Has “Solera” Become a Dirty Word in Rum?
As the premium rum market faces closer scrutiny, enthusiasts are beginning to question the practice of “solera aging.”
- story: Matt Pietrek
- photo: La Hechicera
How Does Costco Sell 18-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch for $38?
There’s a groundswell of support among whiskey geeks for Costco’s Kirkland Signature whiskies. Just two questions: Where do they come from, and why are they so cheap?
- story: Aaron Goldfarb
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Is Japanese Gin the Next Big Thing?
“Everybody is watching to see if they can do for gin what they did for whisky.”
- story: St. John Frizell
- photo: Lizzie Munro
The Best Mezcals for Sipping Under $50
A crash course in affordable mezcal for sipping, and the five bottles under $50 that topped our recent blind tasting.
- story: Punch Staff
- photo: Valeria Alonzo
The Modern Bartender’s Essential High-End Spirits
We asked dozens of bartenders to reveal their go-to high-end spirits for mixing. Here's what they had to say.
- story: Drew Lazor
- photo: Lizzie Munro
How to “Season” Cocktails With Spirits and Liqueurs
Adding a small amount of spirit to a drink—whether as a float, a spritz or a rinse—can add flavor, aroma and complexity to cocktails.
- story: Kara Newman
- photo: Lizzie Munro
The Best Drink Books of Fall and Winter 2017
From a “once-in-generation” wine book to a manual that may be the next Bartender's Guide, here's a look at the most important drink books of the season.
- story: Punch Staff
- photo: PUNCH
In Search of Camut Calvados; Or, the Right Way to Be French
Famed San Francisco bartender Thad Vogler visits the Camut brothers, arguably Normandy’s finest producers of calvados.
- story: Thad Vogler
- illustration: Nick Hensley Wagner
Your Guide to Sotol in Four Bottles
In this round of "Spirit Guide," get to know sotol, a regional Mexican spirit considered to be a close relative of mezcal.
- story: Wayne Curtis
- photo: Lizzie Munro
Can Vodka Be More Than Just a Mixer?
Many high-end vodkas are marketed today as flavorful—even sippable—spirits, akin to whiskey or gin. But can any of them truly hold their own?
- story: Punch Staff
- photo: Lizzie Munro
