Bursting with bright, spicy fruit, the 2005 Matteo Correggia Roero (about $20) achieves a fine balance. It's perfect with meaty or mushroom-y pastas, says the Los Angeles Times.

It's Day 1 of the 2008 Eat Local Challenge -- have you laid in your provisions yet? Food on the Food worries her initial stocking-up might not be enough.

Drinkhacker reviews the Smith Woodhouse Lodge Reserve, a rich and vibrant ruby Port, full of fruit and jam flavors. At $18, it's a winner.

Some drink syrups are simple to make, while others, like Orgeat, leave you cursing every known tiki bartender, dead or alive. (via Kaiser Penguin)

The Daily Green recounts how a wine-bottle manufacturer violated federal pollution laws, and questions whether glass packaging deserves its environmentally sound reputation.

The Fountain of Youth: Pomegranate and vodka in a martini glass topped with a splash of sparkling wine and garnished with a few blueberries.

"Ladies, fire up your brew pots and polish those carboys." The LA Times profiles homebrewing as the hot new female hobby.

NY Times' Eric Asimov celebrates Oktoberfest with a roundup of 24 samples of Märtzen, the traditional autumn beers of Germany.

Kevin Diedrich is featured next in the series of drinks for Le Mixeur Cinq. The Spiced Marmalade comes to life...

To celebrate the release of Quantum of Solace Bollinger have released a limited-edition Champagne cooler in the shape of a Walther PPK bullet.

Who's got Cabin Fever? A new 80-proof maple spirit liqueur produced by a family in New England.

Meet Albert Trummer, the Austrian-born impresario at Apotheke in Manhattan's Chinatown: "part lounge, part pharmacy, and part Cirque du Soleil."

Jon Bonne's online addendum to his SF Chronicle article highlights the non-Chardonnay offerings of three profiled wineries.

What cocktail connoisseur could resist the masculine Deco stylings of Ralph Lauren's Sayer Auto Cocktail Shaker?

The Orange Spur by PDT's Don Lee -- our pick for the best-looking entry in the Marie Brizard cocktail challenge.

Dispatches from the floor of the Bar Convent Berlin (Berlin Bar Convention) trade show.

Drinkhacker tastes the Glenlivet XXV, a 25-year scotch aged in oak and Oloroso Sherry casks. "Honey and flowers are on the nose, with heather, hay, and nuttiness immediately following."

The Kitchn marvels at Tonfisk's Newton cream-and-sugar set, which uses a gravity-based gizmo to keep the sugar from tumbling out.

Star Power -- 100% star-fruit juice, one of nature’s most potent and exotic sources of polyphenolic antioxidants and vitamin C. (via Beyond Drinks)

Underhill Lounge asks: "What’s not to love about a 'Cuban Manhattan'?"... better known as the Fair & Warmer Cocktail, 1/3 sweet vermouth, 2/3 rum, and a dash of curacao.

Smirnoff gets a makeover for the new Bond flick, "Quantum of Solace". (Wonder what it'd taste like mixed with Coke Zero Zero Seven?)

"Enough with this garbage!" exclaims Off the Presses, railing against excessive or overly-fussy garnishes that interfere with a drink's enjoyment.

Neyah White goes on the prowl for a bottle of Cougar bourbon.

Jeffrey Morgenthaler visits Berlin's Lebensstern to watch Thomas Pflanz in action, then explains the meaning of the Irish Goodbye.

Another Drink of Cinq, this one created by Portland's Lance Mayhew. Part 2 in the series leading up to Le Mixeur Cinq, October 4.

Ursula, a wine-bottle carrier made of leather [Editor's note ~ it collapses into a flat ring for storage]

Prickly pear cactus fruit made into a light, refreshing, and gorgeous drink.

Montage by designers Julien De Repentigny and Gabriel Lefebvre

Asahi introduces Ginger Draft, sort of a premixed shandy targeted at younger drinkers, complete with a J-Pop theme song by Anna Tsuchiya.

Now this is old school! the Bijou Cocktail, originally mixed in 1882!!

A modern version of the venerable Claret Cup

Scomorokh celebrates the rebirth of his blog with two of his favorite shooters, the Electric Banana and the Brave Bull.

Guinness and Neiman Marcus will build you an authentic Irish pub for a cool $250k!

Vessel 75, a journey into molecular mixology. And it's Marcia's first Drink of the Week! [Editor's Note ~ boudreau's recipe originally linked in #684]

Yo, check these limited edition Hennessy kicks by Jhung Yuro. Each $300 pair comes in a lizard-skin shoebox with a braided rope handle. (Cognac, alas, not included.)

Jeff Morgenthaler and Jay Hepburn (pictured) explore the liquor closet at Mixology magazine, where they discover 2,000 of their closest friends.

Cocktail Slut throws a punchbowl party -- an idea we're totally stealing for our next shindig -- letting guests pour their own Philadelphia Fish House Punch.

Brooklyn's Six Point Craft Ales' Hop Obama,
"an entirely unique ale that doesn't conform to traditional style guidelines."

"Dandelion Wine".... one of the most beautiful wine labels I've ever seen

"Gimme a Light!" Popular Science shows you how to turn your empties into something useful: solar-powered garden lanterns.

Plup, a new bottled water from Finland that's wearable, stackable, and -- best yet -- refillable!

Jamie Boudreau gives us the lowdown on Fee's new cherry bitters: "a strong, fruity flavor of the cherry and the cherry pit"

Le Mixeur presents Liberty Bar's Andrew Friedman, and his cocktail contribution to Le Mixeur Cinq, "The Unnamed Orange Bomb."

...and Rookie Libations takes a cue from Dr. Funk to create the Only Funkin': two kinds of rum, lemon, hibiscus grenadine, lemon, violet tea syrup, and pastis de violette.

A Mountain of Crushed Ice serves up a tiki classic called Dr. Funk, a potent mix of rum, lime, lemon, soda, and absinthe.

"Pardon Messieurs, but champagne was a BRITISH invention, claims new research" ~ New claims suggest Christopher Merrett invented the process - and the bottle - for making champagne