By Robbie Sipes, December 2008
The holidays don’t have to be the holly-daze. Even though plenty of folks are coming in and out of the house, sometimes unexpectedly, it doesn’t mean that it has to be stressful. These winter celebrations mean a busy time of year for so many people. It is a jam-packed month, filled with parties and events that bring the spirit of the season out in everyone, Bah Humbug! Well, if that’s your spirit too, then grab the Spirits! Having a few special libations will make any drop-by or planned get-together an event to remember, or forget. Read the rest of this entry »

By Daniel Eddy, November 2008
So, what is the deal? Why do wine and cheese go so well together? Isn’t all cheese the same? Which cheese goes with which wine?”
So many questions, and I’ve heard them all before. After 20 years of wining and cheesing professionally, it’s time to reconsider what brought me to this line of work: a basic love of cheese and wine that still works for me today. Read the rest of this entry »

By Robbie Sipes, October 2008
We are deep into football season and that means beer — lots and lots of beer. Tailgating is not very conducive to hard–core cocktail mixing. I also understand GPD isn’t terribly fond of the “car bar.”  Plus, if you’re watching the Gators win on TV, you might not want to leave the sofa long enough to properly chill a martini. So, a nice cold beer just seems more practical. Read the rest of this entry »

By Daniel Eddy, September 2008

Picture This:  I’m walking into a local grocery, past the plants outside, past the abundant fresh vegetables, past the meat section, and, WHAM, I see wines by the cheese. Continuing onward, I discover more and more racks of wine. Where am I?

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By Robbie Sipes, August 2008

Good Intentions Construction Company

Once again, I try hard to do the right thing, only to screw it all up in the end. I’ve had to restrict my Farmer’s Market trips this summer to only a few times a month. Even though our current work and class schedules don’t allow our family to share every meal, I can’t help buying every amazing piece of summer produce I see. 

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By Daniel Eddy, July 2008

Another summer of grotesque Florida heat, and here I am, a red wine lover and I’m already sweating jeroboams. What can we do beside stripping and imbibing directly in front of the air conditioning vent with our feet in a bucket of cold water? I know, nice image. 

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By Robbie Sipes, June 2008

It seems like every bartender is either making a Mojito or a Caipirinha nowadays. Customers ordering them watch with great interest as they pummel all heck out of sugar and mint or limes before adding the booze and completing the drink. The miniature baseball bat they are using is called a muddler. 

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By Daniel Eddy, May 2008

We call them “Score Whores” or in kinder terms: “Cherry Pickers” or “Parkerites” and “Tanzerites.” All are names for customers who shop by number, much to the chagrin of the 100-point scale originator, Robert M Parker Jr., since he really wanted people to read his voluminous texts, not just see the number and buy.

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By Robbie Sipes, April 2008 

The ‘greening’ of today’s marketplace has almost reached every corner; healthy and sustainable choices are everywhere. A rapidly expanding variety of organic spirits is also rising to the occasion. Read the rest of this entry »

by Robbie Sipes

“I wear black on the outside because black is how I feel on the inside.” -the Smiths

So, since St. Patrick’s Day has green beer, now Halloween has its own official libation, a black vodka called Blavod.

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