Drinkhacker reviews Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Anejo Tequila 2008 Edition, which features a box designed by abstract artist Fernanda Brunet.

The Liquid Muse demonstrates the Tokyo Rose, the first drink in Pinky Vodka's Cocktail of the Month series.

Rounding up five dark beers, Rick Lyke explains the appeal: "The touch of extra flavor from the roasted barley goes perfectly with robust foods and fall traditions."

Washing myself to SMELL like a cocktail? ~ new Zirh Cocktail Bars ~ also in Hurricane, Cucumber Martini, Long Island Iced Tea, Sake Bomb, and Screwdriver!

Tipsy Texan confesses: "I think I have been through more Galliano this month than most establishments go through in a decade."

Slashfood on the dilemma of affordable Scotch: "By the time you get up into the blends that don't taste like paint thinner, you're probably paying more than you would for a decent single malt."

Continuing his Savoy Cocktail Book project, Erik of Underhill Lounge encounters the Grenadier: "It’s got a little heat from the ginger extract and is a pleasant enough use of brandy."

Post Road Pumpkin Ale, the beer that Grub Report's been pining after for five years.

NY Times samples 25 bottles of Pouilly-Fuissé. They found "a wine that has gone from being perceived as a joke to a delicious wine that speaks of its terroir and does the region proud."

Five coffee drinks with the holiday spirit(s) from The Intoxicologist, from the simple Baileys Coffee to the decadent Coffee Nudge.

Party Like It's 1933: The Ladies of LUPEC tell you where to celebrate Repeal Day in Chicago.

This milk glass nightlight glows softly when upright and turns off when tilted or turned upside down.

Bevlog explains the mystique of 'wet hop' beers, which use fresh-picked, green blossoms to impart aromatics of pine and citrus.

Alcademics tells us that barrels for Chinaco are used for bourbon, then for Scotch whisky before they're shipped to Mexico for use in tequila.

Swedish Neumeister has redesigned Snälleröds glögg. The new label design reminds me of a single cask label (whiskey) with a Christmas twist.

NOTCOT Holiday Giveaway 9: Design Public is giving away : 1 pair of Cake Octopi Cups, Harry Allen Rabbit’s Foot Keychain, and Harry Allen Bulb Candles!

Pssst ~ did you see we launched the NOTContests page? Up in the navbar? It's a new space to keep track of anything you can WIN! =)

Magic Hat's Feast of Fools, proof that "winter beers don't have to be one-dimensional", according to Slashfood's Mike Pomranz.

The Amendment 21 cocktail from Intoxicologist features vodka, Madeira, Scotch, and honey.

Mulled Wine, with cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and raisins.

Cabo Wabo founder Sammy Hagar discusses the finer points of tequila -- including a clarification on the salt & lime ritual -- with the folks at Drinksville.

A review of nine different expressions of Ben Raich scotch -- a Speyside house that produces 18 regular bottlings, plus dozens of special, limited releases -- from Drinkhacker.

10 holiday drinks from Food & Wine, including Apple Hot Toddies, Champagne Mojitos, Blood Orange Margaritas, and Rosemary Gin Fizzes.

A Century of Tawny Ports from House of Sandeman features 10-, 20-, 30-, and 40-year-old bottles in a wood presentation case for $349.

Made for use with 5-liter mini-kegs, the BeerTender ($249) is a great way to serve up a tall frosty glass of your favorite draft beer.

Decent brew on the cheap? Table Matters is here to help, with a roundup of 8 beers you might not have thought about since leaving the dorms.

NY Times spotlights Calvados -- France's famed twice-distilled, aged apple brandy -- with a recipe for the Normandy cocktail.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters holds a series of “Meet the Producers” events in Portland and Seattle, says Civil Eats.

Bostonist rehashes the Harvard-Yale football rivalry with classic cocktails named after each school.

Off the Presses follows tiki guru Jeff "Beachbum" Berry to the Big Apple to "turn the tide in favor of rum, pineapple juice, and tiny umbrellas".

The latest seasonal cocktail from Jamie Boudreau, the Starry Night blends Chardonnay, pear eau de vie, and maraschino liqueur, topped with a festive star anise garnish.

Drinkhacker reviews Crown Royal Cask No. 16 and XR Whiskys, rarer and more expensive blends than the brand's usual offerings.

Washington Post encourages us to think of cider as a complex beverage -- or cocktail ingredient -- rather than a simple beer substitute.

Carlsberg 900 Limited edition. Only 200 were produced.

So adorable we forgive them for jumping ahead to Christmas before Thanksgiving happens: Ornament-shaped Coke minis on Serious Eats.

For a perfect Thanksgiving aperitif, Amazon al Dente recommends the Autumn Apple Cocktail from Scott Beattie's book Artisanal Cocktails.

Hitachino's White Ale surprises you with a sweet ending thanks to a little orange peel and nutmeg. And who can resist their too cute owl logo?

Off the Presses takes a look at the intermission phenomenon known as Theatre Cocktails.

Slashfood talks green beer -- by which they mean eco-conscious and/or organic, not St. Paddy's Day.

AMC's Kevin Maher serves SciFi-inspired cocktails -- like the Soylent Green -- to mixologist St. John Frizell. His reaction? "I'd rather drink people."

Stash Tea's lovely new Fall Harvest gift basket makes an inspired hostess gift.

Kevin at Seriously Good evokes an early holiday memory: The sound of metal beaters against the metal bowl as his father mixed the eggs, whiskey, and sugar for traditional eggnog.

Kate of Accidental Hedonist samples Fentimans, a premixed shandy (beer + lemonade). She finds "a decent foundation of true beer taste on the finish".

St-Germain isn't the only elderflower liqueur; there's a German option -- Pur Likor Blossom -- as Bevlog discovers.