Madrid: City of cañas, cask-aged lagers and culinary adventures
How could I have forgotten about the caña?
The first time I visited Spain, way back in 2004 (on my honeymoon), my wife and I would always make an early-evening beeline to the bars serving tapas along with the house selection of beers, wines and spirits. The evening typically would begin with una cerveza, frequently costing little more than a euro or two. But the bars really weren’t losing money on the pours, as they were served in these small, 20-cl (roughly 6.7-ounce) glasses, which, I later learned, were called cañas (they hold a volume similar to that of the Kölsch stange glass, just a different shape). If you saw anything even remotely like those in U.S. bars and restaurants, they’d be filled with orange juice. And that’s a real shame because it truly is the perfect-size glass, especially for happy hours and bar crawls. (As anyone who’s had a beer with me will tell you, I’m notorious for leaving unfinished pints). Read the rest of this entry
Podcast Episode 5: Boozy Boston with Rhonda Kallman
In Episode 5 of The Drinkable Globe Podcast, I drop by Boston Harbor Distillery and catch up with founder & CEO Rhonda Kallman, whom you might remember as the co-founder of a little ol’ beer brand called Samuel Adams. You’ll definitely want to bring a pen because she recommends a number of great drinking spots throughout Boston. She’s a lifelong Bostonian and a veteran of the local bar scene, so it goes without saying that she knows what she’s talking about.
Old Forester officially (re) opens Louisville bourbon distillery
Returning to the same building it once called home, Old Forester Distilling Co. opened to the public Thursday, June 14 at 119 W. Main Street in Louisville, Ky. The $45 million, 70,000 square foot distillery will guide guests through the brand’s rich history and bourbon making process. Read the rest of this entry
Epic brand list for next week’s NY Indie Spirits Expo
The Indie Spirits Expo is my favorite series of boozy events in the U.S. Where else are you going to encounter a gathering of small, independent, family owned, handcrafted spirits and the distillers, importers, bottlers, distributors and representative under one roof? The New York edition is next Monday, June 11 at the Penn Club, 30 W. 44th St. in Manhattan. Doors open at 5 p.m. for VIP ticket holders and 6:30 for regular ticket holders. Purchase tickets here.
Video: Exploring genever in Amsterdam & Schiedam
In the latest video I head to the Netherlands to enjoy a bit of the historically Dutch spirit, genever—a close ancestor of gin. I shot the video back in February, so don’t be alarmed by the fact that I’m in winter clothes. Special thanks to Rosalia’s Menagerie, Rutte Distillery, Olofspoort and Distillery Onder de Boompjes. By the way, it’s the first episode that includes the new theme music by Chmcl Str8jckt, the same themes I use in the podcast.
Podcast Episode 4: Pittsburgh By Way of Texas (By Way of Vegas): Wine & Spirits Daily’s Emily Pennington
Emily Pennington
On the latest episode of The Drinkable Globe Podcast, I speak with Wine & Spirits Daily Managing Editor Emily Pennington, who dishes on food, dive bars and darts in Pittsburgh, Texas, Napa, Portugal and beyond. Trust me, it’ll all make sense once you listen to the episode, recorded in Las Vegas last month at the Wine & Spirits Wholesaler of America Convention & Trade Show. Subscribe to the podcast at itunes and please rate it and write a short review. I’m always eager to read your feedback.
