First Glass
“Candy is dandy but liquor is quicker” … who can argue with that? Twentieth century poet and all-round ace rhymer and humorist, Ogden Nash, sure knew a thing or two about the power of the “sauce” when it came to women. But what about when you’re sitting on a sailboat in the middle of the Caribbean at sunset? Uh, yes, I think you may like a nip right now. Somehow that glass of elixir makes the moment all that unforgettable, no? Or is it just that you’ve finally allowed yourself to relax?
Ready to clink and celebrate your escape? We are.
If you’re a beer lover, you’ll love Fort Collins. Every day is Oktoberfest. The northern Colorado city’s on the cutting edge of the hand-crafted beer industry. According to David Edgar, former director of the Boulder based Brewers Association, it’s been there almost since the beginning. In Colorado, that was the late 1980s. “The industry has grown beyond what anyone might have predicted,” he says. Including brew pubs, there are over 10 brewers of hand-crafted suds in town. A new micro-brewery, Black Bottle, is slated to open early in 2012.
Here’s a roster of Fort Collins craft-brewers with tasting rooms:
The big draw is New Belgium, makers of Fat Tire. Started in 1991, it’s the number three craft brewer in the country behind Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams) and Sierra Nevada. The brewery operates with sustainability in mind. The goal is to minimize the impact on the planet. Walking their talk, they sponsor the annual Tour de Fat, a bike event which was held in 13 cities around the U.S. this year. The 90 minute free tour of their brewing facilities includes complimentary tastes of their brews. Advanced reservations for the tour are essential, especially on weekends which are sometimes booked up to three months in advance. You may luck into a last minute spot if there’s a no show. Otherwise, just head for their tasting room and sample the brews. You can also browse for a souvenir hat or other Fat Tire logo item.
Odell Brewing Company has the second largest presence on the beer scene here. Founded in 1989, their signature brew is 90 Shillings Ale. They offer a tasting room and free tours to visitors. Tours are first come, first served. You can sign up half an hour prior to the starting time. Weekends can be busy. Come during the week if you can. It’s quieter. On Wednesdays from 4 to 6pm, the tasting room offers live music. The brewery’s Small Batch Festival, held on the last Saturday in May, celebrates their small brewing origins. Odell produces a number of their small batch brews especially for this event and their hand crafted classics are on tap, too. Beer is available for sale at the event as is food from local vendors. Entertainment, supplied by local musicians, is free.
Fort Collins Brewery opened in 2003 and has already moved to larger quarters. Their two signature brews, Chocolate Stout and Major Tom’s Pomegranate are available in stores all over the U.S. They have a tasting room that sells tastes of their signature beers and other beers currently in production. Free tours are offered on Saturdays on the hour from 11am to 6pm. Get there early as no reservations are accepted. What makes Fort Collins Brewery stand out from the other micro-breweries in town is their onsite restaurant, Gravity Ten Twenty, opened in 2010. It was a smart move. Beer tasters get hungry. The concept here is fine food, fresh and local when available including all natural, Colorado grown meat. All food is prepared to order; no nukes or heat lamps in this kitchen. House beers are used for marinating and cooking and offered as selected beer pairings with your meal.
Equinox Brewing Company is a small-batch production brewery. About 95 per cent of what they make is sold through their “tap house.” The remaining five per cent goes to local restaurants delivered via their ecologically correct Keg Trike. Tastings are offered seven days a week. Besides tasting trays, they sell beer in European measures: Imperial Pints (20 ounces) and half-pints (10 ounces). It’s more of a hang-out spot than the other micro-breweries. They offer live music and have board games to pass the time while savoring that brew. Owner Colin Westcott opened Hops and Berries, a home brewing supply store next door in 2006. The brewery opened right next-door in 2010.
Funkwerks arrived on the Fort Collins brewing scene in December 2010. Owners Brad Lincoln and Gordon Shuck met in brewing school in Chicago. They picked Fort Collins for their business because, according to Lincoln, it’s the perfect location for a small niche brewery. At present, they focus on production of a single style of beer: Saison (Belgium, farmhouse-style ale). Their signature label, Saison, named for the beer style, won a Silver Medal at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival, quite a feat for a newbie. The brewery also produces other Saison-style brews. The pair brings their commitment to a healthy lifestyle to their brewing. They source organic ingredients whenever feasible.
Pateros Creek Brewing Co. is a true mom and pop operation. Cathy and Steve Jones opened their small tasting room, which seats about twenty, in June 2011. The former home-brewers specialize in “session ales”, smooth, easy drinking brews with an alcohol content of less than 6%. Their flagship product, Cache la Porter, is an English brown porter (ale). All their beers are named after local history and landmarks.
Look for the opening of Black Bottle Brewery in early 2012. Owner/brewer, Sean Nook, a Colorado native, is passionate about his craft. He says one of the things that will make his brewery unique is a menu of tapas and small plates to go with the beer. He calls himself “edgy” and says his beers don’t adhere to traditional brewing rules. “We do not color inside the lines,” he jokes. Stay tuned. Sean Nook, a man who calls both his personality and his beers “BIG,” is a force to be reckoned with.
If you’re a cerevisaphile (a fancy name for beer lover) and plan on visiting northern Colorado, put Fort Collins on your itinerary and sample your way around town.
Sidebar:
The end of June brings the Colorado Brewers Festival which has been attracting beer aficionados for almost 25 years. About thirty Colorado breweries set up and sell their wares. In addition, there’s music from Colorado bands covering diverse music genres.
The town overflows with suds lovers every October before and after the Great American Beer Festival held in Denver each year.
Take advantage of the Bike Library, a loaner service set up by the City of Fort Collins. You can pick up a bike in Old Town Plaza and pedal your way from one craft-brewer to another.
Where to Sample the Goods
New Belgium Brewing Company
500 Linden Street
(970) 221-0524
http://www.newbelgium.com
Odell Brewing Co.
800 East Lincoln Avenue Map
(970) 498-9070
http://odellbrewing.com/
Fort Collins Brewing Company
1020 East Lincoln Avenue
(970) 472-1499
http://www.fortcollinsbrewery.com/
Equinox Brewing Company
133 Remington Street
Fort Collins
(970) 484-1368
http://www.equinoxbrewing.com/
Funkwerks
1900 E Lincoln Ave, Unit B
970-482-3865
http://www.funkwerks.com
Pateros Creek Brewing Co.
242 N. College Avenue
(970) 484-7222
http://www.pateroscreekbrewing.com/
Black Bottle Brewing
Phone: (970) 217-9163
http://blackbottlebrewery.com
A Buzz Story
Photo credits: All Black and White archival photos: Courtesy Las Vegas News Bureau
Are you a friend of Jack, the way Frank Sinatra was? Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey was his #1 booze. Frank was a trendsetter; today, Jack Daniels is the world's #1 top-selling whiskey brand.
Jack drinkers are passionate about this velvety spirit, and won't touch anything else. They don't take lightly to additions to the Jack family; why mess with success? There have been only a couple of new Jack introductions over the decades. But you can't keep greatness down, and a new expression of Jack Daniels launched earlier this year. So consider welcoming Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey to your drinking life.
Perhaps you've noticed Tennessee Honey's irresistible commercials featuring the zippy King Bee. As King Bee can tell you, Tennessee Honey's winning formula mingles classic Jack with a luscious, honey-based liqueur. "Everyone is abuzz here in Lynchburg, Tennessee," says Jack Daniel's Master Taster Jeff Norman. "We think our friends will really love its unique taste and smooth character."
And can we say "versatile"?
Continues Norman, "You can take your Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey chilled straight, or served in drinks with other mixers like lemonade, tea or ginger ale." For me the honey-kissed flavor of Tennessee Honey stands on its own. It's a genius pre-dinner drink, or a sipper with snacks, or the perfect quaff to order in a bar.
Our collective opinion here at TravelSquire is that Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey is simply a must-try. But don't blame us if it becomes your new obsession in a glass.
Jack Daniels and Las Vegas: A Love Story
The Jack Daniel's brand and fabulous Las Vegas is a romance worthy of the Chapel of Love. Much of the credit goes to The Rat Pack, who loved whiskey in general and Jack Daniel's in particular. You know the Rat Pack and their partying rep. The Pack was Frank Sinatra's crew, at their peak in the early and mid 1960's. The Rat Pack comprised Ol' Blue Eye, hipster lounge singers Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr., actor and Kennedy in-law Peter Lawford and comedian Joey Bishop. The boys helped make Vegas Hollywood's weekend getaway, bringing their bands, their blondes (such as Lauren Bacall and Marilyn Monroe), and their booze ... especially Jack Daniel's. Frank Sinatra was married four times but his true love may have been Jack. The story goes that when Frank ascended to the red carpet in the sky in 1998, he was buried with a flask of Jack and a roll of dimes so he could call his friends when he got to the afterhours party.
Here and now, the party rages on in Vegas. More than ever, Fabulous LV is the nightlife capital of the world, with over 2,000 bars, lounges, and clubs (not to mention happening hotels, restaurants, and shows). Basically, you shouldn't plan on getting any sleep in Vegas. (You can sleep in the place you bring dimes to, right?) Vegas was chosen as the glittering setting for the introduction of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey to the U.S. "We're proud of Jack Daniel's long heritage in Vegas," said Tennessee Honey brand manager Casey Nelson. "Vegas is all about savoring the night, and so is Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey."
"Today's Vegas offers visitors a very exciting and dynamic cocktail culture," says Nelson. During the April launch, Nelson and his Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey colleagues sponsored a cocktail competition amongst Vegas's master mixolgists. The winning concoction was by Eddie Perales, Beverage Specialist at Caesars Palace and an inspired mixmaster. His cocktail, "Honey I'm Off Sunday," is a fruit punch using strawberry-infused watermelon juice, blackberry-infused orange juice, cantaloupe juice, homemade lemon sour, and lots more. Clearly a professional take on things. But "you can adapt the recipe and make your own Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey punch," says Perales. "Thanks to its soft, tea-like touch of honey, Tennessee Honey is a terrific mixer that enhances but doesn't overpower your drink," he says. "Try it with your favorite citrus juice, or apple, peach, or melon. Use big ice cubes and top with mint leaves," Perales advises. "Instant mood elevator!"
And you can do as Frank did with his Jack Daniel's, and tote your Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey anywhere. It comes in a retro flask size. Add a roll of dimes (or your iPhone), cue up Frank's "Songs for Swingin' Lovers!" and host a Rat Pack celebration of your own.
FOR MORE INFO:
www.facebook.com/jackdanielshoney
Touring Wine Country
When you hear the words “wine country,” the Canadian province Ontario probably doesn’t spring to mind, but maybe it should. The beautiful country north of the Great Lakes is rife with vineyards, and the summer is a great time of year for visitors to explore the area. Ontario is most famous for its rare and award-winning ice wines, which are sweet but balanced and ideally matched with desserts or rich savory foods, like foie gras or aged blue cheeses. And just in time for this summer, Wine Country Ontario has put out its 2011 Year-Round Travel Guide to help tourists find their way around and delve into what the region has to offer.
Ontario is massive and unfamiliar for most people, so the guide provides extensive information about the landscape, the cuisine, the local wines, and how to get around. There are 82 winery properties across the province’s primary wine regions—all four of which are conveniently located in the central area on the north shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario—and the guide overviews each of them. The book also features a pull-out Wine Route map that makes it easy for readers to design their own route through wine country.
Visitors are an essential part of the wine industry in the region, so winemakers and grape growers often make themselves available to newcomers. In addition, many other interesting things are happening in Ontario over the summer. The beautiful, natural landscape, featuring glacial ridges and rich forests, is always great for hikes or bike rides. There are also sandy beaches, rolling dunes, and of course the Great Lakes. And if you want to hold off until early September, you can attend the Shores of Erie International Wine Festival, which includes continuous live entertainment, an interactive tasting bar, dozens of vendors serving up local food and drink, and master chef cooking demonstrations and wine seminars.
The guide will be available at winery locations and Ontario Tourism & Information Centers (OTIC). In June, it will also be distributed in most Food & Drink magazines available at many Liquor Control Board of Ontario stores. Consumers can also order a free copy by calling 1-800-ONTARIO or check out the free, easy to use electronic version at www.winecountryontario.ca. Any travelers with a smart phone can also access the mobile web app viewable when you visit the website above.
http://winesofontario.org/index.php
New Mexico has always been a counterculture destination in the southwest – a natural place for outsiders to end up. It’s an old tradition; the amazingly scenic Roadrunner State was settled by adventurers from New Spain – today’s Mexico – in the 1500s through 1700s.
In 1947, some visitors from even farther away checked out New Mexico. Sadly, their aircraft crashed. It was a flying saucer, and this vacation gone awry is now known as “The Roswell Incident.” Scores of Roswell ranchers and townspeople witnessed the saucer, the crash, and even the alien bodies. I’m reporting this as fact because I’ve been to Roswell and find the evidence indisputable. And I’ve had a Roswell UFO sighting myself. (That’s a story for another day.)
Today, New Mexico’s artsy capital, Santa Fe, and its big city, Albuquerque, are filled with transplants from Planet New York, Dallas, and LA. Oh, and of course France too. And New Mexico’s highest profile Gauls are the Gruet clan of Albuquerque. They’re devoted New Mexicans and yet at the same time eternally French. And, guess what, they make wine (not surprising). In New Mexico (that’s surprising). Their signature booze is a sparkling wine that, except for its origin, is identical to classy French champagne.
I know it sounds strange. When I first heard of New Mexico Champagne I went into New York snark mode. But the joke was on me, because Gruet rocks. Now it’s your turn to taste this stuff. Then you’ll be talking about Gruet New Mexico champagne, too. It’s really just a technicality that you can’t call it champagne because it isn’t made in Champagne, France. But, hey, the Gruets are from Champagne. So are their vines, their equipment, and even their barrels. Only their prices aren’t champagne-like; Gruet’s most popular labels cost only about $13 a bottle.
OK, so we’ve covered the what and the where. But maybe you’re wondering, ahem, why are French people making French champagne in the wilds of New Mexico, where aliens come a-calling?
“It’s a great Old World to New World story,” says Laurent Gruet. He’s the son of winery founder Gilbert Gruet, who owned and ran wineries in Champagne. “You know how French people love the Grand Canyon?” he asks. (We do.) “Well, my family was traveling through the Southwest in 1983. We heard that Spanish priests, the padres, started making wine in New Mexico in the 1600s, and they discovered that wine grapes grow very well in the southern half of the state.” “My dad checked it out and really liked what he saw,” says Laurent. “He decided to plant an experimental vineyard here with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines. They’re both essential to make champagne.” “Well, it worked. The vines completely loved it here. Southern New Mexico’s sandy soil, hot days, and cold nights turned out to be the perfect conditions for growing champagne grapes.”
As a teenager, Laurent apprenticed in champagne wineries in France. Now, at 45, he’s Gruet Winery’s boss and winemaker. (His sister Nathalie is also on board.) “Just like our vines, I’m very happy in New Mexico,” Laurent says. “This is such a cool place. And I’ve gotten used to being called ‘the French cowboy.’” “Gruet is still a surprise to many people. And when I hear them say that good champagne-style wines can’t be made in New Mexico,” Laurent says, “I don’t argue with them. I just pour them a glass of Gruet.”
Good advice. Buy a bottle and pour yourself a glass.
Gruet wines--over 100,000 cases annually--are distributed to 48 U.S. states.
And next time you’re in New Mexico, stop by Gruet Winery in Albuquerque to sample various sparkling wines in their tasting room. You couldn’t ask for a better way to end your New Mexico visit than at Gruet Winery. From there, you’re just a couple of miles to the airport, where you can drop off your rented UFO.
Gruet Winery
8400 Pan American Freeway NE (I-25)
Albuquerque, NM 87113
888-857-9463
www.gruetwinery.com
The Sidebar:
Gruet champagne-style wines include:
• Crisp, dry, Chardonnay-based Brut NV (non-vintage)
• Pinot-Noir-based Blanc de Noirs NV (these two are Gruet’s best-sellers)
• Rosé NV, 100% Pinot Noir
• The less-dry Demi Sec NV
• Vintage, off-dry Blanc de Blancs and vintage Grand Rosé
• Vintage, oak-aged Gilbert Gruet Grande Reserve
• Still wines: two Chardonnays, two Pinot Noirs, and a Syrah
You can buy Gruet’s Champagne-style wines in many wine stores including:
New York: Union Square Wines
LA: The Wine House, Beverages & More
Chicago: Binny’s Beverage Depot
Dallas: Sigel’s
You can order Gruet by the glass or bottle in:
New York: Gramercy Tavern
LA: Spago
San Francisco: Urban Tavern
Chicago: NoMi
Dallas: Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck
Vegas: Mix at Mandalay Bay
Ireland’s Pot o’ Gold - Bushmills Irish Whiskey
To experience the spectacular northeast corner of the Emerald Isle is to be enthralled with Gaelic passion. The nation of Northern Ireland is expecting you and you should come expecting the max. You’ll be charmed by County Antrim’s bucolic village of Bushmills and riveted by its two world renowned marvels. The first is the natural wonder known as Giant’s Causeway, 40,000 hexagon shaped volcanic stone pillars that form a totally outer space valley of rock. The second is the national wonder known as Bushmiils Irish Whiskey, six different, delectable whiskey blends and single malts. They are made at the world’s oldest working distillery, the Old Bushmills Distillery.
Why not take a seat here at the bar and drink up the Bushmills legend? It’s got some back story going way back to the 1200’s. It’s said that the first liquor made in Northern Ireland was the work of a new-in-town Frenchman from the Norman Conquest, who had a bootleg thing going on. That little tidbit is a bit hard to fact check. But no one can argue with this fact: Bushmills owns Ireland’s first liquor license. It was granted in 1608 by trendsetting King James I, King of England and Ireland. (He’s also noted for publishing the first Bible in English, a true man of the people.)
A century later, Bushmills was run for a time by smugglers and Irish pirates. Then the distillery burned down in 1885 and was rebuilt by hand and dray horse. Five years after that, the distillery's own steamship, the S.S. Bushmills, made its maiden voyage across the Atlantic to deliver Bushmills whiskey to Philadelphia and New York, and then headed on to Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Yokohama. (You have to admit, that’s one cool itinerary).
To celebrate the repeal of America’s party pooping Prohibition law in 1933, the biggest shipment ever to leave an Irish port set sail, its cargo entirely Bushmills Irish Whiskey. The party boat sailed from Northern Ireland across the Atlantic, down the St. Lawrence River, and through the Great Lakes, bound for spirits starved Chicago.
Is there some kind of Bushmills mystique, then?
Definitely.
Aren’t you into Irish whiskey yet? Didn’t you know that it’s the fastest growing international spirit? Now, if you’re wondering which Irish whiskey to try, why not go for the oldest and most celebrated? As global Brand Director Sam Reader, puts it, “Today’s consumer wants to know that what they’re buying has real heritage and roots. When they buy Bushmills they know that they’re buying a whiskey with a unique history and provenance.”
What does Bushmills taste like?
Maybe you’re thinking, well, it’s nice to be the oldest distillery in Ireland. But how does this translate to a better drink? Or maybe you’re wondering how Irish whiskey differs from Scotch whiskey. The answer to both questions is: every whiskey, no matter its origin, has its own unique taste. And Bushmills’ flavor is smooth, rich, and thoroughly alluring. Some whiskey wonks liken Bushmills to Scotch for its subtly sweet malt barley flavor. True, Bushmills is the only distillery in Ireland that uses pure malt barley, like Scotch distilleries. But its gentle water is pure County Antrim, and its distilling and blending secrets are its own. Nothing tastes like Bushmills.
What makes it so unique?
This much the Bushmills people will let on. First, the malt barley is air-cured, not dried over a peat fire, so it doesn’t taste smoky. Next it’s ground into a flour, or grist, and mixed with water. The sugars are released, and yeast is added to turn the sugars into alcohol. The liquid is fermented then distilled three times in long-necked copper stills.
Then, the stuff matures in oak casks for at least three years, more for Bushmills single malts, which age for 10, 16, and 21 years. Finally, the spirits from the various casks are blended to produce a consistent and delicious flavor.
Which Bushmills Irish Whiskey is for me?
If you’re not a whiskey drinker, well, you’re about to let that go. You can start with one of Bushmills’ three blends - Bushmills, Bushmills 1608, or Black Bush. I wasn’t into whiskey till I tried Bushmills Black Bush. It’s an elegantly sweet and quietly rich blend and it made me feel that way. See how Black Bush makes you feel, then make up your own story about its name.
What about the single malts?
According to Bushmills Master Blender Helen Mulholland, “Our single malts - 10 Year Old, 16 Year Old, and 21 Year Old - have a great taste. There’s something for everyone in the range, even for those who have never thought about drinking a single malt before.” If you’ve never tried a single malt whiskey perhaps now is the time. And if you catch your bartender nodding in approval, he or she probably knows that Bushmllls 21 Year Old Single Malt was honored as the “World’s Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey” at the prestigious World Whiskies Awards in London.
Why am I hearing so much about Bushmills?
Right around now you may have noticed some advertising that goes like this - “Bushmills - Since Way Back.” The concept is a nod to the brand’s stirring history, and to the creative bonding that can happen when friends share a Bushmills Irish Whiskey together. Says one of the campaign’s subjects, Nick Catchdubs, the Brooklyn based deejay and music producer behind Fool's Gold, “A-Trak, Dust and myself were all friends before we started Fool's Gold. The Bushmills campaign definitely captures that.” “We hang together, we laugh, we fight … ultimately there is a unique kind of brotherhood at work that really pushes us to do better.” Here’s to being able to brag, “I’ve known Bushmills - since way back. “
Can I visit the disitillery?
Emphatically, yes.
Today, the Old Bushmills Distillery is one of Northern Ireland’s most captivating tourism magnets, hosting 100,000 visitors annually. Some are drawn by the fables surrounding this ancient brand, others by the distillery’s tasting room, and others by the magical process that turns barley into liquid enchantment. Indeed, everything is done right here, “grain to glass,” transforming humble malt barley into the golden elixir that is Bushmills Irish Whiskey.
How do I drink Bushmills Irish Whiskey?
Naturally, straight! (ice or water optional)
What about in a Highball?
Why not! Here’s an update on the classic whiskey & soda, simply called, a Bushmills and Ginger:
- muddle two mint leaves in a flat-bottomed glass
- add 1 1/2 oz. Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey
- add a few big ice cubes
- top with 3 oz. ginger ale
- stir once and…ahhh.
Where can I buy Bushmills Irish Whiskey?
At your local liquor store or http://1-877-spirits.com/brand/bushmills/bushmills95
How do I visit The Old Bushmills Distillery?
• general info: www.discovernorthernireland.com
• regional info: www.northantrim.com/bushmills.htm
Where can I learn more about Bushmiils Irish Whiskey?
• Facebook: BushmillsUSA
• Twitter. bushmillsusa
2 Distillery Road
Bushmills, County Antrim , Northern Ireland
A Retsina Revival Plan
There’s a quick way to go broke in Greece, and I don’t mean letting an octopus swallow your wallet. It’s cocktails. Johnny Walker and Jim Beam only travel first class; mojitos and Blue Angels, strictly deluxe. So what’s a thirsty traveler to do? Drink Greek. It’s a lot easier than speaking it and you’ll make new friends even faster. Greek beer and brandy can be inexpensive and delicious, and wine is the best bet of all.
Greece is a wine drinker’s paradise thanks to eons of experience, perfect growing conditions, and the blessing of Bacchus, an ancient fun loving god whose only job is to lead you astray. Every region has its native grapes - the agiorgitiko, the robola, the savatiano, and its characteristic wines - the medium-bodied, fruity Nemea reds of the Peloponnese, the gentle, elegant Roditis whites from Patras, the sweet, luscious muscats from Samos.
Local wines can often be bought in bulk cheaply at small grocery stores. Bottled wines come in every price range; there are decent reds and whites for six euros, good ones for nine, and excellent ones for much less than you’d pay in the U.S. or most other European countries. If you dislike a wine you’ve ordered in a taverna, they’ll usually replace it, knowing you don’t know your agiorgitiko from your assyrtiko.
A great Greek white that costs peanuts is retsina, a simple white to which a little pine resin has been added. Retsina has been given a bad rap, starting about 500 B.C. when some picky Athenians turned up their Grecian noses at the scent and taste of pine resin. As far back as 2500 years ago, pine plugs were used to seal amphorae as wine was shipped throughout the Empire. People got to liking the piney flavor, then they noticed it kept them from getting headaches or hangovers in hot weather (this is history I’m quoting, from the people who invented it.) Some foreigners think you’re kidding when you order retsina. Others love it. I’m in the lovers camp and I was born near Napa Valley which may be proof of reincarnation.
In Café Tempest: Adventures on a Small Greek Island, my sassy heroine Sarah has a love-hate relationship with retsina. She drinks it whenever she can and claims it can start your motor bike, remove your nail polish, and cure you of thought. I'd been thinking of ways to promote my new novel, when a friend and I came up with the idea of inventing a cocktail based on retsina, the most distinctive and debated wine in all of Greece. We call it the Tempestini --the world' first retsina cocktail-- and the recipe is now featured on the official Café Tempest website. Improbably delicious!
If you’re game to try the Tempestini, the world’s first retsina cocktail, mix one up. It’s improbably fabulous. I co-invented it to disprove the rude things (not fair!) I say about retsina in my book. The recipe is at www.cafetempest.com.
Where to Try a Tempestini:
Kellari Parea Bistro
36 East 20th Street
New York, NY
212-777-8448
The Vines of Mendoza Private Vineyard Estates
Have you ever thought about owning your own brand of wine? Michael Evans has and believe me he’s not alone. Michael, an American entrepreneur and former political consultant, is founder and president of The Vines of Mendoza, situated in the heart of Argentina’s wine region. Michael was so moved by the beauty there during a vacation in 2004, that he decided to move to South America and pursue his dream. He soon met his partner Pablo Gimenez Riili, a Mendoza native and third generation wine maker and together they raised enough money (along with family, friends and other investors) to purchase over 900 acres of land at the base of the Andes in the heart of the Uco Valley, where the company was officially founded in 2005. They then hired renowned viticulturist and sommelier Santiago Achával, who has been recognized as one of the world’s leaders in winemaking.
Sake
by Scott Haas
Some Like it Hot
Back in the day, when budgetary concerns defined my drinking habits, it was not unusual for me and the guys at college to pool our Washingtons and buy a few bottles of cheap, high-alcohol sake, pour it into a pot, heat it up, and drink it as fast as we could. The effect was predictable that night and the next day. This was not about savoring the pleasure of Japan’s national drink.
