Beverages

The Federal's Women Who Wine Summer Series With Alejandro Ortiz

The first Women Who Wine, a new summer series at the Federal Food Drink and Provisions, wasn't just any ol' gender-specific, stuffy winetasting. As the female attendees sipped on complimentary Aperol Spritz, a bitter and refreshing cocktail made from the Italian aperitif topped with Prosecco, the Fe ... More >>

Best Cheap Beers: If You Must Buy at a 24-Hour Gas Station, Here Are Your Choices

Most of us working stiffs don't have mad cash to drop on huge quantities of good-quality beer. What is the alternative? Twenty-four-hour gas stations stocked with little rescue kits of mass-produced brew.There are many selections, but here is a list of ten that every beer fiend should consider when ... More >>

Lantao Social Club Features Curious and Classic Cocktails (Photos)

Miami's cocktail culture is still in its fledgling stage, to be sure. While other cities like New York and New Orleans have dozens of bars where master mixologists create artful libations, Miami is still a relative child when it comes to serving thoughtful drinks made with fresh herbs, real fruit ju ... More >>

New York City Plans Ban on All Large Sodas and Sugary Drinks; Miami Should Be Next

In a monumental strike against the obesity epidemic, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced plans for a city-wide ban on all sugary soft drinks larger than 16 ounces during an interview in the Governor's Room at City Hall yesterday.The proposed ban would affect most enterprises that pedd ... More >>

M.A.S.H.: The Original Miami Homebrewers

Over the last year, Miami has seen the birth of many new homebrewing clubs, But there is one that has been here the longest: Miami Area Society of Homebrewers, or M.A.S.H.The club started in 1994 when a small but dedicated band of Miami home brewers gathered at what used to be the South Pointe Brewe ... More >>

For Father's Day: Thor, Whisky of the Gods

If you're looking to spend about $200 on a special gift for dad on Father's Day (June 17) -- one that he can wring quite a bit of pleasure from -- this just might be it: Thor, a new 16 year old single malt Scotch whisky from Highland Park's Valhalla Collection."We wanted to create an exciting new ra ... More >>

Puerto Rico: Top Five Beach Meals

Fried, fried and more deeply fried is usually what you think of when visiting Miami's most local vacation destination, Puerto Rico. That is, until now. On a recent visit to the country's coastal Rincon area, I discovered a new territory of flavors sprouting up in restaurants and bars along the beach ... More >>

Schnebly: Finally, a Microbrewery

Craft Brewjas: Wicked Women Who Love Suds

Misfit Home-Brewers Help Lead Miami's Craft Beer Invasion

Miami Craft Beer Sellers: A List

Top Five South Florida Beer Blogs

This week, our feature story takes a closer look at Miami's quickly rising craft beer scene. But besides the homebrew clubs and restaurants, there are the writers who are blogging about craft beer in South Florida.We want to recognize the following blogs in honor of American Craft Beer Week. Some co ... More >>

Panther Coffee's Tips on Making Mom a Classic Cappuccino for Mother's Day (No Fancy Equipment Required)

All photos by Emily CodikBring out your inner barista this Mother's Day, and skip those dull gifts of flowers, cards and balloons. They will all end up in the trash anyway.Instead, offer mom a gift loaded with caffeine, topped with frothed milk and served in a dainty cup. This Sunday, make a classic ... More >>

Kentucky Derby Day Parties in Miami: Juleps, Hats, and Bourbon

The 138th running of the Kentucky Derby is this Saturday and while it's been called the most exciting two minutes in sports -- it can also be said to be the shortest sporting event in the world.So how do you stretch two minutes into a day-long event? Wear silly hats and drink a lot of bourbon, of co ... More >>

American Craft Beer Week Just Ahead: Wagyu Beef, Tiger Prawns, and Discounts on Suds

American Craft Beer Week in Miami begins Monday, May 14. What better excuse do you need to dress up like Gambrinus with beer stein in hand for seven days in a row?Brown Distributing is helping Miami shake its non-beer-loving image by driving all over the county to make sure there are enoug ... More >>

Miami Club Rum: A Distillery Tour (Photos)

You might miss the entrance to the Miami Club Rum distillery (2320 N Miami Avenue, Miami), housed alongside the locked galleries and thrift shops that line North Miami Avenue in Wynwood. The nondescript building is rather small when compared to most rum distilleries in the Caribbean, which come equi ... More >>

B.R.E.W. FIU: Not Just For Students

Florida International University has plans to build a research brewery, with many thanks to the student homebrewing club, B.R.E.W. FIU, which has wielded a considerable amount of influence since their inception last Spring. The acronym stands for Biscayne Renowned Engineers of Wort. This are not jus ... More >>

Miami Rum Renaissance Festival: Ten New Rums You Haven't Tried Yet

View photos from Miami Rum Renaissance Festival 2012 at Deauville Beach Resort here.The Miami Rum Renaissance Festival at the Deauville Resort concluded last evening with a 6:45 p.m. "last call", prompting event goers to rush to their favorite rum booth for one last mojito or shot of the elixir favo ... More >>

Rum Renaissance Ends Today: Try These Brands

So many rums, so little time!If you attend today's wrap-up of 2012 Rum Renaissance at the Deauville Beach Resort, (starting at noon for VIP, 1 p.m. for regular admission). Short Order has you covered. Yesterday we squirmed our way through the many vendors and tasted the finest of the bunch. Here is ... More >>

Brews and Bites Wednesday: Fancy PBR and Truly Local Microbrews

Local craft beer is here in Miami for all to try at the Brews n' Bites craft beer tasting event this Thursday at Mary Brickell Village. It kicks off the United Way Miami Wine and Food Festival. There will be over 100 craft beers to try. Among those with a tap list are local beer purveyors Luis Brign ... More >>

Untappd App: Social Networking for Hops Heads

For the beer lover who shuns Facebook but feels the need to connect with his or her kind, there is a solution: Untappd app for mobile devices. It's like sharing a virtual pint with your friends. The app for iOS and Android devices connects beer fiends worldwide, allowing users to share and post ... More >>

The Craft Brewjas: Meet the Women Who Love Beer

Known to be a white liquor city, Miami is currently enjoying a craft beer explosion. With Schnebly Redland Winery and Brewery becoming the city's first to export its beer and Wynwood Brewing Company on the cusp of opening its doors, Magic City cicerones have a lot to look forward to. Between the com ... More >>

The Balvenie Road Trip: Two Guys, One Car, Lots of Scotch

​Generally, brand ambassadors at spirits companies have pretty good jobs -- going to bars and events and talking up whatever brand of booze you're representing (and giving out free samples along the way). But last year, Balvenie brand ambassadors Nicholas Pollacchi and Andrew Weir received a new a ... More >>

Lil Wayne Sells Mountain Dew, Six Others Rappers Who Love Soft Drinks

​Fueling the obesity epidemic and enabling the Young Money Maniac's sizzurp addiction, PepsiCo's toxic green nectar, Mountain Dew, has a new spokesperson and his name is Lil Wayne. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. and Mountain Dew have come together to form DEWeezy, ... More >>

Schnebly's: Miami's First Proper Brewery

​Schnebly's Redland Winery and Brewery has a fine reputation for making tropical fruit-flavored wines and beers, but now the owners are building  on-site brewing equipment. Having garnered a distribution license, the place is set to become Miami's first real brewery in one month, says Joe Rey ... More >>

Microbrewing in Miami: FIU's New Research Brewery Built With Your SoBeWFF Dollars

​Mike Hampton, dean of the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Florida International University, confirmed that a new research microbrewery will be built at FIU's Biscayne Bay campus in North Miami Beach. The new facility will replace the current classroom and laboratory used f ... More >>

Balls in Our Mouths: Mark Oldman and Daniel Holzman Mix 'Em Up

​Around 100 folks at Saturday's South Beach Wine & Food Festival seminar with Meatball Shop owner Daniel Holzman and international wine personality Mark Oldman left with more than they probably hoped for: five balls in the mouth and all the alcohol a groupie should swallow by noon. The event w ... More >>

SoBeWFF: Hedy Goldsmith and Diet Pepsi Team Up at Trucks on the Beach

​Hedy Goldsmith and Diet Pepsi have teamed up for a trucking excursion to the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival. You can catch them at Sunday night's "Trucks on the Beach" event, where Hedy's signature chocolate chunk cookies (with a hint of Maldon salt on top) will be handed out - ... More >>

SoBeWFF: Does The Wine Glass Matter? Max Riedel Says Yes

​There are many factors when it comes to evaluating a wine, that it's hard to separate the glass from the equation, according to wine expert Max Riedel, owner and proprietor of Riedel Crystal. Riedel showcased his line of glassware yesterday at the Perry Hotel for the South Beach Wine and Food Fes ... More >>

SoBeWFF Grand Tasting Village: Where To Find The Good Booze

Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival/Facebook​The "Winebow Wine Pavilion" requires a powerful lesson in self-directed navigation (okay, the whole "village" is sort of a booze and food maze of confusion, see more for help on that here), but you don't want to miss out on international a ... More >>

Miami's Best Coffee Houses: Ten Places to Rev Your Caffeine Engine

​Miami is famous (or infamous) for its beaches, toned bodies, and hot nights filled with music. But dancing until dawn, then trying to make it through the day requires massive doses of caffeine. Thankfully, the Magic City is home to some wonderful coffee houses.From the little walk-up windows of d ... More >>

Real Housewives' Ramona Singer in Miami For Pinot Grigio Signing

​Bravo show Real Housewives of New York features a cast of loud, brash women lunching, arguing, and drinking heavily. We love every second of their antics, especially Ramona Singer, the eye-popping, hyper blonde who acts as if she's had one too many Red Bulls at all times.Singer is best known for ... More >>

Coffee In Pods Cost $50 Per Pound

Single-serve pod coffee machines are all the rage in America these days. Single-serve coffee is now the second most popular means of making a cup (after drip brewers). Last year, 7 percent of coffee consumed in the U.S. was made with a single-serve brewer; in 2010 it was 4 percent.The current pod cr ... More >>

Rollin Soles, Top Oregon Vintner, Dishes On Argyle Wine, Nuthouses, and His Kinky Neighbor

Rollin Soles, the man some say put Oregon on the winemaking map.​From the time Rollin Soles first laid eyes on Willamette (rhymes with dammit) Valley in 1979, he "fell totally in love with the place." By 1987, "feeling like one lucky cowboy," the Texan-bred Soles started Argyle Winery (joined soon ... More >>

George Espie: Whisky's Master of Wood

​George Espie is the Macallan master of wood, which means (A) he is a Scotch fanatic and (B) he probably gets picked on a lot during recess on the corporate playground. What his title really means is he is responsible for managing the Macallan "Wood Policy" and delivering all cask requirements to ... More >>

Free Coffee at Moloko Grand Opening

​Midtown mornings are about to get a little easier to take when Moloko, opens tomorrow, January 13th at the Shops at Midtown Miami.The fast-casual restaurant will feature sweet and savory crepes, as well as international and local coffee drinks. Coffee choices include espresso, cappuccino, cafe mo ... More >>

Florida Beer Company Says Bud Light Stole Their Blue Bottle Idea

​Now that craft beer has firmly established itself as more than a market niche, beer giants are looking to microbreweries for their next edge. To wit:Anheuser-Busch Inbev is going bottle to bottle with South Florida's Florida Beer Company and FBC is not too excited about it.Next month the bee ... More >>

Know Your Champagne Before New Year's Eve: An Expert Gives Us the Low-Down on Bubbly

​Oh champagne -- just saying it makes us feel fancier already. While bubbly is always a requisite for celebrating the life fantastique, it's the last two weeks of the year that are the most popular for this golden elixir. You might be familiar with names like Dom, Krug, Bollinger, Veuve, and Crist ... More >>

Health Drink Kombucha: Fermented Tea to Get Your Guts in Order

Kombucha is fermented tea crawling with live and active cultures. And it is taking up ever more shelf space in the beverage aisle at Whole Foods. Why? It may help restore health to your digestive tract and give you an immune boost.Probiotics are not just for yogurts anymore. In fact, they haven't be ... More >>

DJ Laz Talks Sipping Hennessy Straight From the Bottle and Drinking on the Job

DJ Laz doin' work.​If, like Crossfade, you are a serious drinker who loves to let loose, glug a couple of cocktails, and get responsibly wasted, we say: "Raise that Henny, son!" Now believe it or not, there is an international community of cognac connoisseurs called the Hennessy DJ Collective and ... More >>

Top Ten Martinis: From Doraku to Sustain to the Raleigh, Who's Number One?

Dirty martini - one sexy cocktail​Fox's Sherron Inn took the best martini spot in our annual listing of everything good in our fair city for their well-priced martinis in a classic 1950s setting.Miami has no alcohol shortage (in fact it's safe to say that there are more places to get a cocktail th ... More >>

Ten Affordable Thanksgiving Wines

​You have the turkey, the stuffing, cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes -- but what about the wine? Consider this a break-down of tasty selections that will please your picky friends and that will satisfy those who only indulge on special occasions, like this Thursday.The BubblyConde de Caralt, Cav ... More >>

Le Beaujolais Nouveau 2011 Is Here

Photo by Marguerite Gil Beaujolais gets a kiss from Tara Salomon.​There aren't too many wines that come in roaring like a lion each year, but Beaujolais Nouveau fits that description perfectly.According to French law, Beaujolais Nouveau, a red wine made from 100 percent Gamay grapes, i ... More >>

Alaska Coffee Roasting Co. Migrates to North Miami

​Courtesy of Alaska Coffee Roasting Co.Michael Gesser​Fairbanks, Alaska. Miami, Florida. These two extremes now have something in common: "A coffee shop that walks the walk instead of talking the talk," comments owner Michael Gesser of Alaska Coffee Roasting Co. (13130 Biscayne Blvd., North Miam ... More >>

Five Tips For Faking Your Way Through A Wine Tasting

Lee Klein​Attending a wine tasting is supposed to be fun, a social means of sharing sips, spits, and thoughtful conversation. But for those who don't know the difference between a Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio, the experience can be one of self-consciousness and apprehension about coming across as g ... More >>

Wine Dinner Line-Up: DB, The Setai and Meat Market's Last Stand

db Bistro ModerneChef Verbiak's "pressee" of poultry and foie gras.​There seems to be an abundance of wine pairing dinners happening both on and off the beach, providing a glorious opportunity to do a little high-end boozing. Sure, these prix-fixe gatherings can get a little expensive, but since t ... More >>

Yardbird Wine List Dissection: Made In The USA

​South Beach newcomer Yardbird has us all thinking of fried chicken, bourbon, and biscuits. We gave you a brief preview of the food and a glimpse inside the opening party madness, but what you may not know is that they also cultivated an extremely user-friendly wine list. Offerings are separated i ... More >>

Depression Cakes and Speakeasy Sazeracs

via sanfransiscosongbird.comC'mon, dollface, the booze is on me tonight!​Life is tough. We could be heading into a new-age Depression. Of course, here at Short Order, the first thing we think of is: What will we eat? And better yet: What will we drink?Let's take a step back in time when the best o ... More >>

Tea Cakes, Finger Sandwiches, Antiquity Galore: Cauley Square Tea Room

By BevPictures, FlickrVery Tim Burton-esque.​To many, a trek to Cauley Square in Redland is akin to a journey back in time. It is after all an intact historic village in a modernized world.Originally a pioneer village camp, fueled solely by the railway workers building tracks toward Key West in 19 ... More >>

Meat Market's Sarah Almand Gives Good Wine Advice

Courtesy of Meat Market​When we hear sommelier we think well-suited-gentleman with a stiff upper lip who looks down his nose at you for ordering anything less than a $100 bottle of wine. Sarah Almand, Meat Market's delightfully spirited sommelier, is different.A Florida native, she was a geography ... More >>