John Cox

Blogs · @wyome

Tagged spirits · everything

www.gardenista.com

Homegrown Limoncello: Preserving a Precious Meyer Lemon Crop

The author shares a recipe for homemade limoncello made from homegrown Meyer lemons, explaining the process of infusing lemon zest in vodka for two weeks before mixing with a simple sugar syrup. Beyond the recipe itself, she discusses the pleasures of growing your own citrus—knowing exactly what chemicals (or lack thereof) touch the fruit—and the seasonal timing of making the liqueur now, in winter citrus season, to enjoy its frozen, digestif-like sips months later in summer.

Permalink recipesgardeningcocktailswinter

mdcdropshop

Ritual Sister 2.0 - Smoked Pineapple

This is a product description for Ritual Sister, a smoked pineapple spirit made by Matchbook Distillery through an elaborate three-day smoking and burial process followed by three-week fermentation. The distillery frames the spirit as a ritual born during pandemic lockdown, positioning it as an invitation for others to participate in their ceremonial practice of finding inspiration and connection in the present moment.

Permalink cocktailsspirits

punchdrink.com

It’s Time to Bring Back These Underrated Classics

This roundup gathers the "Deep Cuts" column's picks of overlooked pre-Prohibition and mid-century cocktails that contemporary bartenders are resurrecting and reworking, arguing that the revival era's obsession with Savoy and Jerry Thomas classics left plenty of worthy recipes behind. It spans decades and spirits—from a New Orleans Martini variation (the Obituary) and a tequila-swapped highball (Dauphine's Roffignac) to obscure aperitifs, sours and punches—each given a modern tweak by a working bartender. The value here is as a reference list of drink names and one-line hooks to track down full recipes and techniques later, rather than a single argument.

Permalink recipeshistorycocktailsunderrated

uncrate.com

The Best Bourbon Known To Man

A sprawling buying guide that sorts today's bourbon boom into practical categories—everyday sippers, bottom-shelf steals, single barrels, and craft distillery standouts—alongside a separate tier for hard-to-find and grail-status bottles like Pappy 23, George T. Stagg, and vintage Stitzel-Weller finds that now fetch thousands at auction. It also branches into non-Kentucky producers (Texas, Wyoming, Chicago, Vermont) and closes with a rye whiskey roundup, making it useful as a reference for what to actually seek out versus what to admire from afar given the current allocation and secondary-market frenzy.

Permalink whiskeykentuckybourbonspirits

www.mensjournal.com

14 Bourbons You Can Pretty Much Only Buy in Kentucky

Kentucky distilleries and retailers hold exclusive or limited-distribution bourbons that enthusiasts cannot easily find elsewhere, making a visit to the state essential for serious whiskey lovers. The piece recommends fourteen specific Kentucky-only or Kentucky-first expressions—ranging from the budget-friendly Very Old Barton to premium releases like Maker's Mark Private Selection and Peerless Single Barrel—that showcase the state's dominance in the bourbon market and explain why distilleries prioritize local sales over nationwide distribution. Each recommendation includes tasting notes and details about where to purchase, whether at distillery gift shops or select retailers, to help visitors know which bottles warrant seeking out during a Kentucky trip.

Permalink travelkentuckybourbonspirits

Tasting Table

The Hands Down Best Distillery In Every State

This guide identifies the best craft distillery in each U.S. state, selected based on major competition awards, use of local ingredients, regional historical connections, and community involvement. Each entry profiles one standout distillery with its signature products, accolades, and contact information. The selections range from established names like Buffalo Trace in Kentucky to newer operations like Anchorage Distillery in Alaska, highlighting how craft distilling has flourished across all fifty states.

Permalink travelunited statesspirits

High Wire Distilling

Home - High Wire Distilling

This is a marketing website for a Charleston-based distillery that produces whiskey from heritage grains, particularly Jimmy Red corn—a rare, magenta-colored heirloom variety native to South Carolina's Lowcountry. The site emphasizes the distillery's commitment to reviving forgotten agricultural traditions and producing spirits entirely in-house, from grain milling through barrel aging. Their flagship product uses 100% Jimmy Red corn to create a whiskey that tells the story of regional place and lost flavors.

Permalink whiskeyspirits

www.tuscanynowandmore.com

What is Digestivo - A Guide to After-Dinner Drinks in Italy | Tuscany Now & More

Digestivo is an Italian after-dinner spirit tradition distinct from aperitivo, typically served neat at room temperature after dessert to aid digestion while extending the social experience of dining. Regional varieties include grappa in Veneto, Cynar (artichoke-based amaro) in Venice, limoncello along the southern coast, Moscadello dessert wine in Tuscany, and sambuca in Rome, each with distinct flavors ranging from herbal and bitter to sweet, and many with roots in monastic medicine or ancient Roman remedies. The piece traces how these digestivi differ from aperitivi in alcohol content and sweetness, explains their regional significance across Italy, and describes traditional serving customs like the ammazzacaffè ritual of pairing grappa with espresso.

Permalink fooditalycocktailswine

www.travelawaits.com

11 Tastiest Liqueurs From Around The World And How To Enjoy Them

This guide surveys eleven liqueurs from around the world, tracing their origins from medieval herbal medicines through modern cocktail culture and offering descriptions of each drink's flavor profile and traditional or innovative serving methods. Each liqueur is presented with its country of origin, distinctive characteristics, and recommended ways to enjoy it—whether served neat, on ice, in cocktails, or in desserts. The piece emphasizes both classic options like Chambord and Pimm's and more adventurous choices like hibiscus liqueur and mastic, encouraging readers to explore beyond familiar brands.

Permalink foodcocktailsspiritslimoncello

www.nytimes.com

The 22 Best Alcohol Gifts for Cocktail Lovers

This is a curated gift guide featuring approximately 20 cocktail-related products and books, ranging from barware and spirits to garnishes and cocktail recipe collections. Each item includes recommendations from industry experts like bartenders and spirits specialists, along with details about quality, design, and specific use cases. The selections emphasize craft, aesthetic appeal, and thoughtful curation rather than gimmicky bar accessories.

Permalink holidaycocktailswhiskeygifts

www.heavensdoor.com

The Collection | Heaven's Door Whiskey

This is a product catalog for Heaven's Door whiskey brand, listing their various bourbon, rye, and Tennessee whiskey expressions organized by collection type—including core signature lines like Ascension and Revival, limited releases like The Bootleg Series (featuring Dylan artwork), and specialized collections like the Exploration and Decade Series that emphasize innovative aging and finishing techniques. The descriptions highlight production methods such as non-chill filtering, multiple barrel aging, and sherry cask finishing to differentiate each expression's flavor profile.

Permalink whiskeyluxurykentuckybourbon

www.gq.com

The Best Cognac to Stock in Your Home Bar (at Every Budget)

Cognac, often unfairly perceived as pretentious, has a rich history beyond its snooty image—from being embraced by Black servicemen in WWII France to becoming central to hip-hop culture and appearing at family celebrations across America. The article explains that Cognac is a specific type of brandy from the Cognac region of France, classified by aging time (VS for at least two years, VSOP for at least four, XO for ten or longer), with younger expressions being bright and fruity while older ones develop complexity and warmth. Expert recommendations cover Cognacs for every occasion and budget, from affordable everyday bottles like Cognac Park VS to premium options, plus guidance on selecting Cognacs for specific cocktails or for drinkers transitioning from whiskey.

Permalink tagsbudgetspirits

www.esquire.com

The Truth About the Martini

The martini has experienced a remarkable cultural resurgence in recent years, partly due to social media appeal and meme culture, but more fundamentally because it remains the perfect antidote to modern life—a serious drinker's reward that doesn't mask its alcohol but instead delivers it cold and bracing to calm the mind after a difficult day. Ruck traces the drink's history through Esquire's archives, noting that it was deeply unfashionable in the 1970s and '80s when young people rejected it as a symbol of bourgeois decadence, before its gradual rehabilitation into a drink of timeless sophistication. The piece combines personal anecdotes about martinis consumed around the world with practical guidance on preparation (ice cold, straight up, gin or vodka) to argue that the cocktail's enduring appeal lies in its uncompromising nature and its essential role in the lives of serious, busy people.

Permalink culturecocktailsdrinkstiktok

coolmaterial.com

10 Bourbon Cocktails You Need to Try

A rundown of ten classic and modern bourbon cocktails worth having in your repertoire, arguing that bourbon deserves a place in mixed drinks despite purist objections to using it beyond neat pours. It runs through recipes and quick histories for staples like the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Mint Julep, and Boulevardier alongside lesser-known options like the New York Sour, Scofflaw, Gold Rush, and a bacon-garnished shot called the Mitch Morgan, pitching both winter sippers and summer-friendly highballs. Worth keeping as a practical reference card for mixing bourbon drinks at home rather than a deep dive into any single cocktail.

Permalink summerrecipescocktailswhiskey

Esquire

25 After-Dinner Drinks for a Perfect Nightcap, According to Experts

This is a collection of 20 after-dinner cocktail recipes curated by bartenders and cocktail experts, featuring spirits-forward classics like the Negroni and Sazerac alongside amaro-focused drinks that showcase digestif liqueurs. The selections emphasize how amaro and bitters can elevate simple two- or three-ingredient drinks, with expert commentary explaining flavor profiles and suggesting substitutions for personalization. Recipes range from warm options like Irish Coffee and Trap's Toddy to refreshing choices like Dark and Stormy, all positioned as dessert alternatives or palate cleansers following meals.

Permalink cocktailsmixologyspiritsentertaining

tuscanynowandmore.com

What is Digestivo

Digestivo is the Italian after-dinner tradition of sipping high-alcohol spirits neat or at room temperature to aid digestion and extend the social pleasures of dining, distinct from the lighter aperitivo served before meals. The piece surveys regional digestivo varieties across Italy—from Grappa in the Veneto region and Cynar in Venice to Limoncello along the southern coast and Sambuca near Rome—explaining their origins, flavors, and traditional serving methods. Many digestivi have ancient roots in monastic herbal remedies and medicinal tonics, though modern versions like Limoncello emerged in the 20th century.

Permalink italyspiritsdining

Flaviar

One simple question: What spirit type do you prefer the most?

This is a marketing page for Flaviar's "Champions of Bourbon" subscription service, which delivers one gold-medal-winning bourbon monthly at $62-73 per bottle depending on commitment level, with prepaid options offering modest savings and flexible pay-as-you-go alternatives. The service curates bottles that have won major spirits competitions or scored 90+ from respected whiskey publications, positioning itself as a way to discover rare, hard-to-find bourbons unavailable locally while building a collection at better-than-retail pricing.

Permalink homesubscriptionbourbonspirits

howto.wired.com

Infuse Vodka - Wired How-To Wiki

Vodka infusion—steeping fresh fruit, vegetables, or spices in vodka to create flavored spirits—requires only a quality base vodka, fresh produce cut to expose maximum surface area, a sealed jar, and patience while the flavors develop over days to weeks depending on the ingredient. The process involves filling a jar with prepared produce, covering it completely with vodka, storing it in a cool dark place, tasting periodically until the desired flavor intensity is reached, then straining out the pulp through cheesecloth or coffee filters.

Permalink fooddiycocktailstutorial