February 19 2026 Widely credited to London bartender Dick Bradsell in 1983, the Espresso Martini established the modern craving for caffeinated cocktails. But for the serious mixologist, shaking a shot of espresso with vodka is merely the entry point. One of the most exciting frontiers in modern cocktail R&D lies not in the shaker, but…
Whether you’re driving tonight or just fancy a break from booze, the world of alcohol-free drinks has gone up a level in recent times, with more people taking an interest in their health. Gone are the days when the options were a sad orange juice or a fizzy water. Today’s zero-alcohol market is packed with…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Andrea McHugh Andrea McHugh is a New England-based food, wine and spirits, and travel writer. Her byline can be found in US News, Insider, Parade Magazine, the Boston Globe, Yankee Magazine, Classic Boat, Travel Awaits, TripSavvy, the Hartford Courant and numerous national and international publications. She’s traveled to destinations far and wide,…
Zero sugar cocktails quietly become best friends on fasting days. A clean gin pour, couple of herb sprigs, bitters flick, sparkling finish – taste explodes while calories barely register. Ketosis shrugs, palate sings. Home bartenders these days treat eating windows like private cocktail hour. Why stare at boring seltzer when the same shaker can deliver…
The majority of bourbon has a common formula. Corn dominates. The secondary grain contributes to character, and malted barley completes the task. This three-grain methodology has been characteristic of American whiskey over the years. However, there are distillers that are going outside the box and mixing a fourth grain to produce something more complex and…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Andrea McHugh Andrea McHugh is a New England-based food, wine and spirits, and travel writer. Her byline can be found in US News, Insider, Parade Magazine, the Boston Globe, Yankee Magazine, Classic Boat, Travel Awaits, TripSavvy, the Hartford Courant and numerous national and international publications. She’s traveled to destinations far and wide,…
There’s a particular kind of disappointment that comes with pouring a glass of wine at an outdoor gathering only to find it lukewarm and flat. While most hosts obsess over perfecting their grill technique or curating the ideal playlist, the temperature of their wine often becomes an afterthought—until guests start nursing half-empty glasses. The solution…
Building a strong cocktail for the menu goes beyond just mixing drinks. Hidden inside each well-crafted pour, seamless workflow, because of thoughtful gear choices, sits durable bar equipment doing quiet work. Tools influence speed, accuracy, appearance, so staff deliver steady results whether it’s Tuesday night or Friday rush. Starting fresh, upgrading what’s already there, hinges…
February 11 2026 Imagine arriving at your local watering hole mid-summer on a perfect night in 2026, the epicenter of 2026 bar trends. Glasses twitter amid lively chatter, and that chalkboard menu grabs you instantly, swarming with botanical cocktails 2026 that brim with life—like tiny gardens in glasses or heartfelt kitchen experiments swapped among friends….
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Andrea McHugh Andrea McHugh is a New England-based food, wine and spirits, and travel writer. Her byline can be found in US News, Insider, Parade Magazine, the Boston Globe, Yankee Magazine, Classic Boat, Travel Awaits, TripSavvy, the Hartford Courant and numerous national and international publications. She’s traveled to destinations far and wide,…
