Believe me. I know how this sounds. I want to preface this by saying that I am in no way trying to judge anyone's lifestyle nor am I trying to make myself seem superior for not drinking. It's just a boundary that I have that I want people to respect.

If Covid-19 hasn’t taught me anything else, it’s a new appreciation for wine. It sounds really bad when I say it out loud, but I drink (almost) every day. I used to only drink alcohol socially, but one day I saw an article on Facebook that changed my outlook on drinking forever. It said that the antioxidants found in red wine could significantly reduce the chances of catching a cold. I’m not sure how the words “could” and “significantly” can coincide, but it was on Al Gore’s Internet, so it must be true… maybe. This news excited me so much because I catch a cold every year sometimes 2 or 3 times even during the summer months. No one likes being sick, but I especially hate having a cold. Regardless of the medicine I take, the symptoms persist 7-10 days, and while it’s a God-awful feeling, it isn’t bad enough to take time off from work considering the sick leave rate of 8 hours per month. I’m sure there are other foods with cold-fighting antioxidants, but wine is so much more fun. There are many places nearby with inexpensive choices: Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Total Wine, grocery stores, and local sellers. It’s now a permanent fixture on my weekly grocery list; and no, I haven’t had a cold since.

Wine therapy can be defined as a series of refinement strategies that employ red wine and must. Must is the repeatedly crushed fruit juice that consists of the skins, seeds, and fruit stems. The substantial part of the must is called pomace and generally produces up 7–23% of the must's absolute substance, making it the initial step in the winemaking process (A History of Wine as Therapy, 1964). A beauty treatment born in France to obtain the most from the antioxidant, toning, and detoxifying properties of grapes promptly escalated to the rest of the world, notably in Italian wine lands (A History of Wine as Therapy, 1964).

The Perfect Pairing What comes to mind when you read those words? The answer may seem like it would be different for everyone. But let’s be honest, wine goes great with just about everything. Wine is the part of the pairing that makes the meal. There are a few key factors that may be able to pin down exactly which pairing you might go for and which is the perfect match for you.

As one of the original alcoholic drinks of contemporary human civilization, wine has imparted itself into practically every significant religion of the world. Since the birth of time, the doctrines of Europe and the Middle East gradually embodied this “nectar of the gods“ into their observances, declaring its fame and continuity throughout generations and millennia of individual growth. During great courses of time, the recipe of wine was secured as a mystery of religious faiths and influential established families of Sumerian and Egyptian authorities (Fuller, 1996). When wine eventually reached Ancient Greece and Rome, it created an original set of gods and rites focused on this compelling alcoholic drink (Fuller, 1996). As those ancient civilizations collapsed, wine worked to withstand the dark and middle ages under the preservation of Jews and Christians, instructed by various wine displays in the Bible (Fuller, 1996).

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” - The Hobbit My favorite part of the Holidays is the feasting and merriment. Spending hours with friends and family over shared bottles of wine and tables full of decadent food. Growing up, my family always did a traditional Christmas meal with turkey, casseroles, and pies. However, in the last few years, we've started something new that I think will stick for many years to come. On Christmas Eve I create massive charcuterie boards and we pop open several of our favorite wines from our favorite label: Lazarre.

Try thinking of a cocktail like a good book. You can be cheap and just read the Wikipedia summary, or you can buy the full version and get all the subtle details that make life worth living.

With all its many styles, variations and forms, the martini continues to be a mainstay among Americans. In fact, the wildly popular martini is the second best-selling cocktail nationwide, according to Nielsen.

A new series, aimed at the novice or wannabe homebrewer If you like beer, I get you. Me too!. If you brew your own beer, fantastic! I love to brew and share my creations!

Making drinks has always been a big hobby of mine. I was a barista for a few years, and had experience both teaching and attending numerous coffee seminars. I watched the World Barista Championship for fun, and I was practically a caffeine addict by the age of 14 (although that's another story) . Making artisan drinks was fun, and with the amount of time I spent exploring different concoctions, it came to no surprise that I would soon venture towards mixology as well. As an 18 year old from California I wasn't even sure I was legally allowed to attend a bartending school. But one morning I found myself calling a local bartending school for more information, and that same week I was enrolled.

5 Reasons My First Attempt at Quitting Drinking Failed On January 1st, 2016, I decided my New Year’s resolution was going to be to quit drinking. Nothing bad happened the night before. I just found myself drinking more than I normally did (being it was NYE) and noticing that it wasn’t really adding to the experience. If anything, actually, it took away from it. I wasn’t as present for my kids as I could have been and I feel asleep before it was even midnight because of all the wine and champagne I drank. I thought back to when I was in high school and overall did not drink much and was perfectly happy. I wanted to go back to feeling like that. If your track record with New Year’s resolutions is anything like mine has been, then I probably don’t have to tell you that this one didn’t last. I made it to mid-April, so about 3 and a half months. I eventually ended up stopping again in late 2017 and when I did, a book I read said that if you have not been successful with quitting drinking in the past, it is because you have not had the right tools. That, combined with all the buzz I was hearing about how failures and setbacks are lessons you can learn from, caused me to sit back and analyze why this earlier attempt was not successful. I have been able to narrow it down to 5 main reasons:

Planning to host a dinner party soon? Impress your guests by delivering a great dining experience through impeccable alcohol pairing. Alcohol pairing is a skill that can be learned by simply combining good tastes. When you carefully curate your alcohol pairing, you are also enhancing the taste of the alcohol, as well as the food and cigar collection that you paired it with.

The keto diet has become a popular choice for those looking for an effective way to lose weight. It emphasizes eating a high-fat diet with plenty of protein, while limiting carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are more easily transformed to energy, so if you eat a diet that is high in them, this will be your body's choice of fuel to burn.When you cut back on the carbs, you force your body to burn fat for energy instead. One of the biggest questions for people who decide to give the keto diet a try, is whether or not any alcohol is permitted. The good news is that there are some options that you can partake in while staying true to your new diet. It's important to read your labels to become familiar with the ingredients in the beverage of your choice, and limit the number of drinks that you have since many are still high in calories. But, if you do a little research beforehand, you can find a few tasty choices to be your new go-to drink.

We love to unwind on weekends with a nice cocktail at a bar somewhere. I'm an alcohol lightweight with an easy tendency to develop Asian flush, hence my go-to cocktail is a "weak" aperol spritz. To be honest, I'm more interested in getting a nice Instagram shot than what is actually inside the drink.

A person’s overall health and well-being depend on various aspects. Most people are very much aware of the fact that alcohol abuse can cause various health problems. However, very few people are aware that regular consumption of alcohol can also damagingly impact male fertility. Traditionally, it used to be believed that women should not drink while pregnant, but it is only half-truth. Alcohol consumption, even before pregnancy, can also cause some serious problems with fertility, especially to the male as per the fertility doctors in India.

One of my main goals coming to Chicago was to find the best of the best when it came to restaurants and bars. Unfortunately the Coronavirus made it required to have a reservation to go anywhere. This made it difficult for me to find places as I was walking in an area I liked, or have any spontaneous meals at new places. I have gone to quite a few well known places and decided to give my honest opinion of them. This can be anything from food to the view to the pricing on the menu. So here we go...

I need to get OUT! I know, I know this might sound strange (actually given that we are in a world where we can only mingle with 6 people and have to deal with a 10pm curfew (UK style), I guess this is far from strange) but I had nothing better to do on a Friday night then go to a bar and write a blog!!

On the day dubbed Super Saturday, the UK saw its pubs and restaurants reopen their doors. But while some binged for Britain and spent £210 million on booze on Saturday, others were fearful of the repercussions.

One thing you should know about Louisville if you visit is the bar and restaurant scene. From downtown to NULU to Frankfort Avenue and beyond, you’ll find gems anywhere you wander. Today, we’re visiting Gold Bar. Located in Butchertown--a unique neighborhood in the Metro area--this bar is run by Eron Plevan. He took the time out of his day to answer some questions and let me snap some pictures.

Making drinks has always been a big hobby of mine. I was a barista for a few years, and had experience both teaching and attending numerous coffee seminars. I watched the World Barista Championship for fun, and I was practically a caffeine addict by the age of 14 (although that's another story) . Making artisan drinks was fun, and with the amount of time I spent exploring different concoctions, it came to no surprise that I would soon venture towards mixology as well. As an 18 year old from California I wasn't even sure I was legally allowed to attend a bartending school. But one morning I found myself calling a local bartending school for more information, and that same week I was enrolled.

It’s often said that bartenders are like cheap therapists, and most days that feels like the truth. So, one day when I saw a reserved older man, sitting at the end of my bar all alone and looking like he had the world on his shoulders, naturally I went over and asked what he wanted to drink. He smiled kindly, his eyes crinkling around the edges just a little.

Let’s face it, 2020 has been one heck of a ride so far, and not necessarily the good kind. However, summer is finally upon us, and we’re all hoping for the opportunity to redeem ourselves and really enjoy this year! Many of us are coming off of quarantine and we are happy to begin socializing, to a certain extent, and living our best lives.

If you read this article, you may be a vegetarian or a vegan and like beer. To you I say: Read on! Beer unites us in many more ways than we would imagine at first. We love to sit around a table, talk, connect and enjoy a glass. Whether we differ in the things we enjoy in life or the values we hold dear, we can find common ground on the minor things, such as a nice beer. Whether you are a full-blown carnivore, vegetarian or vegan, you should be able to enjoy a pleasant drink right? 

Upon reading this title, you might think I'm some idiot American, which is kind of true, I won't argue with that, but, I'm not thinking about suing the virus, I would obviously lose. The virus would mop the floor with me. I want to sue the beer company, and no I don't think that they started the virus either. They did unknowingly cause a kitchen fire in my house, but that's a different story. I have something else against them.

I've always thought of Halloween as the true start of the autumn/winter party season. It's got the cutest decorations and the best outfits, for a start. It's got ancient Celtic traditions, like bobbing for apples, and cats in hats. What's not to love?

I am passionate about creating tasty Vermouth and Vodka cocktails, especially around the Christmas period. Vermouth makes me feel all warm, cosy and nice inside. It's the perfect drink to sip in the midday as you read one of your favourite books and relax with a piece of dark chocolate. Can't you just feel it all now? (sighs in relaxation).

Russian Standard Vodka is one of the fine joys in life. It is an incredible thing to mix with other drinks or to just sip on its own. I like how it adds some boldness but none of its own flavour to a drink and so, you can add subtle things to make it taste a certain way without using too many ingredients. It is not like a Daiquiri where you have to use a number of things to cover the taste of the rum or your Daiquiri will taste too much of rum and not enough of fruit.

Growing up, my parents always went out of their way to make the holidays special for me and my siblings. Traditions like finding the hidden pickle ornament in the Christmas tree, receiving clementines and lottery tickets in my stocking, and eating breakfast quiche on Christmas morning have always been fond memories of spending the holidays with my family.

Chances are, if your mother was born anytime after 1907, you've been given ginger beer or ginger ale at least once when you complained of an upset stomach. Well as it happens, there's a really good reason for this. Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory agent and has antiemetic (anti-vomiting) and anti-nausea properties. As far back as 2,000 years ago, ginger root was prescribed as a digestive aid and remedy for upset stomach, diarrhea, and nausea in the form of teas and powdered medicines in India and China. As a lighter beverage, ginger beer/ale is ideal for restoring fluids to the body during intense upset stomach spells, often helping to avoid dehydration.

“Sweet or sour?” These are the three words that started the wildest adventure of my life. Fitting. I landed a job that moved me from Omaha, Nebraska to Madison, Wisconsin when I graduated college in 2018. The six-hour drive turned into a nine-hour drive when I decided to tow my boyfriend’s car behind the moving truck. Oh, that’s right – I did what all parents have nightmares about their children doing when they graduate college: I dragged my boyfriend of two years across the country without a ring on my finger. I’m really living up to my job as a role model for my younger sister.

When you hear “DUI,” most people immediately think of being arrested for operating a motor vehicle under the influence. However, many states have different policies on how and what is defined as a motor vehicle. Here are a few strange ways you can get a DUI.

If you’re of above legal drinking age, or for some of you, even if you’re below it, you’re likely to know exactly how it feels to go to the bar and order your first alcoholic drink. The excitement and buzz that comes with it, ahead of a night that’s usually packed full of more twists and turns than an episode of Game of Thrones. Chances are you’ve also heard some big claims made about drinking and everything that comes with it, so we’re here to separate the fact from the fiction with ten myths about alcohol you shouldn’t believe.

One of my favorite hobbies is exploring what drinking is like in different parts of the world. Have you tried Japanese whisky or Korean Soju? What about lesser known European spirits like Ouzo and Jenever? Along with tasting these international beverages, it's important to understand the drinking culture in the regions where they originated. Here are some of my favorite drinking rituals from around the world—I encourage you to try them for yourself!

Rock & Rye is an 84 proof alcoholic beverage that was esrtablished in 1884. It is comprised of straight rye whiskey, navel oranges, raw honey, and rock candy. Bitters, which are flavored with botanical matter, are added to give the drink a taste that is both bitter and sweet. Longstanding brands of bitters initially developed into patent medicines, but now are sold as products to aid digestion. Bitters, also known as bitter herbs, (because they are considered to have herbal healing properties) are combined with cocktail flavorings. Since cocktails contain both sour and sweet flavors, bitters are used to make the drink more complex and give it a more complete taste.

Pure Japanese sake wine is made from fermented rice, water and Koji mold from Bamforth dating back to the Nara period which was back in 710-794 AD. This wine was only drunk during religious ceremonies, court festivals and drinking games.

Ever heard of secret pubs? Hideouts in the bush where villagers would get together and drink beer? This is the story of Aitu and its neighbouring islands, part of the Cook island group. Read on to learn more about this lesser known and very local beer style!

With all its many styles, variations and forms, the martini continues to be a mainstay among Americans. In fact, the wildly popular martini is the second best-selling cocktail nationwide, according to Nielsen.

So recently I wrote about my experiences with making mead and experiencing with different flavour combinations, so now I figured I would share my process of how I made it.

It’s no doubt that those of us who enjoy our alcoholic beverages may have increased our consumption during the COVID-19 outbreak. Only a little bit though, right? You’re fine. I’m fine. We’re all fine.

Believe me. I know how this sounds. I want to preface this by saying that I am in no way trying to judge anyone's lifestyle nor am I trying to make myself seem superior for not drinking. It's just a boundary that I have that I want people to respect.

If you are a person with a problem with alcohol or drugs, you may have considered looking into finding a so-called "sober living environment" or a rehab for those that want to get clean. Unfortunately, finding a clean environment can sometimes be difficult, as many of the programs and facilities are not really intended for those in need of help. Many people who have gone to these types of places often feel trapped, and they are forced to stay in an environment where they have no control over their own lives.

Do you remember how hot the scene from "Basic Instinct", when Sharon Stone's character lights a cigarette in the interrogation room, was?

When it comes to the best wineries in Virginia, there are a lot of options and places to consider. While there are brilliant wineries all over the East Coast, nothing quite compares to Virginia. As the United States’ Wine Country, Virginia is home to all sorts of wineries and vineyards, making it a little tough at times to choose exactly where you should be heading for the best experience. To narrow down your search, we’ve put together a list of 10 of the best wineries in Virginia, so you can look through them and make an informed decision of where to go!

The summer months will be rolling in soon and we all know what means. Backyards up and down the country will become the host to numerous BBQ’s on the weekends with hosts and guests all enjoying some great food and refreshing drinks. However, for the latter, it doesn’t always have to be cold beer. Why not try something a little different by adding some popular cocktails for your guests to drink?

Alcoholic beverages and nostalgic sweets have always had a rather experimental relationship ever since the early days of unusual mixing. But, for a specific audience, a certain sweet comes to mind. And, when swirled with the perfect liquer, can often leave a punchy note that can make a collective Swizzels lover swoon. This, of course, is all about parma violets and all of their gorgeous glory.

Hello, and welcome back to another fruity edition of the Ginger Tea Reviews! Tea is my passion, and I am making it my goal to share my passion with the world! Today, we are going to be talking about a recipe from a great cook book, The Culinary Tea.

About 30 minutes outside of Salt Lake City, nestled in the small town of Tooele is a great craft brewery called Bonneville Brewery. Now, Utah isn't traditionally known for their alcohol but with a new generation of brewers on the rise, Utah is quickly becoming fertile ground for the growing industry. Bonneville is what I would describe as the perfect brewpub with a great balance between innovative brews and delicious eats.

ZIMA is BACK! If you've been living under a rock for the last month and haven't heard the news, the original flavored malt beverage, Zima is back for a limited time only!

If Covid-19 hasn’t taught me anything else, it’s a new appreciation for wine. It sounds really bad when I say it out loud, but I drink (almost) every day. I used to only drink alcohol socially, but one day I saw an article on Facebook that changed my outlook on drinking forever. It said that the antioxidants found in red wine could significantly reduce the chances of catching a cold. I’m not sure how the words “could” and “significantly” can coincide, but it was on Al Gore’s Internet, so it must be true… maybe. This news excited me so much because I catch a cold every year sometimes 2 or 3 times even during the summer months. No one likes being sick, but I especially hate having a cold. Regardless of the medicine I take, the symptoms persist 7-10 days, and while it’s a God-awful feeling, it isn’t bad enough to take time off from work considering the sick leave rate of 8 hours per month. I’m sure there are other foods with cold-fighting antioxidants, but wine is so much more fun. There are many places nearby with inexpensive choices: Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Total Wine, grocery stores, and local sellers. It’s now a permanent fixture on my weekly grocery list; and no, I haven’t had a cold since.

Wine therapy can be defined as a series of refinement strategies that employ red wine and must. Must is the repeatedly crushed fruit juice that consists of the skins, seeds, and fruit stems. The substantial part of the must is called pomace and generally produces up 7–23% of the must's absolute substance, making it the initial step in the winemaking process (A History of Wine as Therapy, 1964). A beauty treatment born in France to obtain the most from the antioxidant, toning, and detoxifying properties of grapes promptly escalated to the rest of the world, notably in Italian wine lands (A History of Wine as Therapy, 1964).

The Perfect Pairing What comes to mind when you read those words? The answer may seem like it would be different for everyone. But let’s be honest, wine goes great with just about everything. Wine is the part of the pairing that makes the meal. There are a few key factors that may be able to pin down exactly which pairing you might go for and which is the perfect match for you.