Elevating Your Drinking Experience: The Future with Heli-Whisky and Tomorrow’s Wine
In this edition of Top Shelf, it’s all about extreme deliciousness, including adventurous rum from the middle of the Atlantic and sessionable mead.
Illustration: Oscar Bolton Green
Welcome back, all ye of discerning taste. It’s the first Thursday in a new month, and boy, do we have a doozy of a Top Shelf Society meeting ahead.
In case you’re new here—and huzzah if you are!—just grab that chair over there and settle in; there’s no cap in this club dedicated to more satisfying, smart drinking. (Although sign up here if you’re reading this online, so you don’t miss out on subscriber-only special offers.)
Unveiling the Top 10 Most Loved Cocktails in the U.S. Based on NielsenIQ Data
The margarita is the most popular cocktail of the year again.
When it comes to their favorite cocktails, drinkers in the U.S. are wasting away in Margaritaville.
The margarita was the best-selling cocktail of 2023, according to exclusive data from NielsenQ (NIQ). This isn’t a surprise, as the tequila-powered frozen (or shaken) concoction that helps us hang on has been the most popular cocktail in the U.S. since 2015, the first year NIQ began tracking this category.
The best-selling cocktails were determined based on data compiled from a representative sample of more than 10,000 restaurants and bars. “It is balanced with approximately 50% independent outlets and 50% chain outlets; 75% of which are dining-centric and 25% drinking-centric,” Andrew Hummel, the director of BevAl Vertical NIQ, told me via email.
Other cocktails in the top 10 for 2023 include classics such as the martini, mojito, old fashioned and Long Island iced tea, as well as the espresso martini, the current “it” cocktail. Another best-selling mixed drink, the spritz, saw the biggest increase in popularity year-over-year.
“The average (median) cocktail price rose to $13 in 2023 up from $12 in 2022,” Hummel noted, but despite that, the quantity of cocktail purchases was up 6% in the final three months of 2023 compared to 2022.
Here is a rundown of the best-selling cocktails in the fourth quarter of 2023. This gives the closest approximation of what drinkers are currently looking for, but there are some seasonal variations inspired by warm-weather drinking habits to consider. For instance, last summer, the mojito occupied the third instead of sixth slot in the ranking, and the Piña Colada was the 10th best-seller before being unseated by the Bellini once the weather cooled.
Alcoholic Lime Margarita with Tequila and Sea Salt
Jimmy Buffett can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that this iconic cocktail still holds a special place in the hearts of Americans. Nonetheless, the surge in popularity of both tequila and mezcal indicates that this drink’s fame is far from waning.
Simple yet classic, the Martini has not lost any of its allure.
While the identity of the next James Bond remains a mystery, the absence of the iconic actor from the big screen has not affected the sales of Bond’s preferred drink. It is worth noting that making a martini with vodka instead of gin and shaking it is not the approved method of making a martini—at least according to most connoisseurs.
The Moscow Mule maintains its status as a crowd-pleaser amongst drinkers.
The Moscow Mule’s appealing mix of vodka, ginger beer and lime juice helped make vodka the most popular spirit in the U.S., so I’m always happy to see it continue to get some love.
The Espresso Martini is having a moment.
Espresso martini mania has not yet peaked. In 2023, it remained one of the most popular cocktails and also had some of the most significant increases in popularity, rising to occupy this impressive fourth spot in the cocktail rankings.
The Old Fashioned’s popularity isn’t growing old soon.
Call me old fashioned but it’s hard to beat this blend of whiskey, sugar and bitters. Whether you opt for bourbon or rye is up to your taste, and the old fashioned offers countless alterations.
The mojito never fails to impress and was one of the most beloved cocktails of the previous year.
Cuba’s traditional cocktail is favoured throughout the year but certainly sees a surge in demand during the warmer months in the U.S., as consumers are attracted to its refreshing quality.
If you desire a substantial amount of liquor in a short timespan, The Long Island Iced Tea is the pick for you.
The Long Island Iced Tea, though having ingredients like vodka, gin, rum and gin that may seem like a hangover in the making, continues to be an ever-present favorite.
Beyond the popular Aperol Spritz, the Spritz category expands further.
The Aperol spritz has its detractors, but they played a crucial role in introducing U.S. drinkers to the broader Spritz category. This category usually comprises an Amaro-like liqueur blended with sparking wine and soda water. This fresh entrant in the top 10 cocktail list is fast climbing the ladder. By 2024, expect these drinks to be even more ubiquitous.
In daytime drinking, the mimosa cocktail is the unofficial frontrunner.
You can’t spell “brunch” without mimosa—well, technically you can, but you get what I mean. This mix of orange juice and sparkling wine is the ruler of all drinking that takes place before noon.
Bellini is the peach-powered brunch alternative to a mimosa.
To make the second-most popular brunch or breakfast cocktail in the U.S., simply replace the orange juice with peach puree. You can also replace the words “orange juice” with “peach puree” in the previous entry and the statement still works, more or less.
Full Glass Wine secures $14M Funding for the Acquisition of DTC Wine Marketplaces, Acquires Bright Cellars
Full Glass Wine a brand acquisition management startup that specializes in acquiring wine marketplaces, has raised a $14 million Series A round to continue acquiring DTC (direct-to-consumer) wine marketplaces, aiming to lead the DTC wine market.
DTC wine brands sell wine directly to wine lovers, bypassing traditional distribution channels
Full Glass Wine recently acquired Bright Cellars, a subscription-based wine service provider in Wisconsin, for an undisclosed price. The deal is its third acquisition in a year and enables the startup to expand its subscription-based model. Previous acquisitions include Winc, a DTC wine platform offering personalized recommendations and a subscription service, in June 2023; and Wine Insiders, a marketplace that curates a selection of high-quality wines from around the world at accessible prices, in October 2023.
“By uniting Winc, Wine Insiders, and Bright Cellars, we offer a one-stop shop for all things wine, catering to a wider range of wine drinkers than most traditional retailers, grocers, or single-brand DTC companies,” Neha Kumar, co-founder and COO of Full Glass Wine, told TechCrunch. “This comprehensive portfolio allows the company to optimize logistics for efficient delivery and leverage the power of established brands to create a powerful marketing platform.”
The firm plans to increase its technology investments using the raised funds. “Bright Cellars, our latest addition, has designed an algorithm that pairs wine by learning from user preferences and ratings,” mentioned Kumar. “This method, reminiscent of how platforms such as Spotify and Netflix customize content suggestions, helps us craft a more personalized experience for every customer. We aim to harness the power of data and AI to enhance the precision and insightfulness of personalized wine recommendations, ensuring that every customer finds and relishes wines they genuinely adore.”
A host of opportunities await in the DTC wine sector, though managing the intricate network of regulations across various states can be an obstacle, as per Kumar.
She further stated, “Ensuring a smooth customer journey, from discovering our products to receiving them, demands continuous innovation and concentration. However, there might be some misunderstandings among customers regarding DTC wine. We tackle concerns over quality by securing partnerships with reliable vineyards and implementing stringent selection processes. Although value is a pertinent factor, we provide a broad price range catering to an array of budget preferences. The primary challenge might be the preliminary discovery stage – consumers often find it daunting to pick the right wines. This is where personalization plays a key role – we employ data and technology to help consumers identify wines that they will truly enjoy.”
Full Glass Wine’s CEO Louis Amoroso and COO Neha Kumar. Image Credits: Full Glass Wine
Back in 2023, a man of multiple talents in the winery business and former associate at Goose Island Beer Company, Louis Amoroso (CEO), together with Kumar (COO), a past management director at New Money Ventures, initiated a startup. They are very open-minded about the potential of teaming up with diverse companies to increase the accessibility and services their platform offers.
“This could possibly include wineries, different food delivery solutions, or even organizing specialists to provide unmatched experiences for our customers directly through our platform,” elucidated Kumar.
Post the latest acquisition, the company is consistently working hard to ensure a seamless transition for every person involved.
“Our team at Full Glass Wine will strengthen as we are looking at including minimally dozens of employees now,” informed Kumar. “This addition will enhance our team significantly, allowing us to cater to a broader array of services to our esteemed customers.”
The startup did not provide the number of subscribers it has but said the acquisitions will help it generate more than $100 million in revenue in 2024. It plans to offer a diverse selection of over 400 SKUs and an accessible price range for customers; most bottles range from $12 to $25.
Shea Ventures led the Series A funding.
Bright Cellars lands more funding to personalize its subscription-based wines
Vivino raises $155 million for wine recommendation and marketplace app
Indulge in the Whiskey-Grapefruit Juice Cocktail: A Perfect Farewell to Winter
In this welcome variation for Paloma lovers, swapping the tequila for rye whiskey helps transition this bright grapefruit-forward cocktail into the oft-dreary winter months. If you’ve never met before, allow us to introduce the Blinker: a classic cocktail with a low profile and high vibrancy. The Blinker could be considered a variation of the Whiskey Sour, as it follows a standard sour format: base spirit, sugar, and citrus, plus a small yet crucial dilution from the wet shake.
Proto-Blinkers were made with rye whiskey, grapefruit juice, and grenadine. Call it evolution, or call it “keeping with the times,” but nowadays, modern mixologists are swapping the pomegranate-forward syrup for raspberry syrup, yielding a drink with less depth and intensity and a sweeter, brighter profile. Whichever ingredients lineup you prefer, the assembly is the same: The three ingredients get shaken over ice and, like Whiskey Sours, are double-strained before being poured into a chilled coupe glass to serve.
The first recorded recipe for the drink appeared in Patrick Gavin Duffy’s “The Official Mixer’s Manual” in 1934, and while it broke onto the scene and lasted, it wasn’t immediately popular. In his 1940s bartender’s handbook “The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks” (via Difford’s Guide), David Embury called the Blinker “One of a few cocktails using grapefruit juice. Not particularly good but not too bad.” Still, the bevy is not to be overlooked. It’s mature, timeless, and avoids being hyper-sweet like many citrusy cocktails. Plus, even with the 100-proof rye, the Blinker is smooth and accessible at 15.13% alcohol by volume (ABV) or 30.26-proof.
Read more: 13 Liquors Your Home Bar Should Have
The Blinker was brought back to mainstream awareness in 2009 by Ted Haigh’s nostalgic libations graveyard guidebook, “Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails.” Haigh’s recipe altered Patrick Gavin Duffy’s version, calling for more rye and introducing the raspberry-grenadine swap. Making flavorful, homemade raspberry-infused simple syrup yourself is a killer way to take your home mixology game to the next level, and you can also use it to make the Clover Club, another vintage cocktail that’s been enjoying a 21st-century comeback.
Or, keep the grenadine and add rose water for a sophisticated floral facelift. Lemon syrup would also steer this cocktail more punchy and mature than the red berry flavor. (Sidecar fans, rise up.) On the note of ingredients, opt for freshly squeezed yellow grapefruit juice, which is more tart than that of the sugary pink and red grapefruits (which are the sweetest of them all).
If you can’t track down yellow grapefruit in your local produce section, a few drops of grapefruit bitters can help counterbalance the sweetness of pink grapefruit juice. Scrappy’s and Fee Brothers both make great versions of the ingredient, available for purchase online, or intrepid home bartenders can make flavorful bitters themselves. Depending on whether you want to steer your Blinker more sweet or more tangy, you could garnish with a raspberry trio skewer, grapefruit twist, or lemon peel after expressing the fruit’s oils around the rim of the glass.
Read the original article on Tasting Table
The 12th Annual Great Vegas Festival of Beer Returns!
Hosts of “Las Vegas Morning Blend”, Elliott Bambrough and Jessica Rosado, engage in a discussion about the renowned Great Vegas Festival of Beer. Identified as Las Vegas’ top craft brew festival, it is slated to commence at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center this coming Saturday, April 6.
Rehab Order for Vodka Thief Caught On CCTV in a Convenience Store
A woman who stole three bottles of vodka from a shop has been placed on a community order with a drug rehabilitation requirement.
Jade Cambridge admitted taking the alcohol from the Spar shop on High Street in Presteigne on October 15, 2023, when she appeared at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Court on Wednesday last week.
The 38-year-old, formerly of Lower Cross, Kington, and now of Mill Bank, Presteigne was seen on CCTV.
The Demise of Red Wine: Four Reasons It’s No Longer Considered A Health Food
Red wine used to be touted as a health food. If you didn’t drink, experts thought adding a glass …[+] would improve your health. Yet the science has changed because the original research in the 1990s supporting red wine’s benefits was flawed. Despite that, many still thinking red wine is healthy.
For years scientists and doctors considered red wine a health food. Research of the day linked moderate alcohol consumption—defined as one drink or less a day in women and two or less in men—to 30-40% fewer heart disease deaths in drinkers v. non-drinkers.
Red wine became a health food because it not only contained alcohol but also the health-enhancing antioxidants of grape skins. One powerful antioxidant is resveratrol which repairs damaged blood vessels, prevents clots, and reduces inflammation. This led to experts to recommend red wine in modest amounts to boost health. Wine sales have grown tremendously since the 1990s.
Now we know differently. Moderate drinkers do die later but not because they drink alcohol. It’s because they are healthier to begin with. They are more active, richer, have better diets, and better education. The early research studies misled us to wrongly believe moderate consumption was healthy. Here are four reasons you shouldn’t think of red wine as a health food, even if you sip less than a glass a day.
1. Moderate Alcohol Consumption Is Linked To Poorer, Not Better, Cardiovascular Health
A 2022 study in JAMA Network Open examined 371,463 people in the UK and found moderate drinking was associated with a 1.3 times higher risk of high blood pressure and 1.4 times higher risk of coronary artery disease. The study was cleverly designed. It accounted for a person’s genetic predisposition to alcohol use which helps get around some limitations of earlier studies.
2. Alcohol Use Increases Cancer Risk Even With Moderate Drinking
Alcohol is a known human carcinogen, according to the National Toxicology Program in the Department of Health and Human Services. Alcohol accounts for 6% of all cancers and 4% of cancer deaths, amounting to 75,000 yearly cancer cases and 19,000 deaths in US. It causes cancer for many reasons. For example, it increases oxidative stress and the metabolic products from alcohol—namely, acetaldehyde—damage liver DNA. It also directly injures your mouth and throat cells’ DNA. It substantially increases breast cancer risk even in moderate drinkers. Women who drink three alcoholic drinks a week have a 15% higher breast cancer risk than those who don’t drink at all.
Sleep Quality Is Worsened By Alcohol
Alcohol can act as a sedative causing one to fall asleep more quickly. However, it has been found to detrimentally affect the quality of sleep. The impact of drinking alcohol on sleep quality becomes more obvious even after small quantities. A study carried out on 4,098 Finnish people, revealed a rise in stress responses and impairment in sleep recovery measures in the first three hours of sleep due to alcohol consumption. According to their measurements, the quality of sleep, referred to as the HRV-derived physiological recovery state, deteriorated by 9.3% upon drinking a small amount of alcohol. This increased to 24% for a moderate amount and soared as high as 39.2% for a large amount. In addition to worsening hangovers, insufficient sleep also leads to decreased alertness on the following day.
It Would Require A Deadly Amount Of Red Wine To Benefit From Its Antioxidants
Resveratrol is found in red wine but its quantity is not enough to engender any significant health benefits. A study, measuring absorption of resveratrol in the body through a cup of alcohol, along with two other polyphenols (catechin and quercetin) known for their health benefits, concludes that the blood concentrations for these elements is far too low to be effective. Consequently, to reach a beneficially high level, one would have to drink gallons of wine, a lethal amount.
Here’s the crucial understanding: the understanding of red wine’s benefits has progressed. Indeed, it brings about a pleasant feeling. But, it’s no longer considered a health boon. If you don’t drink, there’s no need to start. If you do indulge in red wine, perhaps think about consuming less than a glass per day. It’s evident that the more alcohol you consume – including red wine – the greater you elevate your risk for health complications.
Review: Cutwater Devil’s Share Bourbon – Our Whiskey of the Week
If you’re familiar with the brand Cutwater, it’s likely because of theircanned cocktails, a product category that saw an unexpected boon during the global pandemic in 2020. I’m not an expert on the topic, and during the Covid lockdown, I spent time making cocktails from scratch with freshly sanitized ingredients. However, among the ones I sampled, Cutwater’s stuck out as being top-tier. It’s a challenge to make a well-crafted mai tai from fresh ingredients, let alone one that retains its flavor after weeks or even months in a can, but their mai tai was impressively tasty. Later, I tried Cutwater’s canned White Russian which was equally enjoyable.
However, Cutwater’s history extends beyond canned cocktails. The San Diego-based company was established in 2017, but its roots go back another ten years as the spirits component of the Ballast Point Brewery. In 2015, when Ballast Point was acquired by Constellation Brands, the spirits division was split off and later revived as Cutwater Spirits. Today, the company operates a largedistillery/bar/restaurant in San Diego’s Miramar area.
Wait a minute, Cutwater has a distillery? So this company producing canned cocktails creates its own spirits? And co-founder Yuseff Cherney is the master distiller? For a New Yorker like myself, this was a surprising discovery. Not only do they use their spirits in the canned cocktails (and their frozen cocktail pops), they also bottle and sell it in varieties ranging from rum, gin to herbal liqueur. They take pride in the many awards won by their spirits, and to my surprise, I realized I’ve tasted and scored their products in various contests. I particularly liked their unaged rum, their tequilas were respectable, but their rye didn’t win me over.
Indeed, Cutwater Spirits is a major player in the world of spirits, coming right out of San Diego.
I had never tried Cutwater Devil’s Share Bourbon, their highest-end expression, with a suggested retail price of $115. If you can find it, that is, as availability is said to be limited even in California. The mashbill is an interesting one — 75% non-GMO corn, 15% malted barley, and 10% malted wheat. Usually a wheated bourbon uses wheat as the secondary grain. To use it as a tertiary grain after the barley… that’s different. Aged for at least four years in new American oak barrels, it’s bottled at 46% ABV.
On the nose it’s a little hot, with notes of brown sugar, cinnamon, and rubbing alcohol. On the palate the cinnamon comes through again, accompanied by butterscotch, vanilla and oak. It drinks a tad hotter than its proof; a little water tamps down the heat but also dulls the flavor profile a bit, so I preferred it neat. It makes a pleasant, lightly astringent Manhattan, and a perfectly fine whiskey sour.
“This bourbon is not defined by geography, but by taste,” says the Cutwater website, and I suppose that makes sense, since as far as I know there’s no distinctive San Diego style of whiskey. Although, with 18 distilleries and counting in the city, according to the San Diego Guild of Distillers, one may be emerging as I write this. News travels slowly to us East Coast craft spirits connoisseurs. Can you procure better bourbons for significantly less money? Absolutely. But for the time being, Cutwater reigns supreme in San Diego whiskey. On my next visit, I’ll certainly be visiting the distillery and savoring a Devil’s Share whiskey sour — if they aren’t only selling canned cocktails at the bar.
Emerging Trends in Beer Purchasing: The Decline of the Six-Pack
Six-pack beer sales are declining as 12-packs and singles gain in popularity.
Joe Six-Pack might have to change his name.
Six-pack beer sales declined last year for both craft beer and beer as a whole, according to a recent recap and analysis released by the Brewers Association.
Nielson data cited in the analysis reveals 12-pack can sales have surpassed six-pack can sales both in terms of dollars and total volume of beer sales as the top beer format. In the craft beer arena, the six-pack remained the top-selling beer format but its popularity is waning: six-pack craft beer sales were down more than 12% for the year.
So how are people buying their craft beer instead?
If you’re a craft beer fan you might assume it is the popular four-pack 16-ounce cans, which seems as synonymous with craft beer these days as beards and plaid shirts — but you’d be wrong. The four-pack also dropped in popularity with sales by volume decreasing 7.3% over 2023. Instead, 12-packs increased in popularity along with singles, which were the biggest winners of the year, increasing by 2.2%. Surprisingly, singles actually surpassed four-packs in popularity over the past year.
Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association and author of the recap, predicts that we will continue to see the popularity of four-packs and six-packs drop. “In the same way we’ve seen consumers focus in on alcohol by volume (ABV) and specific occasions, hollowing out the middle of the ABV range a bit, I wonder if they are starting to do something similar with pack sizes,” he wrote in the analysis. “Six-packs are still the plurality of craft packaging, but they are now down to 43 share of volume. It’s likely that singles and 12-packs will pass them in 2024.”
It is all part of beer world that is rapidly changing. Beer sales are trending down overall as consumers are drawn to other types of alcohol. But craft beer has long been built on change. I still remember when some beer connoisseurs would look down on anything in a can as inferior. Those days are long gone and can sales overall continue to increase growing by 4% over the past year.
Personally, I don’t see anything too concerning for the industry in shifting pack-size format choices. I also love singles, it allows you to taste a beer without spending on a four-pack and I’m pleased that more breweries are providing them. The bigger 12-packs are also a tremendous deal when you wish to stack up on a beer you favour. However, as six-pack sales dropped, I do speculate what an average American drinker will pick for the weekend to sip when working on the machines of their ‘88 Ford Mustangs.
After all, Joe 12-Pack doesn't quite possess a nice ring to it.
Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Extreme Preparation for Aadujeevitham Nude Scene: 3 Days of Fasting and 30 ML Vodka, Cinematographer Reveals
Prithviraj Sukumaran, a celebrated actor known for his recent film Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life, undertook a three-day fast prior to filming a nude scene for the movie. This dedication to his craft was later recounted by Sunil KS, the film’s cinematographer, during a recent interview.
There have been videos circulating on social media in which the cinematographer can be heard stating that Prithviraj had to be brought to the shooting location in a chair. He also disclosed the reason why the actor consumed 30 ml of vodka before the scene was filmed.
One user posted the aforementioned video on X, summarizing Sunil’s explanation, “Prithviraj fasted for three whole days before shooting the nude scene, abstaining even from water on the final day. Before the scene could begin, he drank 30 ml of vodka to rid his body of any remaining water.”
The user went on to reveal, “He had to be carried in a chair to the location of the shoot. It was necessary to help him up from the chair before the scene could be shot.” You can find the video using the following link:
Wow 👏
For the naked scene, Prithviraj fasted for 3 days, not even drinking water on the last day. Before the shoot, he consumed 30ML of vodka to drain the remaining water from his body. He needed to be carried in a chair to the location, and we had to lift him from the chair before the shot😯.
In the scene, Prithviraj’s character, Najeeb, an immigrant worker, removes his clothes one by one and walks towards a water tank to take a bath.
Prithviraj surprised the audience with his drastic physical transformation in the film. Talking about his weight loss, he said to Bollywood Hungama, “I had to gain a lot of weight to look like Najib when he first arrives in Saudi Arabia. Then I had to lose around 30 kgs twice to capture his look later on. My sugar levels got seriously disturbed. It was quite difficult. I don’t think I would be able to do this again.”
A post shared by Aadujeevitham – TheGoatLifeFilm (@thegoatlifefilm)
Directed by Blessy, Aadujeevitham: The Goat Life is a survival drama inspired by Benyamin’s 2008 novel of the same title. It made its debut on big screens on March 28 and amassed over Rs 50 crore at the box office within just a few days following its release.
The plot centers around the life of an immigrant worker who, in pursuit of better opportunities, ends up working as a goat herder on a remote farm in Saudi Arabia, where he is subjected to harsh conditions.
Visual Romance produced the film, shooting it largely during the pandemic with extensive schedules in Jordan.