When the thermometer reaches 40 in New England in February, you take advantage of the warmth.  My husband and I did so this past weekend.  With no kids at home, the sun shining, and the warmth of a 40 degree day ahead of us, we decided to head to the Massachusetts coast.

We had no set agenda, just got in the car and started driving toward the ocean.  After stopping at an antiques shop and a butcher shop, we decided to spend our afternoon in Newburyport.  We had been here once before and remembered that there were a number of interesting shops and restaurants.

After several hours of browsing, we asked for a recommendation for a restaurant at which we could find a good cocktail and possibly a snack.  Thankfully, we asked at the right shop and were…

Bottle/Tap: Tap and can

When it comes to Scottish ales, we got off on the wrong foot.  I’ve had Sam Adams and a few other variations that did not impress me.  For a long time I stayed away from Scottish ales because I thought they all had that burned bitter flavor to them, and I didn’t want to have any part.  Then one day I was out with friends, and one of my buddies got a Belhaven and soon after I got a Belhaven.  I wish I had this Scottish ale before all the others.

Either way you pour it in your glass, this ale looks like a Guinness.  The separation as the head builds at the top just made this ale look delicious.  I was happy that there was no bitter flavor at all, or burned notes,…

Do you know what cocktail you will be making for your valentine?  If you need a suggestion, how about the cocktail that 1,007 readers voted as the best?  Cupid’s Kiss!

With steady voting until the poll closed, it was a close race for Cupid’s Kiss and Cayo al Corazon.  However, when the votes were tallied, the whisky & rum cocktail creation pulled ahead with a 150 vote lead.

As promised, we now offer the recipe for this winning cocktail.

Cupid’s Kiss

1 ounce Canadian Club Whisky

1 ounce Cruzan Raspberry Rum

Cranberry juice

Fill highball glass with ice.  Add whisky and rum, fill with juice, and stir.

Enjoy!…

The Boston Wine Expo is an amazing event.  Over two days, you are surrounded by hundreds of wines and dozens of foods.  Even when you reduce those numbers to the amount that you actually sample, there still are many names and faces to remember.  At the end of the weekend, the most memorable are the ones that will stay with you.

One such memorable winery was Aaron Wines based in Paso Robles, California.  I was able to speak with the owner, Aaron Jackson, about his Petite Sirah, his vineyards, and his first trip to the chilly and snowy Northeast.  While speaking, I, of course, sampled some of his 2006 Petite Sirah, which was full-bodied, well balanced, and smooth.  An absolutely lovely wine!

With the numerous attendees at the expo, there simply is not enough time to…

Bottle/Tap: bottle

I know what you’re thinking: sour ale?  Why would anyone want to drink something that is sour?  I’ve heard of sour ales before, but I had never tried one. When I came across this I thought I would give it a try.  Much to my surprise, I kind of enjoyed it.

When I poured this into my glass I noticed that it had a really nice red color; this had a better red tint than most red ales I’ve drunk.  As soon as I opened the bottle I smelled something strange.  It wasn’t an overpowering sour smell, it reminded me of vinegar in a way.  I held my nose, I closed my eyes, and I took a drink….