Author Archives: Derek

Cocktail: Baijiu Sour

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Derek

As we ease into the holiday season, I wanted to share a cocktail recipe from the good people at Beijing’s Capital Spirits. This recipe is credited to owner Bill Isler and inspired by Fubar and 300 Shots friend Jim Boyce. It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Cocktails | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Panamanian Connection Pt 3: Judgment of Paris

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Derek

Those of you who have followed this blog since its inception are familiar with my particular interest (read: borderline neurotic fixation) in the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, which took place in San Francisco in 1915. According to Chinese distillers, it was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Historical oddity | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Capital Spirits: A Virtual Primer

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Derek

It is unusual to review for a bar that one has never visited, but I am so excited about Bill Isler and Simon Dang’s recently opened Capital Spirits, that I just can’t help myself. It is the world’s first full-service baijiu … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Baijiu in the Bayou

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Derek

Baijiu requires an open mind and patience to develop an appreciation for its more unique flavors. For those of us not raised in China, it is usually an acquired taste. Whether it takes three shots or three hundred, I cannot … Continue reading →

Posted in Baijiu abroad, News, Tastings | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Journey to Moutai with Punch

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Derek

In the early days of my baijiu research, I was lucky enough to receive an invitation to visit the Kweichow Moutai distillery in the remote hinterlands of western Guizhou. It was an incredible experience—crazy, drunken and unforgettable—but what really stuck with … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment