Cachaça Is the New Tequila, Devotees Say

Mom figured it out when 8-year-old complained about taste

(NEWSER) - Three kids in Colorado saw Fourth of July fireworks in a whole different light. A bartender at a Chili's restaurant accidentally served tequila to the children—ages 8, 6, and 1—before they went to a fireworks display, reports Huffington Post . Their mother ordered them a fruit smoothie to share, but when her 8-year-old complained about the taste, she discovered the alcohol. Police say the bartender—who says he feels terrible about the mishap—was overwhelmed on the busy night. More»

Bartenders borrowing the principle for cocktails, too

(NEWSER) - The New York Times declares a trend in the bartending world: barrel-aged cocktails. Barkeeps across the country are applying the same principle that works on whiskey to their concoctions, writes Robert Simonson. It's as simple as it sounds: Make up a batch, stick it in a barrel for about six weeks, then serve with higher prices. More»

Expect your cocktails to be herbal, matched with food, and cold

(NEWSER) - Absinthe and other speakeasy libations are so last decade. Now that craft cocktails are mainstream, what will the next 10 years bring to the hottest watering holes? Derek Brown of the Atlantic looks into his crystal ball:

• Food pairings: They're not just for sommeliers anymore. "Expect to see cocktails accompanying your food in 2010."

YouTube is like shots of tequila; Gmail is caffeine

(NEWSER) - We all have our favorite Internet time-wasters; now, Patrick Moberg gives us their equivalents in real-world vices:

• Twitter is crack cocaine: “Fucking ANYONE is your friend. Yuppies do it on their iPhone. Cheap. Short. Fruitless.”
• Tumblr is a bottle of wine: “A quiet night in with a couple friends … flipping through photo albums, singing favorite songs. … Emotions flow freely and without thought.”

(NEWSER) - For those who associate "rum" with Captain Morgan, it might be time to put away the 2-liter bottle of generic cola. The perennial pirate fave is clawing its way up to the top shelf, writes John Mariani for Bloomberg, and giving whiskies, brandies, and Scotches a run for their money. Mariani's picks:

• Ron Zacapa Centenario Solera Grand Reserve ($39-$45): This Guatemalan offering "has a huge bouquet" with "plenty of caramel flavor and tasty tobacco notes." Cut with water.
• Flor de Cana Grand Reserve ($22): This "tropical, Nicaraguan beauty" has "a mild piney aroma" and fruit flavors.