Rachel Halpren

The Sidecar

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There are numerous stories on the Sidecar’s origins. However, Harry’s Bar in Paris is generally credited with inventing the Sidecar for a patron who often rode in the sidecar of a motorcycle. Pictured is the Sidecar we drank at Harry’s.

I am grateful to this unknown and unsung mixologist who brought us this cocktail, as it is my personal favorite, and I am eternally grateful to the Bix in San Francisco for introducing me to … Read more

Cookout USA – Book Review

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We thought that Cookout USA would be the perfect cookbook for Memorial Day. While not technically the start of summer, for many, Memorial Day signifies the start of summer and grilling season. I love everything about grilling season. The smell of the charcoal and grilling meats, the steamy weather and cold, refreshing drinks. Plus, there are fresh tomatoes, corn and watermelon to name a few of my food favorites! To me, summer, grilling and barbeques … Read more

Wines That Rock For the Holidays and After

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There is a trend for celebrities, alive and dead, to have their own wine labels. These wines are fun and make a great gift to bring for a party. This is important as we enter fall and the party season. I know that we are often scratching our heads as to a fun and appropriate gift to bring to a party. There is the added pressure given that we right about wine and booze.

We … Read more

Happy Repeal Day – aka Cinco de Drinko

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Today marks the 80th Anniversary of the implementation of the 21st Amendment, also known as Repeal Day (for repealing the disastrous 18th Amendment, which went into effect on January 17, 1920). Make sure you enjoy a tipple today to celebrate!

Prohibition was a dark period in America. It pitted recent immigrants against Americans who had been in the country for generations and rural areas against urban. Hypocritical politicians voted dry and drank very wet. I … Read more

Sandeman Launches 2011 Vintage Port

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Each year, less than two percent (2%) of port is declared “vintage”, meaning that it comes from the same year.  These wines can be found in vintage or late bottled vintage ports.  Generally, port contains wines from multiple vintages in order to preserve the style of the port house.  In this regard, it’s very similar to Champagne houses, like Veuve Clicquot or Perrier Jouet.  The decision to declare a vintage port is taken very seriously … Read more

Celebrity Vineyards – Book Review

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You may not know it but your favorite celebrity might own a vineyard.  It’s very in vogue these days.  Many of you may know of Francis Ford Coppola, who I would argue is the best known celebrity vintner.  Coppola is very successful with a wide range of wine, including ones under the Coppola name, and to amazing wineries, Francis Ford Coppola Winery and Inglenook (formerly Niebaum-Coppola).  But, what you might know is that a number … Read more

Jacob’s Ghost White Whiskey Review

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Jacob’s Ghost is new and old white whiskey from Jim Beam. Named after Jacob Beam, founder of Jim Beam, Jacob’s Ghost is a direct descendent of the white whiskey he distilled way back in 1795.  Unlike most white whiskeys, Jacobs Ghost is aged for 12 months in new white oak barrels.

In the words of Fred Noe, Jim Beam’s 7th Generation Master Distiller.

“Jacob’s Ghost represents both our past and our future. It’s a tribute

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Drink More Whiskey – Book Review

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Our friend Daniel Yaffe, founder of Drink Me magazine, recently published his first book < Drink More Whiskey: Everything You Need to Know About Your New Favorite Drink
.  Daniel is clearly a lover of whiskey and this book is his personal homage to the spirit.  We can hardly blame him as it’s one of our favorite beverages as well.

In Drink More Whiskey, Daniel takes a new approach to examining the spirit that is fun, witty and bordering on irreverant.  Daniel doesn’t write a dissertation on whiskey in … Read more

Wine and Candy Pairings for Halloween

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Our friends at Hob Nob wine recently sent us a Halloween present of wine and candy. Seriously, it doesn’t get much better than that. If you added ice cream, you would be combining all of my vices. Plus the Hob Nob Halloween gift gave us an idea for an article on wine-candy pairings for adult trick or treating this Halloween.

We thought that the wine and candy pairing was a brilliant idea for Halloween. For … Read more

12 Candy Themed Cocktails

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We know that our readers love Halloween and it’s hard to believe that Halloween is only a week away. This weekend, the adult Halloween celebrations will be in full swing. We have been scratching our heads, trying to come up with new and innovation ways to make Halloween fun.

In my attempt to be new and innovative, I ended up rehashing the old. Thinking about Halloween had me remembering what I loved about it as … Read more