Tiki Time at the Spare Room, Hollywood

It's time. Time to shake off the mourning for the late lamented Bahooka and get your Tiki on in style. While you'll do fine in a classic Zombie or...

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Blueberry Grappa by G. Bertagnolli

Not your crazy uncle's bathtub moonshine--Bertagnolli grappas are a smooth, sophisticated ending to a memorable mangia. The blueberry is like a whiff...

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Life of the Party at Fatty’s Public House, West Hollywood

Hendricks gin, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, fresh grapefruit juice, sparkling wine, in a coupe so deep you're tempted to dive in. I think I can...

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The Old Country at Sirio Ristorante, Aria Las Vegas

A truly Italian cocktail, this colder cousin to the Negroni combines Carpano Antica, Fernet-Branca and fresh squeezed blood orange for a fruity but...

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Rye Bruja and The Cardoon at One Eyed Gypsy, Los Angeles

A little bird tells us that one Jack White held his Grammy awards after-party at this relatively under-regarded Dana Hollister "dive" in Downtown LA....

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Minute Mixologist: Improved Hot Buttered Rhum

As you enjoy your holiday revelry, consider this slight adaptation of the classic mugful Hot Buttered Rum. In place of traditional Jamaican rum, I...

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Minute Mixologist: The Latketini!

It wasn't by design that your Minute Mixologist decided to tribute another Jewish holiday with Stoli Gala Applik, but what can I say? You like what...

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Canard aux Cerise at Smoke, West Hollywood

Highlight of the cocktail menu at this casually fashionista steak house, the Canard aux Cerise could be considered a mariner's Manhattan: Dos Maderas...

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Minute Mixologist: The Rosh Hashanah YomPertif

Just in time for Rosh Hashanah, the Minute Mixologist (that's me) presents a Apples'n'Honey-inspired apertif: sweet, tart, bracing and fresh, to...

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Desperados Tequila-Beer at Monop, Paris

Think we Americans have the market cornered on questionable quaffing? Au contraire, mon cher! Voici Desperados biere, avec tequila, available at all...

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Pairing Chocolate & Wine at the Sugar Factory, Las Vegas

For the Las Vegas Weekly, I got to experience the full flight of chocolate and wine pairings at the Sugar Factory in Paris Las Vegas. Read My Full...

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Killer’s Kiss at Rhumbar, Las Vegas

Sure, rum seems the obvious choice at Rhumbar, but surprisingly a few of their other original libations are also noteworthy. Paying homage to an...

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Sake at Shibuya, MGM Grand Las Vegas

Read my review of the Shinkansen to Shibuya tasting event at Bon Appetit's Vegas Uncork'd, originally published in Escape Hatch Dallas 2010  ...

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Second Wine Weekend, Aureole Las Vegas

Read my full report on Aureole's amazing Second Wine Weekend, originally published in Escape Hatch Dallas 2011   Mandalay Bay Wine & Spirits...

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Charlotte Voisey, William Grant Ambassador

Read my interview with Charlotte Voisey in Escape Hatch Dallas, originally published 2011   William Grant & Sons Click the photo above for a...

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Tuesday 21 May, 2013

Una Piña, Muchas Niñas: Bacardi Fusion Parties!

Yesterday, Bacardi held a roll-out event for its new Pineapple Fusion expression, which combines the flavors of pineapple and coconut in light rum, at the iconic/infamous Hollywood Roosevelt pool. As much as I’m inclined to dismiss any pre-flavored spirit (especially one easily synthesized with fresh ingredient at a typical bar), I can see how this [...]


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Friday 03 May, 2013

5 Ways To Drink Better This Cinco De Mayo: Mezcals, Margaritas & More

I just returned from a birthday trip to the gorgeous Maroma Resort (an Orient Express property) in the Riviera Maya on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, which was eye opening in many ways. While the upscale property’s food and beverage program–led by award-winning Chef Juan Pablo Loza and the iconic “Freddy The Bartender” (pictured below)–is [...]


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Monday 08 April, 2013

Down the Hatch!

One of the many outlets I’m proud to write for is the EscapeHatchDallas blog of my friend and colleague Mike Hiller… •How’s Your Drink: An Interview with Cocktail Expert Charlotte Voisey •Eating the Road: Aureole Las Vegas’ Wine Weekend •“Tequila Certification”: One of Our Vegas Editors Becomes a Tequila Sommelier •Bottle Envy: Exploring Sake at [...]


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Friday 29 March, 2013

Penis Colada and Jackapple Shots: Nightclub & Bar Show 2013

The upper echelons of the mixology world may turn up their collective nose at Nightclub & Bar, the annual Las Vegas convention and trade show, but NCBS remains a barometer and almost unpredictable cross-section of the liquor service industry across the US–a solid reminder that ultra-premium ingredients, hand-crafted cocktails and original recipes are not necessarily [...]


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Wednesday 27 March, 2013

Pooling Talents: Social Mixology Four

Bar Magic bigwig Tobin Ellis assembled his latest Social Mixology (number four) summit last week at perhaps the most unexpected location yet: a strip club. Well, not just any strip club, but Sapphire Las Vegas, which claims to be the world’s largest (and at 70,000 square feet, how could you argue?). And well, not really [...]


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Sunday 24 March, 2013

Tony Abou-Ganim’s Ultimate Vegas Bar Crawl

Buried in the Spring 2013 issue of VEGAS magazine was an item in which “The Modern Mixologist,” Tony Abou-Ganim, picked (reluctantly) his five favorite Las Vegas bars. The influential bar consultant, who just released a new book on tasting vodkas, is not only a longtime Vegas resident, he’s also responsible for spearheading the cocktail revival [...]


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Thursday 28 February, 2013

Tastevin Is Watching You

If you’ve wondered why restaurants are moving to iPad based beverage menus, it isn’t just because it looks cool, but because it improves wine sales, in every sense… I don’t typically just repurpose press releases, but this one deserves a quick read… Santa Rosa, CA – Tastevin, a new tablet wine list, is now providing [...]