Turning Japanese

Whiskey with water is worth a shot

Japanese whiskey may have been inspired by Scotland, but it’s no knock-off. Instead, whiskey in Japan is bolstered by a distinctive cultural practice that is starting to...

Clear Headed

Tony Abou-Ganim sticks his neck out for vodka

Little elicits a snappier judgment from a bartender at a craft cocktail joint than a request for vodka. As the most commercially successful spirit in the States, it’s hard...

Mind Your Manners

Polite Provisions combines American pastimes

Spirits and soda only seems like the lowliest of mixed drinks. For Erick Castro, leader of the new bar Polite Provisions in San Diego, California, the combination is more than...

Three's Company

A boozy Cinderella story

Mezcal is smoking hot right now. The higher-proof, fire-pit-cooked agave spirit has gone from tequila’s country cousin to the belle of the ball. Named after a colloquialism...

Trail Blazing

The best new tasting tour

It's clear that craft distilleries are the new craft breweries. No longer limited to money-sucking passion projects, small-batch spirit companies are proliferating at a rapid...

Group Leaders

Two new spots are defining our drinking in 2013

It might be jumping the gun to make any sweeping declarations, given that we’re only a few weeks into 2013. That said, two new bars located on opposite sides of the country...