Loews Hotels & Co. on April 10 announced the debut of the Free Spirited by Loews Hotels program for guests who choose to imbibe less or not at all. The brand-wide offering of handcrafted low- and no-ABV beverage options will showcase on-site mixology talent using locally sourced ingredients and unique flavor combinations, the company says. Beverage selections will differ at each property, reflecting the availability of local suppliers, popular flavors in the region and the creativity of the mixologists. For example, guests at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort ..read more

This vodka-based sparkling cocktail boasts flavors of lemon and hibiscus. Print Pretty Little Thing Course Drinks Keyword hibiscus syrup, lemon, limoncello, sparkling wine, vodka Ingredients 1 oz. Tito’s vodka ¼ oz. Fresh lemon juice ¼ oz. House-made limoncello ¼ oz. Hibiscus syrup Top with Isaac Fernandez cava Instructions Shake vodka, lemon, limoncello and syrup together with ice. Strain and top with sparkling wine. Garnish with a nasturtium flower. Notes Miranda Densford, beverage director, Barn8 Restaurant & Bourbon Bar in Goshen, KY, created this recipe. The post ..read more

Casual-dining chain TGI Fridays announced today that it has agreed to be acquired by Hostmore, a U.K.-based hospitality business and also the brand’s largest global franchisee. The all-share acquisition, which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024, would create a combined entity with 189 corporate-owned restaurants in the U.S. and U.K., for a total of nearly 600 restaurants across 44 countries. Upon completion of the transaction, the new combined entity will be named TGI Fridays and listed on the London Stock Exchange as “TGIF.” Both U.S. and global operations of the brand will rem ..read more

As tequila sales , Flecha Azul Tequila has released its new Añejo Cristalino. Flecha Azul Tequila Añejo Cristalino is matured for 18 months — six months longer than the industry standard, the company says — in bourbon-season American oak barrels. This añejo cristalino has vanilla and dark chocolate notes, the company reports. The suggested retail price is $119.99 per 750-ml. bottle. The post Flecha Azul Tequila Añejo Cristalino appeared first on Cheers ..read more

As celebrity alcohol brands proliferate, Metallica has announced the 2024 release of their Blackened Rye the Lightning whiskey. The brand name is inspired by Metallica’s sophomore album, “Ride the Lightning.” This limited-edition expression follows the 2022 edition of Rye The Lightning. The 2024 bottling was created by Blackened master distiller and blender Rob Dietrich. It’s a blend of straight rye whiskeys, finished in Madeira wine and Caribbean rum casks for two to fourteen weeks each. Rye The Lightning is non-chill filtered and bottled at 92 proof. The result is notes of green apple, barn ..read more

Overholt, an American whiskey brand maintained continuously since 1810, has announced the release of A. Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey. This new offering uses the same mashbill that Overholt founder, Abraham Overholt, used in 1810: 80% rye grain and 20% soft malted barley. The goal is recreating a style of rye whiskey from the 1800’s. The Overholt brand now belongs to the The James B. Beam Distilling Co. “With over 200 years of exceptional craftmanship, Overholt is engrained in American history with its industrial roots and as a spirit that has set the industry standard since inception,” says F ..read more

Just as nature springs to life, it’s time to celebrate Earth Month in April and Earth Day on April 22. Several bars and restaurants have planet-positive promotions that give back to environmental causes. For instance, Riviera Dining Group in Miami partnered with One Tree Planted so that for every purchase of a specialty cocktail called The Awakening, the organization will plant one tree in a region around the world. STK Steakhouse, with 18 locations in the U.S., is offering a Martini named The Dirty Pearls for Earth Month and donating $1 from every Dirty Pearl Martini sold to the&nbs ..read more

Jocelyn Jolley is head bartender at Michael’s on Naples, an Italian restaurant in Long Beach, CA. What was your first job in the beverage or hospitality industry? One of my first jobs in the service industry was at a little brunch spot on the water called Schooner Or Later in Long Beach. It was a mom-and-pop local greasy spoon where I really cut my teeth in a super busy and bustling atmosphere. There was no choice but to sink or swim, and I quickly learned how to think fast on my feet. How did you learn bartending and improve when you were starting out? In the beginning, I sat at the well of e ..read more

In this episode we talk about natural wines with Steve Charters, Master of Wine and professor at the School of Wine & Spirits Business in Dijon, France. Steve shares his thoughts on the lack of a uniform definition of natural wines, why the style has become more significant in recent years and how it appeals to the new generations of wine drinkers. The post Podcast: The Natural Wine Trend appeared first on Cheers ..read more

Ole Smoky Distillery has announced the nationwide distribution of its Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Barrel-aged for four years and true to Tennessee production traditions, this whiskey expands Ole Smoky’s straight whiskey offerings. Flavors include hints of smoke, char and caramel, the distillery reports. “The American Whiskey category is continuing to grow, and as one of the fastest growing spirits companies in the country, Ole Smoky is excited to offer consumers a straight whiskey from a distillery they know and trust,” says Robert Hall, CEO. “We’re pleased to offer consumers, who may ..read more