Sipping With Smoth: A Fine Wine Tasting at Toronto’s Fine Wine Reserve
When I turned 19 (the legal drinking age in Ontario) I wanted to celebrate like any normal person: by doing my first legal wine tasting. Thankfully, close family friends presented me with this opportunity, by purchasing two tickets for a “global wine tasting” at the…
Sipping With Smoth: Cocktails at the Bangkok Mandarin Oriental Hotel
Backpacking through Southeast Asia hardly conjures images of 5 star hotels. But during my time in Bangkok with my girlfriend Christine, we decided to take a step outside the norm, and imbibe in a cocktail from one of the most famous and luxurious hotels in…
Crafting a New Beer Market in Southeast Asia
Consider this post a call to action. Are there brewers out there who don’t mind an adventure, a challenging new market, and endless opportunities? Then stay tuned. There were many beautiful things with which to indulge in Asia: the scenic beauty, the wonderful people, the…
Sipping It Slow and Keeping it Consensual
Alcohol can be a wonderful indulgence. Yet, like any intoxicant, there can be a darker side to imbibing. We all know that overconsumption can cause nausea, headaches, dizziness and other negative physical reactions, but perhaps the even more sinister side of alcohol lies with…
Sipping With Smoth: Veuve Clicquot and the Perfect Risotto
The new year has long been an excuse for me to spend too much money on a bottle of champagne, and this year was no exception. The only difference was, I intended to share it with my girlfriend Christine, who had the terrible misfortune of…
Sipping With Smoth: Unlocking the Case for Rubicon’s ‘Cask Cabernet’
As much as I’d like to pretend otherwise, I’m essentially a budget wine shopper. Mostly I peruse the Vintage section for interesting bottles in the $20-$30 range, and I’ve even been known to stoop so low as to mingle with non-vintage wines in the $10-$15…
Sipping With Smoth: Sangria Sessions and Cigar Bars in Montreal
Occasionally, you have some alcohol throughout your day. Other times, you have some day throughout your alcohol. Last summer, on a trip to Old Montreal with my close friend (and premier drinking buddy), we experienced a healthy dose of the latter scenario. The weather was…
Sipping With Smoth: The Alcoholic Din of Tactical Nuclear Penguin
I enjoy strong liquor. I enjoy beer. Yet, rarely do I get to combine these two indulgences in one beverage. One of these few occasions was when my room mate and I indulged in the outrageous, bombastic, extremely expensive and highly alcoholic Scottish concoction Tactical…
Crisp Summer Cocktails
The sun has finally reared its effulgent head, and with it comes the long awaited warmth. It’s finally time to soak in some rays and enjoy the naturally slower pace the summer brings. And what better accompanies a good tan and lounging in a lawn…
Sipping With Smoth: Conversations Over Comped Cognac
Years ago, when I was merely an untutored student in the subtleties of drinking, I went to pick up my buddy from work at a local restaurant in my hometown. Despite being only a dishwasher, my friend always raved about the food, the management and the owner…