One of the most famous wineries in Moldova is the one mentioned in the subtitle of this entry, famous, not only for its fine wines, but also for its unique and seemingly—I haven’t participated yet—fun events, which largely focus on their cellar. “Cellar?” you ask? Yes, that’s right. I know, winery events are usually confined … Continue reading Wine of Moldova: Mileștii Mici, Part 2 →

I was lucky enough to have a high-school history teacher—only one mind you—who not only taught his subject very well but also had the good sense to insist that students purchase a historical atlas of Europe. Just flipping through the pages from antiquity to the present, one could readily see how some geopolitical entities—kingdoms, principalities … Continue reading Wine of Moldova: November 4, 2025, Part 1 →

I have drunk makgeolli many times in Seoul, often at one establishment in the Myeong-dong district. The place specializes in what may be informally called the homemade variety. I have never had better outside Korea. In Japan, which constitutes a sizable market for the drink, good makgeolli can be found, but it is a little … Continue reading SOON: Maybe Soon in Your Glass →

Astute readers will pick up on the use of the indefinite article in my title. There were many, of course, and some were far more serious than the one I will discuss here. Before I proceed to that, though, I would like to share a little personal information with you. As some of you have … Continue reading A Shocking Revelation in 2025 →

Harry Croswell This happy occasion commemorates the day on which the word cocktail first appeared in print. That was May 13, 1806. Harry Croswell (1778-1858) was the man who first put pen to parchment, or something to that effect, and spelled out the word cocktail. Yes, that day in May is rapidly approaching. Celebrate it … Continue reading World Cocktail Day, May 13: Shake It, Stir It, Flambé It, or Frappé It, and Then Celebrate It! →

If there were a City of Baijiu, it would be a metropolis comprised of a number of baijiu-producing neighborhoods, scattered far and wide. Some would be producing baijius very different from those emerging from other regions. To express this in the altered words of the late-Jerry Lee Lewis, there’s a whole lotta variation going on. … Continue reading Destination Kinmen →

In March 2025 Esquire ran a short piece entitled “Baijiu for Beginners.” For me, this kind of article is a harbinger of sorts, doing the spadework in a land that might prove fertile ground for future baijiu sales. What better way to do this than to use a cocktail or cocktails as the delivery vehicles? … Continue reading On the Road to Baijiu →