The widespread popularity of Japanese whisky in the United States may seem like a fairly recent phenomenon — at least, that is, in the context of bourbon and scotch, for example — but its history goes back nearly a century…or more, if you consider whisky that was produced by the […]
Author: Brian Freedman
Sake Isn’t Just For Sushi: Here’s How To Pair It With Food, According To An Expert
The popularity of sake has been growing for years in the United States, which should come as no surprise for those who have gravitated to rice wine for both sipping and pairing with food. The range of styles and fantastic food-friendliness of sake make it the perfect beverage for the […]
All The Bottles Of Bubbly You Should Be Popping This Holiday Season
This, of course, is the time of year for popping corks from bottles of bubbly. And after everything that the last few years threw at us, we all deserve something great in our glass. Here are 19 standouts — they’re listed alphabetically — from all over the world (Champagne! California! […]
17 Tequila And Mezcal Bottles For Your Holiday Table — Or Gifting!
Whiskey may get most of the attention this time of year, but tequila and mezcal should absolutely have a place on your holiday table as the spirits are more complex than just for margaritas on a summer day. Whether you’re considering a crisp, herbaceous blanco tequila, a rich and warming […]
Biltong Is The Cured Meat You’re Not Eating — But Should
The first time I visited South Africa, I’m pretty sure I ate my body-weight in biltong. I’d heard about the country’s famous cured meats before, but since I’ve never been a great fan of jerky, I was totally unprepared for the life-changing lightning bolt of protein that would strike me […]
Smoke Your Bird Like A Pro And ‘Wow’ Everyone At Your Thanksgiving Table
A few years ago, bored with the same (admittedly delicious) roast turkey for Thanksgiving, and tired after having spent three decades tending to the annual bird, my mother tasked my brother-in-law and I with the job of doing something different with the winged beast. After a handful of conversations about […]
These Are The Cocktails You’ll Want To Drink With Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving will look different this year for most of us, especially with large family gatherings more or less off the proverbial table. Yet for all of the sadness we’ll feel at not being able to share the big day with our extended families, there is one notable up-side to the […]
Five Standout Rye Whiskies You Need To Try For Yourself
The rise of rye whiskey is nothing short of astounding. Until a little more than 10 years ago, it barely made any noise at all among consumers in recent decades. But that has changed — and in dramatic fashion — ever since. According to the most recent annual report by […]
Vermouth Is The Best Aperitif You’re Not Drinking
Vermouth is having a moment. Not just because it’s finally found its rightful place once again as an important, thoughtfully considered component of cocktails — when was the last time you were at a proper cocktail establishment and the mixological genius behind the bar added some mass-produced vermouth from an […]
Decoding The Wine Label: Natural, Organic, Biodynamic And More
The recent (and controversial) roll-out of the new Cameron Diaz-backed wine brand Avaline and its claim of being a so-called “clean” wine, has brought a renewed sense of attention on what certain wine terms actually mean. This is not a small issue. The terminology applied to wines has a massive […]