Rachel Halpren

Super Bowl Cocktail Throwdown – New York vs. New England

post icon

Super Bowl XLVI will be here in two short days. It’s going to be a re-match of the two teams that slugged it out in the 2008 Super Bowl. During that epic game, the upstart New York Giants surprised the nation with a win over the New England Patriots, who dominated professional football during the first decade of the 21st Century with four trips to the Super Bowl between 2002 and 2008.

In our Cocktail … Read more

2010 Domaine Des Cassagnoles Cotes des Gascon Blanc – Wine Wednesday

post icon

This week’s Wine Wednesday is a bright, crisp, zippy white. The wine didn’t pretend to be anything that it wasn’t. It was simple and refreshing and evoked days of summer during the dead of winter.

The Domaine Des Cassagnoles is located in Gascony. I can’t say that I remember having a wine from Gascony before but apparently wines from there were pretty popular during the 1980’s. Since the wine industry is more like the fashion … Read more

Ice Cream Happy Hour Review – Literary Monday

post icon

If you love booze and you love to to make your own ice cream, sorbets and granitas, then this book is the one for you. Ice Cream Happy Hour is an innovative book that brings you “50 boozy treats you spike, freeze and serve”. The authors of Ice Cream Happy Hour have covered a number of old and new classics in their book and most of them seem downright yummy.

I will freely admit that … Read more

Flor de Cana Centenario Gold 18 Year Old Rum Review

post icon

It’s been awhile since we reviewed a Rum so we thought we would review one that we really enjoy – the Flor de Cana Centenario Gold 18 Year Old Rum. But, truly, what isn’t to like about a well made 18 year old rum? The Flor de Cana Centenario hails from Nicaragua (although from what I could find, they source the sugar cane for their Rum all over Central America) and is the star of … Read more

2010 Bernabeleva Camino de Navaherrero Review – Wine Wednesday

post icon

The rule for Wine Wednesday is that the wine must be purchased or retail for $10 or under. But, this week, we are going to break this rule and bring you a wine that retails for $12. We tried it at our weekly wine tasting, which this week highlighted Grenache or the Spanish Granacha. This wine was uniformly adored and people were rating it very good at a $25 price point. Yet, it was a … Read more

Creme Yvette Review

post icon

In honor of January 17, the day that Prohibition went into effect, we thought that we would review an old timey liqueur that was recently revived. Creme Yvette was originally conceived by the Sheffield Company of Connecticut in the 1800’s and purchased by Charles Jacquin et Cie in the 1930’s. I wish I could tell you more about the Sheffield Company but there wasn’t much out there and given the timing of the sale to … Read more

Last Call Review – Literary Monday

post icon

January 17th marks the infamous day that Prohibition went into effect. Depending on your politics, it was either a day of mourning or great joy. As the “Noble Experiment” went into effect, across the country, rivers ran red in wine country, breweries were emptied and casks of spirit disappeared. Thinking of it even now makes me want to weep tears of sorrow. Given the mission statement of DOTW, you clearly know my politics.

Looking back … Read more

Pau Vodka Review

post icon

This Vodka hails from Hawaii! I have to admit the fact that Pau is made in Hawaii and has an awesome bottle (more on that later) made me want to like it even before I even tried it. But, the good news is that I liked it just as much after I tried it. Pau Vodka is made by Haliimaile Distilling Company in upcountry Maui and distilled from Maui pineapples.

The Pau Vodka bottle is … Read more

2009 Green Truck Petit Sirah – Wine Wednesday

post icon

This bargain wine is made from certified organic grapes in Mendocino County. Mendocino County is a cool growing area just north of Sonoma and has long been a leader in the organic grape movement in the United States. What is great about this wine is that is is organic and can still be found for under $10. We paid $8.99 for it.

While you might not have heard of Green Truck Wine (the Green standing … Read more

Johnnie Walker Black and Double Black Review

post icon

Johnny Walker recently released a fraternal twin to its famed Black Label – the Double Black Label. We thought it would be fun to review both bottles and do a bit of comparing and contrasting, as while, they are brothers from the same mother (so to speak), they are very, very different!

Black Label is, arguably, the face of Johnnie Walker. It’s been around, although, under different names, since approximately the 1860’s. It’s a blend … Read more