Liquor-articles 1905

Martha Stewart has shared an ingenious method for serving ice-cold vodka, perfect for impressing guests at your next party. Known for her culinary expertise and lifestyle tips, Stewart emphasizes the unique experience that chilled vodka brings, both in texture and taste.

Many vodka enthusiasts store their bottles in the freezer to enhance the drink’s richness. Chilling vodka modifies its texture, making it thicker and smoother, while also reducing the alcohol’s sharp aromatic notes. However, simply keeping the vodka in the freezer may not be enough when it comes time to serve. As the bottle warms up, it can lose the refreshing chill that makes it enjoyable.

To maintain that icy temperature, Stewart recommends a creative approach: freeze the vodka within a block of ice. This unconventional hack involves using an empty milk carton to create a beautiful ice fixture around the vodka bottle.

Here’s how to execute her trick:

1. Gather a fifth (750-milliliter) bottle of vodka, an empty half-gallon milk carton, and optional decorative flowers.
2. Cut the top off the milk carton, leaving one open end.
3. Insert the vodka bottle into the carton and fill the surrounding space with flowers for an elegant touch.
4. Fill the carton with water and freeze it until just before serving.
5. Once frozen, peel away the cardboard to reveal the vodka encased in ice, keeping it cold and stylishly presented.

This charming method not only enhances the drinking experience but adds a visual element that can elevate any gathering. Stewart’s fans have shared their positive experiences with this technique, proving it to be a hit at parties, especially during holidays like Christmas.

For those looking to provide a unique touch at their next event, this iced vodka presentation is sure to leave an impression.

Read more about this on Food & Wine.

SunnyD Vodka Seltzer has introduced a new limited-time offering called PURPLE, inspired by the iconic “Purple Stuff” from the beloved 1990s SunnyD commercials. The brand aims to give a contemporary twist to this nostalgic reference, crafting a flavor-forward hard seltzer that resonates with today’s drinkers.

Randi Jachino, the Chief Marketing Officer of Harvest Hill Beverage Co., expressed excitement about this launch, noting, “PURPLE was always the mystery in the fridge. Now it is the boldest thing in the cooler.” The essence of the original advertisement is captured in this modern drink, designed for social gatherings and enjoyment.

With a light and bubbly profile, SunnyD Vodka Seltzer PURPLE has a 4.5% ABV and is set to hit select retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $9.99 for a four-pack, but only for a limited time.

For more information, visit SunnyD Cocktails.

Ahead of the much-anticipated opening of Royalton Vessence Barbados on June 1, 2026, Royalton Hotels & Resorts has announced a significant partnership with the iconic Mount Gay Rum. This collaboration aims to create an immersive experience that captures the essence of Barbados, integrating the island’s rich cultural heritage and flavorful offerings into the resort’s guest experience.

Located along the picturesque Platinum Coast, the Royalton Vessence Barbados will feature 220 modern suites designed to provide an elevated Caribbean luxury experience. The resort focuses on creating a deep connection to the local culture, where guests do not merely visit but truly experience the spirit of Barbados.

The partnership with Mount Gay Rum, the world’s oldest rum distillery, enriches the guest experience from the moment of arrival. Visitors will be welcomed with a personalized toast featuring custom Mount Gay Rum in their rooms. Throughout their stay, guests will enjoy a selection of Mount Gay expressions across the resort’s various dining establishments and bars, which include five restaurants and four exclusive rooftop food options.

Guests will also have access to VIP tours of Mount Gay’s historic distilleries and visitor centers, along with the opportunity to purchase limited-edition rum bottles available only in Barbados. The collaboration highlights the rich storytelling tradition of the island, with curated rum tastings and experiences uniquely designed for this new destination.

Adding to the resort’s distinctive offering, Royalton Vessence Barbados will be the first Late Night Swim resort, providing an adult-oriented environment with opportunities to disconnect and immerse in the vibrant culture through live entertainment and destination-inspired activities.

Antoine Couvreur, Managing Director of Mount Gay, expressed excitement about the partnership, noting that it allows them to share their heritage in a meaningful way while creating unique experiences for visitors from around the globe. Alejandro Rodriguez del Peon, Vice President of Marketing & PR at Royalton Hotels & Resorts, emphasized that Mount Gay is a vital part of the island’s identity, and through this collaboration, guests will have authentic and memorable experiences.

As the grand opening approaches, Royalton Vessence Barbados is now accepting reservations, inviting guests to experience the new approach to all-inclusive travel, deeply rooted in culture and the unmistakable spirit of Barbados.

For more information about Royalton Vessence Barbados, please visit royaltonresorts.com. More information about Mount Gay and its offerings can be found at mountgayrum.com.

Your first visit to a liquor store can be daunting, especially when it comes to whiskey. Unlike wine, where labels might help guide you, whiskey often comes in more traditional bottles with minimalistic designs. Navigating through various shades of amber can be overwhelming. Here are some essential tips for beginners to help select quality whiskey.

Start with Established Brands

Focusing on well-known brands can be a good strategy when starting out. These brands have built their reputations over time by ensuring consistent quality. Consider trying Jameson, Bulleit, or Wild Turkey, as they provide access to different whiskey styles while maintaining high-quality standards. These selections will offer a solid baseline for your whiskey experience and help establish your preferences.

Avoid Added Colors and Flavors

While browsing, you might be attracted to bottles with darker colors. It’s important to remember that color can be misleading; darker isn’t necessarily synonymous with better quality. Some brands add caramel coloring to enhance visual appeal, which doesn’t affect flavor. Opting for whiskey with fewer additives is generally better for beginners, providing a clearer understanding of the spirit’s natural flavors.

Consider Aged Whiskeys

The aging process of whiskey plays a significant role in its flavor profile. Older whiskeys often possess richer, more complex flavors due to longer time spent in barrels, which can contribute notes of vanilla, spice, and smokiness. Newer whiskeys might have a harsher, more alcohol-forward taste. For starters, look for options aged between eight to twelve years to experience a balanced flavor.

Watch for Hazy or Cloudy Appearance

A quality whiskey should have a clear appearance, free from any haziness or sediment. A cloudy look can indicate a filtration issue or shortcuts in production. However, some whiskeys labeled as non-chill filtered may exhibit slight haze intentionally to preserve certain flavors. If a whiskey is not advertised as non-chill filtered, its clarity can be a good indicator of its quality.

By following these guidelines, beginners can confidently navigate the whiskey aisle, ensuring a rewarding first foray into this diverse spirit world. Experimenting with various brands and styles will help refine your taste and ultimately enhance your enjoyment of whiskey.

Virginia’s A. Smith Bowman Distillery has introduced its first new rye whiskey in 16 years, marking a significant addition to its award-winning lineup. Known among whiskey enthusiasts, Bowman has developed a strong reputation for its “Special Release” line, which began in 2010 with a well-received 9-year-old rye whiskey bottled at 90 proof. Over the years, the distillery has released 24 different variations, yet none have included rye—until now.

The newest offering, Special Release #26, was distilled in 2015 and aged for over a decade in the distillery’s Warehouse A, where cooler temperatures help with the aging process. This current release boasts an impressive ABV of 110 proof, a notable increase from its predecessor’s 90 proof.

David Bock, Master Distiller at A. Smith Bowman, stated, “Every Abraham Bowman Limited Edition release is an opportunity to ask new questions and explore new processes for making whiskey.” He emphasized that this release aimed to perfect their rye mash bill, resulting in a spirit that is both expressive and balanced, featuring notes of maple syrup, vanilla, apricot, orange zest, and a spice-forward finish with hints of black pepper and mint.

Fans eager to acquire a bottle can enter an online lottery, running from May 4th to May 11th. Winning participants will be notified and can purchase one bottle in person at the distillery gift shop from May 13th to 31st, with an MSRP of $79.99 before taxes and fees. A limited number of bottles will also be available through select retailers and bars across the U.S.

In the competitive world of liquor, Tito’s Handmade Vodka has established itself as the clear leader in the U.S. market, significantly outpacing its competitors. In 2024, Tito’s sales reached an impressive $2.6 billion, with over 12 million cases sold—4 million more than its closest rival, Smirnoff. This dominance has remained consistent since 2020, when Tito’s first claimed the title of best-selling vodka brand.

The brand’s success can be attributed to various factors, beginning with its approachable roots. Tito’s was founded by Bert Beveridge, who started distilling vodka in Texas during the early 1990s, gaining official permits to operate a distillery before producing award-winning vodka. The straightforward branding—characterized by a lackluster label designed by Beveridge himself—reinforces its image as a down-to-earth product.

Affordability also plays a key role in Tito’s appeal. A 750 milliliter bottle typically retails for around $22, offering a high-quality product at a reasonable price. Despite its popularity, the vodka market is witnessing overall declines in sales, influenced by shifting lifestyle choices among younger consumers. For instance, in Virginia, Tito’s experienced a drop in total sales from 2024 to 2025, highlighting that even the top contender faces challenges amid changing drinking habits.

As Tito’s continues to lead, it remains to be seen how the evolving dynamics of the liquor industry will impact this beloved brand.

For more details, visit Food Republic.

The London Spirits Competition declared Root Shoot American Single Malt as the top whiskey of 2026, scoring an impressive 97 points. This 4-year aged, $42 whiskey from Loveland, Colorado, surprisingly outperformed renowned competitors from traditional whiskey-producing regions, including Scotland, Bourbon, and Irish whiskey.

The London Spirits Competition, known for evaluating spirits based on quality, value, and marketability, judged Root Shoot on its impressive nuances and market potential, which contributed significantly to elevating the standing of American Single Malt whiskey internationally. This category has only recently gained formal recognition in the U.S. as of 2025.

Root Shoot American Single Malt is characterized by its rich, semi-sweet flavor profile, described by tasters as featuring flavors of buckwheat honey, spiced pear, granola, and cacao nibs, finishing with hints of clove and cardamom. This complexity is attributed to the distillery’s close connection to its ingredients, as it sources its grains from a family farm just miles away from its production site, ensuring a high degree of control over flavor quality.

This recognition of Root Shoot Spirits not only showcases its craftsmanship but serves as a reminder for whiskey enthusiasts to explore and enjoy this relatively new yet exceptional addition to the American whiskey landscape before it becomes less accessible.

Have you ever wondered about the impact of rum on Canadian history? This question is explored in Allan Greer’s new non-fiction book, Canada in the Age of Rum, where he delves into the often overlooked but significant role rum played in pre-Confederation Canada.

Greer, a professor emeritus at McGill University, examines rum’s journey from the fishery in Newfoundland during the 1670s to its influence on the fur trade in Western Canada by the 1830s. He discusses how the early colonies were “awash in a sea of rum” and highlights its role in commerce, politics, and social structures.

One of the most compelling aspects of Greer’s analysis is the complex relationship among the fur trade, Indigenous communities, and companies like the Hudson’s Bay Company and the North West Company. He emphasizes the ceremonial significance of rum in trade protocols between Indigenous leaders and company representatives.

While Greer acknowledges the business aspects of rum, he does not shy away from addressing its detrimental effects, from those in Newfoundland’s fishing ports to the fur traders in Upper Canada and beyond. He argues that the recognition of rum’s harmful impacts contributed to its decline by the 1830s.

Greer supports his narrative with charts and graphs illustrating rum’s usage and consumption, but it is his storytelling style—evoking parallels to Ken Burns—that truly engages readers. His writing style introduces a “mystery” element regarding how rum lost its powerful status over time, piquing curiosity and encouraging readers to delve deeper into the narrative.

Canada in the Age of Rum serves as an engaging summer read, offering insights that will change how one views the rum section of their local Liquor Mart.

For those interested in exploring this topic further, the book is available for purchase at major retailers.

Did you know that the renowned whiskey maker Jack Daniel’s employs a unique method involving massive bonfires to enhance its whiskey quality? This technique, called the "Lincoln County Process," is a critical part of the craft at the distillery located in Lynchburg, Tennessee. The process involves stacking and soaking wooden pallets made of hard sugar maple in whiskey before igniting them. This may sound unconventional, but it plays a significant role in transforming raw, unaged whiskey into the finished Tennessee whiskey that many enjoy.

The roots of this process can be traced back to 1864 when Jack Daniel, the brand’s namesake, learned the method from Nathan "Nearest" Green, an enslaved Black man who was instrumental in Daniel’s early distilling career. This practice eventually became the standard for any spirit labeled as "Tennessee Whiskey."

Here’s how it works: once the bonfire is extinguished and the sugar maple embers cool down, they are placed in large containers. The bourbon is then poured over these coals, which act as a filter, allowing the whiskey to pass through 10 feet of charcoal. This essential step removes impurities and enhances flavor over several days before the whiskey is stored in oak barrels for aging—usually taking four to six years, though some varieties can age up to 14 years.

The filtration process is vital for creating a smooth and sweet flavor profile in the whiskey, as noted by former master distiller Jeff Arnett. The unique ability of charcoal to capture impurities—such as sulfur compounds and aldehydes—while allowing the alcohol to pass through makes it an effective natural filter. Furthermore, the distillery’s focus on sustainable practices ensures that they plant and protect sugar maple trees to maintain the necessary resources for their craft.

For more insights into the intriguing world of Jack Daniel’s whiskey and its crafting techniques, you can read detailed whiskey facts here.

When making cocktails, especially whiskey sours, it can be daunting for beginners due to the multitude of ingredients involved. However, many classic cocktails can be simplified with easy-to-remember formulas. One such method is the 3-2-1 ratio, which refers to using three parts strong (alcohol), two parts sour, and one part sweet.

For a whiskey sour, this translates to using three components: whiskey, lemon juice as the sour element, and simple syrup as the sweet component. To apply the 3-2-1 method effectively, bartenders often use a jigger for measuring. The large side of the jigger can be used for whiskey and lemon juice, while the smaller side is reserved for the simple syrup. For instance, you would pour 2 ounces of whiskey, add 1 ounce of lemon juice, and finish with ½ ounce of simple syrup, shaking them with ice and straining into a glass.

The versatility of the 3-2-1 ratio extends beyond whiskey sours. Margaritas, gimlets, and greyhounds also follow this structure. The key elements, alcohol, sour, and sweet, work collectively to define the cocktail’s flavor profile, balancing the sharpness of the sour with the sweetness.

For those wanting a more textured drink, variations such as adding egg whites to the mixture can create a silky mouthfeel and a frothy top—making it visually appealing and enriching the overall experience. Including a dash of bitters can also enhance the flavor complexity.

The 3-2-1 rule serves as foundational knowledge for novice mixologists, equipping them to craft cocktails confidently. By understanding this basic structure, anyone can create a well-balanced drink that impresses.