In my research on the Paloma I have come across many variations on the drink, so I thought Id link to them here. Typically the Paloma is made with tequila (always use 100% agave!), grapefruit soda such as Squirt or Jarritos, a squeeze of a lime wedge and a pinch of salt. Esquires standard recipe is here. A version using fresh grapefruit and soda water is here. Here are some Paloma variations from around the internet. Blood Orange and Thyme Paloma by Airda Molenkamp [recipe] Nuestra Paloma by Thad Vogler of Beretta, SF. It contains St. Germain, bitters, Cointreau, and grapefruit juice. [recipe] The Charred Grapefruit Paloma by Warren Bobrow [recipe] Paloma, Mi Amante by Paul Clarke - A Paloma using strawberry-infused tequila. [recipe] Paloma Variation - A Paloma using IPA beer, plus tequila, grapefruit cordial, and lime. [mentioned here; no recipe] Palomita - A Paloma without tequila; just using Coinreau, lime, and grapefruit. [recipe] Green Palomarita - Mezcal, lime, grapefruit, Chartreuse [recipe] Dove & Daisy - Tequila, lime, Aperol, orange liqueur, salt, soda water. [recipe] La Paloma - Grapefruit liqueur, tequila, grapefruit juice, lime, soda. [recipe] Cantarito - A Paloma variation using lemon, lime, and orange juices in place... [Visit Alcademics.com for the full post.]

One of Alcademics readers figured out a simple way to make perfectly clear ice balls by using a silicon ice ball mold, a piece of wire, and a pot of water. His name is Craig Belon and so he calls it the Belon Method. No actual parrots are required. Artwork by Craig Belon, as are all photos in this post except the next one. The method is this: 1. Get yourself a silicone ice ball tray like this one that comes in a pack of six. 2. Over a pot of water (or better yet, a cooler as that will produce lots of clear ice) make a wire loop that the ice ball mold will sit on. 3. Fill the pot with water just up to the wire. Also fill ice ball with water. Feel free to fill the ice ball with distilled or filtered water for better taste. Dunk the filled ice ball mold into the pot of water with the hole FACING DOWN. As you pull the mold up out of the water to set it on the wire. The water should stay inside the ice mold rather than running down into the pot. Thats the whole trick.... [Visit Alcademics.com for the full post.]

Here are some new spirits launching. The text is taken from these brands press releases. Tapatio 110-Proof Blanco Tequila (May 2013) Carlos Camarena, the iconic distiller of Mexico’s 75-year-old Tequila Tapatio brand has launched a 110-proof Tequila. Tapatio 110-Proof Blanco (55% alc. by vol.) was distilled at Alteña Distillery from 100% estate-grown blue agaves in the Arandas Highlands of Mexico. Under Master Distiller Carlos’ Camerena, the agaves were hand-selected for ripeness and slow-baked for four days. After being crushed, the agave ‘Mosto’ was fermented in small wooden fermenters using their proprietary 75 year-old yeast culture. The ‘Mosto Muerte’ was then double-distilled in small (90-250 gallon) Alambiques Tequilano copper pot stills and aged lightly in stainless. Suggested retail for Tapatio 110-Proof Blanco is $48 (1 Liter). It is available in CA, WA, OR, TX, NY, NJ, CT, FL and MO. Ron Barceló Imperial Premium Blend 30 Aniversario Ron Barceló Celebrates 30 Years Since the Introduction of Ron Barceló Imperial with a Limited-Edition Release of Ron Barceló Imperial Premium Blend 30 Aniversario. Each year since Miguel Barceló first created Ron Barceló Imperial in 1980, private reserves of this prestigious ten-year-old blended rum were set aside for two years of additional aging. Aged... [Visit Alcademics.com for the full post.]

One day science says drinking will make you live forever. The next day science says it will kill you tomorrow. Good Booze, Bad Booze is an Alcademics category where I put all these stories together. 5/14/13: Scientists reveal drinking champagne could improve memory [link] From the University of Reading: "New research shows that drinking one to three glasses of champagne a week may counteract the memory loss associated with ageing, and could help delay the onset of degenerative brain disorders, such as dementia." Previous Good Booze, Bad Booze 4/07/13: Self-medication drinking may lead to alcohol dependence [link] 4/06/13: Binge drinking in your 20s can trigger heart disease, as being young has no protective effect against alcohol [link] 04/106/13: Three glasses of fizz a day could improve your memory [link] 3/19/13: College enrollment does not lead to problem drinking in adulthood [link] 3/09/13: Heavy drinkers get extra brain fuel from alcohol [link] 2/15/13: Alcohol said to have big role in cancer [link] 1/29/13: Local bottle shops linked to mental health [link] 1/23/13: Alcohol and a Good Nights Sleep Dont Mix [link] 1/09/13: Resolved to give up alcohol for January? It could do you more harm than good [link] 12/31/12: Settling down... [Visit Alcademics.com for the full post.]