I'm a big fan of Sauvignon Blanc, the crisp often lime notes that are associated with it - especially those from Marlborough region in New Zealand are my go-to drink on hot summer days. I'm also a big fan of innovation and I so I'm very impressed with what the folks at Loveblock vineyard created in the process of creating a truly "organic wine".

The first thing you might be thinking here is, "gin from Mexico?" I'll give you a moment to work through that moment of confusion you might be struggling with right now but then it's time to dive in to what may be the most exciting gin that I've tasted in years. Like most of you, I enjoy spirits that have soul, heritage, and the ability to immediately connect you with a favorite place and culture. With the two unique gins from Las Californias, that is exactly what you'll experience and that makes me happy.

Most people outside of San Diego know Cutwater Spirits as simply canned cocktails but unlike many other canned cocktail companies, their passion for premium spirits and creativity is manifested also by the awesome craft cocktails that they offer at their Tasting Room & Kitchen here in San Diego. We are happy to support any new concoction that they come up with but this one is special since it will also be supporting The Center SD, one of the nation's top LGBT community centers.

Above a certain level, premium spirits are about the feeling it provides the imbiber as much as it is the actual quality of the liquid. We're very fortunate right now to live in a time with plenty of options when it comes to high-quality agave spirits and it is always a pleasure to have the opportunity to try something new. I guess what impresses me the most is that while many of these distillers are "new" to the American market, the reality is that folks like Maestro Mezcalero Juan Antonio Coronel from Tres Tribus is actually part a legacy going back hundreds of years. 

Tequila tends to be a summer drink in the United States - it is synonymous with margaritas and doing shots on the beach or around a campfire. However, there is more to the spirit than just that. To help convince us, Tequila Avion sent us some great recipe ideas that will go well with your Thanksgiving celebrations this year.

I'm in love with the seasonal Mike's flavor - Glacier Berry, but I also love the classic Lemonade. It's a tough time to be a fan I guess, but regardless of how your taste buds guide you, one thing is for certain. Mike's are great to share with friends this holiday season. To help celebrate, I created a special cocktail to settle my dilemma and make something extra special for the holiday party I had this weekend [modify based on posting date].

Whether you are looking to impress your neighbors or to turn up your BBQ skills, no summertime soiree should be without cocktails. What’s is perfect about adding cocktails to the scene is you don’t need to be a mixologist in order to add some fun, excitement, and flavor to your drinks. All you need is a little guidance, creativity, liquor, and BBQ and you’ll be well on your way to hosting the perfect BBQ party.

Looking for a tasty treats to keep you warm and happy this winter? Here's some suggestions from our friends over at Guiness and Bulleit!

Last fall, we spent a week on Norwegian Cruise Line's Pride of America as we sailed around the islands of Hawaii. One of the things I always enjoy about NCL is that they do a great job with drinks. As I sailed around the islands I realized that what I once looked at as a classic - is anything but. While all mai tai cocktails have rum and tropical juices, it seemed that every bartender had their own interpretation. This includes of course, the awesome bar staff on board Pride of America. Here's their version of the classic Hawaiian Mai Tai...

One of my favorite parts of traveling is trying new cocktails, or even just relaxing with a new interpretation of a familiar favorite. That's one of the reasons that I absolutely love traveling with Norwegian Cruise Line. Simply put, their bar program is one of the best at sea and while others use gimmicks of flair bar tending and even robots to mix your drinks - Norwegian focuses on human talent and creative recipes. Now though, in addition to the fantastic and diverse menu of drinks available in different parts of the ship, they've introduced a new "Bespoke Cocktails" program exclusively for Haven guests. 

I love fun wines and the personality behind them, so I was excited to try MERF Wines Cabernet Sauvignon a few weeks ago. All too often I feel like wine is either stuffy and boring or kitchy product designed to draw you in with a label but ultimately lacking the quality product to make you want more. I've been a fan though of Columbia Valley wines from Washington State since they generally have a fantastic quality to them that is almost a part of the lifestyle. David "Merf" Merfeld's product continues this so we wanted to get to know him a bit more. Here's his thoughts on travel, food, and why he switched from brewing to winemaking.

Herbal tea can be a great way to relax and unwind after a long day. It's also known for its potential health benefits, making it an attractive option when you're looking for something warm to sip on. But does herbal tea expire? How long will it last on your shelf? This article explores the answers to these questions so you can confidently enjoy your favorite cup of tea.

Koloa Rum was one of the first brands that ever sent me product to feature on ManTripping and I've been a fan ever since. While I've enjoyed drinking their rum in Hawaii I didn't realize they had started expanding to the mainland till they contacted me the other day with this fun and funky Halloween-themed rum cocktail recipe, the Eyeball Daiquiri.

With cold weather and holiday season upon us, certain drinks such as "cream" spirits are back in stock and that warms my heart. While nobody that I know has managed to create an authentic packaged coquito, I am thrilled to see that Cutwater Spirits is continuing to innovate when it comes to rum cream. 

This is a fantastic time to be a fan of Mexican spirits! Just a few years ago, it seemed like people thought you were a wild man if you told them you enjoyed tequila... but now Mexican spirits are everywhere - mezcal, gin, sotol, raicilla, and bacanora too. In the pantheon of agave spirits, this one gets somewhat lost, but let's make this more than our little secret. While fundamentally bacanora is a mezcal, it falls outside of the geographic region aka Denomination of Origin to be legally referred to as mezcal. Regardless of politics, we're thrilled to share some info about this hidden gem that all agave fans need to check out!

California wine is respected around the world and has been leading the way in proving to the rest of the winemaking world that California has earned its spot next to the other leading wine regions. To some, this is a race to "We're Number One!" or "Napa is better than..." but the reality is that "California Wine" can be found throughout virtually every part of the state and has evolved from chasing popular vintages to innovating and creating a new generation of wine lovers that are willing to explore and try new things. I'm part of that group and as you can tell, I'm intensely passionate about wine even though I started out rejecting the coventional notion of what "wine" represented when I was younger. I know many of you share this view, so let's take a look at what makes California wine great and how individual parts of the state help make that happen.

At first thought, the idea of taking your buddies to France for a wine trip doesn't seem like the most masculine endeavor but it's quite frankly something that I'm dreaming of doing one day. This is especially true of the Rhone Valley region in southeastern France. This region runs from Lyon to Avignon and is composed of several different viticultural areas and is known for some of the world's finest wines. However, it is also full of history ranging from Roman centurions to Medieval castles, as well as a modern food scene that is one of the best in Europe.

How many of you guys are familiar with, Lambanog? Probably not many unless you have traveled to the Philippines or have some Filipino friends, but that's about to change. I'm extremely passionate about the history of alcoholic spirits and especially when it connects parts of the world in new ways. Now some of you may be wondering why Lambanog is something that I am so eager to share with you... after all .. for many folks this is simply known as "Filipino Vodka" but without the distillation heritage of pre-colonial Philippines, Tequila may never have become what we know and love today. So let's raise our glasses to our seafaring Filipino friends... Mabuhay!

You probably already know that California produces some of the world's best wines. The Wine Institute sent over some facts about California wine that you might not already know though. 

I first enjoyed Murphy Goode a few months ago at a steakhouse in San Diego and was curious to learn more. The wine I had, 2015 Red Blend, paired well well the steak and I appreciated the simple confidence of the bottle and label design. It brings back a feeling that this is ultimately wine made to be enjoyed and not a pretentious expression of wealth and sophistication. The product speaks for itself and since then I've enjoyed several different bottles and appreciate that they are able to deliver an excellent product at a variety of price points from $15 to $45 so you don't have to worry about "picking the wrong one".