Guides

A bright, herbal, absinthe-laced tequila cocktail. Here's the recipe and why it works.

You've had the basics. Now it's time for more proof, more character, and bottles that reward paying attention.

Your first bottle shouldn't cost a fortune or burn your throat. These are the ones I'd hand a friend starting out.

Hundreds of bottles, one wall of confusion. Here's the simple framework for choosing bourbon without getting ripped off.

Skip the celebrity bottles. Here's the checklist I use before buying any tequila, from blanco to extra añejo.

Tequila is the only spirit with a protected region and a strict production code. Here's how to tell the real stuff from the sugar-water bottles.

Bourbon isn't just whiskey from Kentucky. Here's what the law actually requires, what makes it taste the way it does, and why the mash bill matters.