Mouthing Off

Courtesy of Beyond Kombucha

Bars and restaurants across the US are starting to serve alcoholic versions the trendy probiotic tea Kombucha. Read more>

 

Vinegar doesn't jump to mind as a cocktail mixer, but when the tangy, bracing tonic is macerated with fresh fruit, it becomes a bartender’s favorite. Buzzy chef Andy Ricker loves "drinking vinegars" so much that he makes and markets his own under the label Som >

Courtesy of 1022 South

For many, it’s not a margarita unless there’s salt on the rim and no shot of tequila is complete without a lick of it. Bartenders who appreciate the mouthwatering mineral are now using it in a variety of new cocktails that pop with flavor or benefit from a savory element. Read more >

Courtesy of The Ritz Carlton Naples Grill

Cocktails are never far from the grill in summer. But now, bartenders are closing the gap, grilling fruit to incorporate rich, caramelized flavors into their drinks.

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Courtesy of Aperol

America’s favorite day for grilling and fireworks is also one of F&W editors’ favorite days for drinking. Icy mint juleps and citrusy Txakoli wine are on their list of what to drink for the Fourth >

Courtesy of Ricky Gomez

After a full day of cocktail competition judged by star mixologists like Food & Wine contributing editor Jim Meehan, Portland, Oregon, bartender Ricky Gomez triumphed over 20 other skilled competitors in New York this week to win the title of Diageo World Class U.S. Ambassador. Here, Gomez shares what it takes to be a great American bartender and reveals the recipe for his winning drink >

 

Considered for years to be a déclassé mark of mass production, canned beer is gaining popularity with many craft brewers. Especially handy for summer, cans are not only easier to pack, stack and transport, but they also preserve beer better than bottles. Oskar Blues' Dale Katechis and Sixpoint's Shane Welch swear by canned beers >

Courtesy of The Optimist

With new styles of gin hitting the market, drinkers can no longer be separated into those who like it and those who don't. Defined simply as alcohol flavored with juniper and other botanicals, gin now comes from producers ranging from the makers of peaty Islay Scotch to American artisans with a taste for bracing overproof liquors. San Francisco's new Brasserie S&P boasts a list of 34 different gins >

© Wendell T. Webber / Mojito

Chilled rosés, crisp pilsners and refreshing cocktails are among F&W editors' top picks for outdoor parties over the long weekend >