Glossy Booze- late July edition

From the glossy magazines that cross my desk... This month, nearly every magazine had one story on Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, one story relating to the Mad Men television show, and an ad for Bombay Sapphire. Odd. Food & Wine (August) lists of eco-friendly spirits with which to mix. Playboy (August) reports on a table-top beer tap that records how much you drink from it an bills you accordingly. Sunset (August) has a memorial to Robert Mondavi, and as part of their One Block Feast series made their own wine and brewed their own beer (pdf file)- which included growing hops. Additionally, they made salt from seawater, which I think would be a very cool addition to the organic margaritas people are making (if seawater is safe). Men's Vogue (August) has a fluffy story on Brunellogate, with a pretty great illustration. Men's Journal lists some recommended Alsatian wines.

SF is very GQ

GQ Magazine came out with a list of the 20 Best Cocktails in America in a nice big spread in the magazine. Four of them come from San Francisco bars- Elixir, Range, Beretta (pictured), and the Buena Vista. Unfortunately, the selections nationally are a bit inconsistent. Some of the picks are based on the bar or drink's history, some on the bar's location, some on the bar's vibe, and some on picking a great drink from a notable bartender like Eben Freeman and Audrey Saunders. Though they may all be good drinks to have in specific bars, I wouldn't say these the 20 best cocktails in America. I think it would help if one person wrote the story next year for consistency's sake, instead of a lot of different writers. Someone who has been to eight states and nine countries pursuing good drinks in the last year. Someone who speaks with bartenders all over the country for stories. Someone not afraid to drink himself smart. Know anybody like that? Wait, did I just turn a blog entry congratulating local bars on their placement in GQ into a job application? I guess I should also hope they're looking for a writer who is completely shameless.

Glossy Booze- Mid July Edition

- Paul Clarke's article on quinquinas- quinine-based drinks created to prevent malaria- is up on Imbibe Magazine's website. Also in the issue is a guide to the world's teas (online here), a story on liqueurs, a guide to drinking (mostly genever) in Amsterdam, an interview with a rum maker in whisky country, a tour of American beer styles, and a recipe for homemade Orgeat. - 944 Magazine, San Francisco edition has one story on Clock Bar that ruffled some feathers, and a story by H. Joseph Ehrmann of Elixir on creating the Harvey Milk Punch on the menu at Level III. - Jordan Mackay in 7x7 magazine writes this month about Kutch Wines and the million-dollar makeover at the Tonga Room. -Details (August) has recipes for the Presbyterian, Death in the Afternoon, Bicyclette, Ti Punch, and Moscow Mule, along with props to Kegworks' spoon straws. (Also note: no ugly mint pictures this month.) - Esquire's David Wondrich writes about absinthe this August. He also has a taste test and declares Marylin Manson' Mansinthe good and Vieux Pontarlier the best. - Malt Advocate (third quarter 2008) has stories on whiskies with no age statements, whisky medals, whisky on the island of St. Angus, a history of Tullamore Dew, changes at Whyte & Mackay, more boom vs. bust news, whisky liqueurs, and the new whisky labeling. - Sunset Magazine has a small mention of LA's Tiki Ti, and a long story about Colorado's wine country.

Glossy Booze- late June edition

Here's a round-up of booze stories in the magazines that come to my house. - Esquire (July)- Looks like David Wondrich got the month off! No booze stories. - Details (June/July) - Rob Willey bucks the usual trends with a story on summer red wines (but with a sidebar on sangria), then writes a feature on summer cocktails, including the Americano, Pina Colada, Mai Tai, Mojito (with ugly looking mint- again!), Tom Collins, and the Pimm's Cup. - Sunset (June) has a story on pairing sparkling wine with food- including deviled eggs and hot dogs! - Playboy (July) has a big spread on tequila, though I'm not sure what their criteria was for inclusion in the story (ahem). Brands mentioned are Patron reposado, Hornitos plata, Jose Cuervo Platino, Partida Elegante, and Del Maguey mescal. Also in the magazine the Gimlet is mentioned as the hot cocktail this summer (seriously) made the Raymond Chandler way with half Rose's Lime Juice. (Seriously.) Also for the summer issue, they recommend (pre-made, in a plastic glass) Metropolitan Martinis, and a not-quite Dark and Stormy with Myer's Jamaican dark rum. In local news, SF-based Lotus Vodka got a big plug in the issue. Congrats, guys!

Glossy Booze May edition

Here are some booze stories in this month's magazines. - Sunset Magazine (May) has a story on starting a wine cellar, plus a recipe for the Michelada. Unfortunately, it the version I don't like with tomato juice. - Conde Nast Taveler lists 28 new bars and clubs around the world, plus a good recipe for the Pisco Sour from Copenhagen, a terrible one with Absolut Mandarin and Citron from Buenos Aires, an apricot and nutmeg sour from Bangkok, and a Dirty Martini recipe with Reyka from Alibi in Boston (yuck). From San Francisco they mention the Presidio Social Club and 1300 on Filmore. Interesting. - Details (May) discusses the Shandy, and has a much better picture than last month. - Gourmet's Alan Sytsma talks about Will Goldfarb's Experiential Cuisine program, and includes a recipe for the molecular cocktail the Coco Cola. Plus, online they have a nice story on Sam Adams sharing their hops with small breweries. - Saveur.com has an interview with Beachbum Berry. - Speaking of hops stories, Imbibe (May/June) has a large feature on the shortage and explains the crisis quite clearly. Also, there are stories on summer cocktails, making great iced coffee, 10 summer wines, travel to Croatia, Saison ales, aerators, rosewater cocktails, bourbon historian Mike Veach, and homemade ginger ale. - Malt Advocate (second quarter issue) has a cover story on the scotch whisky boom, plus stories on blending beer, Buffalo Trace, the Boilermaker, beer prices, Brown-Forman, and St. George's Dragon distillery in England. -San Francisco Magazine has a story by me(!) on the death of happy hour drink specials, and a few places that still have them. -7x7 Magazine's Jordan Mackay writes about blanco tequilas that are good for sipping. - Best Life (May) has a story on fine, finer, and finest tequilas, written by the talented Camper English. Oh looky, it's online.