Category: blog

(I was sent  a couple cans of the Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Seltzer Berry Lemonade to try.  I was not paid and ALL opinions are my own) Have you ever wanted […]

I came home with a bottle of Tyrconnell Single Malt a few days ago, and this post ought to have been written sooner but the whiskey was so charming that […]

By The Straight Up, December 19, 2013 Instructions: Add the NOLET’s gin, dry curaçao, maraschino and elixir vegetal (don’t have it? try a few dashes of green Chartreuse) to a chilled […]

Originally posted in November of 2013.  Reposted for National Toasted Marshmallow Day. Who doesn’t love a chocolate covered marshmallow?  This cocktail is light and tastes delicious! We made it!   […]

The second of my recent attempts at an aromatic Irish whiskey cocktail. So far, I’ve done two subtle variations, one with sweet vermouth and the other with Cocchi Americano Rosa, […]

By The Straight Up, December 23, 2013 Instructions: Add the malort, Campari, gin, rye, Fernet-Branca, absinthe and 3 full droppers of Bittermens Hopped Grapefruit Bitters to a chilled mixing glass. […]

I had a little unexpected treat today, when I saw The Ice Book mentioned in this story “Is Ice the Ultimate Luxury?” in T, the New York Times Magazine.   This […]

I was sent a bottle of Crown Royal Texas Mesquite Whisky to sample.  I was not paid or asked to promote it in any way.  All opinions are my own […]

This one’s for a friend who was having trouble with Irish whiskey in the classic Manhattan formula. While distinctly more floral and fruit-forward from the inclusion of Cocchi Rosa, the […]

By The Straight Up, December 27, 2013 Happy Holidays!  Time to wrap up MxMo: Anise. To be honest, I was a little nervous that we wouldn’t get a great turnout […]

I wrote a story for the San Francisco Chronicle about cobblers, mostly Sherry Cobblers. Read it here.     While hot weather bears down on much of the country, summer […]

I was sent a bottle of Captain Morgan Apple Smash to try for myself.  I was not asked to create a post for it or paid for my opinion.  My […]

Here we are again in January, a little bleary…. But the dead of winter gets a bum rap. All the seasons have their beauty. And this one for me is […]