Sloes are tiny berries that grow wild in hedgerows around England. Unpleasantly astringent on their own, they are popular in sweetened jams and preserves, and they develop a rich, tart flavor when infused in gin. Naturally, enterprising distillers have been incorporating them into liquor since the 17th century. The spirit takes on the essence and bright color of the berries, and then sugar is typically added to counter the fruit’s tartness. What’s left is not technically gin, but actually a gin-based liqueur. A sloe gin fizz is refreshing and delightfully balances sweet against tart. It begins with Sloe Gin then we add fresh lemon, a little sugar and club soda.

For 1 Drink You Will Need

• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) sloe gin
• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) gin
• 1 to 1 1/2 ounce (2 to 3 tablespoons) fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon simple syrup or 1 to 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 ounces (1/4 cup) club soda
• Lemon slice for serving
• Ice

DIRECTIONS

Add sloe gin, regular gin, 1/2 ounce of lemon juice and simple syrup (or sugar) to a cocktail shaker filled half way with ice. Shake vigorously until chilled. Taste then adjust with additional lemon or simple syrup/sugar. Shake. Strain cocktail into a glass filled with ice then top with club soda and garnish with lemon wedge.

Mulled wine, also known as spiced wine, is an alcoholic drink usually made with red wine, along with various mulling spices and sometimes raisins, served hot or warm. It is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas. It is usually served at Christmas markets in Europe, primarily in Germany. There are non-alcoholic versions of it. Vodka-spiked mulled wine can be found in Polish Christmas markets, where mulled wine is commonly used as a mixer.

Best when served hot or warm, this traditional winter drink is the warming beverage we love to cozy up to in the fall and winter. Heated and spiced wine has now evolved throughout time to include different medleys of flavoring, including ginger, pepper, cardamom, and even herbs. this recipe couldn’t be easier to make: Combine a bottle of red with some orange slices, warm spices, honey, and brandy, and let it simmer for 10 minutes. That’s it!

In less than 30 minutes you’ll have the coziest winter drink on your hands. using dry varietals of red wine like Merlot, Malbec, or Cabernet Sauvignon. But really, your favorite bottle, whatever it may be, should work! If you don’t like brandy, or don’t want to buy a bottle, skip it—all the other components will be lending plenty of flavor to every sip.

Here are the 10 most valuable beer brands in the world for 2022:

Corona ($7.0 billion)
Heineken ($6.9 billion)
Budweiser ($5.6 billion)
Bud Light ($4.5 billion
Modelo ($3.9 billion)
Snow ($3.6 billion)
Kirin ($3.2 billion)
Miller Lite ($2.9 billion)
Coors Light ($2.9 billion)
Asahi ($2.5 billion)

It’s been a strong year for beer, and there’s more good news to come for craft brewers, with the sector projected to grow 8% between now and 2030. Corona was ranked as the number one most valuable beer brand in the world in 2022. The report notes that the brand took a hit in value during the coronavirus pandemic, attributing some of its problems due to reported correlations consumers were making between the brand’s name and the virus.

Heineken is an extremely close second on the list, with brand value attributed to its sustainability commitments. The brewer also launched Heineken Silver, positioned as a premium, extra refreshing beer. The market has recovered immensely due to the opening of taprooms and the ease of production. This revival has led to significant changes in the market trends.

1. Cognac is the Champagne of brandy

Cognac is a type of brandy, or distilled wine, made in a delineated region of about 200,000 acres surrounding the town of Cognac, on France’s western coast. All Cognac is brandy, but not all brandy is Cognac. Like how all rhombuses are squares, but not all squares are rhombuses. Or how all grilled cheeses are sandwiches, but not all sandwiches are grilled cheeses. We can keep going but we’ll stop because you probably got it the first time. 

2. There are six distinct Cognac-making regions

Within this “delimited area,” as it’s called by French Cognac authorities, are six zones of production defined by their terroir. From highest-quality (chalky, limestone-rich soil that retains the most moisture and reflects the most sunlight to the grapes) to lowest (soil that is mostly clay or sand), they are: Grande Champagne, Petit Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois, and Bois Ordinaires. Virtually all Cognacs are blended from several eaux-de-vie (distilled spirits of varying ages) from these six regions for the most well-rounded flavor.

3. There are some really strict laws about Cognac

Here are a few: Cognac must be made from one or a combination of just three types of grapes (Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, and Colombard). It must be aged for at least two years. It must be double-distilled in copper pot stills of a particular shape and configuration (Chartenais, after the French district where the process originated). Its grapes must be harvested only in October, and it must be distilled only from November 1st to March 31st. And distillers have to sing La Marseillaise at no louder than a whisper to each individual barrel three times a day (okay we made that up but seriously it would be believable considering everything else).

4. That whole “VS” and “VSOP” thing is actually pretty simple

There are three main classifications for Cognac: VS, or Very Special, has been aged at least two years (Cognacs marked with three stars are also VS); VSOP, or Very Superior Old Pale, has been aged at least four years; XO, or Extra Old, has been aged at least six years (though as of next April, Cognac will need 10 years of aging to qualify as XO).

5. People used to drink Cognac from those big honking glasses to keep it warm

Back when smallpox was a daily topic of conversation at ye olde tavern, The Queen’s No-Central-Heating, it was just cold all the time. Those big bulb glasses are designed to channel heat from the necessarily meaty grip of your hands to the drink, which is best enjoyed at about 70 degrees.

As  beer lover who wants to try as many beer brands as I possibly can before the end of my life, living in India is tough as what we get is kinda limited when you compare it with European countries, the UK, the US or Canada. Sometimes we get a few brands and that excites us and after a few months or years suddenly the bars you go to or the liquour & beer stores you go to no longer have them in stock and it seems to have vanished (like Miller, Tuborg & Carlsberg and a few others). Here’s hoping that this one, which I was finally able to get after a long, long while is gonna be available a lot more in my area and that’s Corona.

Corona is a brand of beer produced by Mexican brewery Cervecería Modelo and owned by Belgian company AB InBev. It is the top-selling brand of imported beer in the United States and is very popular here in some parts of India. It is often served with a wedge of lime or lemon in the neck of the bottle to add tartness and flavor. The recipe for the mash bill includes corn as well as the barley  malt and hops  traditionally used used for making beer. The brand’s most popular variation is Corona Extra, a pale lager. It is one of the top-selling beers worldwide, and Corona Extra has been the top-selling imported drink in the U.S. since 1998.

I cannot tell you how excited and how much I was looking forward to getting to taste one I was two Sundays ago. Having heard that it is available in one of bars that I like going to, I eagerly waited to go and enjoy 1. It really is awesome tasting and will go down well, especially on a hot day. Now that we are in March and it’s only gonna get more hotter and humid, I see the sale of this particular brand go up in Kerala. As long as they can keep this brand available for us, I see good success for Corona Extra. I give this beer a 9 outta 10!

Create the perfect drink for your Valentine’s Day evening can create the right atmosphere for an unforgettable evening and setup your Valentine’s Day dinner …… and after. Easy to mix up, the most romantic cocktails tend to have favorite aphrodisiacs like strawberries or raspberries and other love-inducing fruits, occasionally with a bit of chocolate.

Some of the recipes are ideal before or during the meal, while others offer delicious dessert options. Doing a quick search I found a delicious looking & sounding cocktail that is sure to be a big hit.

Ingredients

• Hy-Vee chocolate syrup
• 1 ½ oz. Godiva chocolate liqueur
• 1 ½ oz. Kahlua
• 1 ½ oz. Baileys Irish cream
• 2 oz. brewed espresso
• 2 oz. Hy-Vee half-and-half

Directions

Garnish a 12-oz. martini glass with chocolate syrup. Combine chocolate liqueur, Kahlua, Irish cream, espresso, half-and-half, and 1/4 cup crushed ice in a cocktail shaker. Cover and shake well. Strain into prepared glass. If desired, garnish with fresh raspberries.