Who Wants Ben & Jerry’s Bourbon Ice Cream?: Rumors swirled this week about a forthcoming Ben & Jerry’s flavor called “Urban Bourbon,” which an allegedly leaked label calls a “burnt caramel ice cream with almonds, fudge flakes & bourbon caramel swirls.” Of course, some of us have been preaching the power of combining brown liquor and ice cream for years, but an official Ben & Jerry’s flavor lends us a credibility previously unreachable from our collective sofas.
Making Old New Again: As long as we’re talking about classing up our sugary impulses, it’s a good time to brush up on the current trend of updating sugarbomb cocktails of decades past to be tastier and less of a cavity risk. You can always stick to hitting your friendly local tiki place, but making them at home is an excellent way to learn more about cocktail history and delight your friends at the same time. Plus, there’s no better excuse for buying a bunch of tiny umbrellas.
Tennessee Groceries Go High: High gravity, that is. Tennessee state legislation will go into effect this week moving the allowable ABV on grocery store beer sales up from 6.2% to 10.1%. The law also means breweries in the state are no longer shackled by ABV limits, which means we should be seeing some serious muscle from powerhouses like Yazoo Brewing soon. Gatorade and egg sandwich sales are also expected to spike in the coming months as drinkers statewide wade into big, bold territory.
A Walk Through Whiskey: We’d be remiss mentioning Tennessee without delving into American whiskey, and luckily enough Aaron Goldfarb is on the case. Take a walk through his illustrated history, and pay homage to one of America’s finest national products. Without good American whiskey, we’d have an even harder time than we already do getting along in this great nation.
Aging’s Impact on Two-Buck Chuck: Trader Joe’s budget-friendly mainstay Charles Shaw wine, or Two-Buck Chuck, has been a staple across college campuses and twentysomething parties for years. But what happens if you age it like a fine wine? Laura Burgess took on the challenge with a bottle of 2002 “vintage” Chuck, and came away with what could be called a learning experience. Remember her rule of thumb: don’t drink brown wine.
Keeping It Coolship: For your final bit of Friday geekery, take a look inside the coolship revival going on across the United States. From well-known programs like Allagash to the tightly guarded facility at our neighbors at LIC Beer Project, this ancient brewing practice is enjoying a return to form as brewers harness the oldest magic of their art. It’s a great read, and an excellent way to start a shopping list.