Get all of our Mezcal Reviews, Brand Profiles, Cocktail Recipes & Articles in one place. Learn about Mezcal now!| VinePair
A little smoky and a little sweet, the Oaxaca Old Fashioned helped solidify agave spirits as a mainstay of modern cocktail culture.| VinePair
One of the best cocktails to emerge post-"cocktail renaissance," the Naked and Famous is an iconic equal parts cocktail. See the recipe here!| VinePair
The Division Bell is a mezcal-driven riff on the Last Word, replacing gin with the smoky agave-based spirit. See the recipe here!| VinePair
Over the past few years, it’s become increasingly evident that tequila is having a moment. Whether it be the barrage of celebrity brands, the prevalence of baller tequila bottles, or the enduring appeal of the Margarita, the meteoric rise of agave spirits is undeniable. And we didn’t come to this conclusion just by sussing out the vibes in bars and liquor stores — the numbers clearly back it up. The American Association of Wine Economists recently shared tequila and mezcal sales data in...| VinePair
It’s been a spicy topic for a California wine industry approaching economic panic: the “Wine Improvement District” — or “WID” for those actively at odds in the debate. The idea sounds sensible enough: a small regional levy on direct-to-consumer sales, with the goal of raising funds for collective regional marketing. God knows wine needs every advantage it can muster given the current hand-wringing environment, but the seemingly reasonable proposition has set off heated exchanges. ...| VinePair
Recently, a listener of the podcast took a trip to Napa Valley and visited a combination of legacy and new wineries. While there, they found that the newer brands were more innovative in both their tastings and winemaking techniques — and their hospitality delivered. The legacy brands, on the other hand, were said to be the opposite, and the experience did not stand out as anything special. And given the lofty price tag attached to the experience, it was a bit of a letdown. What is there to...| VinePair
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
”My dad gave me advice 60 years ago: The day that you think you’re any better than the lowest man on the job is the day you start going backwards.” Bill Coleman represents the fifth of seven generations of the Coleman hop-growing family in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Health concerns may have ”retired” him from leadership in Coleman Agriculture, but he’s still active on the farm. Max Coleman, seventh-generation director of farm operations, jokes that Bill is now ”the old fart w...| VinePair
For white wine drinkers, Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most popular varieties. But while fans of the grape typically gravitate toward only one or two areas (cough cough, Marlborough and Sancerre), there’s a broad spectrum of Sauvignon Blancs to explore from great wine regions across the globe. Sauvignon Blanc is an extremely versatile grape, ranging from crisp, mineral-driven bottles with delicate fruit character to ripe expressions brimming with notes of pineapple, passion fruit, grapefrui...| VinePair
We’ve all been there. You’re out to dinner, you’ve enjoyed a cocktail or two, and you’ve moved on to a bottle of wine. Only the meal is winding down and you’re not sure that you’ll be able to finish the bottle by the time you leave the restaurant. Are you allowed to take the leftover wine home or will you be forced to leave it at the table? The good news is that taking an unfinished bottle of wine home with you after dining in at a restaurant is almost universally legal. The artic...| VinePair
On Thursday, Versaille, Ky.-based distillery Woodford Reserve announced the release of Barrel Strength Rye, the brand’s highest-proof rye whiskey to date. The Woodford Reserve Barrel Strength Rye is crafted with the same pre-prohibition style mash bill of 53 percent rye used in the brand’s flagship rye. But the new, limited-edition release is bottled at a hearty 125.1 proof (62.55 percent ABV), leading to a bolder flavor profile when compared to the more classic Woodford Reserve Rye, whic...| VinePair
Netflix’s “House of Guinness” finally launched on Sept. 25. From the writer of “Peaky Blinders,” the show is set in the 19th century and focuses on the Guinness family dynasty following the death of patriarch Benjamin Guinness. While the Guinness brand had nothing to do with the creation of the show, the series undeniably helps solidify the beer as a piece of cultural heritage. Moreover, it serves as an introduction for younger consumers — who are perhaps only eager to split the G...| VinePair
Born in the golden age of aviation, the Air Mail combines rum, lime, honey, and Champagne and packages it as a beautiful, effervescent mix that promises glamor and cross-continental connections. In many ways, the cocktail can be viewed as a sibling of the French 75 and a precursor to the Old Cuban — a cocktail named for the same country where the Air Mail’s story beings. Today on the “Cocktail College” podcast, Tim McKirdy is joined by Leanne Favre of Brooklyn’s Dolores to discuss ...| VinePair
Being a bartender can be a tough gig. It’s long hours on your feet, late nights, and near-constant interaction with other people — intoxicated people, at that. Luckily though, no one knows this better than fellow bartenders, most of whom have established a secret set of rules to guide behavior at not just their own bar, but every bar they visit in their free time as well. The article 8 ‘Unwritten Rules’ of Being a Bartender, According to Reddit appeared first on VinePair.| VinePair
The other day, I filed an analysis for VinePair on the latest developments in the court-ordered receivership of Uncle Nearest, Inc., the high-flying Tennessee liquor firm that’s been laid low by the pesky matter of $108 million in defaulted debts. Firms are incentivized to settle or stem litigation in order to keep themselves out of court and outside the public eye, I wrote, so the fact that that situation is playing out on the record in federal court is a rare privilege. The article A Fire...| VinePair
In 2025, tipping seems more ubiquitous — and contentious— than ever. Rather than an unimposing jar of singles with a punny label sitting on a counter, mobile payment services like Toast and Square bring the tipping options front and center. Though tapping a screen does make adding an extra dollar to your coffee purchase easier, the suggestion to add at least 25 percent to almost any transaction has led some Americans to believe that tipping has spiraled out of control. Not to mention that...| 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
The story of Harlan Estate begins with H. William Harlan, Bill for short. Bill was born in Southern California in 1940 and as a teenager, he had three dreams: Sail around the world, have a family, and own a vineyard. As Bill grew older, his love for wine developed further as he witnessed the work going on in California to revive an industry that was almost entirely decimated by Prohibition. After graduating from college, Bill sailed around the world, achieving one of his dreams, before return...| VinePair
New York City’s beer history is a strange one. A big beer powerhouse from the days of the Dutch all the way to post-World War II, then well ahead of the brewpub trend in the 1980s, by the 1990s and early 2000s, when the craft beer movement was beginning to boom, New York City was suddenly lacking. That would change quickly in the 2010s as great brewery after great brewery began to spring up — mostly in Brooklyn, but today each borough has at least one or two spots of note. The article 10 ...| VinePair
Ah, Pinot Grigio, a zesty white wine that is as refreshing as a cold glass of lemonade on a hot summer’s day. The second most popular white wine in America, Pinot Grigio (a.k.a. Pinot Gris) is a dry white wine that has a punchy acidity with flavors of lemons, limes, green apples and honeysuckle. While most believe Pinot Grigio originated in Italy, it was actually born, like many of the most popular grapes of the world, in France, where it is known as Pinot Gris. The article The 19 Best Pino...| VinePair
Wine has had special prominence in the cultural conversation for hundreds if not thousands of years. From the Classification of 1855, where the top Bordeaux producers were designated in advance of a global expo, to the many efforts to rank and codify the top vineyards in regions around the world, discussing which wines are best, or most important, is central to the conversation around wine. While finding a definitive answer is a fool’s errand, that doesn’t mean that we can’t try — wit...| VinePair
After what has seemed like an endless string of smashing successes, the bourbon industry is facing its first real roadblocks in decades, and reports of turmoil and decline have been growing more frequent and agitated over the past year. IWSR Drinks Market Analysis showed a 2 percent downturn in domestic bourbon sales volume from 2023 to 2024, while globally, sales volume was flat from 2023 to 2024. The article Why Buffalo Trace Is Beating Bourbon’s Downturn appeared first on VinePair.| VinePair
Today on the “VinePair Podcast,” Adam, Joanna, and Zach react to a trio of stories. First up, there’s the news that Michelob Ultra has surpassed Modelo as the best-selling beer (by volume) in the United States. Is this just because of tariffs and ICE raids, or has AB-InBev hit on a winning message? Then, they explore whether a recent Harris Poll about beverage preferences at restaurants says anything new about generational shifts in attitudes toward alcohol. Finally, the trio ponder the...| 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
Classic bourbon cocktails — the Old Fashioned, the Manhattan, the Whiskey Sour — have undoubtedly earned their keep as mainstays on any reputable bar list. While these drinks have stood the test of time, some experts like Liam Weitz, head bartender at a cocktail bar in Brooklyn, believe it’s time for both seasoned mixologists and curious at-home imbibers to start thinking beyond what’s expected from the American spirit. For Weitz, bourbon’s versatility goes far deeper than the swe...| VinePair
Most Tuesday mornings, Utepils Brewing president Daniel Justesen runs a rather carnivorous errand at Kramarczuk’s, a venerable Ukrainian deli and butcher shop in Minneapolis. He buys bacon, assorted sausages, and smoked pork chops, then brings them to his Twin Cities brewery. Kielbasa isn’t a weekly employee perk. Instead, the Kramarczuk’s bounty is reserved for that evening’s customers who fill the spacious taproom for pilsners, hefeweizens, and free tickets for the weekly meat raffl...| VinePair
A traditional spirit of Mexico, mezcal is known for its centuries of rich history and distinct set of artisanal techniques that have been passed down for generations. But recently, the once-local spirit has seen an astronomic boom in popularity in the U.S., going from a niche pursuit to a widely used cocktail ingredient. The spirit even found its way into beloved modern classics like the Naked and Famous, Division Bell, and Oaxaca Old Fashioned. Though mezcal’s newfound fame is great for fa...| VinePair
Brands founded several centuries ago have a few advantages when it comes to history, lore, and tradition. But for Guinness, a modern social media trend is upending a drinking culture that dates back to 1759. That new phenomenon is called “splitting the G,” in which drinkers try to swallow enough beer on their first drink that the line between liquid and foam ends up halfway through the “G” of the Guinness brand on the glass.| VinePair
In the seventeenth century in southwestern France, an accidental breeding occurred between a red Cabernet Franc grape plant and a white Sauvignon Blanc grape plant and thus was born the most popular grape among American wine drinkers: Cabernet Sauvignon. Looking for a bottle to drink? Check out our regularly updated list of the best Cabernet Sauvignon bottles!| VinePair
Merlot is a juicy, elegant, and versatile red grape variety that’s grown around the globe, but it’s world famous for its role in the luxurious blends of Bordeaux. While Merlot’s characteristics vary depending on the climate, soil, and winemaking techniques, wines made with the grape are typically dry and can show flavors of red and black fruits, softer tannins, and medium to medium-high body and acidity.| VinePair
Born in Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc shares its heritage with some of the world’s great grapes, including Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec. However, much like Malbec, it plays a supporting role in the region’s blends.| VinePair
An iconic, food-friendly Italian red wine, Chianti can range in price from $10 a bottle to upwards of $50 for higher-end versions. In recent decades, Chianti has outgrown its old-school straw basket image from the 1970s, and has evolved past being an Anthony Hopkins reference in Silence of the Lambs. Looking for a bottle to drink? Check out our regularly updated list of the best Chianti bottles! Chianti In 60 Seconds: The Chianti region is landlocked in central Italy and includes seven sub-re...| VinePair
A powerful and perfectly balanced expression of Sangiovese. This $160 Chianti from Italy is good for Dinner With The Parents. See the rating and review now!| VinePair
Get all of our Petit Verdot Reviews, Brand Profiles, Cocktail Recipes & Articles in one place. Learn about Petit Verdot now!| VinePair
The ongoing lawsuit between Tennessee-based whiskey brand Uncle Nearest, Inc. and its primary lender, Farm Credit Mid-America, continues to escalate. On Friday, the bank filed a motion alleging that 11 distinct entities overlap with Uncle Nearest, Inc., in a move to expand on a judge’s previous order that placed Uncle Nearest, Inc. into receivership. The article Uncle Nearest Lender Argues That Additional ‘Comingled,’ Personally Owned Entities Should Be Added to Receivership appeared fi...| VinePair
Here on the “VinePair Podcast,” we talk a lot about the wine industry. Wine isn’t doing great right now — that’s not a secret, and it’s also not negative to point it out. The status quo isn’t working, and being blunt about it from a business perspective isn’t a cynical thing. If anything, it’s coming from a place of advocacy. This podcast is hosted by three individuals who are staunchly pro-wine, but they’re not cheerleaders, and championing everything in a category simply...| VinePair
Half Piña Colada, half Strawberry Daiquiri layered in a swirl of pink and white, the Miami Vice is as bold visually as it is on the palate. Inspired by a television show and born in result culture, the frozen cocktail quickly became a symbol of vacation excess. But the Miami Vice is more than a novelty — it’s a study in contrasts, and when executed with intention, it shows how frozen cocktails can be both playful and precise. The article The Cocktail College Podcast: The Miami Vice appea...| VinePair
If the rise of the Negroni put its leading liqueur, Campari, in the spotlight over the past decade or so, the same might be said of its feature vermouth. But how much do people really know about sweet vermouth, beyond its supporting role in the equal-parts cocktail? Unlike its dry and blanco counterparts, sweet vermouth, or red vermouth, stands out for its vibrant ruby coloring that comes from the caramelized sugar used to produce the wine product. The article 13 of the Best Cocktails to Make...| VinePair
There’s an episode of “Seinfeld” I think about a lot. Well, there are a lot of episodes of “Seinfeld” I think about a lot, actually. I’m a 37-year-old white guy, after all. But one of the subplots in this particular episode of “Seinfeld” — Season 5, Episode 22, “The Opposite,” for the real heads reading this — turns on the realization that the show’s cosmic scales are balanced on its titular lead, with the rest of the characters’ fortunes rising and falling in dire...| VinePair
On Thursday, East Coast brewery and restaurant chain Iron Hill announced that it closed all 16 of its locations overnight. Primarily concentrated in the Southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware areas, Iron Hill also had locations in Georgia, New Jersey, and South Carolina. The brewery and restaurant announced the news in a Facebook post, but didn’t share a specific reason for the abrupt closure. “To our valued guests, after many wonderful years of serving our communities, all Iron Hill Loca...| VinePair
Darling is a new Chinese-inspired cocktail bar from Brian Callahan and Zimu Chen that recently opened in Cambridge, Mass.’s Central Square. The bar takes inspiration from a number of sources, including the space’s previous tenant, Mary Chung’s, a beloved Chinese restaurant that served Sichuan dishes for 40 years. When researching design for the space, Callahan also looked to the cha chaan tengs of Hong Kong — cafes known for their eclectic menus that combine Eastern and Western comfor...| VinePair
Classic well drinks like the Rum and Coke or Vodka Soda might seem like the easiest cocktails to master, but there are still some nuances to consider while building these simple, two-part drinks. It might be your first instinct to spend the most time and consideration on choosing the right base spirit. But while the brand of whiskey or tequila you use is definitely a big factor, the soda component typically makes up the majority of the drink, so it’s just as important, if not more so, to co...| VinePair
If you’re in the wine world, when you hear Screaming Eagle, you think cult Cab. The wine — which is one of the most expensive American-made wines in existence — has been associated with the cult Cabernet class of wines practically since it made its debut in the early ‘90s. But despite its popularity and elite status, the history of the brand is shrouded in mystery. Today on the “Wine 101” podcast, Keith dives into the history of Screaming Eagle, one of Napa’s most coveted wine l...| 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
First came mlíko, which gave us “milk tubes,” “mlíko bombs,” and other variations on the all-foam beer serve. With bars and taprooms looking for new ways to attract customers, will the two-beer mix known as řezané pivo be the next Czech pour to win over the craft beer world? It certainly feels like the time for it. Roughly translated as “cut beer,” řezané pivo includes both dark lager and pale lager, often (though not always) poured in two separate layers, giving each glass ...| VinePair
One of the best-kept secrets in the wine world has to be Alto Adige in northeast Italy. For one thing, it’s relatively remote, lying a few hours north of both Venice and Milan. For another, it’s one of Italy’s smallest wine regions, with just under 15,000 acres of vineyards — compare that with more than 240,000 acres in Sicily, Italy’s largest. And yet, the mountainous Alto Adige (also known as Südtirol or South Tyrol), which borders Austria and where German is the dominant languag...| VinePair
In case you’ve missed it, Chili’s is having a bit of a moment right now. And that moment doesn’t appear to be ending anytime soon. Founded by Larry Lavine in Dallas in 1975, Chili’s Grill & Bar slowly expanded across six states until it was purchased by restaurateur Norman Brinker in 1983. Under Brinker’s ownership, Chili’s Inc. went public as a company, started franchising, and opened 1,000 locations by 2004. In the early 2010s, though, Chili’s — like most sit-down chain rest...| VinePair
On Oct. 5 and 6, Chicago is set to host the second edition of Vinitaly.USA, an exhibition bringing together hundreds of Italian wine producers and thousands of buyers across North America. Vinitaly.USA showcases the dynamic nature of Italian wines and offers over 30 masterclasses and other events for attendees to network, learn, and taste. And here to tell us more about it are Molly Matelski and Serafin Alvarado. The article The VinePair Podcast: Exploring the Intersection of Italian Wine, Sp...| VinePair
On Tuesday, Tito’s Handmade Vodka announced it reached an agreement to acquire the majority stake in LALO Tequila, one of the fastest-growing tequila brands in the U.S. The deal marks the first strategic acquisition in Tito’s history. Founded by Eduardo ”Lalo” González, David ”R” Carballido, and Jim McDermott, LALO rapidly gained a strong fan base for its traditional approach to tequila, using only three ingredients: Highland agave, deep well water from Jalisco’s mineral-rich s...| VinePair
Over the past few years, the global wine industry news has been a playlist of emo angst peppered by Hans Zimmer-esque impending doom. Wine consumption is declining and, yes, there’s a glut of grapes. Unsurprisingly, economic anxiety is the track of the day. While the wine lake in Europe has prompted major headlines regarding full-on policy intervention, the U.S. hasn’t escaped its share of the gloom. California in particular — representing well over three-quarters of total domestic prod...| VinePair
Last week, news broke that GALLO acquired Whiny Baby, a California-based wine brand founded in 2020 that specifically markets to Gen Z drinkers of legal age. This is the first GALLO wine acquisition since the conglomerate purchased Rombauer and Massican in 2022. The news comes at a time when headlines dominate about wine’s struggle to gain the attention of younger consumers, and perhaps that’s the driving force behind the purchase. Whiny Baby has already established itself in their target...| VinePair
This Episode of “Wine 101” is sponsored by Rioja. Tempranillo. Spain’s signature variety and the anchor for the wines of Rioja. Along with the support of Manzeulo, Graciano, and Viura, these wines show depth, complexity, ageability, and refreshment. These varieties produce not only delicious wine but also symbolize a legacy of quality that has been central to the region for over 100 years. This is a very special episode of “Wine 101” — it’s the first recording ever done live. An...| 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
The United States has a brand new top-selling beer. According to a Monday press release from Anheuser-Busch, Michelob Ultra is the No. 1 selling beer in America by volume. Bud Light, a fellow Anheuser-Busch portfolio member, long held the crown for America’s top-selling beer, but following conservative boycotts over a partnership with influencer Dylan Mulvaney in 2023, sales slipped. In June of that year, Constellation-owned Modelo overtook Bud Light in off-premise dollar sales, a shift tha...| VinePair
In the late aughts, I did my weekly beer shopping at a Whole Foods on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Craft beer was exploding so much at that time that when the supermarket opened in 2007 it had an entire separate store just for beer. For a few years, it was arguably the best beer store in the entire city. The Bowery Beer Room, as it was known, had cooler after cooler of the hottest IPAs of the moment, six fresh taps for growler fills, grain stations for homebrewers, and a large selection of ...| VinePair
Known as the original “Super Tuscan” and kick-starting the Bordeaux-variety revolution in Italy in the 1970s, Sassicaia continues to be one of the most highly sought-after wines in its category. Sassicaia comes from Bolgheri, a small area on Italy’s Etruscan Coast that was often overlooked when compared to nearby powerhouses like Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino. Unlike these other areas, which are known for crafting wines from the local Sangiovese grape, Bolgheri was planted...| VinePair
The world’s first and best-selling cream liqueur, Baileys, launched in 1974. Drinks giant Diageo purchased it in 2007, and Baileys is now one of Ireland’s most successful exports. Craving more? Read on for 14 other things you should know about Baileys. Baileys isn’t as Irish as you think. Baileys was invented in London in 1973 by a team of professionals hired for the job. These included Tom Jago, head of innovation and development for International Distillers & Vintners (IDV), who was f...| VinePair
Fine dining restaurant Eleven Madison Park is known for its highly technical menu, immaculate hospitality, and extensive beverage program. And four years ago, it became the first three star Michelin restaurant to go completely vegan. But no more. The shocking menu change was first announced in 2021 when the iconic NYC spot reopened after a 15 month closure sparked by the pandemic. During those months, chef Daniel Humm worked for the nonprofit organization Rethink Food — which he co-founded ...| VinePair
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We taste thousands of bottles every year for our “Buy This Booze” roundups, reviewing the best bottles across the most popular wine and spirits categories.| VinePair
When one pictures punch, they probably think of a big bowl of fruity drink languishing at a party. Maybe even cocktails like the Planter’s Punch or the Ti’Punch come to mind. But it’s highly unlikely that one pictures a semi-frozen, meringue-topped concoction when thinking of punch. And yet, that’s exactly what the Punch à la Romaine is — and once upon a time, it was one of the most popular dinner service cocktails in the world. Part cocktail, part sorbet, the Punch à la Romaine i...| VinePair
Today on the “VinePair Podcast,” Adam, Joanna, and Zach interrogate an oft-repeated and deeply held industry belief that “alcohol is recession-proof.” While it may have been true in the past that consumers continued to drink at similar levels regardless of the economic situation around them, that doesn’t mean that recessions don’t cause massive changes and create massive challenges. Plus, what if all the ugly sales data of the last couple of years is connected to the average Ameri...| VinePair
The Monte Carlo is a drink that hides in plain sight. On paper, it feels like an obvious extension of the Old Fashioned: whiskey, bitters, and Bénédictine for sweetness; and that single addition changes the drink completely. It introduces spice, honeyed depth, and an herbal warmth that lingers long after the last sip. It’s the difference between familiar comfort and something quietly transformative. And yet, the Monte Carlo never joined the pantheon of well-known whiskey classics. Under-o...| 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
Late last month, I received a comment from a reader about my column on the American brewing industry’s collective overcapacity problem. Well, more of a request, really. “Dave can you put out a piece that’s happy?” they asked. “Love your journalism, I believe their [sic] are winners out there though. You do ask the tough questions which I appreciate.” I saw it as a teachable moment. “Generally speaking, I don’t consider it a columnist’s role to produce coverage designed to ev...| VinePair
Will craft beer lovers still host “bottle shares” if bottles themselves cease to exist? That may sound like a modern-day Zen koan, but it’s not exactly beyond contemplation. This summer, cans made up about 76 percent of craft beer’s slipping retail sales, according to the Brewers Association, with glass dropping to just 24 percent, a major shift from where things were less than a generation ago. The article Cans Changed Craft Beer Forever. What Comes Next? appeared first on VinePair.| VinePair
The Prisoner is one of the most successful red blends on the market in the United States. Originally released in 2000 by winemaker Dave Phinney, the wine consists of a blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Charbono — and American consumers can’t get enough. The wine almost immediately won over fans of full-bodied reds with its plush palate and intriguing name. And while the wine may have started as a small project, The Prisoner Wine Company is now a part of Cons...| VinePair
It’s no secret that some California Cabernets come with lofty price tags. Ever since Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars won the 1976 Judgement of Paris, the Napa Valley has been considered America’s premier wine region — and most of the wine from the region doesn’t come cheap. Over the years, Napa’s prestige has trickled throughout the Golden State, bumping up the prices of California Cabernet with it. But that doesn’t mean all California Cabs require an arm and a leg to enjoy, or that yo...| VinePair
INDIANAPOLIS — “How was everyone’s 2024?” Matt Gacioch asks. The near-capacity crowd in this conference hall here at the Indiana Convention Center murmurs. The Brewers Association’s new-ish chief economist surveys the room like an improv artist waiting for a prompt. “That wasn’t a rhetorical question,” he says. Finally, somebody chimes in. “Crappy!” No improvisation necessary: It’s an answer everybody sort of expects, including Gacioch. The question that brought America...| VinePair
GALLO has snapped up another California wine brand — one specifically marketed to Gen Z drinkers of legal age. On Tuesday, the news dropped that Whiny Baby had officially joined the conglomerate’s portfolio, following a string of recent acquisitions including Massican and Rombauer. The acquisition was announced on GALLO’s Instagram and by Whiny Baby founder Jess Druey on LinkedIn. In the post, Druey shared that she will continue in her role as founder & head of Whiny baby, and will also...| VinePair
The Martini’s growing popularity shows no signs of stopping, with more bar and restaurant menus dedicating entire sections to the classic. But the rise of interest in the Martini — and the simultaneous rise of on-premise cocktail prices —- also means that more people might be looking to indulge in the drink at home. One of the easiest ways to enjoy a consistent, ice-cold Martini at home without having to start from scratch each time is to whip up a stock of freezer Martinis. The article...| 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
It’s no secret that 2024 was a tough year for the craft brewing industry. But even in the face of tremendous challenges, craft brewers carry on. The Brewers Association (BA) recently released its annual production report recounting the state of the craft brewing industry in the United States. Last year, the number of craft breweries that closed outpaced the total number of brewery openings nationwide for the first time since 2005. Over the course of 2024, 529 breweries closed their doors, w...| VinePair
On this episode of the “VinePair Podcast,” hosts Adam Teeter, Joanna Sciarrino, and Zach Geballe are finally reunited just in time for football season so they can discuss the centrality of tailgating as a part of football drinking culture, why it varies so much around the country and from college football to the NFL, and how it’s suddenly become big business.| VinePair
Anyone who’s attended a college football or NFL game knows that the real party starts outside the stadium. Hours before kickoff, fans flood parking lots armed with coolers, portable grills, and bluetooth speakers to bask in the crisp autumnal weather, fill their bellies with burgers and beer, and mingle with fellow tailgaters. Some attendees might not even go to the game. They go for the food, drinks, and, above all, the camaraderie. But while the practice is inextricably tied to American f...| VinePair
Bud Light was the undisputed best-selling beer in the country. Twisted Tea was just hitting its long-simmering breakout run. Reyes Beverage Group was still called Reyes Beer Division. It was a different beer industry when I first took the helm here at Hop Take in September 2022. Which, duh: Time is linear, and change is constant, etc., etc. Still, my tenure here each week has coincided with some of the most tectonic shifts the American brewing business has known since… I mean… certainly t...| VinePair
It seems like every generation to come of drinking age has their high octane, pre-packaged beverage. You know the kind — the brands that these younger drinkers can’t seem to get enough of, often to the amazement of their older counterparts. For Gen X, it was Boone’s Farm and MD 20/20. For millennials, it was pre-reformulation Four Loko. And for Gen Z, it’s BuzzBallz. First launched in 2010 by Texas-based high school teacher Merrilee Kick, BuzzBallz was practically an instant hit.| VinePair
If you wander into your local watering hole and ask the barkeep for a pour of whiskey — without adding any specifics — you’re almost guaranteed to get something that was brought to bottle in either Scotland, the U.S., Ireland, or Canada. These are the top-producing nations of the spirit, in order. And for centuries, they have accounted for the overwhelming majority of whiskey consumed across the planet. But in recent years, that stronghold has shown signs of slippage. Beginning in earne...| VinePair
Booze News: A curated selection of the most interesting wine, beer, and sprits content from around the web.| VinePair
Lean and fruity with great complexity. This $60 Bourbon from United States is recommended by our experts. See the rating and review now!| VinePair
Pull out the Peychaud's and Angostura. This $33 Rye from United States is recommended by our experts. See the rating and review now!| VinePair
Sweet, mellow, and approachable. This $50 Bourbon from United States is recommended by our experts. See the rating and review now!| VinePair
Get all of our Whiskey Reviews, Brand Profiles, Cocktail Recipes & Articles in one place. Learn about Whiskey now!| VinePair
Over the last decade, bourbon’s popularity has skyrocketed, and there’s no wondering why. Its sweet, warming flavor profile is like a corn-based hug for your insides, on top of the fact that it goes down incredibly smooth. The strong aromatics and bold palate make it an ideal cocktail ingredient, yet its soft sweetness also makes it a perfect sipping whiskey. With the surge of bottles available on the market, bourbon has become a bit more complicated; we’re hearing terms such as “high...| VinePair
Few figures loom as large in bourbon’s history as Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr, whose vision and relentless drive for crafting high-quality spirits led him to revolutionize both bourbon production and marketing. But behind the innovation, Taylor’s life as a whiskey tycoon was quite tumultuous. Amid a career in politics and scandalous business practices, the quality of Taylor’s bourbon never wavered.| VinePair
The flavors of bourbon can be attributed to a few things, such as aging and barrel type, but the most crucial factor at play is the mash bill. A unique mixture of grains that are cooked, fermented, then distilled, the mash bill is the DNA that makes each bourbon different in taste. By law, every bourbon mash bill must contain 51 percent corn, leaving the other 49 percent up to the distiller.| VinePair
Mystical, beautiful, and all-too elusive — the unicorn bottles of the world are loved by many, but getting a bottle is no easy task. As impossible as it may seem to spot a single-horned beast in the wild, it can be even harder to find a unicorn drink on shelves. Blanton’s single-barrel bourbon wasn’t always so hard to find. It made its 1984 debut in the U.S.| VinePair
One of BrewDog’s co-founders is stepping away from the company, according to a Friday report from U.K. publication “The National.” Martin Dickie, who founded the Scottish craft beer brand with James Watt in 2007, unexpectedly announced his departure in an email to the staff, citing personal reasons. “This business has been my life for the last 18 years and I have enjoyed (almost) every minute,” he shared in the email.| VinePair
Where You Might Have Seen Us…| VinePair
The oldest-ever Eagle Rare expression is the result of an experiment gone extraordinarily right.. This $10 Bourbon from United States is recommended by our experts. See the rating and review now!| VinePair
Like beer, spirits have a wide range of tastes and aromas. Lots of things contribute to the flavor profile of a liquor: its ingredients, how it’s aged and what it’s aged in, how many rounds of distillation it’s gone through, where it’s made, plus certain x factors we can’t quite put our finger on. Even considering all this, spirit categories generally share traits in common.| VinePair
This episode of the “VinePair Podcast” is sponsored by Tequila El Mexicano. Founded by one of Tequila’s most storied families, this traditionally made, additive-free tequila is an expression not just of the Bañuelos family’s collective knowledge, but of the Jaliscan highlands themselves. Try the Blanco, Blanco 90, or Reposado to discover their life’s work. You can visit ElMexicanoUS.com to find Tequila El Mexicano near you or order online to experience three generations of tequila ...| VinePair
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. In America’s most lucrative drinks market, a multi-billion-dollar beverage-alcohol heavyweight coordinated behind the scenes to get its hands on one of the country’s most lucrative brands. The story may sound familiar to brewing-industry insiders, and it should. After all, it wasn’t even a decade ago that Reyes Beverage Group (RBG), subsidiary of the sixth-largest privately held company in the United States and by far its largest beer distribut...| VinePair
17 years after co-founding Scottish multinational brewery and pub chain BrewDog, CEO James Watt will step down from his position and assume a new role of ‘captain and co-founder.’ According to The Guardian, Watt informed the company board of his plans to step down last year, and COO James Arrow will take the reins as CEO. Watt will still own a 21-percent stake in BrewDog, and will remain active in company affairs and brand direction as a non-executive member.| VinePair
BrewDog is a brewery, bar chain, and brand with a capital B. It launched in Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 2007, and was founded by friends James Watt and Martin Dickie. Since then, BrewDog has expanded into a multinational company with nearly 100 locations, and more than 1,000 employees around the world. Begging to know more? Here are 11 things you should know about BrewDog. BrewDog is an oxymoron.| VinePair
Vodka has long been the spirit of choice in the U.S. More recently, though, trending categories like tequila and bourbon have been on its tail, drawing attention from the neutral spirit. But despite challenges in the U.S., many brands have retained global success. The Spirits Business recently published its annual Brand Champions Report, revealing a ranking of the best-selling vodka brands in the world. The data revealed that vodka’s overall volume sales from 2023 to 2024 were relatively fl...| VinePair
For the past decade, tequila has been on an absolute tear in the United States. In 2017, there were just six brands selling over 1 million cases per year in the U.S. Last year, there were over a dozen. But according to new data from The Spirits Business (TSB), agave spirits sales could be slowing down. While tequila is still growing in the U.S. — it was one of only two spirits categories to improve in the U.S. in 2024 — its margin of growth last year was much smaller than in years past.| VinePair
Created in the 1970s when the U.S. bourbon industry was questionable at best, Eagle Rare 10 Year helped change the spirit’s reputation and forged a path for the spirit to become the darling it is today. The Eagle Rare brand has expanded to include several different labels, each adored by bourbon lovers around the world. Produced and distilled by Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare bourbons are some of the most sought-after bottles on the market.| VinePair