Where LA’s Irish Eyes Will Be Smiling

March 16, 2010

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCbuRA_D3KU] Ah, St. Patrick’s Day. Like many of the great holidays, the ne plus ultra of Amateur Nights has transcended its origins and become an orgy of excess that has little to do with its namesake. That said, at least you’ll have an endless choice of places where you can get a pint or enjoy…

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Winners of the 2010 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Announced

March 16, 2010

The winners have been announced for the inaugural Ultimate Spirits Challenge, a three-day, four-stage competition that took place at New York’s Astor Center on March 1-3, 2010. The Ultimate Spirits Challenge was presented by Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC), founded by F. Paul Pacult, David Talbot, and Sue Woodley. UBC’s mission is to provide both the…

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All Roads Lead to Classic & Vintage Spirits

March 7, 2010

As the global cocktail renaissance marches on, mixologists and cocktail enthusiasts continue to utilize the highest quality spirits to anchor classic cocktails and new school creations alike. Founded by Domaine Select Wine Estates (DSWE) in 2009, Classic & Vintage Artisanal Spirits gathers many of these boutique spirits into a single impressive portfolio. Several of these…

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Reconstructing the Balvenie Signature Deconstruction Dinner

March 1, 2010

photos by Lena Watanabe Last year, famed Speyside distillery The Balvenie released Batch No. 2 of Signature, a 12 year old single malt Scotch created by Balvenie Malt Master David Stewart in celebration of his 45th year in the whisky industry. The Signature is a marriage of three different casks: first-fill bourbon barrels, refill casks…

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March 14: St. Patty's Fest in Hollywood

March 1, 2010

On Sunday, March 14, Barcelona Enterprises presents St. Patty’s Fest, at the Taglyan Arts and Cultural Complex in the heart of Hollywood. Your ticket gets you all the beer, wine, and whiskey you can drink from more than 35 breweries, 20 wineries, and spirits including Tullamore Dew and Feckin Irish Whiskey. To soak up the…

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All the Booze That’s Fit to Print – February 2010

March 1, 2010

~ An occasional roundup of L.A. cocktail culture in various media. Just in time for Super Bowl Sunday, LA Times Magazine featured recipes for four classic tiki cocktails, “reimagined for a new generation.” Love the retro-style artwork, too. On February 11, an LA Times Food article included a profile of Modern Spirits (TRU Vodka, found…

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Canadian Club Reserve and Classic: Award-Winning Whiskies from the City of Roses

February 24, 2010

With the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics capturing headlines and firing up international passions, the booze fairy thought it would be appropriate to send me two expressions from the Canadian Club range of blended whiskies: the Canadian Club Reserve 10 Year Old and the Canadian Club Classic 12 Year Old. Founded in 1858 by Hiram Walker,…

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February 23: Radio Room at the Edison

February 19, 2010

Since its relaunch last February, the Radio Room at the Edison has hosted guest mixologists from top bars such as Bourbon & Branch, Death & Co., Milk & Honey, Drink, Heaven’s Dog, and Clyde Common. In November, the Radio Room brought in guests Kirk Estopinal, Richard Gomez, and Danny Valdez from Cure (New Orleans), along with Plymouth Gin brand…

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February 21: Stir It 28 – Food Bloggers for Haiti Relief

February 18, 2010

It’s been just over a month since a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on January 12th, causing widespread damage and devastating the capital city of Port-au-Prince. According to the Associated Press, the estimated death toll is now over 230,000 and expected to rise. Although the emergency phase of the disaster is over, and millions of…

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February 20: Literary Pub Crawl

February 17, 2010

We’ve all heard of (and perhaps even done a few) pub crawls, but how about one dedicated to the great American authors? On Saturday, February 20th, join Book Soup, Goodreads and PEN Center USA for the first Literary Pub Crawl and channel the spirits of Hemingway, Kerouac and Chandler with a boozy journey along Sunset Boulevard.…

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