 Same but different was the name of the Hall where many craft spirits were gathered at Prowein this year. The “Same but different" Hall welcome new trends,, or innovations in the wine and spirits world at Protein since 2015. And this year it was “craft”. There were still many brands (think cognac) in the French Hall. If you were into spirits this year, better have brought good running shoes to go from one hall to the other, even if anyway this is the only way to survive Prowein. A lot of water and good shoes. But the question is: How was it?    Photo credits. Anna Warnow. Dear curious reader,
Destille returned March 3rd and 4th, 2018. It was one of the coldest weekend of the year in Berlin but the warmest spirits connoisseurs of the city all joined. Here is spiritsfully's snapshots.  Dear curious reader. If you ever did. The answer is finally here !   What is the difference between brandy and cognac?
Cognac is a type of brandy. In order to be called cognac, it must comply with rigorous production methods strictly defined by the French regulations governing this Appellation d' Origine Contrôlée. A cognac must come from certain grapes, the most famous being Ugni Blanc and Folle Blanche. It must be subjected to double distillation in copper stills and then aged in French oak barrels for at least two years.  Dear curious reader,
Finally the flash card you needed should you not be of English as a first language but French or German. It is a first of a series that will discuss the basic knowledge o distillation from three languages points of view and to facilitate your next meetings abroad. ENJOY !  Brandy is a word I am sure you keep bumping into all the time, and even if you're not into learning about fine liquors. English movie anyone ? Fancy a brandy, my dear ?
But are you sure about what it means and encompasses ? Follow the guide !  Want to know more about spirits during calmer end of the year 2017 days ? That why spiritsfully has been busy revamping the resources page. Go and check it out !
 Lately at the remarkable Feminist Food Club of Berlin, I discussed how the way we speak about drinks is still very full of stereotypes and what we can do about it.
In 2017 ? Yes, in 2017. Because if men and women palates are not different, the choices of drinks according to gender are still very much made by social norms and expectations. And it makes no sense ! This is probably why it was the topic of many conversations in the industry's gathering lately (great talk about it at the last Paris Cocktail Week last June or at Bar Convent in October). Anyway both my short talk and this as well short text will, I hope, contribute to unravel how the idea of gendered drinks is very much embbeded in our society, why and what we can do about it. But first : a video ! WHEN DRINKING VODKA FUNDS THE INNOVATIVE ART PROJECTS OR HOW TO FINALLY DRINK WITH A RIGHT PURPOSE15/11/2017
 Dear curious reader, When in NYC Spiritsfully went and met one of the founders of a Material vodka, which the art world is whispering about since a couple of years: Pati Hertling. We discussed vodka tasting, water purity, and how .... to finally drink with a purpose. Let's dive.  photo credit: rob kulisek  Dear curious reader, Do you want to know about the fastest growing category in the drink industry ? Me too, so to start questioning and exploring this hotted topic I went to hear what distill ventures's COO Dan Gasper had to say on the subject. Read on !   Dear curious reader, I know, this title is so appealing, right ? Actually IT IS. Zachary Bruner, co-founder, distiller and a great mechanics welcomed me in Industry City Distillery…. in Industry City, Brooklyn in the middle of the hottest Saturday afternoon of September. What a tour !!! If you want to know about distillation beyond textbooks: this is the place. When the team behind Industry City Distillery started, they took the challenge from a distillation point of view. I discovered and learned so much in an hour discussion that I already know I want to go back and learn more. And who knows meet David Kyrejko of Arcane, next. David is one of the founder of Industry City Distillery and recently created Arcane to explore distillation even further. Ok, enough words. Let’s dive.   Dear curious reader, Bar convent was already a week ago !!! Crazy. Time to remember about what we could learn from this edition. Deibel consultant came back this year with 5 “exquisite” niche spirits to watch for 2017. Curious to know which one ? Read on ! DO YOU KNOW WHEN WAS FOUNDED THE OLDEST RUNNING DISTILLERY IN BROOKLYN SINCE PROHIBITION ERA ?17/10/2017
 2010 ! The oldest running distillery since Prohibition Era is just 7 years as I write this post ! This is the Kings County Distillery. As the sun was setting in a vast purple and pink sky, i finally made it to the Navy Yards where the Distillery is located since 2012. I’ve been welcomed by Lia, a Bourbon sommelier who started the conversation with many stories about whiskey tax, bourbon or booze war. Do you for example know when and where did the first distillery ever registered in what is now the USA ?  WHAT BARRELS DO TO WHISKEY WITH TIME....  Dear curious reader, Opening the ball of the urban distilleries report series is the VAN BRUNT STILLHOUSE, based in Red Hook, Brooklyn. It is surprisingly easy to find the distillery in this hard to reach by public transport area : it is just behind Ikea. Should you not have a car : take the Ikea shuttle, not only will you have the chance to see the Statue of Liberty one more time but you will be brought very close to you real destination.  A teaser...  Dear curious reader, IS THERE SUCH A THING AS URBAN DISTILLERIES OR ARE THEY URBAN LEGENDS? To find out : let’s start right now with a new series focusing of URBAN DISTILLERIES, and let’s start with BROOKLYN.   Dear curious reader,
Please check the new class on vodka. All the basics you need to know in just one page !!! Click on the title !   picture : copyright denise van deesen Dear curious reader,
as promised I continue with the interview series, focusing on great distiller in or close to Berlin. Today we meet with Stefanie Drobits. We are going to discuss about perfectly ripe fruits in the season and the magics of stills.   Gin box, W&P Design Dear curious reader,
You want to learn and discover more about the world of spirits and fine liquors, and you’re also on a budget, or/and you want a moderate (recommended) consumption of alcool ? What to do ? Try BOXES ? But there are so many boxes so which one to choose ? Follow the guide !  Dear curious reader,
Being French I tend to refer to abv more than proof when discussing the alcohol content of a drink. Proof appears from time to time through. But what is the difference ? Read on to find out !  Dear curious reader,
Wonder about craft spirits ? How would you define it though ? Is it handmade or made in smaller batch ? Is it reviving traditions and reawakening all spirits? What is exactly that makes the definition starts and ends ? As far as I know most of the industrially manufactured spirits need a human’s hand. And as far as I also (unfortunately) know, many “craft spirits” as being the brainchild of rich guys who give 10K to another distillery another 5K for great graphic design and cleaver marketing launch and call themselves crafts (See the great interview of Theo Ligthart about that subject HERE) The definition is unclear, often claimed by the wrong persons for the wrong products hiding artisan spirits makers and real innovators. So where and how will the future be ? My intuition is …. |
