Posted on

“I’ll Be Home for…”

Wandering Barman
Margarita Made With Mezcal
Ginger Mezcal Margarita
20% ABV
Brooklyn, NY
Mixmasters/founders: Julian Mohamed, Roxane Mollicchi, and Darren Grenia

Yellow-green shimmer pour. Sniffing a smoky ginger fueled cocktail with lime/citrus & zest. Sipping and woof this is good. Right of the bat a sexy bit of smoke gets in my eyes, followed by a lemon/lime with a little agave sweetness, ginger (not Mary Ann) that gives a flirtatious twitch & wink, and a delicate drop of orange bitters. It’s a sweet & savory blend that is simply scrumptious.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: This is a hard NO

Since tomorrow is National Margarita Day it seems appropriate to uncap a bottle by one of my favorite cocktail makers Wandering Barman. Albeit it’s not a national holiday but one created by a tequila lover who also started National Tequila Day that lands annually on 7/24. Yes, it’s been hijacked by restaurants. Heck, even Chili’s & Lifetime teamed up for a “mini movie” or rather a 15 minute commercial, “I’ll Be Home for National Margarita Day” (debuted on 2/19 & airs again on the 22nd). Yes, I’m sure it will be silly, funny, and junk food tv; but honestly who cares because this holiday is an excuse to kick back with one whether it be classic, fruity, or spicy, and remember to find that 🎶lost shaker of salt🎶.

#Margarita #nationalmargaritaday #cocktailsofinstagram #cocktails #Mezcal #wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #organic #wineoclock #wineoftheday #wineislove #winetime #worldbyglass #brooklyn #NY #chilis #lifetimetv #wanderingbarman #docwinebar #docwineshop

Posted on

Going To Italy Via Brooklyn

St. Agrestis
Spritz
St. Agrestis Inferno Bitter, house-made Torino style vermouth & Greenhook Ginsmiths American Dry Gin
12% ABV
Brooklyn (Greenpoint), NY
Louis & Matt Catizone, Steven DeAngelo

Dark amber pour with peachy pink active bubbles. Scents float up of tomato plants & leaves, fir, alpine herbs, hyssop, juniper, singed orange/tangerine & other citrus rind, and as opens orange blossoms. Sipping and it’s all of the above with a good bitter bite, anise, the edible center of a peach pit, almonds and all of it mellows out the longer I linger. Takes me back to an old memory of gliding out onto the pond on a summer night watching the stars twinkle like this drink sparkles.

Pairs with Cheez-Its: surprisingly good, mellow & kinda like a touch of RC Cola

Well, I have to give St. Agrestis’ a 10 for being both delicious & fun! It transports me to Italy for Aperitivo time, or if you want to find an authentic one in Brooklyn, head to DOC Wine Bar for cocktails and a snack. Anyway, the tale of how these bottle came into creation, stems from that same longing for the real Italian deal. Louis & Matt grew up in an Italian family (in NJ) that kept traditions of their heritage, and one of these really makes me smile. Their folks sent them to school with not the dull PBJs many of the other kids were stuck with in their brown paper bags, but they got a true treat of “soppressatta on Nonnina’s freshly baked pane with a small bitter Italian soda”. Oh, what I wouldn’t have given in grade school to have that after recess. Cheers to Louis, Matt & Steven for keeping it lively, modern, chic and real in Brooklyn.🥂

#cocktails #spritztime #aperitivotime #cocktailsofinstagram #smallbusiness #wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #葡萄酒 #ワイン #winestagram #instawine #pairswithcheezits #cheezit #winelover #winetasting #wineislove #winetime #aperitivo #friyay #weekend #weekendvibes #worldbyglass #greenpoint #brooklyn #docwinebar #docwineshop #stagrestis @cheezit @docwinebarny @docwineshop

Posted on

Light My Fire!

Social Hour Cocktails
Harvest Whiskey Sour
13 yr. Whisky (George Dickel Tennessee)
20% ABV
250 ml and serves 3, so remember that and share
Brooklyn, NY
Cocktail makers and shakers: Julie Reiner & Tom Macy

Amber apple cider. Sniffing apples & cider, cinnamon, maple with a little vanilla butter cream frosting, cardamon, and a whisky spark.  Sipping and all of the scents are in the taste along with a lemon zesty twist. Calls for striking a match, setting the fireplace ablaze and cozying up because it tastes even better off someone else’s lips.💋 Baby you can light my fire!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: don’t even open the bag

This can is Social Hour Cocktails’ 1st limited release, so I recommend grabbing a 4-pack as soon as you find them, or you might miss out. They also suggest make it hot or on the rocks, and if you want to dress it up just add some apple slices, orange peel, rosemary sprig, or toasted marshmallows. O.K. I say ick to the marshmallows and opt for a side of crispy bacon…it’s so much more sexy!

#cocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #spirits #bitters #whiskey #whisky #wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #worldbyglass #Brooklyn #NY #pairswithcheezits #winetasting #winestagram #cannedcocktails @georgedickel @socialhourcocktails @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

Posted on

Delightful “Date” Night

Wandering Barman
Swipe Right
Old Fashioned made with bourbon whiskey, dates, aromatic orange bitters, filtered water
32% ABV
Ridgewood, NY
Mixmasters/founders: Julian Mohamed, Roxane Mollicchi, and Darren Grenia

Orangey amber on the rocks, and don’t forget to shake it well before you crack that cap and pour. Immediately scents of smooth bourbon, orange zest, and date sweetness with a spark of tropical spice. Just like it says on the bottle it’s all there in the taste…Lovely date filled sweet that balances so well with the light peppery burn of the bourbon and orange bitters. Perfect close to my long day.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: just don’t!

I’ve been on a date and fig kick lately so this bottle was so perfect for me. As I’ve said in the past, I have a soft spot for locally premade cocktails and especially Wanerding Barman’s because they definitely do a better job than I could. So very easy to drink so pick up 2 or make that 4 bottles if you’re sharing. Just make sure you don’t over do it and find your fingers doing a buzzy swipe in the wrong direction. You know how things always look better with cocktail googles. 🥃

#wine #cocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #spirits #worldbyglass  #pairswithcheezits #ridgewood #Brooklyn #newyork #wanderingbarman #oldfahioned #maple #bourbon #whiskey #bitters #cheezit @docwineshop @docwinebar @wanderingbarman @cheezits

Posted on

Magical Mixture

St. Agrestis
Negroni
St. Agrestis Inferno Bitter, house-made Torino style vermouth & Greenhook Ginsmiths American Dry Gin
24% ABV
Brooklyn, NY

Dark reddish amber pour. Breathing in a mash of delicious herbal goodness (a touch of Ricola), orange peels, and a little juniper berry. Holy crap this is GOOD! My mouth is tingling. All the scents are there. Sweet and bitter herbal (this time not Ricola) mashup, sweet sipping vermouth, singed orange peels and juniper berry. And a small comforting burn that is not harsh but refreshing. This magical mixture packs a punch of joy and celebration. Has me craving a hefty slice of fresh baked right out of the oven gingerbread.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Don’t even think about it!

So glad to have a friend point this Negroni out to me because somehow this is one of the few bottled cocktails I have missed. Once again it’s a #shoplocal (which I ❤️) Brooklyn born concoction and their dream team is formed of brothers Louie and Matt Catizone and their gin-perienced friend, Steven DeAngelo (Greenhook Ginsmiths). There’s only one regret I have about picking up this little bottle…I should have picked up the “Negroni Fountain” which is their 1.75L Bag in a box. Perfect for a party pop up!

#cocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #spirits #bitters #vermouth #gin #wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit @worldbyglass #Brooklyn #NY #pairswithcheezits #winetasting #winestagram @st_agrestis @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

Posted on

Say it Loud and Proud

Dyke Beer
Tallgirl Gose
Brewed with Blackberry, Lingonberry, Raspberry, Himalayan Pink Salt
4.9% ABV
Brewed & Packaged by Greenpoint Beer & Ale Co. Brooklyn, NY
Co-founded by Sarah Hallonquist and Loretta Chun (organizers of Dyke Bar Takeover founded in 2017)

Pink grapefruit cocktail pour with small white foam. Strawberries, and raspberries first greet my nose followed by a whiff of grapefruit mixed with old fashioned fruity bubblegum. Sipping raspberries, tartness of the lingonberry, edge of blackberry, salt, and a lick of a lime wedge. It’s crisp, fresh, light, perfect for summer and is brewed in honor of: “Transwomen, Femmes, Drag Queens & the all the tall queer girls in our community.”

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: surprisingly good and brings out the berries

You know the old saying when life gives you lemons? Well, we all got a pandemic and “Dyke Bar Takeovers” had to shift gears and thus “Dyke Beer” was born. Everything I’m reading about Sarah and Loretta…well they are damn cool. They celebrate LGBTQIA+ and their spaces and saw a need in the lesbian bars they loved for better beer. Not just cheap whatever on tap but a really good craft beer. It’s more than that though. As they say on their site, “People could grab a Dyke Beer to go and bring home some solidarity with them. Dyke Beer says, ‘You exist and you are important.’” For now, there’s only a saison ale and this gose (which is also their special PRIDE beer), but according to their IG there’s a new seasonal one coming in September. BTW just from picking up this beer I’ve learned there are less lesbian bars now than there were in 1980. That kind of blew my mind.

#beer #dykebeer #craftbeer #gose #sourale #LGBTQIA #pride #pairswithcheezits #worldbyglass #cheezit #GreenpointBeer #beerstagram #beerlife #beersofinstagram #wine #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #Brooklyn @BeerBoutiqueNYC @dykebeer

Posted on

Keeping My Head Above Water

Nightmare Brewing Company
Mizuharitsuke
Triple India Pale Ale brewed with Moshio Salt
Triple Dry hopped with Pacific Sunrise, Talus and HBC 630 hops
11.3% ABV
North Haven, CT
Founder and Phantom Brewer: Billy Powell

Deep hazy orange-golden with a white head that fades. Before even pouring, I can smell pineapple! After it’s in the glass that pineapple is still persistent, and then mango, and tangerine. It’s crisp and fresh and super nose friendly. Sipping that mango and pineapple along with papaya, lychee, and melon…it’s a delicious tropical fruit bowl with a shake of salt (I always put salt on fruit. Makes the flavor pop more). There’s also a little grass hanging out in the back This would be so good with pulled pork or actually pour it over the pork before you start slow cooking it. Yum!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: GROSS! If you could only see how scrunched up my face is.

I’m a saltaholic, but I did not know the history of Moshio salt that ranges back 2,500 years. The labor intensive production had kind of been lost until a 1984 dig on Kami-kamagari isle unearthed a treasure trove of pottery, shakers, and clues to how the salt was derived from the seaweed/seawater process. There’s a modern adaptation now, but it’s still a whole lot of work. Now, to address Mizuharitsuke’s label. That’s a whole other can of worms or seawater. It’s a really truly gruesome form of crucifixion (from Japan) where you’re tied to a cross during low tide and then here comes the waves and then high tide. If lucky you pass on day one, if not…well you might be there a while to think about your transgressions. I think I’ll stay on good behavior while sipping my IPA and keeping my head above water.

#beer #tripleipa #ipa #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit #Nightmare #NightmareBrewing #NightmareBrewingco #Moshio #pairswithcheezits #northhaven #ct @nightmarebrewingco @BeerBoutiqueNYC @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @worldbyglass @cheezits

Posted on

A Good Fresh Roar

Off Color Brewing
Apex Predator
Farmhouse Ale
Malts: Pils, Flaked Wheat, and Honey Malt
Hops: Crystal, Sterling
Secret Techniques: Free-Rise Fermentation, Prey Selection
6.5% ABV
Chicago, IL
Brewers and founders: John Laffler & David Bleitner

Golden with green hints with lots of active bubbles and frothy foam. Apple sweetness greeting my nose, along with pineapple, lemon hints, and a teeny tiny funk after a bit. It’s a crisp, dry and delightful sip of apple, tangerine and others from the citrus bowl, lemongrassiness, and mellow lemon fizz that is not tart with malt.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NO NO NO NO NO! Gives a metallic taste…bleah

This majestic beast has a gentle side that you can kick back with but enough of a roar to knock down the spiciest of dishes. Would also be awesome with shishito peppers to cool that one in ten surprise, or even better yet Carolina Reaper Ribs. I can already feel the sweat down my neck.

@BeerBoutiqueNYC @offcolorbrewing @ocmousetrap @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #ale #farmhouseale #ビール #啤酒 #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #chicago #IL

Posted on

Golden Levitation

Omnipollo x Evil Twin Brewing
Even More Bianca
Raspberry Maple Pancake Lassi Gose
Sour Ale with Raspberries, Vanilla, Milk Sugar, Marshmallow flavor & natural flavors
7% ABV
Brewed and Packaged by Twelve Percent
North Haven, CT

Deep hazy raspberry pour that almost goes purple with a raspberry light pink head. There’s scents of milky/creamy raspberry candy, sugary marshmallow fluff, and vanilla. Sipping tart and sweet raspberry candy with a small squish of grapefruit/tangerine, the creamy center of an Oreo, and of course some vanilla. Oooh it’s like raspberry/strawberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream on top, yeah that’s it…well minus the biscuit dough part. This berry baby has a little weight or oomph to it. I definitely can’t drink more than one or I’ll be waddling. Just slowly sip and enjoy.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: meh, doesn’t do much…all the flavors overpower it

Now this is one happy brewery pairing! I feel like I found the golden ticket or should I say egg, and on that note a levitating one. BTW these are limited, so if you want one…go get it now!

@BeerBoutiqueNYC @omnipollo @eviltwinbrewingnyc @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #ビール #啤酒 #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #sourale #sour #gose #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #dualipa

Posted on

“Then I’m Gonna Kiss Your PINEAPPLE!”

Westbrook Brewing Co.
Pineapple Shake IPA
Hazy Milkshake IPA brewed with lactose, vanilla, and pineapple
Unpasturized, non-homogenized, & brewed fresh
7% ABV
Mt. Pleasant, SC

Hazy orange gold that has a lot of active movement and a small white head. Pouring and here comes sniffs of pineapple, tangerine, mango, and a little vanilla. First sip and well that’s a wakeup call and It’s all there… the pineapple, vanilla, and the creaminess. But that’s not all, there’s lemon, kumquats and a sliver of mango. I’m really digging this Milkshake IPA.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: uh no ack horrible

So I find myself trying another SC beer, and man have things changed since I was a kid there. I remember bars not having free pour and having to get mixed drinks made from mini bottles. Now look at my childhood home state. There’re breweries popping up everywhere and they are damn good. Westbrook has a taproom with a rotation of 22 taps, and if you want to just pop by and head home, there’s bottles, cans, and crowlers. There’s one can I wish I could’ve gotten my hands on. They collaborated with the South Carolina Aquarium and made a DIPA “Drinks Well with Otters”. You have to see the video on FB Watch. Oh and for those of you who are worried, as it says in the video, “No otters were intoxicated during the making of this video.”

@westbrookbrewingco @BeerBoutiqueNYC @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #ビール #啤酒 #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #IPA #milkshakeipa #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #mtpleasant #SC #otter #otters #b52s