Alcademics

09/02/2026

Open spots this weekend, come on along!

08/16/2026

Neat to find out!

08/14/2026

It’s a Fine Time for Alpine: the hot and cooling flavor trend.

An Alpine flavor trend is sweeping the drinks industry. Evoking crisp mountain air, traditional Alpine liqueurs like Chartreuse and genepy are helping inspire a new wave of Alpine amaros, cocktails, botanical sodas, tonic water, and syrups.

08/11/2026

Donn Beach of Don the Beachcomber created the first tiki bar and kicked off a global cocktail/bar trend. Now there is a documentary about his long and unusual life.

I have just watched the documentary The Donn of Tiki, which is available for rent on Apple TV on August 21, 2026. It runs 1 hour and 40 minutes and is really well done. It mixes interviews with animation and lots of film/photos from the original era. If you preorder it you get a discount

08/11/2026

A story about the packaged ice business in Texas:

Ice is essential in so many ways. So why does thinking about it give some of us a case of brain freeze?

08/06/2026

Talking about Tonic again!

https://sf.nerdnite.com/2026/07/24/caving-101-gin-tonics-photographing-the-whole-internet/

08/04/2026

Come take a San Francisco Cocktail and Bar History Tour with me! Almost every weekend or by appointment.

08/03/2026

Making gift bags for corporate water tasting classes I am teaching this week.

07/27/2026

Water Tasting Classes in San Francisco: Learn why water tastes the way it does - dissolved solids, pH, and the like - and taste about 20 different bottled still and sparkling waters from all around the world!

Next Classes: Saturday August 22, Tuesday August 25.