When it comes to making spirits, it’s tough to say one part of the process is most important. Grind grain poorly, and you get bad whiskey. Mistreat molasses or cane juice, and the result is subpar rum. And if you’re maturing spirits, cask type, warehousing, and aging climate all become major factors. But there’s almost always a beating heart (and visual centerpiece) at the center of any spirits…

The 200-year journey of American whiskey.

The post How America Fell in Love With Bourbon and Rye, Again appeared first on Imbibe Magazine.

Discover the birthplace of tequila and five of Jalisco's must-visit distilleries.

The post Drinks Atlas: Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico appeared first on Imbibe Magazine.

Set off on your exploration of tequila with these recommended reposados.

The post Taste Test: Reposado Tequila appeared first on Imbibe Magazine.

It’s a question that, across culture, politics, and religion, the Irish have been asking themselves for decades: How can we set Ireland apart from our counterparts in the U.K.? Irish whiskey makers found their answer in unmalted barley. The simplest definition of single pot still Irish whiskey is a distillate with a mixed mash bill of both malted and unmalted barley, says Alex Chasko, whose…

At the turn of the millennium, there were just three operational distilleries in Ireland: New Midleton and Cooley in the Republic of Ireland, and Bushmills in Northern Ireland. Today, there are around 50, with more planned facilities on the way. And while Jameson’s core offering remains a ubiquitous fixture, Irish whiskey’s growth has been powered by expansion at all rungs on the value ladder.…

There’s a lot to be said about the legacies of specific distilleries — and what’s lost when a physical space that’s been home to decades’ worth of barrel aging takes on a different function. That’s something the distillers at Heaven Hill are reckoning with today, regarding a series of rickhouses located in Deatsville, Kentucky. The […]

The post Before Heaven Hill Stops Aging Whiskey at…

If you’ve been keeping track of the domestic spirits market recently, you may have noticed a growing trend of distilleries releasing high-proof rye whiskeys. There are a few reasons behind this, including the affinity many bartenders and cocktail enthusiasts have for this approach to rye. Not to be outdone, there is also plenty of demand […]

The post Seeking a Very High-Proof Bourbon? Pursuit…

Sydney’s distillers are establishing symbiotic relationships with local restaurants. What’s the benefit of these pairings, and how can they meet their perfect match?

The post Perfect pairings: How local distillers are finding their homes in neighbourhood restaurants appeared first on hospitality | Magazine.

With hundreds of millions of bottles produced every year, the global whiskey industry is enormous, valued at approximately $28 billion. While production is led by countries like Scotland and the United States — both of which produce whiskey in a number of styles — Irish, Japanese, and other world whiskeys are popular in their own right, and there are a lot of jobs required to uphold each…