Tequila isn’t what it used to be when I was in college. There was a time when it seemed that there was only Cuervo and if you wanted to get fancy, Patrón. Roll by the tequila section of your local liquor store today, however, and it’s a different story: There seems to be more choices […]
You can blame this Boozehound 101 on Netflix. I was binge-watching my way through Archer when I reached the episode where he binge-drank his way through a hefty load of first fuzzy, then hairy navels. And thus, inspiration struck — even though I’ve been faithfully working my way through David Embury’s six classic cocktails, sometimes, […]
What’s 95 percent rye, 5 percent malted barley and 100 percent awesome? If you said Bulleit Rye whiskey, you’d be right (and probably bad at math). Yes, with spring’s arrival, warmer temperatures call for something with a touch of sweetness, but enough punch to keep you nice and warm on those cooler days nights. Bulleit […]
In this edition of Boozehound 101, we’re taking a look at yet another one of David Embury’s six basic drinks: the Old Fashioned. There’s a lot of history behind the Old Fashioned, as it may well be the progenitor of the word ‘cocktail’ itself and dates to the early 19th century. The inherent appeal of […]
In November, Little Village published an article detailing the booze-drinking habits of Iowa, courtesy of the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division annual report. Well, it’s a new year, but I thought I’d finally run on down to the old liquor emporium and find out what Iowa’s favorite alcohol — Canada’s Black Velvet — was all about. […]
Quick, raise your hand if you’ve ever had a real, genuine daiquiri? And I’m not talking about one made in a blender! The classic daiquiri is one of the simplest, most elegant cocktails. Supposedly hailing from Cuba, the drink was invented at the turn of the last century and eventually became the favorite drink of […]
What better way to start 2015 than with something sweet, slightly spicy and smooth? For January, I recommend one of Kentucky’s tastiest bourbons, Bulleit. The Bulleit Family began distilling in Kentucky way back in 1830 and managed a good 30 years in the business before production was discontinued. Happily, the great great grandson of the […]
Of the essential cocktails listed in David Embury’s The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, the Jack Rose is probably the one that people are least familiar with — yet it might be one of the most authentic American cocktails in the author’s six pack. The American roots of the Jack Rose stem from its base […]
If you’ve been to your local liquor store lately, you’ll have noticed that the shelves have many seasonal surprises. One such offering is Winter Jack, a blend of Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, apple liqueur and spices. Squat and square like most bottles of Jack Daniels, it is wrapped in a snowy white […]
In the classic modern mixology volume, The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, David A. Embury lists six classic cocktails that any bartender worth their salt should be able to make you and make you well. The way I see it, if we’re going to talk about the wide kaleidoscope of booze that’s out there, we […]
It was by happenstance that I stumbled upon the subject of this edition of Boozehound; I was walking down the liquor aisle at my local Hy-Vee when a tan bottle of Kringle Cream caught my eye, and I had to see what it was. I thought, what the heck is Kringle Cream? But the bottle […]
“Have you saved any room for dessert tonight?” I can’t count the number of times I’ve been asked the over the years, only to regretfully decline, having stuffed my face with delicious food. But in many restaurants, there’s a slightly less filling beverage option that is often overlooked post-dinner (and no, I’m not talking about […]