One of our favorite local mixologists has won $100,000 on the reality show "On The Rocks." The show, which pits bartenders against each other in a series of themed challenges, broadcast its final episode on Saturday night. Drawing Room mixer Charles Joly took home top honors, mixing up a cocktail called the Absolut Tea Time. The show is sponsored by Absolut, so the contestants had to make up a cocktail using the new Absolut Wild Tea (perhaps not the most inspiring ingredient, from our point of view) and Joly mixed it with with sloe gin, grapefruit and lemon juices, agave syrup and grated ginger. Knowing Joly, if he mixed it, it was pretty amazing. According to the Stew, he announced that he was taking his check "back to Chicago - Chi-town." Joly is a proud south-sider, and has worked in the industry in Chicago for 13 years. Good for you, Charles. more ›

We’ve seen a new type of product showing up in liquor stores over the last few months: purified, spring-water ice. The ice is sold in large, zip-top bags or in individually wrapped trays that are ready-to-freeze. The claim is that “ordinary” ice, either bought at a grocery store or made in your freezer, is not made with pure water and will change the flavor of drinks. To be frank, this sounded like the height of pointless snobbery – and it also struck us as somewhat twisted to be selling luxury ice during a recession. We were sent a bag of one of these products, called “On The Rocks,” and we decided to conduct a little taste test! more ›