Favorite Links ~ Cocktail & Spirits Websites

Happy Hour.com
This website, which covers beer, wine and spirits and has a free newsletter, is targeted to bar and restaurant industry professionals. But it’s an enjoyable read for consumer aficionados: drink recipes, events and other content of interest.

Tastings.com
This website of the Beverage Testing Institute has a searchable database which contains the last five years of professional reviews of every brand of wine, beer, and spirits.  There’s also a food and wine matching guide that makes recommendations based on the details of the spices and sauces on the dish you're having (as they should be).

Nibble Tip

Make ice cubes from tomato juice or vegetable juice and they won’t dilute your Bloody Marys. Beef bouillon ice cubes create a “Beefy Mary.” Add shredded basil or dill to the cubes—it adds zing to your drink as the cubes defrost.

Sloe gin fizz garnished with fruit. Photo by Dean
Jenkins courtesy of MorgueFile.com