Every man should know how to throw a solid party. No gathering is complete without some adult beverages to get the good times rolling, but if you want to take things a step beyond generic beers and wines it might be time to try the world of crafting cocktails. While there's nothing wrong with sipping a fine tequila neat, cocktails can bring out interesting flavors that are simply not doable otherwise. If you think about it, it's the difference between enjoying the taste of sugar - and enjoying the sight, smell, taste, and overall excitement of looking at a delicious fresh baked scone.

There's something magical about lobster, just the mention if it brings visions of wealth, status, and a lifestyle of luxury. As someone who once lived in a lobster town in Massachusetts, lobster was always an affordable luxury - similar in cost to a great pork chop or a nice steak. Even though the cost was equivalent, the mention of lobster meant we were having a special dinner. Years later and on a different coast, that's pretty much how I feel each time I walk into Red Lobster today too.

San Diego is the craft beer capital of the country as far as I am concerned. While there are many towns across the country where there are fine people brewing great beer, no town has a culture of beer quite like San Diego. With more than 100 breweries in the county, there is something for everyone from large breweries like Stone, Ballast Point, and Green Flash to tiny ones like Intergalactic you are sure to find one that matches your personality. While I dream of one day having been to every brewery in San Diego, last weekend I took two friends on a whirlwind tour of five of my favorites.

Everyone should have a neighborhood bar. It's one of those places that can be a home away from home where the bartenders welcome you warmly when you enter the door and you feel comfortable before you even have a chance to order a drink. That's what San Diego's The Whiskey House is to me, so when I got the opportunity to join them for a Glenfiddich tasting a few weeks ago I jumped at the opportunity. Then I discovered that they were opening a $4,000 bottle of Glenfiddich 40 year and I cleared my schedule for the rest of the evening!

One of the things I love about Vegas is all the amazing restaurants. It seems there is a never ending supply of creativity that is both pushing the culinary as well as architectural arts. What I didn't expect was to find an astonishingly awesome dinner at the top of Delano on the far south end of the strip. That's where Rivea sits and offers diners an unparalleled view of the entire strip. They say retail is location, location, location and this is absolutely true for Rivea. Luckily for us, the service and food was equally fantastic - making for one of the best dinners I've experienced in a long while.

The start of a new year is always exciting. Somehow you've managed to survive another year and hopefully you've learned a few things along the way. That's certainly true for me and while we're already 8% of the way into the year, that means that we have 92% of the year left to do amazing things with incredible people. Here are some of the things I'm looking forward to in 2016...

I'm in love with the seasonal Mike's flavor - Glacier Berry, but I also love the classic Lemonade. It's a tough time to be a fan I guess, but regardless of how your taste buds guide you, one thing is for certain. Mike's are great to share with friends this holiday season. To help celebrate, I created a special cocktail to settle my dilemma and make something extra special for the holiday party I had this weekend [modify based on posting date].

Old Vegas may have slipped behind the curtain over the past decade to make way for hipsters and people looking for upscale luxury experiences but below the surface there are still a few Vegas treasures that will transport you back to the golden age of Vegas when being a "celebrity" meant something more than just how many Instagram followers you have. 

Vodka is one of those spirits that moves easily among the seasons. It’s versatile, making for cool cocktails during warmer months, while effortlessly accepting spicy flavors over many a chilly evening.

There’s something to be said about trying a new cocktail for the first time, especially those from off the beaten path that are unexpectedly delicious. If you’re like me, you’ve probably enjoyed tequila just a couple of ways, neat or in a margarita. So when I was asked to look at a fall cocktail lineup based on tequila, I became puzzled with delight.

This evening, the air is cold and blowing a through a sky broken by large clouds. Inside, my fireplace and kitchen stove churn with heat enough to warm my home, but I’m left wanting warmth that only comfort food can provide – and well, a comforting drink too.

The changing seasons are always something I look forward to, autumn especially so. We'll bring loved ones together, celebrating the survival of another fun filled summer, and prepare the incredible feast that will become Thanksgiving dinner.

Sadly, wildfires are a fact of life for many of us living in the mountain west, but most of us don't really know a lot about this phenomenon. The same beautiful landscape that draws us here also has a tendency to turn deadly in the fall when the brush and grass turns into tinder waiting for a spark to start a maelstrom.

Most of us look to our veterans, local police and firefighters when we consider who our heroes are - but the guys fighting fires on the sides of mountains surrounded by burning trees are sometimes forgotten. Since 1994, the WFF - Wildland Firefighter Foundation - has supported the brave men and women that risk their lives to help protect us in those situations.

Right now is a great time to be a fan of cocktails and spirits. It seems like virtually every day I hear about something new that piques my interest but only a handful have I had a chance to actually sit down and create cocktails for. Recently I was invited to test out TUACA, a fantastic vanilla citrus liqueur that is said to trace its roots all the way back to Lorenzo de Medici and later became popular in the United States after servicemen brought it home from Italy during WII. In the classic pattern we've seen with cocktails in general, TUACA is starting to become popular again with a whole new generation. 

Las Vegas has some of the best food in the entire country and whether or not you are here for a convention, a bachelor party, or simply just to partake in the thrills of "Sin City", you are sure to work up a heck of an appetite. Don't let your hunger ruin the moment though! Fortunately, Las Vegas is filled to bursting with excellent eateries ready to satisfy whatever urges you might have.

Sure, I love my bourbon, rum and tequila but sometimes it's fun to step out a bit and try something new. I can't count the number of times I've browsed the aisles of the liquor store wondering about a bottle and I am sure you've done the same. Honestly spending $20-$30 to try something new is a small investment compared to the enjoyment you may receive by discovering a new favorite or event sharing the experience of trying something new with friends.

Recently I was hosted by Crown Royal to attend a weekend of fun at the Jeff Kyle Brickyard 400.  During the weekend we were educated by Master of Whiskey (MOW) Stephen Wilson on the Crown Royal distilling process and how they come up with the blends they use in their whiskeys. 

As you've probably figured out, I love my margaritas - simply put, the touch of sweetness from agave nectar and the citrus bite of is one of the most refreshing flavors you can find. Unfortunately, you can't always take margaritas with you since traditionally it involves tequila and that means it isn't available in all the same places as your favorite beer. With Cayman Jack though, since it is a "malt beverage" it's available nationwide in select grocery, convenience, and liquor stores in areas where hard alcohol is prohibited.

Visitors to Coronado Island are typically familiar with the famous Hotel Del - afterall, it's one of the earliest buildings in the area and set the tone for the next 100+ years as a mecca for beachgoers. What I learned this week, was that just across the road is an even older building that was built a year earlier in 1887. Originally serving as the boathouse for the resort, it now houses a fantastic seafood restaurant that is part of the Bluewater Grill group.