Encore Saloon features artisanal mezcal and tequila
After covering Honolulu’s bar and nightlife scene for more than a decade, I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Chinatown. Read more
After covering Honolulu’s bar and nightlife scene for more than a decade, I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Chinatown. Read more
I couldn’t have been the only person to get more than a little anxious at the news earlier this year that Buzz’s Original Steakhouse had plans to renovate the interior of its Lanikairestaurant. Read more
It’s the calm before the storm in Haleiwa as local residents and area businesses enjoy a few more weeks of light crowds and smooth sailing along Kamehameha Highway before the start of the winter surf season. Read more
I used to have a hard time getting into wine because I’d approach it the same way I do whiskey — in order to fully evaluate something new to me, I’d have to purchase an entire bottle of the stuff. Read more
After nearly 15 years as an anchor tenant at Ward Village, Dave & Buster’s is one of those places that’s become easy to overlook when deciding where to go for a few drinks. For many, the thinking is that unless you’re planning to watch a game (or play a few arcade games), there’s no reason to be there. Read more
Recent updates to Ala Moana Center and the International Market Place mean there are now more places to shop — and grab a drink — in Honolulu. Read more
The growing popularity of craft beer isn’t limited to the United States or Europe. According to Chris Santella, author of “Fifty Places to Drink Beer Before You Die,” the rise of the internet and increased global tourism have allowed beer fans to keep up with trends in other parts of the world. Read more
Cognac drinkers in the United States can thank the Chinese for lower retail prices over the last few years. Read more
As more novice drinkers discover craft beer, brewers are turning to trendy ingredients that appeal to a wider demographic. Flavors like pineapple, grapefruit, lilikoi and watermelon are finding their way into beers made all over the United States. Read more
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I always get a kick out of people who want to know what my favorite drink is. “Are you a beer guy or a spirits guy?” they’ll ask. “Or do you like wine better?” Read more
Now in its eighth year, the Don the Beachcomber Mai Tai Festival at the Royal Kona Resort on Hawaii island has evolved into a showcase of what talented mixologists can create when given time to elevate a classic cocktail recipe. Read more
There’s no entrance music, smoke machine or pyrotechnics, but Bill Carl and Adam La Cagnina provide enough good-natured, over-the-top trash talk during their Beer vs. Wine pairing dinners to draw comparisons to pro wrestling greats like Randy “Macho Man” Savage, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin or Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Read more
It’s taken Hawaii a few years to catch up with the rest of the United States, but we finally have a decent variety of hard cider available in stores. Read more
The most memorable experiences in life always come with a great story. It’s not always about the activity being undertaken, but rather the circumstances or the people who were there that make it special. Read more
Whiskey collecting can be a fun hobby, but if you’re not careful it can get expensive really quick. Read more
An exclusive group of Hawaii sake aficionados were in attendance at the Honolulu Design Center last week for a preview of this year’s Joy of Sake, which takes place July 22 in Honolulu, followed by stops in New York in September and Tokyo in November. Read more
Everyone knows you can pair cocktails with food. Some have tried to mix drinks and fashion. But cocktails and furniture? Read more
It’s turning out to be quite an exciting year for Maui Brewing Co. CEO Garrett Marrero. As his company moves toward its 12th anniversary in January, Marrero has overseen a brewery expansion to produce about 45,000 barrels of craft beer in 2016 and continues to build upon a distribution deal he inked with California-based Stone Brewing to create Maui Stone Craft Beverages nearly two years ago. Read more
Billed as the “largest craft beer celebration” in the United States, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s Beer Camp Across America returns in 2016 with help from more than 30 top breweries, including one from Hawaii. Read more
Haleiwa Beach House’s second-floor bar and lounge area offers unobstructed views of Waialua Bay and Loko Ea fishpond. Read more
One of the things I love about the distilled-spirits scene is how easy it is to fall down the rabbit hole, so to speak, chasing after your new favorite liquor. Read more