Binny's Blog

We take a stroll down the NA beer aisle, where the options have never been better.

Not only are there more options for Dry January, but they're better than they've ever been. The Barrel to Bottle crew runs through the best of NA beer, wine and spirits.

Last week it was new wines, this week it's new spirits. Pat once again overdid it and brought too many new items for us to sample.

When six o’clock rolls around many Italians have their hearts firmly set on a leisurely cocktail and maybe a nibble or two before dinner. It’s Aperitivo time and most will opt for something a bitter cocktail to stimulate their appetites. But what are devotees of the cocktail hour, the ranks of which include countless Americans, to do during Dry January?

The original Matador cocktail called for Tequila, Orange Curacao, and French Vermouth. “Trader” Vic Bergeron created his own version in the early seventies throwing pineapple and lime juice into the mix. These are just the two most famous Matadors but certainly not the only ones. Today, in keeping with the growing trend of “Dry January” we humbly submit our spicy nonalcoholic version to be added to list.

The Whiskey Hotline is joined by Bryan Cranston for a tasting and discussion of Dos Hombres Mezcal.

The Whiskey Hotline is joined by mezcal expert Francisco Terrazas for a tasting of the varied offerings from Mezcal Vago.

It's been about a year since the Barrel to Bottle Crew tackled non-alcoholic beverages. We decided to revisit the topic though, because the category has blown up since then.

The difference between mezcal and other agave spirits. Maybe someone told you that all tequilas are mezcal but not all mezcals are tequila.

How to read a mezcal label. If you’ve read that mezcal label closely, you’ve maybe seen words like “artesenal” and “ancestral.”