A late entry to Mixology Monday, the Improved Tom features Hayman's Old Tom gin, a slightly sweet style that's making a comeback in cocktail circles.

A Mountain of Crushed Ice features the Aperol Rossa with rum, pink grapefruit juice, and a vanilla bean garnish.

European brand Forgotton Flavours will be sampling their Swedish Punch and Falernum at the Bar Convent Berlin show next week.

Erin and J hang on to the last bits of summer by making and bottling their own vin d'orange, a traditional French aperitif.

Shoes & Cocktails heads to DC's Central and samples a Blackberry Bourbon Cobbler, Ginger Daiquiri, La Fee Verte, and the winner of the night, the Black Pepper Gin Rickey.

Jon Santer, one of the many top mixologists lured from their bar shifts to take jobs as 'brand ambassadors' and spirits consultants. Is this trend bad for drinkers?

The folks at The Kitchn want to know: What Fall Beers Do You Love?

How to open a bottle of wine without a corkscrew? Wired shows you one way. (Hmm, maybe that corkscrew's not such a bad investment....)

Chuck Taggart finds a cool old cocktail menu on eBay: "Meet Mr. Gin" from the New Carlton Hotel in Montreal. It offers 70 gin drinks from the Abbey to the White Lady, plus a history lesson.

The Dunlop, a combination of sherry, rum, and bitters from Underhill Lounge's complete Savoy Cocktail Book adventures.

Drinkhacker reviews Xellent Vodka, a Swiss product distilled from rye. Unlike the usual flavorless vodkas, this has a strong lemon scent and flavor.

Cocktail Culture spotlights a new site called The Purveyor, highlighting the recipe database with gems like this One-Minute Mai Tai.

A Mountain of Crushed Ice makes homemade hibiscus grenadine for her Amore cocktail.

Slashfood rounds up their favorite beer blogs, from chummy Brewvana to the geeky Zythophile and all points in between.

Light on the sugar and infused with distinctive flavors, dry sodas can the place of wine and other classic aperitifs.

Yes, they really are selling New York City tap water. For $1.50 a bottle. (And no, it's not a joke.)

Ron Zacapa, a rich tipple hailing from Guatemala's mountainous region that's aged at 8,000 feet above sea level.

Everyone's favorite illustrator/drink-blogger, Dr. Bamboo whips up a refreshing Mississippi Punch for Mixology Monday.

David Gadd shares his six favorite Belgian (and Belgian-inspired American) beers.

Design*Sponge profiles Fresher than Fresh, a gourmet snow-cone stand housed in an adorably retro Shasta trailer.

Don Lee -- of New York City's underground bar PDT -- takes home the gold at the Averna Cocktail Competition... despite fracturing his wrist a day before flying to Italy to compete!

The Chronicle wanders over to the Westin St. Francis's new Clock Bar, home of drinks -- like this Sidecar -- from bar-star Marco Dionysos.

Bon Appetit rounds up the country's 10 best wine bars, where first-rate food and a welcome vibe make tasting more fun.

Style.com offers a quirky list of the World's Best Beers, with categories like "Best Beer Country" and "Best Beer in a Can".

7x7's Jordan Mackay notices a San Francisco trend: "Every decent bar in town features at least one ginger cocktail".

Ocho vintage tequila uses agave plants sourced from single estates. (via Luxist)

Cocktail bloggers, readers, and authors visit the Mixoloseum Chat Room to mix new drinks, discuss crazy concoctions, and stay up way too late.

The Mary Pickford, an early example of the power of celebrity in the spirits industry. Jason Wilson explores how we got from here to Mansinthe, Trump Vodka, and Crunk Juice.

Camper English ponders the bottle-height race and its impact on home bar storage.

The Kitchn's go-to recipe for spiced cider, a sure sign of autumn. Cinnamon, anise, cloves, and a glug of dark rum sound divine.

The Liquid Muse pays a visit to Chicago's oh-so-swanky Violet Hour.

Distillers recently released 151 bottles from a rare single 1964 cask of The Balvenie scotch. Priced at $14,200 a bottle, they'll be sold exclusively at Hong Kong International Airport.

Two new candidates for your consideration from Zodiac Vodka: The McCain Martini and the Obamatini.

Simple Kitchen makes sodas with sparkling water, a splash of organic juices, and a touch of organic honey. Flavors include Lemon + Mint, Pink Grapefruit, and White Grape.

Hobson's Choice sips a vibrant pink Cactus Pear Margarita, one of the best sellers at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill.

Jacob Grier realizes he's been making the venerable Martinez the wrong way, just in time for Mixology Monday to set him straight.

Tipsy Texan offers the East India Cocktail as his 19th century MxMo entry: Brandy blends with a riot of fruit flavors.

The Kitchn names the the 2006 Santa Rita 120 Cabernet Sauvignon as a 'best cheap wine'. How cheap? Under $10.

Krista at londondelicious wonders if you can guess what this traditional Scottish beverage called Blaand is fermented from. Got clues?

The NY Times laments that Aglianico wines seem to pass unnoticed, a shame because they have so much pleasure to offer.

Paul Clarke of Cocktail Chronicles describes the Frappé à la Guillaume: "deeply elegant, floral and ... baroque, with the crisp edge of anise brushed into a rich lushness from the vermouth".

The Horse's Neck makes a refreshing cooler. It's simply ginger ale with a long lemon twist... and perhaps a shot of your favorite liquid courage.

The Cognac-based Alabazam uses an entire teaspoon of Angostura bitters. But cocktail guru Jamie Boudreau testifies that "tempered with the sugar and Cointreau, it really works."

Lyke to Drink samples a half-dozen pumpkin ales.