Japanese Scotch Triumphs

2010-03-14T07:52:23Z

In 1975 a friend asked me if I wanted to become involved in the marketing of a new whisky, from India. A few days later he arrived with a brown bottle in the shape of an eagle and poured me a glass of amber liquid, which looked like any other whisky I had ever seen. It smelled like whisky too. But it tasted like engine oil, with an aftertaste of Liquafruta - a particularly revolting cold remedy preferred by an aunt I spent my summers with as a child. ...

AGIO Cigars Are Popular With Those New to Cigar Smoking

2010-03-13T05:45:43Z

The very first cigar factory was constructed in the Netherlands in 1826. Unlike other European governments that tried to control cigar manufacture, the Dutch let cigar makers pursue their trade unregulated. The cigar industry was quickly spread over Europe, but it remained prominent in the Dutch province of Brabant.<br><br>In 1873, these fine cigars was founded. Today, it is the sixth...

'World's oldest' whisky unveiled in Scotland

2010-03-11T12:15:47Z

<div><p>A Scottish whisky firm on Thursday unveiled bottles of what it claims is the oldest single malt whisky in the world, having spent the best part of a century inside an oak barrel.</p><p>Gordon and MacPhail's Mortlach 70-Year-Old Speyside was sampled at a launch party in Edinburgh Castle, where it was escorted through the doors by pipers and a military escort.</p><p>"It matured for 70 years ...

Rare Whisky Is Launched In Edinburgh

2010-03-11T06:30:34Z

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - MARCH 11: Kris Green and Alan Leiper from the Royal Regiment of Scotland push a barrel of Gordon & MacPhail Generations brand, Mortlach 70 year old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky on March 11, 2010 in Edinburgh,

Earns Brown Forman

2010-03-10T06:00:57Z

FILE - In this May 23, 2005 file photo, a bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey, a Brown-Forman brand, sits on the bar at Nessun Dorma in Milwaukee. Brown-Forman Corp., maker of Jack Daniel's whiskey and Korbel champagne

Liquor of the gods sells for $15,000 a bottle

2010-03-09T13:15:41Z

<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - French writer Victor Hugo once said, "Cognac is the liquor of the gods."</p><p>French winemaker Remy Martin is selling 786 bottles of a very special cognac Louis XIII Rare Cask for the heavenly price o...

Standing up to Scotland: Taiwan's world-class whiskey

2010-02-23T22:00:12Z

<div><p>YUANSHAN, Taiwan (Reuters Life!) - Warm summers and year-long high humidity hardly make for world-class whiskey, but for Taiwan's only distiller, the climate is just one more ingredient in its recipe for success.</p><p>King Car Food Industrial Co. has tolerated high evaporation r...

Rum revival sparks new interest in old spirit

2010-02-22T09:03:54Z

<div id="subtitle">Yo-ho-ho and bottles of rum as bartenders breathe new life into an old spirit</div><div><p>If the huge anchor and float lights hanging from the ceiling of Martin Cate's Smuggler's Cove bar don't clue you in, the stacks of barrels and ship's figurehead mounted on the wall should get you in the spirit of things: You don't come here for a dry martini, be it ever so shaken...

Diageo eyes upturn after bonuses, forex weigh in H1

2010-02-22T10:10:36Z

<div><p>LONDON (Reuters) - Diageo &lt;DGE.L&gt;, the world's biggest spirits group, said markets were starting to recover and should turn around by mid-2010 after higher bonus payments and a minor sterling rally ate into its half-year earnings.</p><p>The Ernest Shackleton.&a...

Recession slows 2009 liquor sales: trade group

2010-02-22T12:40:17Z

<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters) - Americans slightly slowed their consumption of hard liquor last year, a trade group said on Tuesday, proving that spirits are relatively resilient in a recession, but not immune.</p><p>U.S. revenue for spirits makers in 2009 was flat even though sales volume rose slightly, as many budget-conscious consumers turned to lower-priced drinks, according...

Tiki Drinks

2010-02-22T13:15:38Z

Tiki culture was popularized in the United States during the 1940?s, 1950?s, and 1960?s thanks to tiki bars and restaurants. The most famous of these were Trader Vic?s and Don the Beachcombers. Usually served in special cups molded to look like a coconut shell, the bowl of a volcano, or another tiki motif, in many cases the recipes of such drinks were not published on the menu. In fact, the Zombie drink served by Don the Beachcomber, w...

Taiwan whisky 'beat Scotch' in Burn's Night shocker

2010-02-22T15:22:01Z

<div><p>A Taiwanese whisky beat a trio of top Scottish blends in a connoisseurs' blind taste test organised to mark Scotland's annual Burn's Night festivities, The Times reported on Monday.</p><p>The Taiwan-distilled Kavalan brand, described as a "Far Eastern incomer," came top in a test against three Scottish and one English whisky in a historic hos...

Taiwan whisky 'beats Scotch' in Burn's Night shocker

2010-02-22T15:22:12Z

<div><p>A Taiwanese whisky beat a trio of top Scottish blends in a connoisseurs' blind taste test organised to mark Scotland's annual Burn's Night festivities, the Times of London reported on Monday.</p><p>The Taiwan-distilled Kavalan brand, described as a "Far Eastern incomer," ca...

Taiwan whisky beats Scotch in blind taste test

2010-02-22T15:22:44Z

<div><p>A Taiwanese whisky beat a trio of top Scottish blends in a connoisseurs' blind taste test organised to mark Scotland's annual Burn's Night festivities, the Times reported Monday.</p><p>The Taiwan-distilled Kavalan brand, described as a "Far Eastern incomer", came top in a test against three Scottish and one English whisky in a historic hostel...

APTOPIX Poe Mystery Visitor

2010-01-19T15:31:51Z

Cynthia Pelayo, of Chicago, leaves roses and cognac at the burial site of Edgar Allen Poe Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010 in Baltimore. She left the roses and cognac after a mysterious visitor who has left roses and cognac at the grave of Edgar Allan Poe each year on the writer's birthday f...

Food Boutique Booze

2010-01-15T09:17:15Z

This photo taken Jan. 7, 2010 shows a batch of Dry Fly whiskey being boiled at the distillery's headquarters in Spokane, Wash. Dry Fly whose gin, vodka and whiskey are garnering national awards, is one of a growing trend of upstart small commercial distilleries across the United States. (AP Photo/Rajah Bose)

First wine, then beer. Now even spirits get micro

2010-02-22T19:51:31Z

<div id="subtitle">Demand for artisanal eats fuels fast growth of latest micro trend _ small-scale distilleries</div><div><p>If your liquor cabinet contains mostly familiar names like Chivas Regal, Jack Daniel's or Smirnoff, get ready to make some new acquaintance...

U.S. fights Philippine tax on whiskey, gin at WTO

2010-02-22T20:24:49Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday filed a World Trade Organization complaint against Philippine taxes on alcoholic drinks it said discriminate against U.S.-made brands such as United States said Thursday that it was hauling the Philippines to the World Trade Organization over a dispute on taxes imposed by the Asian nation on imported whiskey and gin.</p><p>The

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