Drink of the Week: Evan Williams Single Barrel 2000 Vintage Bourbon

Every year, master distillers Parker and Craig Beam—the father/son team behind Evan Williams’s bourbons—walk the rows between aging barrels of bourbon and draw samples along the way, tasting each to determine which one will be singled out for that year’s special bottling. This annual release showcases new flavors and nuance with each vintage and barrel, and the 2000 Vintage offers up sweet aromas of dried fruits and caramel that open into creamy vanilla flavors and loads of barrel character and spice, finishing with a kiss of maple syrup. This potent whiskey is being released nationally this month with a suggested retail of $26. Sip it straight on a cold winter evening, or use it to dress up your next Old Fashioned.

Wine Country Thanksgiving

For the 27th year, wineries throughout Oregon's Willamette Valley will be opening their doors over Thanksgiving weekend for special tastings and holiday festivities. This is such a great way to experience Oregon's wine country, especially if you're visiting the area or have friends and family in town for the holiday weekend. More than 160 wineries and tasting rooms will be participating, some of which aren't otherwise open to the public. Click here for more info on participating wineries and other details.

New Web Poll: Cast Your Vote!

Between the cold weather and cold/flu season, hot toddy time is in full gear, which got us thinking about all of the delicious possibilities toddies offer, from what spirit you use to whether you prefer tea or water or honey or agave syrup. So we're wondering what your favorite spirit is to use in a hot toddy. Our latest online poll asks this question, and so far, bourbon is in the lead. Cast a vote for your favorite here!

The DRAMBUIE Den Heads to Austin!

Texas is the final stop on the tour for the 2009 DRAMBUIE® Den Bartender Showcase, and we’re very excited to see the bartending talent in the Lone Star state. Mark your calendars, because the next DRAMBUIE® Den competition and party takes place November 16 and 17 in the great city of Austin. Talented bartenders from across Austin will vie for a chance to compete in a national DRAMBUIE competition for the grand prize of a trip to the 2010 Tales of the Cocktail festival in July. The DRAMBUIE Den competitions and parties are always a fun chance to watch bartenders strut their stuff, while you sample their delicious cocktails and even participate by voting for your favorites. Each cocktail will also be evaluated by a panel of industry judges looking at presentation, flavor and creativity.

So if you're in the Austin area on November 16 and 17, be sure to RSVP and join the pursuit to find some of America’s most exciting undiscovered bartenders. Click here to RSVP for this event (space is limited, so be sure to RSVP before tickets are gone). Entry is free, but you must be 21 years or older to attend. And to learn more about DRAMBUIE cocktails and events, visit PursuitOf1745.com

We hope to see you there!

Drink of the Week: La Fin du Monde

Its name may translate to “the end of the world,” but there’s nothing apocalyptic about La Fin du Monde. Produced by Quebec-based Unibroue, this strong ale is hugely aromatic with notes of dried apricots, cloves and a hint of Belgian yeast. Champagne-like bubbles liven up the creamy mouthfeel, and rich, sweetened flavors of stone fruits and spice play into the lingering finish. Fermented three times and bottle-conditioned to boot, La Fin du Monde will continue to evolve over time in a cellar. Nuanced, approachable and super food-friendly, it makes a great match for roasted chicken, hard cheeses and even desserts, like the banana cake we enjoyed it with recently at the Imbibe office. $8, wallywine.com

November’s Where to Drink Now: One Flew South

Travel can be a pain, especially when you find yourself stuck with a long layover and looking for a place to grab a good cocktail, beer or glass of wine. Tall order, right? Usually, which makes One Flew South in terminal E of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport such a gem. With Kold-Draft ice, fresh-squeezed juices, housemade syrups, obscure spirits, top-tier craft beers, coffee from Counter Culture and tea from serendipiTea, this is definitely not your average airport bar. Cocktails include recipes like the Ruby Slipper (pictured) combining organic vodka, ruby grapefruit juice, rosemary syrup and soda water, while food offerings include sushi, hand-rolled on the spot as well as tasty takes on Southern cuisine and plenty of bites packaged up and ready to take on board our next flight. So with the holiday travel season quickly approaching, this time you can actually look forward to a layover, as long as you’re flying south.
oneflewsouthatl.com

Calling Portland Cocktailians!

The 2009 DRAMBUIE® Den Bartender Showcase is heading to the Pacific Northwest, with the latest competition and party set to take place November 9 and 10 in Portland, Oregon. Once again, talented bartenders from across the city will go head to head to craft a winning DRAMBUIE cocktail, and the winner will go on to compete in a national competition for the grand prize of a trip to the 2010 Tales of the Cocktail festival.

The DRAMBUIE Den competitions and parties are always a great time and a fun opportunity to sample competing bartenders' delicious cocktails and even vote for your favorites. Each cocktail will also be evaluated by a panel of industry judges considering presentation, flavor and creativity. Imbibe will be on hand to help judge, and we can’t wait to see who comes out on top.

So if you're in the Portland area on November 9 and 10, be sure to RSVP and join the pursuit to find some of America’s most exciting undiscovered bartenders. Click here to RSVP for this event (space is limited, so be sure to RSVP before tickets are gone) and to see a list of other upcoming dates, cities and locations. Entry is free, but you must be 21 years or older to attend. And to learn more about DRAMBUIE cocktails and events, visit PursuitOf1745.com

We hope to see you there!