When Sylvester Graham first invented the slightly sweetened cracker, he intended it as a health food. In the early 1800s, the Presbyterian minister developed the cracker as part of his “Graham Diet” program. They were made from whole wheat graham flour with added bran and wheat germs. He believed his snack would curb sinful cravings. […]

#WorldChocolateDay | Not surprisingly, probably the best way to celebrate World Chocolate Day is a themed dessert-beverage pairing, like flourless chocolate cake with a Cigar Malt Scotch.

A dive bar is a disreputable bar or pub where local residents gather to drink and socialize. In an article in its August 2010 issue, Playboy magazine described a dive bar as “a church for down-and-outers and those who romanticize them, a rare place where high and low rub elbows—bums and poets, thieves and slumming […]

The piña colada is a sweet cocktail made with rum, cream of coconut or coconut milk, and pineapple juice, usually served either blended or shaken with ice. It may be garnished with either a pineapple wedge, maraschino cherry, or both. Flavors: the piña colada flavor can be found in many beverages outside the traditional cocktail. […]

Rainier Cherry Day recognizes the cherry variety named after Mount Rainier. In 1952, Harry Fogle of Washington State University developed the Rainier cherry by cross-breeding the Bing and Van cherry varieties. The sweet Rainier cherries have a thin skin and a thin creamy-yellow flesh. Flavors: cherry flavor is quite common in alcoholic beverages.

Rum is a liquor made by fermenting then distilling sugarcane molasses or sugarcane juice. The distillate, a clear liquid, is usually aged in oak barrels. Most rums are produced in Caribbean and American countries, but also in other sugar producing countries, such as the Philippines and India. Promotions: Rum has a wild history worth sharing […]

Mojito is a traditional Cuban highball. Traditionally, a mojito is a cocktail that consists of five ingredients: white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda water, and mint. Its combination of sweetness, citrus, and herbaceous mint flavors is intended to complement the rum, and has made the mojito a popular summer drink. Did you know: there are […]

A Michelada is a cerveza preparada made with beer, lime juice, assorted sauces, spices, tomato juice, and chile peppers. It is served in a chilled, salt-rimmed glass. There are numerous variations of this beverage throughout Mexico. Consider: if your tasting room serves food on-site and you have a license that allows for brunch service, thematic, […]

Grand Marnier is a French brand of liqueurs. The brand's best-known product is Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge, an orange-flavored liqueur created in 1880 by Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle. It is made from a blend of Cognac brandy, distilled essence of bitter orange, and sugar. Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge is 40% alcohol. Pairing: Grand Marnier has been the […]

Gummy worms are small, fruit gum candies, roughly 1-2 inches long and shaped in the form of a worm. Consider: your beer, wine or whiskey may pair perfectly with gummy flavors…perhaps a gummy worm pairing promotion as a surprise-and-delight for guests? Talked up on social with exaggerated/staged pairing photos? Could be fun…or not?

Bastille Day is the common name given in English-speaking countries to the national day of France. The French National Day is the anniversary of Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, a turning point of the French Revolution, as well as the Fête de la Fédération which celebrated the unity of the French people […]

Inspired by the country combination of rhubarb and strawberries in pies. Did you know: in July of 2010, Maple River Winery in historic downtown Casselton, North Dakota, proudly accepted the Double Gold Award at the Indy International Wine Competition for its Strawberry Rhubarb Wine. Consider: if you’re in a part of the country where this […]

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed July as National Ice Cream Month and established National Ice Cream Day as the third Sunday in July. A sweet treat: consider ice cream pairings with your beer, wine, whiskey or other fermentable.

Arnold (Arnoul) of Soissons or Arnold or Arnulf of Oudenburg is a saint of the Roman Catholic Church, the patron saint of hop-pickers and Belgian brewers. At the time of an epidemic, rather than stand by while the local people fell ill from drinking water, Arnold had them consume his monastery brews. Because of this, […]

Daiquiri is a family of cocktails whose main ingredients are Rum, citrus juice, and sugar or other sweetener. The daiquiri is one of the six basic drinks listed in David A. Embury's classic The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks, which also lists some variations. Did you know: you can use beer and wine in place […]

Belgian National Day is the national holiday of Belgium commemorated annually on 21 July. It is one of Belgium's ten public holidays and marks the anniversary of the investiture of King Leopold I, the country's first monarch, in 1831. If you serve: Belgian beers or even Belgian-inspired beers, consider drink specials or a thematic event […]

#VanillaIceCreamDay | Did you know: President Thomas Jefferson may have discovered vanilla flavor while visiting France? He even produced a handwritten copy of a vanilla ice cream recipe in 1780.

#NationalTequilaDay | Tequila is a distilled beverage made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila 65 km (40 mi) northwest of Guadalajara, and in the Jaliscan Highlands (Los Altos de Jalisco) of the central western Mexican state of Jalisco. Tequila can be between 35- and 55-percent alcohol content […]

A drive-through or drive-thru, is a type of take-out service provided by a business that allows customers to purchase products without leaving their cars. The format was pioneered in the United States in the 1930s by Jordan Martin, but has since spread to other countries. During Coronavirus: drive-thrus, curbside pickup and local delivery are essential. […]

#ParentsDay | Parents' Day is observed in South Korea (May 8) and in the United States (fourth Sunday of July). The United States day was created in 1994 under President Bill Clinton. June 1 has also been proclaimed as "Global Day of Parents" by the United Nations as a mark of appreciation for the commitment […]

12 classic wine and cheese pairings to consider: Pinot Noir and Gruyere, Aged Port and Blue Stilton, Champagne and Brie, Moscato d’Asti and Gorgonzola, Tempranillo and Idiazabel, Sauvignon Blanc and goat cheese, Cabernet Sauvignon and aged cheddar, Provence Rosé and Havarti, Riesling and Raclette, Chianti Classico and Pecorino Toscano, Vermentino and Fiore Sardo or Malbec […]

Scotch whisky is malt whisky or grain whisky (or a blend of the two), made in Scotland. Scotch whisky must be made in a manner specified by law. Did you know: The first known written mention of Scotch whisky is in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, 1494. Scotch whisky was known as aqua vitae, Latin […]

First observed in 2015 by Traveler Beer Company in Burlington, Vermont, Refreshment Day celebrates the hottest time of the year with cold refreshment (beer). Promotions: drink specials, enough said.

Historically, the name refers to the wine produced around the city of Shiraz in Persia/Iran. In the current era, "Shiraz" is an alternative name for the Syrah grape, mostly used in Australia and South Africa. The modern "Shiraz" grape is identical to Syrah and originated in southeast France with no established connection to the city […]

Lasagne are a type of wide, flat pasta, possibly one of the oldest types of pasta. Lasagne, or the singular lasagna, is also an Italian dish made of stacked layers of this flat pasta alternating with fillings such as ragù and other vegetables, cheese, and seasonings and spices such as garlic, oregano and basil. Pairing:

#FriendshipDay | Friendship Day is a day in several countries for celebrating friendship or worldwide in Esperanto: Internacia Tago de Amikeco. It was first proposed in 1958 in Paraguay as the "International Friendship Day". The exchange of Friendship Day gifts like flowers, cards and wrist bands is a popular tradition on this occasion. Feel good: […]