Michael Hepworth CHILEAN WINES ON THE RISE WINEMAKER RODRIGO SOTO EMBRACES BIO-DYNAMIC FARMING West HOLLYWOOD(Spiritsman02/18/16/—The perception of Chilean wines is that they are of the cheap and cheerful variety, so Chilean winemakers have been struggling with that image for at least 25 years. However that might be a situation gradually changing, […]
Michael Hepworth QUALITY COMES FIRST WITH IICHIKO! Iichiko Shochu Blu By Michael Cohan HOLLYWOOD (Spiritsman) 2/13/16–Another gem of Japanese Shochu has been released for US consumption and it is called Iichiko Shochu Blu, a delicious combination of water siphoned from the deep springs and streams located about 300 yards underground in […]
Michael Hepworth FREY RANCH DISTILLERY IN NEVADA GIN AND VODKA FROM FOUR GRAINS Nevada(Spiritsman)2/7/16/–We recently got a chance to try the organic gin and vodka from this stand alone distillery based in Nevada, and can report very good things about the product. Coming in a customized wooden box, the first one tried was the vodka, […]
Michael Hepworth Martin Miller’s Gin By Cheri Fox Brentwood,CA(Spiritsman)2/2/16/–Cocktail competition was held on Monday February 1, 2016 . There were 15 of LA’s hottest mixologists in attendance for the competition. These top mixologist competed for a cash prize of $1000 and debuted some fabulous cocktail concoctions. The event was co-hosting with The […]
Michael Hepworth PLANTATION PINEAPPLE STIGGINS RUM HITS THE STORES IN APRIL HOLLYWOOD(Spirtisman)1/17/16/–This rum was immortalized by Revered Stiggins in the Charles Dickens novel Pickwick Papers, and this rum uses the Victoria pineapple in the blend put out by Maison Ferrand. Each pineapple is peeled by hand and the rinds are infused with Plantation Three […]
Michael Hepworth ANGEL’S ENVY CASK STRENGTH BOURBON RELEASED GET YOUR BOTTLE WHEN YOU CAN HOLLYWOOD(Spiritsman)1/17/16/–Angels Envy Bourbon have recently released their new Cask Strength to the public, and with only 7,500 bottles at $169.99 each it will soon become a collector’s item. Previous releases quickly Sold out and the spirit will be […]
Michael Hepworth THE CRYING TEARDROPS OF THE MASTIC TREE! FOS Mastiha Liqueur Drink Of The Greek Gods… By Michael Cohan Laguna Woods,(Spiritsman)12/11/15/–On a tiny island in the Aegean Sea is the land of Chios, Greece. The beautiful lushness has given to the world a miracle tree resin of ancient times that flourishes […]
Michael Hepworth A HAPPY HOLIDAY DRINK A Snowball Crush featuring Deleon Platinum Tequila! By Michael Cohan Laguna Woods,CA(Spiritsman)12/3/15/–The other day my friend and I were getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner and during our happy hour we began sipping on our favorite Deleon Platinum tequila while watching football. So we began playing with […]
Michael Hepworth COCINA CONDESA A COCKTAIL CAFÉ SERVING MEXICAN STREET FOOD & MEZCALERIA Studio City,CA(Spiritsman)12/1//15/–Here is a little gem I would like to talk about called COCINA CONDESA in Studio City on Ventura Blvd where Sunday brunch is fueled by the rather strong cocktails created by David Rubin, a transplanted New Yorker. Chef […]
Michael Hepworth THE “FLOW & GLOW” OF “SUGARLANDING!” By Michael Cohan Laguna Woods,(Spiritsman)11/16/15/–Have you been able to land or be landed by one of the newest and best moonshine whiskeys to hit this booming market recently? Then step right up and pucker right up to the Mason Jars of the Sugarlands […]
Michael Hepworth AMARO LUCANO ITALIAN LIQUEUR- A NICE TASTE FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON HOLLYWOOD(Spiritsman)11/2/15/–At Spiritsman we love Italian liqueurs and the latest one to come across our desk is Amaro Lucano, a drink dating back to 1894 in Pisticci from the founder Pasquale Vena. The versatile liqueur is available in all 50 […]
Michael Hepworth Creator of Breast Cancer Research Stamp Partners with El Dorado Winery Sacramento, Calif.(Spiritsman)10/25/15/– – Charles B. Mitchell Vineyards is partnering with Dr. Ernie Bodai, founder of the Breast Cancer Research Stamp and Cure Breast Cancer, Inc., to launch the Cure Series, a series of limited release wines created to support […]
Michael Hepworth CVR/Wines of Tejo (Portugal) to Introduce Distinctive Wines in Chicago and San Francisco September 15-17, 2015 New York, NY(Spiritsman)10/24/15 — Members of the U.S. media and wine trade will explore a wide variety of distinctive, native varietal red and white wines from the historic Portuguese region of Tejo during luncheon seminars […]
Michael Hepworth GUINNESS NITRO IPA TO HIT THE MARKET Los Angeles(Spiritsman)10/4/15/–Any new release from the brewing giant in Dublin is worth a mention, and if you are one of the first in the world to try it, then it definitely deserves a mention. At a private tasting at The Larchmont Restaurant in […]
Michael Hepworth SPARKLING WINES WITHIN THE BUDGET FROM FRANCE AND PORTUGAL HOLLYWOOD (Spiritsman)9/28/15/–Here are a few sparkling wines that came across our desk that represent great value, although you may have to do a bit of digging to find them as distribution in most cases Is only in a handful of states. Still worth […]
Michael Hepworth 2015 Queen Mary Mixology and Dinner Cocktails and Four-Course Pairing Competition By Kay Schroeder Long Beach(Spiritsman)9/3/15/–New in the repertoire of the 2015 Barrel Dinner Series was the August 27 Mixology and Dinner held on the Queen Mary in Long Beach. The Queen’s Salon proved to be a fittingly royal setting for this […]
Michael Hepworth “The Artistry of Alberta Dark Batch Whisky” The Facts Tell the Story By Michael Cohan HOLLYWOOD(Spiritsman)9/2/15/–There is no subtle way to begin to explain a long family story about the newest whisky from the #1 rye producers of North America. Known as the most stubborn and detailed oriented […]
Michael Hepworth William Grant & Sons Launches Rare Cask Reserves Ghosted Reserve An exceptional one-time expression from silent distilleries New York, NY(Spiritsman)8/25/15/– William Grant & Sons is thrilled to announce the release of Rare Cask Reserves Ghosted Reserve 26 Year Old, the brand’s first blended malt to contain exclusive whisky hailing from […]
Michael Hepworth “ANOTHER LONG HANG TIME WITH” … A FEW SHOTS OF LIGHTNING FROM THE WICKED TANGO DISTILLERIES! WICKED 87 SPIRITS – AMERICAN LIGHT WHISKEY By Michael Cohan HOLLYWOOD(Spiritsman)8/22/15/—Doesn’t the name Wicked 87 conjure up images of a paralytic nature? It sure does while sampling this second version of intoxicating whiskeys from Wicked […]
Michael Hepworth LES PLANTATIONS AND THE SAINT JAMES CUVEE 1765 RHUM A MAINSTAY ON THE ISLAND OF MARTINIQUE HOLLYWOOD(Spiritsman)8/11/15/–This rhum is from the French colony of Martinique and when the bottle arrived on my desk I just had the gut feeling that I was about to try something very good. The history […]