alcoholic beverages

Although it seems it could not get any better, one Wood River liquor store, with the biggest selection around, is exceeding expectations.  

Parents should take a second look at the artfully designed bottles of colourful fruit juice that appear to be a favourite among children. They will be shocked to read the small print on the bottle labels. For these "soft drinks" contain more alcohol than does a can of beer.  

Cocktails can be rich and rugged like a Manhattan, or crisp and sharp like a martini, or bright and tangy like a daiquiri (they can also be sweet and murky like a Bahama Mama, but we won't go there right now). But with the holiday season approaching, your taste buds might feel the need for something with a little more elegance—that's where the French come in. Composed of two great Gallic spirits (cognac and the herbal liqueur Chartreuse) along with some lemon juice and bitters, the Champs Elysees is the  

Flying in under the radar this week was Pennsylvania-themed (huh?) Rye House (11 West 17th Street). The write-ups were intriguing enough - house-made rye? sausage, coleslaw and fries in a sandwich? - plus we are big fans of brown liquor so went in for an early look.  

As we head toward Thanksgiving, Y&H wants to help you eat like a pilgrim (a Native American, too, because we're all about equal opportunity eating here). In other words, we want to help you eat locally for the holiday. Almost 400 years ago, the pilgrims had no choice but to eat local .  

It's time once again, ladies and gentlemen, for the holiday tradition that is the Liquor Snob Holiday Gift guide. If you're wondering what to buy for the boozer, sot, or lush of your life, fret no more, because we're gonna hook you up. This year we're changing the format a bit to include some hot deals and gift guides we've noticed (which will be updated as we find more) and the Top 11 items people have bought through us at Amazon in the last year (which pretty much translates to "things we want for Chr  

Here's a free association quiz for you. We say the word "holiday" and you say what pops into mind. Plump, juicy turkey?  

Knowing how well ginger plays with apples, I thought I'd improvise something with a little more substance - and a some alcohol too. I though I'd try making a Hot Apple Toddy with fresh ginger root. A cousin of that perennial cold season favorite, the Hot Toddy (whiskey, tea or hot water, lemon, honey), the Hot Apple Toddy's a deliciously apple-y fall classic, a simple blend of dark spirits, hot apple cider, and spice.  

Once the initial mixture sits for two weeks, it's often augmented with a sweetened mixture (such as simple syrup) and allowed to sit another couple of weeks. But for the gift-giver in a hurry, he suggests the Irish Cream Liqueur, a scrumptious treat that can be prepared and served the same day, or refrigerated up to two weeks. Rathbun says that liqueurs are a little piece of gourmet heaven.