Dangerous Pairings: Durian and Alcohol

Researchers in Japan have found that pairing alcohol with durian could be toxic.

fat wash·ing

fat wash·ing (verb): A technique for flavoring spirits with ingredients that have a high fat content (e.g., bacon): the fat is rendered, mixed with the alcohol, and then removed after a period of freezing.

 A December 2007 article in Food & Wine magazine explained how bartender Eben Freeman uses fat washing to flavor spirits:

Similarly, a September 13, 2008 article in the Boston Globe described how fat washing may be used to make a bacon-flavored bourbon:

What Makes Gary Run

The New York Times profiles the highly caffeinated online wine critic Gary Vaynerchuk.

"Vaccine and Vino"

A Chicago doctor is pairing flu shots with a wine tasting in order to allay patent phobias about needles.

Some Beers Boast of Their Brett

Scorned by wine drinkers, the yeast known as Brett is actually preferred by some beer brewers.

Organic Wine is the Sh*t!

Antique dung is a key ingredient in the cultivation of organic wines.

In the Future, We'll Be Drinking Remote Controlled Rainwater

A finalist in the 2009 Electrolux Design Lab competition, the "Water Catcher" (by Penghao Shan of China's Zhejiang Sci-tech University) sends out flying tennis ball-size robots into your neighborhood to collect rainfall. Once full, the roving balls automatically return to a homing tray for filtration, whereupon they may then be summoned to you to fill your glass with water.

A video, below, demonstrates how the concept might work.

Wine on the Rocks

It may be gauche to some, but the Chicago Tribune finds that some wines benefit from an ice cube plunked into the glass.

FTC Takes on Bud Light College Sports Campaign

Anheuser-Busch InBev NV is coming under fire from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for a marketing campaign that features Bud Light cans decorated with college-team colors. The FTC is concerned that the campaign could encourage underage and binge drinking.

Coming Soon: Reality Winemaking

Coming this fall to PBS: "The Winemakers," a six-part reality series following a group of 12 contestants as they "undergo a series of grueling challenges devised by real world winemakers, as well as top chefs, sommeliers, restaurateurs and industry leaders." The winner of the competition will, according to the show's website, "win the chance to launch their own wine brand."