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Latest by Sam Slaughter

Runamok Maple Syrup Makes Perfect Winter Old Fashioneds

One of our favorite ingredients that is great for modifying your Old Fashioneds -- while still sticking without going too far off the deep end -- is maple syrup. Needing some form of sweetener in your drink, maple syrup makes perfect sense.
Rib Roast Recipe True Aussie Beef and Lamb

A Perfect (and Easy) Herbs de Provence Rib Roast Recipe

A classic for holiday meals or, really, any special occasion a rib roast shows that not only do you respect high quality meat, but you also know how to cook it without screwing it up – a thing that all of your guests will love you for.
fat washed spirits intro whiskey32

What are Fat-Washed Spirits and What are They Good For? Two Words: Bacon Bourbon

Fat-washed spirits happen when you combine two of the world's greatest bounties — meat and booze. Check out how to do it yourself here.
hong kong food city wontons chilli oil recipe

This Wonton in Red Chili Oil Recipe Is a Perfect Winter Warmer

This recipe, which comes to us from Hong Kong Food City by Tony Tan, is an easy and delicious recipe accentuated by a red chili oil, which will warm the taste buds (as well as clear out the nostrils a little).

These Eggplant Schnitzels Are Great for Both Meat-Eaters and Vegetarians

Whether you know the vegetable as eggplant or aubergine, it’s a delicious option when you’re looking to appease people with different palates, especially when it is sliced, breaded, and fried.
Caga Tio Poop Log Yule Log Christmas Traditions

Our Favorite Creepy Christmas Legends and Lore

For this week’s episode of The Manual Podcast, it's just Greg, Sam, and Nicole get into the holiday spirit by learning about a few prominent holiday-related legends and lore. Like a poop log.
rabbit hole london dry gin cocktail

Rabbit Hole London Dry Gin Review: Great for Whiskey Lovers

This London Dry Gin finished in Kentucky rye barrels is part of Rabbit Hole distillery's philosophy of standing out from the crowd.
Mostra Coffee beans

Roasting Coffee Knowledge with Award-Winning Mostra Coffee

This week, The Manual Podcast crew sits down with Jelynn Malone and Mike Arquines, both co-founders of the 2020 Micro Roaster of the Year, Mostra Coffee to talk all things coffee.
ottos cbd elixir

A Beginner’s Guide to CBD with Mirth Provisions’ Adam Stites

On this week's episode of The Manual Podcast, the gang (minus Greg) sits down with Mirth Provisions' Adam Stites to talk about CBD: what it is, what it does, and common misconceptions about the compound.
Saul Montiel Cantina Rooftop

Talking Traditional and Modern Mexican Cuisine with Saul Montiel

This week on The Manual Podcast, the gang sits down with Saul Montiel, chef at New York City's Cantina Rooftop, to discuss modern and traditional Mexican cuisine (and why his gordita recipe is near-perfect).
shots during thanksgiving dinner

Try Shotsgiving, an Entire Thanksgiving Meal in Shots

Thanksgiving supper — now with more shots! Welcome to Shotsgiving, an event where you and your family can drink your dinner. Here's an entire Thanksgiving meal, from turkey to dessert, in shot form.
Lucas Kwan Peterson LA Times Off Menu

Discovering LA’s Hidden Culinary Gems with Off Menu’s Lucas Kwan Peterson

The Manual Podcast gang sits down with Los Angeles Time's food critic Lucas Kwan Peterson to talk about his new web series, Off Menu, as well as what makes LA such a great food city.
fish pie recipe

This Fish Pie Recipe is Perfect for Cold Weather Dinners

If you're looking for a hearty meal for the colder months, look no further than this fish pie recipe from food stylist Alison Attenborough.
S’well Barware

New S’well Barware Brings Top-Notch Insulation to the Cocktail Game

S'well, the company known for its triple-insulated water bottles and tumblers, has released a new barware line that brings the same high-quality construction to your bar.
conviction bourbon

Southern Grace Conviction Bourbon Review

Southern Grace Spirits, the only whiskey prison in the U.S., has released its first aged product: Conviction Bourbon. Our review can tell you exactly what to expect.
Sean Umstead Kingfisher

Naming Cocktails, Unusual Ingredients, and the South with Kingfisher’s Sean Umstead

This week, The Manual Podcast crew sits down with Sean Umstead, owner of Durham, North Carolina cocktail bar Kingfisher to talk about owning a cocktail bar, how he goes about making locally sourced drinks, and more.
Wild Roots 2

Wild Roots Marionberry Vodka Review: Flavored to Perfection

Hate the thought of infused vodkas? Well, you're going to change your mind with Wild Roots Marionberry Infused Vodka, we swear. Here is our review of this tasty flavored vodka.
oNo 1420's Ted Dumbauld

Talking Hemp Spirits with SoNo 1420’s Ted Dumbauld

This week on The Manuak Podcast, the gang sits down with Ted Dumbauld, the founder of SoNo 1420, an artisan distillery that produces hemp spirits. Dumbauld discusses how the company came to be, their product line, and more.
best books about hawaii book

7 Best Books About Hawaii to Read Before You Visit

The Aloha State is rich in history, legends, and lore. Check out our picks for essential reading about Hawaii. Just be ready to buy a plane ticket when you're done reading ... we definitely want to.
mike egan death rides a cat

Talking Folk Art, Death, and Mortuary School with Mike Egan

The Manual Podcast crew sits down with artist Mike Egan to discuss his process, how he became an artist, where he find his inspiration, and much, much more.
Southern Smoke Matthew Register

Barbecue Sides, Grilling, and More with Southern Smoke’s Matthew Register

The Manual Podcast crew sits down with pitmaster Matthew Register of Southern Smoke to talk about barbecue side dishes, grilling, and more.
Southern Smoke Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Tomato and Greens Ragu Recipe

The Perfect Pork Tenderloin Recipe from Southern Smoke’s Matthew Register

Just because summer is over doesn't mean it's time to put the grill away. Instead, utilize the cooler weather to spend more time outside grilling. To start, we've got Matthew Register's recipe for grilled pork tenderloin with tomato and greens ragu.
Distillery 291 Colorado Rye Whiskey

291 Single Barrel Colorado Rye Whiskey Review

Colorado Rye Whiskey by Distillery 291 is a strong, young whiskey finished with an unusual (but fitting) wood: aspen staves.
Twenty Boat

Twenty Boat Cape Cod Spiced Rum Review

Twenty Boat Cape Cod Spiced Rum is a delicious liquor made by South Hollow Spirits at the first legal distillery on Cape Cod since Prohibition. Our review shows that spiced rum can actually be done right and Twenty Boat proves that.
manual podcast spirit awards 2019 episode group shot bottle  winner and runner up straight

The Manual Spirit Awards 2019: Redux

The Manual Podcast crew sits down to talk about The Manual SpiritAwards 2019, an exploration of the best craft spirits made in the United States. From bourbon and rye to vodka and liqueur, the crew breaks down their picks and why they won.
NakedWines

Get Naked with Independent Winemakers with NakedWines Delivery Kit

Want to try some wines from independent growers that you (probably) won't find in stores? Check out NakedWines.com.
shawn wells dietician

Understanding Diets and Dieting with Shawn Wells

This week, The Manual Podcast crew sits down with registered dietician Shawn Wells to talk about what a diet is, how dieting works, and the different kinds of diets out there these days. They also discuss how to make healthy changes in one's life.
how to make loco moco recipe locomoco thepeachedtortilla

How to Make Loco Moco, a Hawaiian Staple Dish

A staple dish in Hawaii, loco moco is a delicious breakfast composed of rice, egg, hamburger, and more. Learn how to make it using Eric Silverstein's recipe from his book, The Peached Tortilla.
willamette valley white wine guide bells up winery

Where to Drink White Wine in the Willamette Valley

The Willamette Valley in Oregon is known primarily for one thing: Pinot Noir. With hundreds of wineries in the region, though, there are plenty of other things to drink while you're there. Here are some of our favorite spots to visit.
Ooni 3 Pizza Oven

The Ooni 3 Portable Pizza Oven Produces Perfect Pies on the Go

Want to up your outdoor cooking game by leaps and bounds (and by adding cheese)? Consider the Ooni 3, a portable pizza oven that weighs 25 pounds and cooks pizzas on the go in about a minute.
Vidon Vineyard Wine Grapes

An Astronomically Fun Chat About Space and Wine With a Winemaker and Former Physicist

The Manual Podcast crew sits down with Vidon Vineyard founder Don Hagge to talk about his former career as a physicist with NASA lead him to a future in winemaking.
Kevin Beary

Talking Rum, Cocktails, and Tiki with The Bamboo Room’s Kevin Beary

The Manual podcast crew sits down with Kevin Beary — Beverage Director for The Bamboo Room, which is located inside Three Dots and a Dash, Chicago's premiere tiki bar — to talk about rum, rum cocktails, and tiki culture.
How to Make a Blood and Sand Cocktail

How to Make a Blood and Sand Cocktail

While the Blood and Sand cocktail is traditionally a Scotch whisky drink, we decided to use American single malt whiskey instead, as we felt that the characteristics would fit perfectly in the recipe.
How to Make a Bee's Knees Garnish

How to Make a Bee’s Knees Cocktail

The Bee's Knees cocktail truly epitomizes its name, which was used during the time of its creation to mean the best of the best.
How to Make a Rye Whiskey Smash Cocktail

How to Make a Rye Whiskey Smash

A whiskey smash utilizes fresh fruit (seasonal, if possible) to create a layer that accentuates the flavors you might find in the whiskey. For this recipe, we use lemon, a common addition to smashes, because it works well with rye whiskey.
best gin greenhook ginsmiths gin

The Best American Gin

The Manual Spirit Awards recognize the best craft liquor made in the United States. We awarded the best American spirits across eight categories, including Gin. This is the best gin in the U.S.
best american liquor 2019 spirit awards spirits 2x3

The Manual Spirit Awards 2022: The Best Craft Liquor Made in America

The Manual Spirit Awards recognize the best craft liquors made in the United States. We awarded the best American spirits across eight categories: Bourbon, Single Malt Whiskey, Rye Whiskey, Gin, Vodka, Unaged Rum, Aged Rum, and Liqueur.
Bare Knuckle Singe Barrel rye whiskey

The Best American Rye Whiskey

The Manual Spirit Awards recognize the best craft liquor made in the United States. We awarded the best American spirits across eight categories, including Rye. This is the best rye whiskey in the U.S.
best american single malt whiskey  balcones distilling texas whisky 3x2

The Best American Single Malt Whiskey

The Manual Spirit Awards recognize the best craft liquor made in the United States. We awarded the best American spirits across eight categories, including Single Malt Whiskey. This is the best single malt whiskey in the U.S.
best american white rum unaged  iron fish distillery michigan 3x2

The Best American Unaged Rum

The Manual Spirit Awards recognize the best craft liquor made in the United States. We awarded the best American spirits across eight categories, including Unaged Rum. This is the best white rum in the U.S.
best american aged rum  boston harbor distillery lawley s small batch

The Best American Aged Rum

The Manual Spirit Awards recognize the best craft liquor made in the United States. We awarded the best American spirits across eight categories, including Aged Rum. This is the best aged rum in the U.S.
best vodka ocean organic vodka

The Best American Vodka

The Manual Spirit Awards recognize the best craft liquor made in the United States. We awarded the best American spirits across eight categories, including Vodka. This is the best vodka in the U.S.
best liqueur townsends distillery bluebird alpine liqueur

The Best American Liqueur in 2022

The Manual Spirit Awards 2022 recognize the best craft liquor made in the United States. We awarded the best American spirits across eight categories, including Liqueur. This is the best liqueur in the U.S.
Krogstad Aquavit

Learning All About Aquavit with Christian Krogstad

Founder of House Spirits Christian Krogstad sits down with The Manual Podcast crew to discuss what aquavit is, its history, how best to drink it, and more.
timber joey

Kicking It With Timber Joey of the Portland Timbers Soccer Team

The Manual podcast team sits down with Portland Timbers' mascot Timber Joey to talk about the team, the growth of the MLS in America, what a mascot does on and off the field and much, much more.
Takuma Sato IndyCar Racing

A Rev-ealing Conversation About IndyCar Racing with Takuma Sato

Champion IndyCar driver Takuma Sato sits down with The Manual Podcast team ahead of the Grand Prix of Portland to talk about racing practice and fitness, his favorite places to travel, and what a race car driver does in his off time.
gonzalez byass sherry barrels

What You Need to Know About Sherry, According to an Expert

González Byass Senior Brand Manager Claire Henderson sits down with The Manual Podcast crew to break down what sherry is, what it tastes like, and the best ways to drink it.
Don Q Pina Pineapple flavored rum

Don Q Piña Rum Review: Just Add Coconut Water

Next step after trying Don Q Piña (which makes making the classic Piña Coladas super easy)? Getting caught in the rain and making love at midnight.
PrepDeck

PrepDeck Makes Meal Prep Work a Breeze

Spending entirely too much time making one dish — and then even more cleaning up? Prepdeck is here to save you.
guy fieri santoku knife

The Official Knives of Flavortown: Guy Fieri Unsheathes New Knuckle Sandwich Knives

Guy Fieri's rebooted Knuckle Sandwich knives do full justice to the flamboyant foodie himself.