You can wager on The Puma (not a cat) or Right to Party (please invite us) or Emerging Market (note that this column does not offer investing advice). All are horses, and all are racing in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2. And for just $2, the chance to win can be yours, no fancy hat re… Read moreThe bar at Monterey County Fairgrounds comes alive on race days, especially the Kentucky Derby.

The recently released cocktail menu at Pop & Hiss – the combo record store, bar and music venue in Pacific Grove – is full of hits, from the upbeat gin drink Genius of Love to the bluesy bourbon-based Love Me Like a Man. But even in a collection of solid jams, one stands out from the res… Read moreThe new cocktail list at Pop & Hiss draws inspiration from classic tunes.

To anyone who has ever thought of Rosé as unserious, a challenge awaits you at Tira Nanza. Forgoing the popular option of Monterey County’s ubiquitous Pinot Noir, cofounder and winemaker Greg Hill has decided to blend half Carmel Valley estate-grown Malbec with half Anderson Valley-grown fru… Read moreTira Nanza’s 100-percent Malbec Rosé drinks like a red wine, only more refreshing.

Rarely has the name of a beer been more literal. Read moreOn her way out, Peter B’s former brewmaster Natalie Mika left a hazy memory.

What should cross one’s mind when a bartender christens a cocktail in your honor? Boasting about it to friends – strangers, too – is an option. On the other hand, perhaps it says something about your drinking habits. Read moreThe new spring cocktail list at Estéban includes one of particular interest.

If someone were to mention Négrette, most people would draw a blank. A Spanish soccer star? A village in France, perhaps? Read moreAlthough few wineries dabble in Négrette, Comanche Cellars makes it a standout.

Tucked among the artful images of boba, matcha latte and horchata drinks on the menu screen at Lilikoi Boba Monterey Bay is slush that is rather simple in appearance. Read moreThere is a refreshing reward waiting for those who look past the boba drinks at Lilikoi.

If there’s a cause, there’s a cure – so why not put both in one glass? Read moreThe supreme Bloody Mary at Schooners is a cocktail that eats like a snack.

There’s something to be said about following directions. Read moreA dragonfruit and pineapple mocktail at Brass Tap in Marina packs a bite.

Imagine your neighbors have a thing for chartreuse. Read moreHula’s speakeasy features a line of cocktails from both green and yellow chartreuse.

It doesn’t make sense, yet it does. Read moreYou need a fork or spoon when you order Manasiri Crepe’s most popular latte.

Nine. You read that right—nine. Read moreBargetto’s Tuxedo Red is an interesting wine for a number of reasons.

Few beers inspire a search into the minutiae of history, but here goes: The U.S.S. Tangier was a seaplane tender during World War II. It survived Pearl Harbor and was involved in several battles. There was also a patrol vessel of the same name that operated during World War I. Read moreAn American pale ale from Alvarado Street blends hops with naval history.

Sometimes the most indulgent drinks are found not on the drink menu, but on the dessert menu. Read moreThe Mexican hot chocolate, borracho-style, at Alejandro’s is a feast for the senses.

When a smoothie bears the name Schwarzenegger, it implies something. No, not the tired minion who fronted for party headquarters against Prop. 50, but Ah-nold—the ripped action figure of movies past. A full 20 grams of whey protein bulk up the concoction from Perfectly Pressed, which is with… Read morePerfectly Pressed blends a protein smoothie with a familiar name and good flavor.

Wine tasting allows one to compare the workings of terroir from year to year. There is also the matter of checking the different winemaking techniques. Read moreDomaine Messier’s Pinot lineup allows for some interesting (and good) comparisons.

A new espresso has jolted Monterey County. The recently opened Six Over Coffee Co. in Monterey brews beans from Brandywine Coffee Roasters, hailing from the East Coast and regarded in the coffee industry for its fun and innovative co-fermented blends. Read moreSix Over Coffee Co. brings East Coast-based Brandywine espresso to Monterey County.

If you need a refresh to clear your head as the calendar page turns to 2026, consider drinking your vegetables. You could spend the time scrubbing, roasting and peeling a beet – or you can watch the folks at Wow! Juices and Shakes, located in the Harden Ranch Plaza shopping center, make quic… Read moreNew Year’s resolution: load up on fruits and vegetables in juice form.

Spring rains soaked Denis Hoey’s estate vineyard along River Road. The viognier grapes did not appreciate such treatment. Even waiting out the harvest season didn’t help, as the fruit stubbornly refused to fully ripen. But as the saying goes, when nature hands you a problem, you make the bes… Read moreA sparkling Viognier under Odonata’s Cote du Denis label is ready for a fun occasion.

Aimi can come to the rescue when you are bratty and undecided, when some cocktails on the menu seem too strong, others too sweet or too sour. Read moreStokes Adobe’s take on a Japanese cocktail, an occasional feature on the menu, is a prize find.