The Art of Tequila Making
Much like a good whiskey or cognac, the goal of sipping tequila is to experience the notes and flavor, not to mask it or cover it up. Strive for more taste and less burn.
Rum Spirits Guide
Sugarcane is the base ingredient for making rum (Classified by color) (Colonial styles: French, English, Spanish) The Difference Between Rum and Rhum A rum’s stature is determined by the quality and uniqueness of the base ingredient. One key distinction between the British-Caribbean style spelled r-u-m and the French-Caribbean island style spelled r-h-u-m is the French version uses sugar cane […]
Chef Traci S. McIlwain’s Whiskey Food Pairings
It’s always difficult when pairing food with libations. There are so many things that come into play, notably the contrast between ingredients. But I tend to stick to the same formula I use for pairing wine with food. Once you know which flavors are involved, you can go to work creating food and libations pairings […]
Can OMAGE artisanal brandy beat out French Cognac in a Blind Taste Test?
History says, yes! Forty-six years ago, the French wine establishment pitted some of the finest wines in France against unknown California wines in a blind taste challenge. Most saw the outcome as virtually guaranteed. Or, so they thought. [The question remains, can a Cognac-inspired spirit called OMAGE do the same for California brandy?] Time for […]
Ancient Alchemy: The Secret History of Distilled Spirits
The secret processes of distillation and other alchemic processes were not taught in universities, but were instead transmitted in secrecy from teacher to apprentice and student.
Highland vs. Lowland: The Best Tequilas on Every Level
The Journey to Your Favorite Tequila Highland vs. Lowland agave plants: Does it make any difference in the tequila taste? Tequila Terroir The word terroir, meaning ‘of the earth’, is a French word that describes the influence of soil type, climate and terrain. The importance of terroir in winemaking is well known, but when it comes to tequila […]
New Awayuki Strawberry-Infused Japanese Gin Is an Instant Classic!
A Japanese Gin made from sugarcane and infused with the most expensive strawberries on earth.
The Ways of Rum and Sugarcane: A Brief Controversial History
Sugarcane, rum and the chains of slavery in the West Indies The origin story of rum would not be complete without shedding light on the controversial history of sugar and molasses. Sugar, or what the British called “white gold,” was the cash crop that made the empires of Europe and their New World colonies, including the […]
Super-Premium Vodkas Are Not All Created Equal
VODKA BASE INGREDIENTS We have seen a resurgence of super-premium vodka in recent years, due in part to the growth of high quality whiskies and tequilas. Customers are paying closer attention to detail, especially to how vodka is made and what’s in it. (Base Ingredients: wheat, rye, barley, spelt, grape, potato, corn) We now have […]
A Brief History of Barrels and Aging
The history of barrels and aging begins with the discovery by Dutch merchants that distilled wine (brandywine) from Cognac took on an exceptional new flavor as it aged in barrels on route to its destination. The longer the voyage, the better it tasted, and the higher the asking price at port. Naturally, those clever Scotts […]