Johnnie Walker is giving back to the community this holiday season and whisky drinkers can help. The whisky maker is donating $5 from every personalized label ordered from johnniewalkergives.com. The money will go to building housing in New Orleans, which is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. The company has pledged $150,000, which will build 2 houses.

“Johnnie Walker personalized label is an easy way to make a truly impactful holiday gift,” said Bill Topf, Johnnie … Read more

Happy Holidays! ‘Tis the season to be jolly and what makes me more jolly than a few cups of holiday cheer. We’ve put together a fun hip collection of cocktails & punches for you to to test on your party guests. Keep checking back as this list will be growing throughout the month. Cheers!

Holiday Cocktails
Holiday Punches

Last week I had the opportunity to learn a bit more about Jameson and the Comedy Tour they are sponsoring. The tour will stop in 10 cities over the next several months.

I spoke with Jameson Brand Director, Larry Neuringer, about the brand and it’s relation to comedy. Turns out that John Jameson fought pirates before he started making his famous Irish whiskey in 1780. In reference to his dangerous past, Jameson made “Sine Metu” … Read more

Whiskyschool.com is holding a video contest. The competition is calling for people to pick up their cameras and mobile phones and start shooting a video around fine spirits such as gin, single malt, vodka, etc! We will able to watch the video as the contest entries roll in.

The winner will receive a membership in the Ladybank Company of Distillers Club (www.whisky.co.uk). Membership in this club receive 6 exclusive single malts a year for the … Read more

Diageo, the spirit giant, is testing mixed cocktails in 12-oz cans. These drinks are about the same alcohol content as beer and sport real booze, not clear malt. 

The Tampa-area test involves four brands: Captain Morgan and cola, Smirnoff vodka and lemon-lime soda, George Dickel whisky and cola, and Seagram’s 7 American Whiskey and lemon-lime soda.

So far, sales have been strong and retailers are pleased. Canned cocktails have been popular in Europe and Australia, … Read more

There are numerous stories on the Sidecar’s origins. However, Harry’s Bar in Paris is generally credited with inventing the Sidecar for a patron who often rode in the sidecar of a motorcycle. Pictured is the Sidecar we drank at Harry’s.

I am grateful to this unknown and unsung mixologist who brought us this cocktail, as it is my personal favorite, and I am eternally grateful to the Bix in San Francisco for introducing me to … Read more

Jameson is a smooth whiskey without the harsh bite of American whiskeys or the sweetness of Canadian ones. It is great for sipping straight or on the rocks. It smoothness warms the insides without burning and makes THE best Irish Coffee.

Jameson

Last time we were in Japan, we brought back a bottle of Suntory Hibiki Whisky, and discovered one of the best blended whiskeys around! It is smooth without the sweet and warms you nicely.

Suntory Whisky is the product that brings Bob “Bill Murray” to Japan in the movie Lost in Translation. Which gives this brand some much deserved attention, they have been making whisky and other liqueurs in Japan since the 1850s. Suntory … Read more

According to the folks over at Johnnie Walker, more and more folks are drinking scotch, and I believe them. Apparently you can make all kinds of fun stuff like scotch margaritas and cosmos… hmm. I didn’t try any but people at the Johnnie Walker tasting in SF this blustery Friday night seemed to like them. I, of course, am a purist these days – limiting my self to “neat” or “on the rocks” servings of … Read more

Q: Can I use Chivas Regal Scotch (15 yrs. old) in a pecan pie recipe? That is the only whiskey I have on hand and it’s never been opened. The recipe calls for bourbon.

A: While scotch and bourbon are both whiskeys, they have very different tastes. Bourbon is slightly sweet, which gives a wonderful taste to peacan pie. Scotch doesn’t have the sweetness and many have a peaty flavor.

Although I haven’t tried it, … Read more