The Chronicle
Latest dispatches
20 results across all types
- news
Water Brands: Enter the Water Choice Awards
This August I’ll be judging the Water Choice Awards, a new water competition hosted by The Daily Pour. If your brand hasn’t entered yet, check out the website – entries are due June 30, 2026! The post Water Brands: Enter the Water Choice Awards first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
Nonalcoholic Cocktails Need Texture
In a recent story for AlcoholProfessor I wrote about John deBary’s latest book on nonalcoholic cocktails and the tricks he uses to improve the NA spirits you can buy off the shelf, mostly with the addition of boosting botanicals and/or intense tea infusions. I’m a big fan of deBary’s work in the category. Read the […] The post Nonalcoholic Cocktails Need Texture first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
Put Chartreuse in Your Martini
In my latest story for AlcoholProfessor.com I share the trend of putting Chartreuse in your Martini, featuring bars such as: Read the story here. The post Put Chartreuse in Your Martini first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
Saratoga Water’s Changing Sources
In my water tasting classes in San Francisco, I noticed that Saratoga water’s total dissolved solids jumped from around 40ppm TDS to about 100ppm. In the class we measure TDS by using a low-end TDS meter. The change came between one bottle (glass) and the next batch I bought (in plastic). I was wondering if […] The post Saratoga Water’s Changing Sources first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
The Cocktail Menu for the Golden Rule, the New Bar from the Che Fico Team
This new bar Golden Rule is by Thrive City. You can read more about it in the SF Chronicle (paywall) or SFStandard. Below is the cocktail menu. The post The Cocktail Menu for the Golden Rule, the New Bar from the Che Fico Team first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
The Ice Book’s Third Birthday
I put together a little celebration collage. You can also see it on my Instagram. The post The Ice Book’s Third Birthday first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
A Review of my Water Tasting Classes in The Daily Pour
Amanda Paul wrote a review of one of my Water Tasting Classes in San Francisco, for The Daily Pour. The Daily Pour will be sponsoring a water judging called the Water Choice Awards later this year. I quickly realized our host was one of those rare people who moves through the world like an almanac, […] The post A Review of my Water Tasting Classes in The Daily Pour first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
How I Clarified the Ice Problem – Imbibe Magazine
For the 20th anniversary issue of Imbibe Magazine (to which I have subscribed all 20 years, and written for a few times), Wayne Curtis wrote a story on my work on and solution to creating clear ice at home. Among these was Camper English. A spirits writer based in San Francisco with a background in science, […] The post How I Clarified the Ice Problem – Imbibe Magazine first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
A Review of my Water Tasting Class in Coyote Media
Soleil Ho, the former SF Chronicle restaurant critic, attended one of my Water Tasting Classes in San Francisco and wrote up an awesome review of it for Coyote Media. The class was a particularly fun session, with two very opinionated bartenders in attendance. I don’t usually consider water in my daily life. I drink good […] The post A Review of my Water Tasting Class in Coyote Media first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
Dilute Your Own Hazmat Whiskey?
Lost Lantern independent whiskey bottler released their Spring 2026 collection, which was themed as a collection of high vs low proof whiskeys. The collection includes American single malts with unsmoked barley, Rocky Mountain bourbons with different mashbills, southern bourbons with different mashbills and malt influence, and rye whiskies with different ryes – and each of […] The post Dilute Your Own Hazmat Whiskey? first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
2026 New Drink Books
Here are new cocktails and spirits (and a few other) books out or coming out in 2026. The post 2026 New Drink Books first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
Photos from 1906 Earthquake Anniversary Tour
On Saturday, April 18, we marked the date of the 120th anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire that destroyed about 80% of the city. I partnered with Argonaut California Brandy and we stopped into three bars (my usual tour only stops inside one) for cocktails and light snacks. It was a great […] The post Photos from 1906 Earthquake Anniversary Tour first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
Additives in Spirits: Does Caramel Count?
I wrote a story for AlcoholProfessor.com about additives in rum. The initial point of the story was that the term “additive-free” has become charged due to its use in the tequila industry, and now the term is spilling over into rum. I learned in the process of reporting the story that some brands have used […] The post Additives in Spirits: Does Caramel Count? first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
How to Make an 8 Layer Pousse-Cafe in Under a Minute
For AlcoholProfessor.com I wrote a story about the Pousse-Cafe, they layered drink that many of us have seen but never tried. I have never had one! I wrote a bit about the history, but the real bang for your buck is learning how Jack Sotti and his team at Archive & Myth in London have […] The post How to Make an 8 Layer Pousse-Cafe in Under a Minute first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
Hotaling Closes Junipero Distillery
I’m very late on reposting this to my website, but in February I wrote about the closing of the distillery on Pier 50 in San Francisco where Hotaling & Co produces Junipero gin. Read it here in the San Francisco Chronicle. (paywall) The post Hotaling Closes Junipero Distillery first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
Using Vinegar in Cocktails
I wrote a story for VinegarProfessor, sister site to AlcoholProfessor, about using vinegar in cocktails. It contains some very good advice from several bartenders. You can read it here. The post Using Vinegar in Cocktails first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
100 Years Ago: Duncan Nicol Dies, Takes Pisco Punch Recipe to the Grave
Published Feb 10, 1926, San Francisco Chronicle ‘Pisco Punch’ Secret LostFamed Drink Mixer of Old Days Passes Popular Bar Prey of Drys Duncan Nicol died last night. With him passed the secret of his famous Pisco punch in the days of the Bank Exchange, which once stood on the southeast corner of Montgomery and Washington […] The post 100 Years Ago: Duncan Nicol Dies, Takes Pisco Punch Recipe to the Grave first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
The Old Fashioned and the Champagne Cocktail are the Same Drink
Well, more or less. In my latest for Food & Wine, I trace the origin of both drinks and how they each deviated from the original Cocktail. Read it here. The post The Old Fashioned and the Champagne Cocktail are the Same Drink first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
The Cheap Cooler Was the Best Cooler
Unless you’re an extreme ice nerd like me, you probably don’t know that hard sided cooler manufacturers change their models. The first cooler I used to create clear ice was discontinued, but I was able to switch to a similar model .I think the Coleman Party Stacker line went away, and maybe a small model […] The post The Cheap Cooler Was the Best Cooler first appeared on Alcademics .
- news
Nightingale Bar to Become Shotski’s Alpine Lodge
The Kearny Street bar Nightingale is about to change theme. Owned by Future Bars and most recently home of the pop-up The Merriest Bar, Nightingale will soon become Shotski’s Alpine Lodge in a change of concept. (image from Nightingale Facebook page) They promise “the essence of a ski getaway, minus the cold. As summer approaches, […] The post Nightingale Bar to Become Shotski’s Alpine Lodge first appeared on Alcademics .