The Explainer

What is anise? It’s in pastis, anis, and absinthe — here’s what you need to know

In search of sotol: on the hunt for the spirit made from the Desert Spoon

The Scotch whisky rules: within the rules, there’s still room to surprise

Explainer: alcohol begins with yeast, so why don’t we talk about it more?

What is MSG? Here’s a brief history, and how to use it in drinks

Explainer: the differences between pot stills and column stills

With world tequila day on tomorrow, here’s a tequila primer to refresh your knowledge

A primer on how rum has spread around the world (and 7 great bottles)

Explainer: Once traded ounce for ounce with gold, why are we so salty about salt?

Bourbon basics: how well do you know the spirit loved by hipsters and hillbillies alike?

A brief history of gin, ahead of World Gin Day on June 8 (plus, 9 bottles to celebrate with)

The beauty of barrels: the old school tech that hasn’t gone away