKI SLEIGH 2 oz. Sobieski Vanilla Vodka½ oz. Irish cream liqueurSplash of pomegranate juice Serve over ice and garnish with a stick of cinnamon. STANDARD STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE-TINI 1½ oz. Russian Standard Vodka4-6 strawberries3 tsp. sugarJuice of half a limeCrushed ice Shake ingredients together well with ice and then strain into a martini glass. Garnish ... read more>

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Pernod Optimistic Over Year-End Sales in U.S.

Friday, December 16th, 2011

French spirits group Pernod Ricard is optimistic over sales prospects for the end of the year in the United States, a recovering market where it aims to take market share. The world’s second-biggest spirits group behind Britain’s Diageo may also further raise prices in some of its drink categories in the U.S. but has no ... read more>

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Bar Tools: The Bartender’s Best Friends Behind the Stick

Friday, December 9th, 2011

We asked the country’s busiest bartenders to give us their must-have bar tools—easy to use, sturdy enough to withstand the weekend slam, and functionally superior to the basics. Here are some of their favorite items so you can pour, measure, muddle, stir, shake, strain and squeeze with ease. click image to enlarge 1. Koriko ... read more>

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Volt: A Celebrity Bar

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

Greg Voss, Frederick, MD Leave it to Top Chef to make charming Frederick, MD, a culinary hotspot. Volt, the restaurant from Season #6 finalist Bryan Voltaggio, has been known for its inventive modern American cuisine since it opened, but the popular TV show has certainly spiked interest among the daytripping foodie set. While Voltaggio’s cooking ... read more>

Tags: bar, culinary, gin, mixology, seasonal
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New Products & Promotions: December 2011 Edition

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

WARM UP WITH KAHLÚA CINNAMON SPICE A new offering from Kahlúa captures the American fondness for cinnamon—Kahlúa Cinnamon Spice is a variation on the classic taste fans of Kahlúa know and appreciate. This new portfolio addition is inspired by the traditional Mexican Café de Olla, which is a blend of coffee, cinnamon and brown ... read more>

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A Sparkling Trio: With New Year’s Coming Into View, It’s a Good Time to Focus on Cava, Prosecco and Champagne

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

It happens every year. Despite heroic efforts by sparkling wine marketers to promote their bubbly wares as year ‘round beverages, it is the jingle of sleigh bells that get Americans to pay attention, and far be it from the industry to ignore this habitual seasonal demand. Indeed, the holidays bring out the bubblies in force—at ... read more>

Tags: Cava, Champagne, prosecco
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Chinese Market Maturing Faster Than U.S.

Monday, December 5th, 2011

The Chinese market is maturing at a faster rate than the US market for fine wine did in the 1980s, auctioneer Richard Brierley says. Brierley, auctioneer for the new joint venture of California-based Spectrum Wine Auctions and London luxury drinks merchant Vanquish, is in Hong Kong for a Spectrum auction this weekend. The auction will ... read more>

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Saké Steps Up, Branches Out: It’s New, It’s Different, It’s Catching On

Monday, December 5th, 2011

From P.F. Chang’s to The French Laundry and from BevMo to specialty wine retailers, saké is establishing a place on beverage lists and retail shelves around the country. Given the beverage’s flexibility—served straight up before or with dinner or mixed into cocktails—it’s no wonder importers have seen double-digit increases in saké sales. First, a few ... read more>

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Book Report: November 2011 Edition

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

WINES FOR EVERYDAY 1,000 Great Everyday Wines, ($25, DK Publishing) is a compilation of over 1,000 suggestions for great everyday drinking wines—value wines that aim to please every level of wine drinker. Compiled by a group of wine writers from around the world, the book showcases value wines that have regional character. Covering reds, whites, ... read more>

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94% of U.S. Wine Consumers Prefer Natural Cork