The good people over at Combier Liqueur d’Orange have put together a clever (and super fun) shaking contest.  Developed with the idea that all bartenders have developed their own style of shaking your cocktails – some funny, some sexy, and some completely ridiculous, the Shakerfaces.com site brings you the best of the best.  You can tell a lot about a bartender by the way they shake.  The contest has only one week left, so be sure to check it out and vote for your favorite.

…with The Balvenie. In the Times of Big Whiskies it is Nice to Return to Some Balance:
by Chris from WhiskyWall

Let’s face it, there has been a movement towards big, over-the-top scotch whiskies lately.  Bruichladdich’s Octomore releases (versions 1.1, 2.1 and 2.2) boasting 140 parts per million of pure peat power bottled at a whopping 62.5%ABV – and if you’re not sure what all that means – trust me – its big, its hot and its peaty!  Not to be outdone by the much anticipated Ardbeg Supernova 2010, officially released on May 31^st, which also makes sure to point out that it is a big boy of peat – over 100 parts per million of peat bottled at 60.8%ABV. And its not easy to find as many retail shops are still pacing in circles like an expecting father, waiting for their allocation of the Supernova to arrive. Having had the pleasure of tasting both, I humbly label both as pure unadulterated excess.  While these monsters of scotch whisky are fun to take for a spin once in awhile, they’re not something that you can casually sit back and relax with. (more…)

More from Kevin over at SF City Dish…

1) World Cup Soccer Party/Buffet at Iluna Basque

In our last issue, we had artist Aaron Rutten create this Dionysus masterpiece for our article about Alcohol of the Gods… In his blog post here, he shows us exactly how he created the piece…  (we covered him up a bit for the print version)

More from SF CityDish….

1) SummerTini at The Galleria

by Kevin Blum, City Dish SF

1) Brazilian Night at Pisco Lounge

2) $20 Greek Food & Wine Every Wednesday at Mezes

Two of our favorite things…
We just gave away two tickets!
(Congrats to our winners of the contest)

A few days ago, we returned from an incredible 5 days of Cocktail classes, parties, conferences, and mayhem at the Manhattan Cocktail Classic.  The weekend started off with a bang – a giant, over the top gala in the New York Public Library.  There were dozens of live bands, hundreds of tables of fresh cocktails and entertainment from models to clowns to photo booths.  Each sponsored room had a different theme with matching cocktails… One of the many rooms upstairs held delicious punches and cocktails and the revelers walked around with caveman sized turkey legs and mingled with jesters and clowns.  Every alcohol was represented – from the small batch tequilas to the artisan gins and the big players.  The stork club downstairs (with Zacapa, Tanquerey, Bulleit bourbon, and Don Julio) blasted wonderful live music and it’s own large party.  The venue couldn’t have been better and the party was legendary. (more…)

Howdy, folks! Welcome back to Booze In The News, where you’ll find the latest, funniest and most obscure newsworthy, alcohol-related bits all in one place.

1.) A famous Burgundy winery was recently threatened with a poison extortion plot . Don’t worry, their wine and the people who work there were not poisoned. The victims of this plot? Two innocent grapevines. Luckily, the extortionist was caught, and the vines are expected to survive. Phew. (more…)