The slopes of the Big Island are well known for the hot lava that is currently spewing out of Kilauea, Hawaii’s active volcano, but not many of us know about the winery that has been growing grapes and making wine since 1993.
Volcano Winery is bottling a new Pinot Grigio from winemaker Tim Kenny, as well as winning awards with their “Infusion” wine, a new twist on an old favorite, the honey and tea wine.
Volcano Winery is located at a 4000 foot elevation near Volcano National Park, on Kilauea the volcano on the southeast side of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is the only winery on the island. Grapes varieties grown here are the Marchael Foch, Chambourcin, Pinot Noir and the Cayuga White. Kenny says, “These hybrid grapes are less susceptible to pathogen infection here and somewhat resistant to the high pressure at our site. The Foch makes a lighter fruity red wine. the Chambourcin is a black grape that makes a deep stand alone wine. The Pinot Noir is a good fit for our cooler climate, and the Cayuga makes a sweeter wine well suited to blending.” Continue Reading »
In addition to all the fine beverage news we posted on our blog this week, several other noteworthy things happened over the past few days. We have summarized them into a weekly roundup:
Winners of the First Heineken’s Young Scientist Award Were Announced
“The idea of rewarding young researchers is entirely in keeping with the vision and aims of the Foundation.” — Mrs Charlène de Carvalho-Heineken, chairwoman of the Alfred Heineken Fondsen Foundation, which makes the awards possible. “The awards emphasise the relevance of research to society and represent an important addition to the Heineken Prizes, which are among the most prestigious science awards in the world.”
Read the full article.
Continue Reading »
I know what you are thinking, because I am thinking the same thing. Smoked Salmon flavored Vodka, that really happened? Really? Yes, really.
The five-year-old Alaska Distillery has produced a vodka made with salmon caught in the Gulf of Alaska. The secret to the vodka’s unique flavor is how the salmon is smoked, a secret that Alaska Distillery does not intend on revealing. Continue Reading »
Time Magazine’s Joel Stein wrote a piece on his experiences exploring meaty cocktails with The Modern Mixologist, Tony Abou-Ganim, who apparently creates drinks using “elk-bouillon”.
According to Stein, “In this meat-happy era, when diners serve bacon doughnuts and every menu item comes with an option of adding chicken, one cannot expect to consume alcohol without killing an animal. Fat-washed cocktails, as drinks with meat-infused liquor are called, are popping up at lots of swanky bars.”
Click for full story on “Cocktails for Carnivores: Drinks Infused with Meat” via Time.com.
Photo Credit: Ventura Limoncello Company, Ventura, CA
California mixologists and bar owners take heed, the Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) is actively cracking down on bars and restaurants currently practicing the art of distilled spirits infusion. This recent crack down comes as a result of an industry advisory report the ABC released on the Rectification of Distilled Spirits in On-Sale Premises. The report states:
It has come to the attention of the Department that some on-sale licensees are exceeding their license privileges by engaging in rectification of distilled spirits in violation of Section 23355 of the Business and Professions Code. Continue Reading »
Our Energyologist Jeff is very into the 14 different flavors of Three Olives Vodka, and has been after me to blog about them for some time. Three Olives got started in 1998 and now offer drinkers a wide array of flavors using their English distilled vodka. Here is a run down of the flavors currently available as well as some official Three Olives recipes to go with them.
These recipes are all pretty simple, and Jeff suggests you get creative in how you mix the flavored vodka into cocktails. We’ll start things off with his signature cocktail:
Energyologist Jeff’s “Door and Bush” Cocktail
1 1/2 oz. Three-O Triple Shot Espresso Vodka
1/2 oz. Three-O Vanilla Vodka
4 oz. Java Monster Mean Bean Energy Drink
No Garnish.
And for the 14 Cocktails Using 14 Flavors: Continue Reading »
Vagabond writer Robert Haynes-Peterson of Examiner.com, and HalogenLife.com has made a statement with his Swine Flu Cocktail, which he is billing as the cocktail for “troubled times.” Continue Reading »
Bakon Vodka, the bacon flavored vodka produced by Black Rock Spirits of Seattle, is a little difficult to wrap your head around. It’s vodka, that tastes like…bacon? Amazing… Continue Reading »
