A solid Bloody Mary by Gran Achatz of Alinea.

A sudden hailstorm means a sudden bounty of ice for the San Francisco Hailstorm cocktail.

The first step in making Zacapa rum is harvesting the sugar cane from fields in Guatemala.

Both the limited edition Absolut Los Angeles and the new permanent flavor Absolut Berri Acai contain pomegranate, blueberry, and acai flavors. Are they the same flavor or different?

What was the most popular and least intuitive ingredient at the 42Below Vodka competition in San Francisco? Fennel.

Ilegal mezcal is not only legal and being sold in more states, it's pretty darn tasty too.

A spicy spirit from Boliva by way of Amsterdam.

Tasting notes on Paul-Marie & Fils Devant La Porte Cognac: a very small sample of a very good cognac.

Alcademics compares three new brands of pisco.

Home-cured olives in just three weeks.

Experiments with Spike Your Juice, a product that turns juice into fizzy alcohol.

Using fresh sugarcane juice in cocktails comes with difficulties- extracting the juice from sugarcane.

Make big clear ice blocks in your freezer using a common item from your last camping trip.

Learn to carve slabs of ice into big, beautiful cubes.

Use one simple trick to make clear ice in your freezer.

Why are cognac cellars full of spiders? They're not just decoration for Halloween...

Take a visual visit to a barrel cooperage in France.

A visit to the beautiful house of Courvoisier cognac.

A dusty old cognac cellar is called a "paradise."

The aging of cognac is a surprisingly dynamic process, as learned on a visit to the house of Frapin.

A visit to and tasting of Hennessy cognac.

All about cognac, from ground to grapes to barrels to bottles.

Does refreezing ice make it clearer? An experiment.

Fun with alphabet ice molds on Alcademics.

How long will your simple syrup last before spoiling? Camper at Alcademics experiments with different syrups.

San Francisco bartender Carlos Yturria shakes up a cocktail at a Grand Marnier educational session.

A simple recipe for a delicious absinthe cooler with pomegranate juice.

The annual Kentucky Derby bourbon and mint julep mix bottles are here!

Muddling, muddling, who has the time? Alcademics creates the Lazy Caipirinha with a lime-flavored ice glass.

Peep straws on Alcademics.com.

Colored Easter Egg Ice just in time for the holiday.

Four sweet tea flavored vodkas have launched in the past year. Now that's a quick moving trend!

Two days, 18 bars, and 5 winning cocktails at the Damrak gin competition in San Francisco.

Camper English writes about new spirits on the market in the San Francisco Bay Guardian.

The Flying Dutchman, and award-winning cocktail served at Waterbar in San Francisco.

A contest-winning cocktail with yuzu, tarragon, and gin.

Alcademics makes an orange liqueur swizzle stick to sweeten margaritas.

Pisco sour- from a mix? Camper at Alcademics makes a batch.

Is borscht the new vinegar? Alcademics studies the latest cocktail trends.

Alcademics analyzes the marketing switcheroo between Belvedere and Grey Goose vodkas.

Alcademics experiments with the 1800 Tequila Essential Artists sneaker maker.

Alcademics finds a crafty way to make large ice balls.