Bottles and Bites

OVERVIEW Hosting should be fun! Holiday entertaining can be relatively stress-free with the right tools and preparation. Your most important job as a host is to create a fun, memorable, and meaningful experience for your guests. Keep it simple and relaxed, don’t worry if everything is perfect. IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS Paying attention to details and taking individual needs into account makes your guests feel seen and valued. This can be anything from addressing dietary restrictions to providing boxes or Tupperware to take leftovers home. You want people to feel comfortable and welcome in your home. This can mean adjusting...

Ingredients 4 oz Bourbon (we suggest Russell's Reserve 10 Year) 1 Tbsp Grenadine (we suggest Quince & Apple Tart Cherry Grenadine) Cola (we suggest Boylan Cane Cola) Ice Cocktail Cherries (we suggest Jack Rudy Bourbon Cocktail Cherries) Directions Pour the bourbon and grenadine into a lowball glass and stir until combined. Add ice and top with cola. Garnish with cocktail cherries as desired. *For more cherry flavor, add a second tbsp of grenadine. Tools of the Trade Rocks Glass. These glasses have octagonal bodies, which makes them easier to handle than their round counterparts. Perfect for parties or if you're just plain accident-prone. $3.99/ea...

Whether you are a drinker of whiskey, gin, vodka, or rum, there is a suitable mixer that can both stretch the lifespan of your spirit as well as enhance the taste. Most commonly, drinkers use mixers to dilute the harsh burn of strong spirits. This will also lower the alcohol by volume and allow a person to drink more. While cocktails are making a comeback, mixers have regained superior importance. When you consider the fact that your mixer can account for anywhere from 25%-75% of your drink, it is pivotal that the mixer is of good quality. Here’s a look...

New Jersey is experiencing a boom in the craft distillery business, with artisan distilleries turning out vodkas, bourbons, rums and moonshine at a record pace. This boost comes after a law passed in 2013 that lowered the cost of an artisan distiller permit from $12,500 per year to $938 per year for up to 20,000 gallons or about 640 barrels. This significant drop in price has allowed craft distilleries to pop up all over the state from Camden (Cooper River Distillers) to Fairfield (Claremont Distillery) and join the small batch producers of Jersey-made wine and beer in making a name for themselves in the spirits market. ...