We’ve honestly lost track of how many years we’ve covered the Bar & Restaurant Expo in Las Vegas since I was first introduced to the event by our contributing editor, Michael Perlis. When we were consulting for bars/restaurants/wineries, I attended the classes at the expo to share what I learned with my clients and write…
Accounts and bourbon groups can select rare barrels in person from the master distiller’s private collection ST. LOUIS, /PRNewswire/ — In the era of Prohibition, there were those who had their secret stashes, and those who didn’t. That spirit carries on to this day at the historic Ross & Squibb Distillery, home of award-winning Remus Bourbon. Accounts…
I was recently offered the opportunity to try the same wines from Robert Hall in Paso Robles that were made two different ways: Regenerative Organic and Conventionally Farmed. If you know me you know that I have the unpopular opinion that I don’t care how the wine is made, organic or not, I just want…
Two years ago, at the WSWA Conference (Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America) I was thrilled to see my old chum Mark Newman, who is with Apogee 21 Holdings Inc, manning a large booth. I sampled quite a few items, including their Monkey in Paradise vodka and Andale tequila at that time – both winners…
If you’ve been to my home you know that I rarely decant wines into a glass decanter. If I need to decant I have a pretty clay pitcher that I use. Why is that? It’s because I have at least three glass decanters that have become impossible for me to keep clean, and they’re bulky….
Another interesting brand with an interesting backstory that I discovered at the recent WSWA (Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America) conference was Fort Mosé 1738. I took home both their rye and bourbon to sample at home. This is some of the story about the distillery I wanted to share with readers, I got it…
In this follow-up article from the recent WSWA Access Live I have three bottles for review all made stateside: a bourbon, an infused whiskey and a gin. I sampled all three at the show – enjoying them all – and was gifted the bottles to take home for further study and a review on this…
Another spirit I discovered at the recent WSWA Access Live event was Campesino Rum, and its founder Hatton Smith. I only had a few moments with Hatton but in that time I easily picked up on his enthusiasm and dedication to crafting his spirits. I happily took a bottle of his Campesino Silver home for…
We covered our first Access Live in 2024, missed it in 2025 as it was held in Denver, now we are thrilled to have had the event back in here Las Vegas this past February 2026. It’s an event for members of the wine and spirits industry that my husband Eddie (our photographer) and I…
Very pleased to be trying four new-to-me wines from the Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez: a Blanc de Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon all with the same winemaker and farmer though different vineyards. When I received the samples I also asked the owner who happens to be the farmer, James Ontiveros, for…