Mexico
Raicilleros, Philosopher Kings (Part 1)
What is raicilla? And unlearning everything you know about tequila and mezcal.
Booze
TDG #018: The Guatemalan Hangover Cure
One of the best damn hangover cures around.
The Daily Grog Newsletter
TDG #012: The Albanian Kafe
The room is cast in a blue-gray hazy from the cigarette smoke. A couple of old couches and a few cheap tables are scattered throughout. A handful of people are gathered around the small cast iron wood-burning stove in the middle of the room. Behind the small bar, a lady
Essays
Re-Defining Grain to Glass in the San Juan Islands
Recently I took a trip up to the San Juan Islands, northwest of Seattle in the Salish Sea. Despite growing up in the Pacific Northwest, a journey to the islands has eluded me over the years.
Booze
The History of the Spritz Veneziano (Aperol Spritz)
I'll be honest, before going to Italy, I assumed the Aperol Spritz was an Italian-ish drink recently co-opted by the hipsters of Williamsburg, NY, and primarily reserved for tourists trying to fulfill their Eat, Pray, Love dreams. I was happily proven wrong. During the 1800s, the Hasburg empire
Booze
How to Order a Martini like a Professional
The martini is a formidable cocktail. It holds a gravitas backed by decades of history and pop culture. A drink seemingly reserved for black tie affairs or Don Draper. A drink where the clarity implies the elegant strength; no accouterment standing between you and the alcohol. But perhaps the most
Booze
The bacaro, a local Venetian watering hole
After walking around Venice for a few hours, you’ll start to notice a couple of things. First, you’ll realize you’re entirely lost and unsure what narrow, dimly lit corridor led you to this point. And second, each canal is adorned with small, peculiar-looking establishments, the bacaro. Bacari
Booze
Craft Beer Predictions for 2022
The desires of the beverage-consuming population seem to wax and wane with each year. The Aperol Spritz, then the espresso martini; every year has a signature drink. As the beer world is subject to the same consumer whims, these are my predictions for beer trends in 2022. The rise of
Booze
WTF is a “fresh hop” beer?
Some may use pumpkin spice everything as the harbinger of Fall. Me? Well, for me, Fall is ushered in by the fresh hop beer. But don’t get me wrong, I still fuck with pumpkin spice. A few years back, I was back in Portland for my friend’s wedding.
Interviews
An Interview with Snorri Jónsson of 64° Reykjavík Distillery
A conversation with Snorri Jónsson about Iceland, drinking culture, and the environment.
Booze
What exactly is brennivín? This Icelandic spirit is full of history
The waitress comes up to the table, looks at my friends and me, and said, “you need a shot.” Without really giving us an option, she asks if we want to see the bottle before or after. I know myself; if I know what I’m about to drink, I’
Booze
Why makgeolli will be your new favorite drink
A few weekends ago, some friends and I decided to make some Korean BBQ. To be honest, I haven’t made a ton of Korean BBQ in my life, but my friends were well versed in the art, so I was handing over the cooking reigns to them (which is