As a teacher of Wines, Spirits and all things food and beverage for almost 2 decades I was questioned a lot. Whenever questioned on a topic, I always made it a habit to go reconfirm my information. When out earlier this week, a gentleman at the bar was drinking a bottle of wine by himself and explained that a bottle used to be considered a daily ration and so did he. I always taught that 750ml became the standard in Europe when the majority of glass making moved to England with their coal fired glass shops in the late 18th […]
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Counterfeit Wine and Spirits
Have you ever heard they saying that more ’82 Petrus was been sold and drank than was ever produced? When we think of counterfeiting we think of money and paintings, but counterfeit alcohol has become big business. Recently I have come across a few articles on both counterfeit wine and alcohol being sold across the world. While I worked for Southern Wine and Spirits I was able to attend a lecture by The Wine Detective Michael Egan, who told of his very fascinating work that he did with the FBI on a few cases of wine fraud. Michael Egan is […]
Read MoreThe French French 75
Yes 90% of the recipes out there have Gin playing the major role instead of my cognac recipe. If you want to succumb to peer pressure go ahead and use gin but stir instead of shake.
Read MoreThe Kir
The Kir I love this cocktail for three reasons. First, there is absolutely no controversy about the name, the ingredients or the origins. Secondly, the gentleman who created it perfectly married pragmatism and marketing. Thirdly, the cocktail is cool, simple and easy to execute. Now the kir was around ages before it was known as a kir. The combination of cassis and wine has a long history from Burgundy to Normandy, but it would have been an alcoholic afterthought in the annals of bartending if not for Félix Kir, Mayor of Dijon during WWII and its aftermath. Now during the […]
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