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By Maia Merrill Gosselin A warm greeting and a friendly smile. Your favorite drink poured before you sit down. A good conversation. Personalized service and an experience that makes you want to return. In a nutshell: hospitality. It’s the key ingredient to success in this industry and it’s what separates... Read More

By Kirsten Amann Did you know that in 1945, Michigan passed a law prohibiting women from working behind the bar? There was a loophole that allowed male owners to employ their wives or daughters behind the stick, but according to the new law, even women who owned drinking establishments were... Read More

By Andy Crouch Central Massachusetts often feels like a bit of a hidden vortex, a place you pass through on the way to Boston or to Western Mass and beyond. For beer lovers, however, the start of sloping landscapes obscures great breweries and bars. Locals have no inferiority complex, knowing... Read More

By Pink Lady It’s fun to raise a glass of something Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, and since we’ve covered most of the notable classic cocktails created with Irish whiskey pre-Prohibition, it seems quite fitting to turn our attention to a modern classic. The Irish Blonde is a creation developed... Read More

By Maia Merrill Gosselin Take a look at Lauren Clark’s resume and the first thing you’ll notice is that this is no ordinary beverage industry professional. During her years in the business, she has held a diverse range of titles including bartender, brewer, blogger, cocktail historian, writer/editor and importer marketing... Read More

by PINK LADY It’s Valentine’s Day and l’amour is on the agenda this month, meaning all eyes will turn to Champagne and of course, to Champagne cocktails. This year, add the Barbotage to the menu for a little French fizzy fun. “Barbotage” translates from French to mean “splashing” (which is... Read More

By Seema Tikare “We are all mortal until the first kiss and the second glass of wine.” -EDUARDO GALEANO, THE GREAT URUGUAYAN JOURNALIST Nothing makes eternity seem within reach like being in love. Valentine’s Day, Hallmark holiday or not, is a celebration of romance that we all need in this... Read More

By Andy Crouch Zero Gravity is quietly confident, a brewery run by long-tenured and well-respected founder, Paul Sayler. It’s not flashy or chasing trends. Instead, the Burlington, Vermont based brewery produces a line of excellent takes on classic styles. The packaging is sleek, capturing an unusual mix of retro nostalgia... Read More

By Pink Lady In the colder, darker months of early January, once the holiday revelry and excesses have subsided, it can be quite cozy to sit with a simple yet elegant drink and contemplate what lies ahead in the New Year. The Bijou cocktail, made with gin, sweet vermouth, and... Read More