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 […]
Articles by Tom Nixon
Boozehound 101: The Fuzzy Navel

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, […]
Boozehound Reviews: Bulleit Rye Whiskey

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 […]
Boozehound 101: The old fashioned

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 […]
Boozehound Reviews: Black Velvet, Iowa’s drink of choice

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. […]
Boozehound 101: The daiquiri

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 […]
Boozehound reviews: Bulleit Bourbon

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 […]
Boozehound 101: Jack Rose

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 […]
Boozehound Reviews: Winter Jack Tennessee Cider

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 […]
Boozehound 101: The Manhattan
Boozehound Reviews: Kringle Cream
Boozehound 101: An introduction to port

“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 […]