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Great
Scotch!
The inaugural column wherein my brother, Mike, and I head to the clubhouse at a local municipal golf course to
sample a selection of scotches over 14 years old including Oban, Macallan
and Lagavulin.
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Suds al
Sud
Follow a crawl through San Francisco's Mission District to sample Central and South American beers
such as Regia, Suprema, Quilmes, Xingu and Cusquena Malta at four area restaurants.
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Repo, Man Don't
even mention Jose Cuervo Gold to Julio Bermejo, keeper of the largest selection
100% blue agave tequilas in the States. Educate your tequila palate with
names like Centinela, El Tesoro de Don Felipe and Chinaco and whether you prefer
silver, reposado or anejo, stick to the 100% blue agave. |
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Q Ratings
In which our hero insinuates himself into a "press event" and is forced to endure a tasting of nine
wines from Argentinean winemaker Zuccardi.
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Green
Day
A North Beach Picnic with prosecco,
dessert wine and a bit of the green Chartreuse.
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A Rum of
One's Own
A rum crawl through San Francisco complete with
tasting notes of several aged rums including Cane Spirit Rothschild from St.
Kitts, Nicaraguan Flor de Caña Centernario; Rhum St. James Hors d'Age
from Martinique, not to mention the favorite: Pyrat Pistol.
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Hangin'
The genesis of the Ultimate
Bachelor Party Bar (UBPB).
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Sock it
to Me Brief
overview of the history and production of sake including how to distinguish
premium sake from the not so premium while elucidating terms such as ginjo,
daiginjo, junmai, honjozo.
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A Cuppa
Ginjo
Where to try, and buy, good sake in the Bay Area. There's many more places I couldn't fit in so get out there and
support the consumption of good sake. You can pair it with food, cook with it and there are some syrupy, fruity plum sakes that taste great over ice cream. Sake: It ain't just for sushi anymore.
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Ale and
Well Met
Fresh beer brewed right in front of your very eyes, hand pulled through taps to your pint glass. There are a lot of cheesy, corporate brewpubs out there, but these are some of the indies. Good people who dig good beer. For you out of towners, I highly recommend hitting Magnolia for a coupla pints and if you don't drink beer (you're no friend of mine) they also make their own very tasty root beer.
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Just Shoot
Me
The inaugural, and possibly terminal, Oyster Shootour. After being beaten into submission by these tiny mollusks, I have finally regained my health. However, that shouldn't discourage others from enjoying them in moderation....
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Proles on
Ice
How to make vodka infusions: lessons from the Communist (Halloween) Party.
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'Poo Corner
Sparkling wine in the Anderson Valley. It's pink, it's bubbly, and it's better in a bigger bottle but then what
ain't? We visit Pacific Echo and Roederer Estate to see what's on offer.
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Agog
over Glogg
Wondering what to do with all those grim bottles
of wine foisted upon you at holiday parties? Wonder no more....
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Santa's Mug Shots
Holiday ales will make anyone as round and jolly as the man in the red suit--if only they served them year-round...
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Bare, with
Beer
Some may question the wisdom of drinking beer
(such as Baltika and Stepan Razin) in a sauna. I ask them, "How else
are you supposed to stay cool?"
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Why Rye?
Rye whiskey. What is it? How is it different from other whiskey? on and learn about the original American whiskey.
Taste along as I sample Old Overholt, Old Portrero, Classic Cask and A.H.
Hirsch.
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Core Values
A brief overview of the history of cider with some
cider sampling at the Ace in the Hole Pub in Sebastopol.
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Seek
and Ye Shall Taste
Lookin' for a reason to take a ditch day?
Look no further. Complete instructions for bailing out of the office to
hit prime wine country tasting rooms such as J,. Fritz, Roshambo, Preston
Vineyards and Hop Kiln in the Dry Creek region. |
Distill
Life Even wondered what all those
letters mean on the label of a bottle of Hennessey, Rémy Martin, Martell or
Courvoisier Cognac? Why do purists consider Germain-Robin brandy and
not cognac despite its impressive pedigree? Read on...
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Original Zin The surprising origin of
California zinfandel, one of the world's most popular varietals. |
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Mission: Mojito
Crawling the bars in
search of the the best mojito in San Francisco.
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Port Salute Fending off the winter blues
by combining the unsurpassed pleasures of fine port, a cracklin' fire and the
rose-scented smoke of the hookah. |
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Beer: The Upmarket Years Pairing beer
with gourmet cuisine? That's right. The "Burgundies of Belgium", as
the Belgian Abbey or Trappist Ales are known, are versatile enough to
muscle their way into the world of fine dining.
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The
Wave My remembrance of one of my
literary heroes: Hunter S. Thompson, San Franciscan, drinker. |
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