Rye is bourbon’s feisty cousin. Unlike bourbon, which must be made from at least 51 percent corn, American rye whiskey requires a minimum of 51 percent of its namesake tall, spiky grain in its mash bill. Its dominance imparts the liquid with a distinctive spicy punch, making it the ideal counterpoint to bourbon’s sweetness. It took a while for rye’s star to rise during the country’s 21st century spirits boom, especially compared to bourbon. Yet the category’s enjoying a spike in gro...| VinePair
While every state in America produces wine, much of the U.S. wine conversation is still centered around its most famous region, California’s Napa Valley. And while Napa produces some exceptional wines, it often takes attention away from other regions making equally incredible wines. So we talked to wine professionals from across the country to learn more about their opinions on some of the most overlooked American wine regions. The article We Asked 13 Wine Pros: What’s the Most Underrated...| VinePair
A bad bar doesn’t always reveal its subpar nature right away. It instead provides subtle hints that point to poor quality, and these clues usually can’t be spotted until guests settle into their barstools. When they are identified, however, they can become red flags so big and bright, they radically alter the guest experience. Instead of the bar becoming the conduit for a fun hangout session over a couple of cocktails, it downgrades into a spot where quickly drinking a bottled beer while ...| VinePair
When it comes to red wines, few are as revered as Cabernet Sauvignon. As the most planted red wine grape variety in the world, Cabernet is abundant and extremely versatile, but it can often be expensive. Regions like Bordeaux and Napa Valley have harnessed the power of the grape and leveraged its quality — bumping up the prices of Cabernet Sauvignon around the world. That doesn’t mean that all Cabernets exist in these exclusive price brackets, though. The article We Asked 10 Sommeliers: W...| VinePair
As the tequila market continues to boom, so does its reputation as a sophisticated spirit. This is perhaps best marked by the proliferation of luxury, expensive bottles on the market. For people getting into the category and long-time aficionados, seeing a tequila retailing for three digits and protected by a glass case may look intriguing, especially if it’s not packaged in some overly fancy, decorative bottle. Personal budget constraints may keep these bottles out of reach. You don’t ha...| VinePair
When it comes to wine, certain regions are undeniably more famous than others, and they tend to be the ones that carry the most prestige (think places like Champagne, Burgundy, and Napa Valley). While there are certainly a number of phenomenal bottlings coming from these regions — their reputation didn’t come from nowhere — not every wine is knockout. Though one would think so given their esteem. With that in mind, we asked six wine professionals from across the country to share their t...| VinePair
Hops provide a masterclass in the art of deception. The green, conical flowers of the female hops plant may all look the same to the untrained eye. Yet more than 250 varieties have been scientifically categorized, each strain carrying its own level of alpha acid, beta acid, and essential oil. During brewing, these deliver distinctive bitterness and balance. Skilled brewers yield these differences to their advantage, using certain strains to craft beers with distinctive structure and flavor. G...| VinePair
