Once one ventures beyond the “base liquors” used to create cocktails — spirits including gin, rum, vodka, tequila, whiskeys and more — there remains an extensive and tantalizingly varied world of liqueurs to discover. From sweet libations like Benedictine and Drambuie to savory Italian amari, the flavors and potential combinations are practically unlimited. But when […]
Although most people are familiar with the “table” sake served hot in restaurants, there are, in fact, seven classifications of the brewed alcoholic beverage, many of which are available in Asheville.
Although it’s colorless and essentially flavorless, vodka is the most popular spirit in the U.S.
The French sparkling wine is rich in history and tradition and also surprisingly versatile.
As recently as a decade ago, finding a commercial meadery in Western North Carolina would have been exceedingly difficult. But right along with the growth of interest in beer and craft cocktails, mead-making has gained a foothold in the region.
Local cideries apply creativity to the fruit of Western North Carolina’s abundant apple harvests.
The NC Wine Guys will help plēb urban winery celebrate its birthday and kick off N.C. Wine Month with a live podcast from the winery on Saturday, Aug. 31.
Traditional dry and sweet vermouths are only the beginning. While most vermouth is still made using neutral white wine as a base, some red wine-based varieties are gaining a foothold in the marketplace.
Complex and varied, vermouths are becoming more than just a cocktail component. Local wine shop owners say the fortified wine is gaining popularity as a standalone beverage.
Today, Prohibition-era cocktails evoke thoughts of adventure and an acceptable (read: nonlethal) amount of danger. Many modern-day bars re-create the ambiance and drinks recipes of a century ago, using legal, quality ingredients.
Asheville’s handful of wine bars have developed a scene for wine lovers that provides drinking experiences that are flavorful, fun, educational (if that’s wanted) and — most of all — unpretentious.
The classic Italian lemon liqueur is as easy to make as it is refreshing.
The nose-to-tail concept is finding application outside the culinary world; sustainability-minded bartenders and mixologists are applying the “whole beast” approach wherever possible in the creation and preparation of mixed drinks. But for those in the high-stress career of bartending, sustainability extends further, into a concern for health and well-being. This year’s Asheville Cocktail Week — […]
The surge of interest in spirits and cocktails means that there is more than one local event in April exploring the world of alcoholic beverages. While Asheville Cocktail Week (see separate story) is an eight-day happening dividing its focus between those within the food and beverage industry and the general public, the inaugural Find Your […]
The liquor distilled from blue agave has a rich history, and aficionados would argue that the best tequilas rival the quality of high-end European brandies.
Like their neighbors to the northeast, the Irish distill spirits from barley and water. But they’ve created a product that’s sweeter, less earthy and eminently more drinkable than scotch.
Local bartenders say satisfying cocktails with complex flavor profiles don’t necessarily require a long list of ingredients.
Within the world of brandy, there is a wide array of choices; the finest have a subtlety that rivals the best from any spirit category.
When considering a dessert drink, “traditionally, most folks would probably think of a sweet cocktail,” says Jayson Landers, operating manager at Italian eatery Strada and its Social Lounge. “But there’s really a wide spectrum.”
Several bars focusing on the creative end of mixed drinks opened in Asheville in 2018.
Making syrups for cocktails is a fun and forgiving process that encourages experimentation.
