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The 10 Best Gins of 2018
Gin is a liquor that is oftentimes under appreciated, misunderstood, and downright disrespected among social drinkers from all walks of life. Perhaps the most cultured of all the spirits, this drink has an expansive history dating back to the 17th century, and even earlier on some accounts. Originally utilized as a medication, it was augmented with juniper berries to not only increase its health benefits, but also its palatability. Ever since, innovators and mixologists alike have flocked to the possibilities that gin offers purveyors of taste. Indeed, the best gins today are almost all derivatives of a "cultured" growth, regardless of its sketchy history with the sailors, wretches, and prostitutes of the English docks. This growth has yielded itself to the evolution of versatility, making premium gins a staple in eloquently prepared classic cocktails, as well as simple after-dinner drinks. With such a range of possibilities, its hard to snuff gin as a top contender among other liquors; and if you're already well-versed in the language of gin, you know you want to be making sure your drinking the best gin you possibly can be whenever you are drinking.
By Ryan Whitaker7 years ago in Proof
Best Coffee Flavored Cocktails
If there's two things I need to survive, they are coffee and liquor. Usually, those are separate things: morning coffee, evening cocktails. However, there is no hard and fast rule that says we can't enjoy two of the world's most wonderful things at the same time. Knowing all about liqueurs, the right ingredients, and the right proportions, you can make some incredible coffee flavored cocktails for any occasion. Just don't go trying to replace your morning wake-up coffee with cocktails—it's not generally a good idea to break out the liquor first thing in the morning.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Proof
Piña Mojito
It's 2018. It's no secret that we live in an age where drinks bring people together. We meet up in bars, pubs, and house parties and these beverages somehow facilitate adult human socialization... they're quite the catalyst. Naturally, we must appreciate the classics, but in doing so, we must also realize the room for innovation.
By Breanna Proulx7 years ago in Proof
Signs You Can't Tolerate Beer
We've all had bad hangovers, or times when we drank a little too much and ended up spending the night wrapped around a porcelain throne. Sometimes, however, the negative side effects of alcohol aren't your fault, especially if you only had one or two drinks. A wide variety of allergic reactions can be traced to alcohol, and no alcohol is the root of more allergic reactions than beer. Beer contains a variety of ingredients, especially grains, which are linked to numerous allergies. If you experience any of the following signs you can't tolerate beer, you may find that a simple switch from beer to wine makes your drinking life far more enjoyable.
By Joseph D. N. Kendrick7 years ago in Proof
How to Make Gin from Scratch
If you start now, you can have your own homemade gin in two days or so. While it might be more hassle than some people want to go through on a regular basis, there are a lotof perks to the do-it-yourself approach. First of all, the feeling of drinking gin that you know you made yourself is very satisfying. Pretty much all homemade things just have a little extra specialness to them, a kind of satisfaction that can only really come from creating something with your own hands. In addition, having the ability to make your own gin from scratch will give you a leg up on enhancing the delicious gin cocktail recipes everyone should know. You can tweak your proportions of spices, change your base vodka, try letting it sit longer or shorter, and eventually end up with a perfect, tailored-just-to-your-tastes, homemade gin.
By Nicola P. Young8 years ago in Proof
How to Make Wine from Grape Juice
The tradition of making homemade wine from grape juice dates back at least to prohibition-era United States, when winemakers would sell blocks of concentrated grape juice with instructions to dissolve them in a gallon of water and a warning: "do not place the liquid into the cupboard for 21 days as it will turn into wine." This warning was actually, of course, poorly-disguised instructions for households to make their own wine during an era when all manner of alcohol was outlawed. This allowed several vineyards to survive the duration of prohibition until they could sell real wine again, and the packages were vague enough that investigators couldn't prove that the grape blocks were intended for anything other than non-alcoholic grape juice.
By Joseph D. N. Kendrick8 years ago in Proof
Taking a U-Turn. Top Story - August 2018.
First of all, I want to clarify that this piece is not about a struggle with alcohol or an addiction but rather my decision to take a long-term break from the sauce. As I sit here, sipping my morning coffee and pounding away at the keys on my laptop, I find myself thinking about alcohol, moreover, whiskey and just the thought of that getting into my system is making me nauseous. The mere thought of smelling or tasting it makes me want to vomit right here, all over my new rug.
By Morganne Thayer8 years ago in Proof
Types of Beer - A Basic Guide to Beer
Anyone can appreciate the satisfaction of a cold beer after a long day. Whether it be to relax you after a long day at work or your weekend party fuel. Beer is readily available to fulfill those needs. Though with craft breweries, brewpubs, and the like popping up everywhere the world of beer can be kind of confusing. Especially if you are a common beer drinker who sticks to the major commercial brands. The near limitless varieties out there can leave one to ask, "Just what types of beer are there?"
By Austin Wilson8 years ago in Proof
The Demon
It's almost 2 AM and I just came back from my latest hospital stay. I think this one only lasted three days. Or maybe it was four. It's kind of a blur. I remember or I wish I could remember the number of times I've visited the hospital for this same thing. I know I've done it in at least four different cities now in three different provinces. I'm laying here thinking about how I'm gonna pay my rent in four days after blowing all my money on this last bender, if I still have a job (probably not) and about the latest girl I've lost. It's always the same things. The usual cycle of insanity. It repeats itself over and over. Like I'm stuck in an endless loop. My own version of hell on earth. It just doesn't stop. The demon has struck again.
By Jeffrey Joseph8 years ago in Proof
Bartending Tips & Tricks Everyone Should Know
In any party, or in any club, there's one person that always seems to make people smile: the bartender. Bartenders are the kind, patient people who serve up amazing drinks, give you a good ear to listen to, and also offer you a smile when they serve you.
By Rowan Marley8 years ago in Proof
How to Make a Wine and Cheese Board When You're on a Budget
My dad Devon Thomas has been seeing Chica Reyass for a few months now but they've yet to have the conversation about labels, even though Chica casually refers to herself as my dad's partner. I've read a lot of books about relationships and psychology during lunch (I hide in the library to avoid being bullied), and the consensus is that now's the time for my dad to bring it up.
By Jarret Thomas8 years ago in Proof
