Pécharmant – The Best Alternative to Bordeaux Wine
With a rich history spanning centuries, the Pécharmant region is renowned for producing some of the most distinctive wines in France. Nestled in the Dordogne Valley, Pécharmant’s unique terroir gives birth to robust red wines that are as enigmatic as the region itself. But amidst this wine-rich land, one name stands out – Château Beauportail. […]
Deep Eddy Vodka Partners with Comedian Heather McMahan to Shake Up Espresso Martini Culture
Deep Eddy Vodka has partnered with comedian and podcaster Heather McMahan to promote its new Deep Eddy Espresso Vodka, a ready-to-pour option aimed at making espresso martinis easier to prepare.
The partnership includes an Instagram Reel featuring McMahan’s humor and the brand’s playful take on cocktail-making. McMahan said the vodka makes it simple to serve an espresso martini, while Deep Eddy’s brand director described her as a natural fit for the campaign.
The spirit is made in small batches with real espresso and the brand’s 10-times-distilled, 80-proof vodka. Deep Eddy says roasted espresso flavors are balanced with vanilla and toasted caramel, creating a smooth finish. It is naturally gluten-free and lower in calories than many traditional coffee cocktails, according to the company.
Deep Eddy Espresso Vodka is available in several bottle sizes, from 50 milliliters to 1.75 liters. The suggested retail price for a 750-milliliter bottle is $16.99. More information is available at Deep Eddy Vodka’s website.
This $2,500 Whiskey Is So Strong That the Government Bans It From Air Travel
Blade and Bow is preparing to release a 30-year-old cask-strength bourbon bottled at an extraordinary 82.1% ABV. Because it’s bottled straight from the barrel with little dilution, the whiskey is strong enough to be classified as hazardous material for air travel: federal rules prohibit carrying spirits above 70% ABV in commercial aircraft holds.
Despite its intensity, the bourbon is described as rich and layered rather than simply hot. Its aromas include bergamot, dark berries and singed cedar, while the palate brings ginger, cranberry, molasses and a pronounced mint note. A few drops of room-temperature water can draw out floral aromas and flavors of currant and cassia, making the tasting experience adjustable.
The whiskey comes from the same group of barrels used for last year’s Blade and Bow 30-Year-Old release. The 96 barrels have rested in the historic Stitzel-Weller warehouses since 1993, though the bourbon was distilled at another nearby Kentucky site. To prevent the whiskey from becoming overly oaked during its long aging, the barrels were moved to cooler areas and periodically consolidated as the liquid evaporated.
Only 1,200 bottles remain. Each will cost $2,500 and come in a custom leather box. The release is expected in select U.S. markets in mid-November, with additional bottles offered through limited drops at Stitzel-Weller Distillery during the holiday season.
Blade and Bow is also bringing back a limited number of its original 30-year-old bourbon, bottled at a much lower 109 proof, for its original suggested retail price of $1,200.
Vinitaly.USA Opens in New York, Connecting Italian Wine With 50 Million Potential U.S. Consumers
Vinitaly.USA opened in New York City on October 26, bringing together 300 exhibitors and 2,500 Italian wine labels at Pier 36. The event, organized by Veronafiere with the Italian Trade Agency, runs through October 27 and marks the exhibition’s New York debut.
Organizers see the event as a way to help Italian producers reach more American consumers and strengthen their position in the U.S., the leading export market for Italian wine. According to the UIV-Vinitaly Observatory, 35 million Americans currently drink Italian wine. Of nearly 90 million regular wine drinkers in the country, more than 50 million could be potential consumers.
The industry is looking to reach those untapped audiences by adapting to a changing market. Research presented for the event suggests Italian wines appeal across age groups, including younger consumers, while California wines are more heavily concentrated among people over 55.
American wine habits are also shifting. Although drinking wine on its own or with a meal remains common, consumers are increasingly trying it in cocktails, over ice, or mixed with nonalcoholic drinks. A Wine Market Council survey found that 75% of regular wine drinkers consume wine in ways beyond traditional formats. Family habits, restaurant and bar experiences, and social media all influence those choices.
Vinitaly.USA exhibitors are responding to two broad areas of demand: premium wines associated with fine dining and the Italian lifestyle, and more versatile offerings suited to newer serving styles and occasions. Veronafiere General Manager Giovanni Sacripante said the challenge is to understand changing preferences while preserving Italian wine’s regional identity and traditions.
The event also includes the 13th wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum, with more than 20 sessions on market trends, wine tourism, education, and masterclasses. In total, Vinitaly.USA features wineries, regional and industry associations, and wine consortia from across Italy.
The United States imported about $4.9 billion in wine from the European Union in 2025, making it a key market for Italian producers seeking continued growth. Organizers say reaching new audiences will require closer attention to differences in age, ethnicity, and regional demand.
Learn more about Vinitaly.USA | Read the original announcement
Whiskey Bravo Southern Kitchen and Smokehouse Opens Across the River | PHOTOS
Veteran-owned Whiskey Bravo Southern Kitchen & Smokehouse opened in September at 116 Salem Road, just across the Cumberland River on Highway 48/13. The restaurant serves slow-smoked barbecue, burgers and seafood, with weekend breakfast.
Owner Jason Harvey, who also runs a catering company next door, said he saw a need for a Southern restaurant in the area. To learn what residents wanted, he held all-you-can-eat buffets throughout the summer of 2025 and gathered feedback from the community.
After deciding to open the restaurant, Harvey handled much of the remodeling and design himself, including building the bar and tables. Local artists also helped decorate the space.
Harvey said the first five to six weeks were challenging as the restaurant got established, but he hopes it will become a place where customers feel at home and can share feedback. The building has its own local history: it was the original Catfish House location.
Menu favorites and eating challenges
Harvey, who is from Charleston, South Carolina, said shrimp and grits is his favorite dish. Catfish is a popular choice among customers and was added to the menu as a nod to the building’s history.
The restaurant also offers two eating challenges. One asks participants to finish six pounds of food in 30 minutes: a pound each of brisket, pulled pork, pork ribs and smoked sausage, along with a large order of fries, mac and cheese, baked beans and cornbread.
Location and hours
Whiskey Bravo is located at 116 Salem Road in Clarksville. It is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday.
Visit the Whiskey Bravo Southern Kitchen & Smokehouse website for more information.
Sam Adams’ New Beer Brings a Surprisingly Sweet Twist to the Glass
Sam Adams is adding an unusual seasonal beer to its winter lineup: a Cherry Chocolate Stout featuring chocolate, cherry, and vanilla flavors alongside a dark malt roast. The brewery describes the 6% ABV beer as a festive option, suited to sipping by the fire or serving to holiday guests.
The stout will be available only in Sam Adams’ annual Winter Variety Pack, a 12-pack that includes four beers. Alongside the new release are three returning favorites: Winter Lager, with cinnamon and ginger notes; Winter White Ale; and Old Fezziwig, a spiced brown ale with caramel and toffee flavors.
The brewery suggests enjoying Cherry Chocolate Stout after dinner or pairing it with dessert. Sam Adams has tried unconventional flavors before, including a tart, salty Gose called Verloren, which has since been discontinued. The brewery also previously made a cherry-chocolate bock.
The Winter Variety Pack is set to go on sale October 26. Read more about the beer.
As the Wine Industry Pulls Back, Some Investors Are Still Betting Big on Napa
Napa Valley’s wine industry is facing serious headwinds. Wineries are struggling to sell grapes, some businesses have filed for bankruptcy, and growers are replacing vines with crops such as olives, pistachios, and agave. Yet a series of recent investments suggests that some buyers see long-term potential in the region.
Caren and Nick Orum, owners of Arborum, have expanded their St. Helena estate by purchasing 24 acres of neighboring land, bringing their contiguous holdings to 44 acres. They plan to replant part of the property and aim to produce wine entirely from estate-grown grapes, farmed regeneratively and certified organic. Caren Orum says those practices may matter increasingly to younger wine drinkers.
Another notable deal was the sale of Artesa in Carneros to Jean-Charles Boisset. Founded in 1992 as Codorniu Napa, the winery is known for cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Spanish varieties including Albariño and Tempranillo. Boisset plans to continue that winemaking tradition while using the vineyards for new JCB sparkling wines. He also hopes to turn the estate and its pyramid-shaped winery into an arts center.
Boisset says he believes in Napa’s enduring value despite the industry’s current difficulties, viewing the purchase as a long-term commitment rather than a short-term bet.
Hayes Drumwright has also invested in Napa, acquiring Edge Hill, a historic property that was previously owned by vintner Joel Gott and the Rudd family. Drumwright and winemaker Sam Kaplan plan to replant the vineyard in 2027, replacing its field blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Rhône varieties with Cabernet Sauvignon. The new vines may not be ready for harvest until 2032.
The property’s stone building will serve as a tasting room for Drumwright’s Vida Valiente label until that brand’s winery is complete. Edge Hill will also become the home of a future brand called Ultra Mortem. Drumwright remains optimistic about the valley, pointing to new wealth and a growing generation of potential wine collectors.
At Lawrence Wine Estates, CEO Carlton McCoy sees Napa changing as a new generation of owners and consumers shape the region’s future. The company recently opened Home Ranch, a private hospitality destination at Heitz Cellar where guests can sample wines from several estates in one visit. McCoy says visitors are booking fewer appointments, so the setting offers a way to experience more of the portfolio in a single stop.
McCoy believes today’s leaders can build on Napa’s reputation without needing to prove the valley’s wines are world-class. Instead, he says, the focus can shift toward a less formal, more personal connection with the place and its wines. These investments and new approaches suggest that, despite the industry’s struggles, Napa Valley’s future may be far from settled.
Unshackled Wines: Approachable Picks for Holiday Gatherings
The Prisoner Wine Company’s Unshackled range is designed to offer accessible choices for both new wine drinkers and longtime enthusiasts, with bottles suited to everyday meals and holiday gatherings.
The collection features three California Central Coast wines: Chardonnay for $17.99, Pinot Noir for $22.99, and Cabernet Sauvignon for $19.99. The prices are below those of the company’s traditional Prisoner wines, which generally cost $35.99 to $40.
The Unshackled packaging also uses less material: the bottles have no foil and are made with thinner glass, choices intended to reduce their environmental footprint.
A versatile wine for Thanksgiving
Jake Sanders, a WSET Level 2 wine professional and trade development manager at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, recommends the lighter-bodied Pinot Noir for Thanksgiving. Its versatility makes it a match for dishes such as turkey, duck, chicken, gravy-based foods, and spiced holiday meals.
Chardonnay with a blend
The Unshackled Chardonnay isn’t made entirely from Chardonnay grapes; it includes a touch of Viognier, which contributes aromatic character and a fuller, buttery mouthfeel. The wine has pear aromas and green apple notes, and its acidity works well with creamy dishes such as fettuccine Alfredo.
Winemaker Todd Ricard developed the Unshackled range to make wine more approachable to a wider audience. Sanders advises beginners to focus on the styles and regions they enjoy rather than choosing by price, using those preferences to guide future purchases and restaurant orders.
Siren’s Tale Vodka to Exhibit at SoCal Cocktail & Spirits Fest
Siren’s Tale Vodka will showcase its products at the SoCal Cocktail and Spirits Fest on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Gillette House in Irvine, California. Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Inc. (FMCG) and Keg n Bottle are sponsoring the event.
The festival brings together consumers and beverage-industry professionals for tastings, live entertainment, interactive activities, and networking. Visitors can meet Siren’s Tale representatives and learn about the brand’s premium vodka.
FMCG said its sponsorship reflects its work supporting emerging and established spirits brands through product development, manufacturing, sales, distribution, and brand-building services.
The festival will take place at 17475 Gillette Ave., Suite 100, Irvine. Ticket and event information.
The Most Recommended Beer Brand of 2026 Comes from an Iconic American Brewery
Samuel Adams has been named the most recommended beer brand of 2026, according to YouGov’s annual report. Its recommendation score was 88.7%, based on customer recommendations over the previous 12 months.
Guinness and Stella Artois followed in second and third place. Other familiar brands on the list included Blue Moon and Heineken.
The brand’s American roots are reflected in its name and brewing location. Samuel Adams was named for the Founding Father, who had ties to the beer trade, and the company brews in Boston.
The story of its flagship Boston Lager began with a family recipe. In 1984, entrepreneur Jim Koch found instructions for Louis Koch Lager in the attic of his family home in Ohio. He brought the recipe to Boston and adapted it into the lager that helped launch the Boston Beer Company. The business grew, and a Samuel Adams brewery later opened in Boston.
Today, the independently owned brewery makes Boston Lager as well as year-round beers including an American Light lager, Cherry Wheat ale, New England Juicy IPA, and East Coast IPA.
Online beer drinkers have praised Boston Lager as an approachable, balanced example of a classic beer. One Reddit user recalled that it sparked their interest in trying different brews, while another described it as a straightforward, neither-too-bitter-nor-too-sweet beer.
13 Best Sodas to Pair With Rum Beyond Cola
Rum is flavorful and versatile, so a simple soda mixer can make a refreshing drink without the effort of a complicated cocktail. Beyond the familiar rum and cola, plenty of sodas pair well with the spirit. The best choice depends on whether you want a bright, tart highball or a sweeter, richer drink.
1. Pineapple soda
Pineapple soda brings sweet, slightly tart tropical flavor and plenty of fizz. Its fruitiness works with white, dark, spiced, and aged rums, whose vanilla, caramel, and warming spice notes complement the pineapple. For a creamier twist, add a splash of coconut cream or use coconut rum.
2. Guava soda
Guava’s sweet-tart taste and subtle floral notes make it a natural match for rum. The spirit balances the fruit’s acidity while bringing out its sweeter, aromatic qualities. Guava soda can be harder to find, but brands such as Jarritos offer an option worth seeking out.
3. Ginger beer or ginger ale
Ginger beer’s bold ginger, spice, and sweetness make a lively rum highball. Dark rum, ginger beer, and lime form the classic Dark ’n’ Stormy, but rum and ginger beer work well even without lime. If ginger beer is too intense, ginger ale offers a milder combination of ginger and sweetness that suits different rum styles.
4. Cream soda
Cream soda’s sweet vanilla flavor echoes the vanilla notes often found in rum. It works with most varieties, though spiced rum is especially appealing, adding cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. The result is quite sweet, making it a good choice for those who prefer a softer, less spirit-forward drink.
5. Citrus soda
Grapefruit, lemon-lime, and orange or mandarin sodas each bring something different. Grapefruit soda’s tartness offsets rum’s sweetness while allowing the spirit’s flavor to come through; a squeeze of lime adds extra brightness. Lemon-lime soda is a crisp option, particularly with white rum, while orange and mandarin sodas create a sweeter, fruitier mix.
6. Dr Pepper
With its mix of cherry, vanilla, sweetness, and warm spice, Dr Pepper shares many of rum’s flavor notes. It pairs with white, dark, aged, and spiced rum, though an unflavored rum is generally the best place to start. Spiced rum makes a particularly bold, warming combination.
7. Strawberry soda
Strawberry soda tends to taste more like candy than fresh fruit, but its sweetness pairs well with white rum and can soften the harsher edges of an inexpensive bottle. Spiced rum can add warmth, too. A squeeze of lime helps balance the sweetness and brighten the drink.
8. Mango soda
Mango’s juicy, tropical sweetness makes a natural partner for rum. Mango soda lifts the sweeter notes in white and spiced rum, creating a bright, fizzy drink that feels refreshing rather than overly candy-like. It can be less common than other soda flavors, but brands such as Jarritos and Jumex make versions to look for.
9. Passion fruit soda
Passion fruit soda is sweet, tangy, aromatic, and bubbly. It pairs especially well with white rum, highlighting its vanilla notes while leaving a tart finish. Dark rum can work, too, although the drink’s appearance may be less appealing. Passion fruit soda can be difficult to find, so check specialty brands and shops.
10. Watermelon soda
Watermelon soda’s juicy sweetness complements rum’s vanilla and caramel notes. White rum is a particularly good fit, though a lighter spiced rum can also work. The combination makes an easy, summery drink; Jarritos and Crush are among the brands that offer watermelon soda.
11. Tamarind soda
Tamarind has a sweet-and-sour flavor that gives a rum highball extra complexity. Its sweetness complements the spirit, while the tangy edge keeps the drink balanced. White, dark, aged, and spiced rums can all work, with the latter styles adding further warmth. Goya and Jarritos are two brands to look for.
12. Grape soda
Grape soda is intensely sweet and nostalgic, making it a good match for rum’s caramel and vanilla notes. It can also mask the harsher taste of less refined rum. Because its sweetness and flavor are prominent, it suits people who prefer their drinks less booze-forward. Spiced rum is best avoided, as its warming notes may clash with the soda.
13. Root beer
Root beer’s vanilla, caramel, and earthy spice notes overlap with flavors found in many rums. It pairs with white, dark, aged, and spiced varieties, producing a smooth, sweet drink. The mix can go down easily, so keep its alcohol content in mind.
These soda pairings make it easy to put together a straightforward rum drink. Choose a mixer that suits your preferred balance of sweetness, acidity, and spice—and enjoy responsibly.