When it comes to the Kentucky Derby, there’s really only one drink that matters: the mint julep. And while we’re all in favor of the classic version, with its simple blend of sugar, mint, and bourbon, the traditional recipe isn’t the only option when it comes to mixing up a Derby Day tipple. So while you’re manning the bar during the Run for the Roses try one of these recipes, from genuine classics to creative modern twists.

The wines of Georgia seem to be having a moment. The Eastern European country is benefiting from a notable increase in tourism to the home of an 8,000-year-old wine culture, while its wide range of indigenous grape varieties, distinctive winemaking style and hearty cuisine provide fertile territory for adventurous palates. Read senior editor James Molesworth’s tasting report to get scores and tasting notes for recently released red, amber and white wines, including standout bottlings and good values from across the country’s top winemaking regions, such as Kakheti, Kartli, Imereti and beyond!

Old Elk’s next chapter is a significant one. The Fort Collins, CO-based company built its brand on the expertise of a distilling legend, products made with unique mash bills, and a healthy dose of Rocky Mountain charm. As a non-distilling producer (NDP), Old Elk historically relied on whiskey produced by their distilling partners. In 2025, Middle West Spirits acquired Old Elk Distillery and its assets. As a long-time contract producer, Middle West is primed to optimize and scale Old Elk for the next generation of American whiskey consumers.

Chicken Cock is about to do something it has never done before. It’s launching a wheated bourbon. It’s called Chicken Cock Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon, and this addition to the core portfolio features the first wheated mash bill in its 168-year history.

With ten Grammy wins and twenty nominations, it’s safe to say that Norah Jones has had a successful career in the music industry. The epitome of a multi-hyphenate artist, Jones has released nine solo albums, made appearances in movies like Wong Kar Wai’s My Blueberry Nights and Seth McFarlane’s Ted, and now hosts her own podcast, “Norah Jones Is Playing Along.” Recently, Jones added another hyphenate to the growing list—she became part-owner of the French winery Maison Wessman, creating a line of wines she calls “This Life.”

There is a moment, Luisa Amorim says, when you realize that nature’s rhythm always has a vote. She found that moment early, at 26, standing above the terraced schist vineyards of the Douro Valley, watching wooden boats cross a river that had been carrying wine to the world since the 17th century. She was young, she was restless, and she was about to rewrite what Portuguese wine could be.

Over the past decade, with more Georgian wine coming to the United States, Georgian restaurants have proliferated across major cities, inviting diners into Georgian culture. For restaurateur and author Rose Previte, Georgian supras are among the greatest culinary experiences she’s ever had. Read on for a primer on Georgian cuisine, including a recipe for lamb chakapuli stew from Maydān: Recipes from Lebanon and Beyond (Abrams Books, 2023), with wine pairings!

Last week, we talked about buying a $600,000 Mercedes 6×6 Brabus and a Tiki Cruiser. This week, I’m pivoting to survival—specifically, surviving the whiplash of going from a Las Vegas German beer hall and three days of meetings to the unforgiving slopes of the Eastern Sierras. We also have a futuristic camping trailer, a four-door Corvette family hauler, and the ski gear you need to stop embarrassing yourself in the crud.

Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is so 2010s*. (*Unless you’re a well-funded, knowledgeable buyer of back vintages, in which case, they – alongside Champagne, Grand Cru red Burgundy and Second Growth Bordeaux – are selling gangbusters.)

Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is so 2010s*. (*Unless you’re a well-funded, knowledgeable buyer of back vintages, in which case, they – alongside Champagne, Grand Cru red Burgundy and Second Growth Bordeaux – are selling gangbusters.)

According to NielsenIQ (NIQ), a global consumer intelligence company, the non-alcoholic drinks space is no longer niche — it’s a billion-dollar movement. While certain health and generational trends are spurring some of this growth — credit to Gen-Z alcohol hesitation, GLP-1 medications and increased cannabis use — the industry is no longer relying on teetotalers. As NIQ reports, 92% of non-alcohol buyers also purchase alcohol-containing products.

Some days it seems like nothing much really matters any more, the industry has peaked and become stale. Other days… it seems like, no, everything actually matters and there’s no better time to be a whiskey fan

This special group was culled from hundreds sampled over the past year—thoroughly spread out, of course. Looking back, it’s been quite a journey. Selections range from single-cask bourbons to a cheeky mezcal that uses Chinese five-spice roast duck to make pechuga, a style that typically involves hanging a piece of raw chicken breast in the still during distillation.

Gin can be a puzzling liquor, with many cocktail enthusiasts having a love-hate relationship with it. Some find it piney and resinous, others find it overly perfumed and cloying. In contrast, others find it tastes like a medicine cabinet. Gin begins like vodka as a neutral grain spirit from wheat, corn, grapes, or anything you can ferment into alcohol. It’s then infused with a mix of botanicals, including the always-present, herbaceous juniper berries, giving it a distinct woodsy, earthy, pine tree quality (in addition to other florals, herbs, spices, teas, and other aromatics).

If you’re in the market for the best añejo tequila, there are several factors to consider—even though the category is rigidly defined by law, there are differences in style, maturation, alcohol content, and even terroir to take into account when searching for this quintessentially Mexican aged spirit (we’ll dive even deeper into these differences below). The good news is that there are many excellent añejos out there for you, so we’ve put together this list to help steer you towards some of the best añejo tequila to buy in different categories. Happy hunting, and cheers.

Even if you don’t consider yourself the most up to date on mixology trends, chances are you’ve heard about a little something called the espresso martini. The it-girl of the cocktail world got its start in the ’80s and has seen a resurgence among drinkers in recent years who adore the combination of (usually, but not always) vodka, espresso, and coffee liqueurs — the latter of which being the reason we are gathered here today. 

This was a weird year for spirits, wine and beer. Despite 2025 giving us plenty of reasons to drink something strong, many opted for non-alcoholic beverages instead. Craft beer sales were down by 5%, according to a mid-year survey conducted by the Brewers Association. Meanwhile, the whiskey market’s struggles have been significant enough that Jim Beam will halt production at its flagship facility for all of 2026. At the same time, tariffs and the threat of tariffs made 2025 a difficult year for many tequila and mezcal producers, despite agave spirits continuing to increase in popularity.

Featuring a mash bill of estate-grown Bloody Butcher corn, heirloom white corn and heirloom blue corn (with malted rye and malted barley), the fourth edition of Jeptha Creed’s patriotic bourbon offers a unique, slightly nutty take on America’s spirit, with hints of caramel, popcorn, cloves, red berries, nutmeg, cinnamon and baking spices. A portion of the proceeds from Red, White and Blue will be donated to the non-profit organization Paws of War. You can read our interview with the mother-daughter team behind Jeptha Creed here. 

The indigenous red variety was all but synonymous with Sicilian wine — robust, reliable, usually inexpensive, and widely available. Since it was (and is) grown throughout the island, there was no shortage of it, and plenty to export. It had buzz in the United States.

The tree is up. The table is set. Friends and family are on their way, or maybe you’re headed to a loved one’s house to dig into a big, indulgent, celebratory meal. 

People buy more wine during the last three months of the year than any other time, and they buy more of that wine in December than any other month. That’s no real surprise — from Thanksgiving to New Year’s is a parade of holidays, family get-togethers, work parties, and more. Dry January? Sure. Dry December? Dream on.

Picking beverages is the easy part. These bottles, from $16 to $40, are all versatile, lively and will pair easily with whatever is on the menu.