“loopholes in some United States liquor laws allow it to be served in restaurants with only a beer and wine license. This has led to shochu’s use as a mixer in Asian-inspired cocktails—think lemongrass martinis—” — Amy Stewart Copy Share Image
“The first boozy concoction to come from apples was cider. Americans refer to unfiltered apple juice as apple cider and usually drink it hot… — Amy Stewart Copy Share Image
“Angels’ Share: In storage, a small amount of alcohol escapes the barrel through evaporation. Distillers call this lost alcohol the angels’ share. Whiskey and brandy makers estimate that the angels get about 2 percent of the alcohol in a barrel each year, although that can vary depending on humidity and temperature. Fortunately, they can afford to lose some, as most… — Amy Stewart Copy Share
“Early spice traders tried to plant allspice seeds around the world but found them impossible to germinate. Eventually it was discovered that the seeds… — Amy Stewart Copy Share Image
“Absinthe is legal today in Europe, the United States, and many places around the world. Some governments regulate the amount of thujone that may… — Amy Stewart Copy Share Image
“As the tree matures, the older vessels become plugged with crystalline structures called tyloses, and as a result, the center of the tree—the heartwood—doesn’t conduct water at all, making it well suited for use as a watertight barrel. American oaks are particularly rich in tylose as compared to European oaks. In fact, the European trees have to be carefully split… — Amy Stewart Copy Share
“Perhaps it makes sense that a creature that doesn't get ill and has few enemies among its neighbors would also live agelessly and die… — Amy Stewart Copy Share Image
“Wapsie Valley, known for producing red kernels. (The legend behind Wapsie Valley is that at corn shuckings, any man who found a red kernel… — Amy Stewart Copy Share Image
“Among the many benefits of “limestone water” was the fact that it came out of the ground at about 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the perfect… — Amy Stewart Copy Share Image
“I would’ve never guessed that a life in law enforcement was mostly spent waiting, that catching criminals requires not just clever thinking and a… — Amy Stewart Copy Share Image
“When Coca-Cola made its ill-fated switch to New Coke, the Wall Street Journal reported that the economy of Madagascar nearly collapsed because of the… — Amy Stewart Copy Share Image
“solera system for aging. The barrels are stacked four high, with finished sherry coming only from the bottom barrel. It is refilled by sherry… — Amy Stewart Copy Share Image
