drink news stories on Newser

Americans Like to Drink, and They're Lazy

Nick McMaster — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:03:29 CDT

Plenty of Americans still like to drink, smoke, and hang out on the couch. Over half of the population—61%—drinks alcohol, 20% smoke, and 40% do no leisure-time exercise at all, says a new government survey. Only about 31% exercise enough to reap benefits. The survey found little improvement...

Sully Gets His Own Cocktail

Kevin Spak — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:47:00 CST

Today’s the first anniversary of Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III’s death-defying Hudson River landing, and if you’d like to raise a glass and celebrate, here's just the thing. Renowned cocktail inventor Dale DeGroff whipped up a cocktail formula worthy of Sully’s name, and the New York Times ordered one. The bartender...

Finally, World-Class Wine From Japan

Matt Cantor — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:17:27 CST

For decades, critics wouldn’t give Japan’s wine industry a second sniff—but a new wine from a local grape could change all that. One firm’s koshu wine has won over taste buds from France to the US, the Guardian reports. The “crisp and pleasant” Cuvée Denis Dubourdieu is “clearly meant...

Bubbly Really Is All About the Bubbles

Kevin Spak — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:21:00 CDT

It turns out the bubbles are indeed the most important part of “the bubbly.” According to a new study, most of a champagne’s flavor comes from its bubbles, which contain up to 30 times more flavorful chemicals than the rest of the drink. It’s a watershed finding, wine experts tell...

French Wines Wither Under Climate Change

Matt Cantor — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 10:13:00 CDT

A warming world has French winemakers sweating more than a little, experts tell the Financial Times . “Current research suggests that by the end of the 21st century, one summer out of two will be at least as hot as 2003,” the year of a record-breaking heat wave that prompted early...

Caffeinated Booze Prompts State Probes

Matt Cantor — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:01:02 CDT

State attorneys general are taking a hard look at increasingly popular caffeinated alcohol beverages amid fears the combination is dangerous and targeted at underage drinkers, the Wall Street Journal reports. The AGs are calling for company records from the makers of Joose and Four Loko. At 7-Eleven, Joose has had...

How to Make a Real Old-Fashioned

John Johnson — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:16:27 CDT

Esquire adds to its everything-a-man-must-know lessons with a primer on the Old-Fashioned, which is nothing less than the “Fender Strat of cocktails” because it “embodies the classic American combination of offhand style, swagger, and micrometer engineering,” writes David Wondrich. At its heart is good old American whiskey—at least 4...

Thais Woo Tourists With New Cocktail

Rob Quinn — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:18:01 CST

Thailand's tourism authority is hoping the Siam Sunray will wash away the lingering aftertaste of airport anarchy, the Guardian reports. The newly invented cocktail—made with vodka and traditional Thai ingredients like Kaffir lime and lemongrass—was unveiled yesterday as part of a campaign to bolster a tourism industry battered...

Mix Masters Stir it Up in Cocktail Contest

Michael Foreman — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 06:40:08 CDT

Bartending is a serious business—just ask the four finalists at the US Bartenders’ Guild National Cocktail Competition held in Chicago this year. All four "mixologists" suffered stage fright while preparing their signature drinks for the judge, reports Gourmet . Despite sweating buckets, Las Vegas native Anthony Alba took first for...