Moonshine in L.A.? Sounds like an episode of The Beverly Hillbillies, but according to the Los Angeles Times, modern moonshine is making inroads into the chic bars of the beautiful people. The clear whiskey is showing up as the latest ingredient du jour for the city's most innovative bartenders.

But this isn't your great-grandpa's moonshine, so called because of its illegal nature. Today's moonshine — also called white dog — is whiskey that has not yet been aged in barrels, creating its distinct color and flavor. Moonshine showcases the raw materials of the whiskey rather than the wood it's aged in.

Original Moonshine, made by Stillhouse distillery in Culpepper, Va., uses the recipe that the distiller's grandfather used to make the illegal stuff in the '30s, with similar equipment.

It may be the most ubiquitous brand of moonshine on the market, but it certainly isn't the only one.Continue reading...

Musical Director: Peter Cenedella

Absolut-ly Fabulous

Art and alcohol go way back together, like old drinking buddies – from Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Vincent van Gogh sipping absinthe to Frida Kahlo doing tequila shots with hubby and muralist Diego Rivera. Now Swedish vodka brand Absolut is releasing its Absolut Art Collection – previewed in this trailer. The impressive roster includes Andy Warhol, Helmut Newton, Damien Hirst and others. Instead of finding inspiration by swigging the stuff (although we certainly aren’t ruling that out), these artists were inspired by Absolut as an entity. The collection of more than 800 pieces has been gathered together in Sweden for the first time and will go on display as a permanent exhibit at the Museum of Wine and Spirits when it moves into new digs in Stockholm next year. The Absolut collection will be on display starting late 2011 or early 2012.

No word on whether drinks will be served at the exhibit, but we would love to see a bar featuring cocktails based on art based on a vodka brand.Continue reading...