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    Drink Up

    Make spirits bright this year with premium gifts made for festive sipping

    CultureMap Create
    Dec 20, 2021 | 12:30 pm

    'Tis that special time of the year, when you can ensure your loved ones can cheers with the best. And with all the holiday spirit in the air, what better gift to bring to family and friends than a bottle of premium liquor?

    Help make spirits bright this season with these suggestions:

    Bacardi Reserva Ocho | Shop here
    Aged a minimum of eight years under the Caribbean sun, this Puerto Rican rum boasts warming notes of butterscotch, nutmeg, and dried apricots.

    The rum's uncompromising quality rivals that of cognacs and older scotches, and is enjoyable on its own, on the rocks, or in a delicious Old Fashioned.

    Grey Goose vodka | Shop here
    Those who fill your life with joy deserve nothing but the finest: the finest French winter wheat from Picardie and the finest limestone-filtered spring water, all distilled only once to honor the flavors of these exquisite ingredients.

    From the pop of the cork, you can give the gift of Grey Goose vodka knowing that every element is created and crafted in France to the highest standard.

    And what better way to showcase the aroma and flavor than with vodka's most iconic cocktail, the Grey Goose vodka martini?

    Simply add 2.5 oz of Grey Goose vodka, 0.5 oz of extra dry vermouth, and a dash of orange bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir deliberately, and strain into a chilled martini cocktail glass. Finish by adding a twist of fresh lemon. Vive le Martini!

    Bombay Sapphire | Shop here
    Unwrap the festivities with a Bombay and tonic, the ultimate expression of the quintessentially classic cocktail.

    Orris root and Angelica bring Bombay Sapphire its floral earthiness and enhance the bright, fresh flavors of citrus and juniper. Brilliantly straightforward and satisfying, this drink is always welcome at the party.

    Cazadores tequila | Shop here
    Cazadores Blanco starts in the agave fields, using 100-percent Blue Weber agave from the highland region of Jalisco. The agaves have a minimum maturity of six years to ensure high sugar content and excellent quality.

    After a seven-day double fermentation process and two rounds of distillation, Cazadores Blanco is immediately filtered and bottled. The result? A tequila in its purest form, without aging, for intensity and real flavor of agave.

    Citrus fruits, fragrant herbs, and the customary smooth finish make Cazadores Blanco excellent for cocktails or sipped neat.

    Dewar's 12 year old | Shop here
    Founded in 1846 by John Dewar, Dewar's has grown from a small wine and spirits merchant shop in Scotland to one of the largest Scotch whiskey brands in the world.

    Best known for its iconic Dewar's White Label, it has expanded its family to create a portfolio of premium and super premium whiskies.

    The signature Dewar's 12 is a luxuriously fruity and smooth blend that's perfect for the holidays. An approachable, premium trade-up for curious scotch drinkers, Dewar's 12 offers a richer profile, with fuller and more rounded aromas of honey dried fruits and vanilla.

    This satisfying flavor results in Dewar's 12 being the ideal serve for any occasion: drink it on the rocks, neat, in an Old Fashioned, or an aromatic highball.

    Angel's Envy bourbon | Shop here
    The holidays are all about tradition, and this top-shelf whiskey puts a new spin on a Louisville classic.

    Finished in port wine barrels, Angel's Envy is complex yet approachable and reinvigorates your favorite seasonal sips.

    Aberfeldy 12yo single malt whisky | Shop here
    Nestled within a lush valley in the foothills of the Central Highlands of Scotland, Aberfeldy Distillery is in the quaint village of Aberfeldy, Perthshire.

    Aberfeldy whisky is known as the "Golden Dram." Golden for the distillery’s water source, which is the famous Pitilie Burn, renowned for its water quality and famed for its rich deposits of alluvial gold.

    Golden, for Aberfeldy continues to be awarded gold and double gold medals in international spirits awards. Golden, for every sip laden with honey, spices, citrus, and hints of vanilla.

    Aged for 12 years and scented with spices and honeyed plump fruits, with a taste that's syrupy with lots of vanilla and fudge and a whisper of smoke on the finish, the 12yo Aberfeldy is sure to be a treat for all.

    Swap the snow for sunshine with Bacardi Ocho.

    Bacardi Ocho rum
    Photo courtesy of Bacardi
    Swap the snow for sunshine with Bacardi Ocho.
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    Delicious Destinations

    Houston dubbed top-10 best foodie city in America by Food & Wine

    Amber Heckler
    Apr 10, 2026 | 9:15 am
    News_Anvil Bar & Refuge_bar_drinks_cocktails
    Anvil Bar & Refuge Facebook
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    Houston has gobbled up three awards in national magazine Food & Wine's 2026 Global Tastemaker Awards, including the title as the No. 6 best foodie city in the U.S.

    Food & Wine annually surveys its network of judges, which includes more than 400 chefs, travel experts, wine connoisseurs, and more to determine nominees for "the best food-forward destinations" in the world. Winners are then evaluated and ranked by the magazine's Global Advisory Board.

    The Global Tastemaker Awards praised Houston's overall food scene among the 10 best in the nation, and local restaurants get to reap the benefits. Acclaimed eateries like Feges BBQ, Theodore Rex, and Tatemó were named must-try spots for locals and tourists to visit.

    "[Houston] boasts the most ethnically diverse population of any large city in the country," the report said. "That multiculturalism seasons the city’s dining scene, offering exceptional Tex-Mex/Mexican, Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Southern/Cajun cuisines alongside classic Texas barbecue."

    Anvil, another Houston staple from local restaurateur Bobby Heugel, was crowned the No. 2 best bar in the U.S. Food & Wine dubs Heugel "the architect" of Houston's bar scene, citing Anvil's multiple James Beard Award nominations.

    "The high-energy space offers a list of 100-plus classics plus seasonal options, some sure to join the long list eventually," the report said. "Reflecting the zeitgeist, Anvil credits the bartenders who created the drinks, and recently brought back happy hour, starting at 2 pm, at a moment when many patrons are particularly price-sensitive."

    Even George Bush Intercontinental Airport won an award as the No. 6 best U.S. airport for food and drink. The Houston airport is widely known for having many local restaurants for visitors to get a taste of the local food scene. Weary travelers can get their burger fix at Hubcap Grill, try Simone Biles' newly opened restaurant Taste of Gold, sip on a margarita at El Tiempo, and much more.

    Simone Biles Taste of Gold IAH Find Taste of Gold near gate A8. Courtesy of Houston Airports

    Food & Wine also gave a sneak peek at what's to come as IAH continues renovations.

    "When Terminal B fully reopens this fall, it will include two additional Michelin Bib Gourmand picks, Blood Bros. BBQ and Rosie Cannonball, alongside B&B Butchers and Pink’s Pizza," the report said. "And the new Terminal D-West Concourse scored Velvet Taco, a Dallas‑born brand with a devoted Houston following."

    Other Texas cities, restaurants, and airports that earned awards from Food & Wine include:

    • Austin – No. 1 Best Coffee City in U.S.; No. 4 Best Pastry City in U.S.; and No. 7 Best U.S. City for Food and Drink
    • Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Austin – No. 2 Best U.S. Airport for Food and Drink
    • Canje, Austin – No. 3 Best Restaurant in the U.S.
    • Hotel Emma, San Antonio – No. 8 Best Hotel in the U.S.
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