In The Spirit Archive

In the spirit of lining up your beverages of choice for the 4th of July celebration and keeping up with the new wave of #hashtags (See what I did there? LOL); we will talk about what everyone is drinking and what they are not drinking enough of this summer. First, I would like to mention […]

The highly anticipated, long-awaited time of year where the nights get longer and the drinks get colder is finally here and the perfect time to talk about the “house wine of the south”, Sweet Iced Tea!  Most will probably agree when I say sitting on the porch with a tall glass of sweet iced tea, […]

Finally, Spring has sprung and Summer is right around the corner!  Getting in the spirit can be a lot of fun this time of year and a lot easier to do.  Whether it be a Mother’s Day Mimosa or a Memorial Day Weekend ice-cold brew, there is always something refreshing and exciting to be had. […]

In the Spirit of celebrating the arrival of spring, Easter, and the Chocolate Festival, let’s play a game I’d like to call “What would the Bunny bring you to drink?” Yes, I know that the Easter Bunny is all about kids playing, egg hunting and coloring, and hopping around doing cartwheels on the grass! But […]

The Feast of St. Patrick or as it is commonly known now “St. Patrick’s Day” falls on March 17th every year and has more than a small reputation for being a day filled with drinking, debauchery, and more drinking. How exactly does a day dedicated to the memory of a canonized person, the “Apostle of […]

Go to any corner of the country and ask what the State Slogan for Virginia is and most everyone will respond correctly with “Virginia is for Lovers”.  Only a few stand out in my mind and during my youth, I lived all over the country.  The truth is, our neighbors to the east have a […]

Over the past few decades, the restaurant industry has received increased attention; an industry once thought of as a part-time gig for college students or people that are between jobs has blossomed into a (for the most part) well-respected career.  Chefs’ got the first bit of attention with The Food Network’s glorification of celebrity chefs […]

Here we are again, in the middle of the Holiday Season… The shopping has begun and with it the search for the perfect gift for our loved ones and for those who made Santa’s nice list. He is also getting busy planning his route during Christmas Eve. Now, tradition has it, that we will leave […]

The holidays are certainly upon us and this usually means that a lot of family time is coming as well.  When my own and my wife’s families get together for the holidays you can bet there is a fair amount of food and maybe just a little libation.  Without guilt (because all the calories are […]

It never fails, the Halloween decorations seem to make their appearance in stores earlier and earlier every year. This is an eminent sign that Fall is right around the corner. I love Autumn, and everything that goes along with it, especially the cooler weather inspired cocktails. Using seasonal ingredients, whether it be in cooking or […]