The country’s top 15 bartenders competed in Chicago for the title and a chance to represent the U.S. at the World Class Global Finals in Scotland NEW YORK /PRNewswire/ — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation Presents World Class Sponsored by DIAGEO has named Alexis Ortega of Philadelphia, PA as the 2026 U.S. Bartender of the Year,…
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…
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…
MADISON, WI, — Smoked gin is emerging as a significant subcategory within craft spirits, and State Line Distillery positions itself at the forefront of the trend with the Feb. 1 release of its Lapsang Smoked Gin. The expression represents a growing movement among craft distillers to challenge traditional botanical profiles by introducing savory, smoky notes typically associated…
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…
2025 marks the fourth year that I’ve served as a wine and spirits judge for the Proof Awards in Las Vegas. Not sure I would know that except that it’s not only been a fabulous experience sampling spirits, wines and making new friends – on the fifth year I get awarded with their black leather Proof Awards…
Some years, but not all, I do a yearend roundup article listing some of my favorite wines or spirits. This year, as I just got back from wine tasting in Napa and Healdsburg, and writing all about it, I thought I’d do my article on the different spirits and cocktails I discovered this year. So,…
Italian Viola Fig and Tuscan Juniper join the original 12 botanicals from 9 exotic countries in a stunning purple bottle NEW YORK, /PRNewswire/ — From the curious mind of PJ Rigney, Gunpowder Irish Gin is proud to announce the launch of Gunpowder Irish Gin with Italian Fig & Laurel. The vibrant flavor profile and striking bottle design add…
Last year I reviewed four bottled cocktails by Via Carota Craft Cocktail company and they were all winners: Negroni, White Negroni, Old Fashioned and Manhattan. Read that review here, and this is an excerpt: “From Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) Access Live 2024 I had many opportunities to try new spirits…From the namesake…
IRVINE, Calif., /PRNewswire/ — SIP Awards, the original consumer-judged spirits competition, has officially announced the results of its 17th annual event. This year’s competition showcased a diverse range of entries from around the world, underscoring the innovation, creativity, and craftsmanship shaping today’s spirits industry. With continued momentum, the SIP Awards remains committed to its mission of delivering…