THIS WEEK, I thought I'd try to empty my mailbox. I really enjoy hearing from everyone, so thanks for taking the time to send me messages. If I don't get to your question today, hopefully I'll get to it soon. Let's look at what we have this week.

What is Chambord?

Chambord is a black raspberry liqueur that was inspired by a similar spirit produced in the Loire Valley during the late 17th century. It is believed that it was introduced to Louis XIV during a visit to Chateau de Chambord. The most noteworthy feature of Chambord is that it is made using all-natural ingredients. First, whole raspberries and blackberries are steeped in French-made spirits for several weeks to create a rich fruit infusion. This infusion is what gives Chambord its distinctive natural raspberry aroma and flavor. Next, a second layer of spirits is blended with the fruit infusion and allowed to sit for a few several more weeks. Once the second infusion is strained, the remaining fruit is pressed to obtain the natural juices and sugars. Finally, the fruit-infused spirits and juices are combined with a proprietary blend of Cognac, natural vanilla extract, honey, herbs, spices, citrus peel, and black raspberries.

The Hot Toddy

NOW THAT THE weather is a little cooler, it's time to start thinking about drinks that keep you warm on those cold winter evenings that are just around the corner. One drink that comes to mind is the Hot Toddy. The reason that I wanted to talk about it is because it's one of those drinks that's shrouded in mystery. No one ever makes it the same way twice and no two bartenders make it the same way -- ever. The reason for this will be clear by the time we're done.

So, what is a Hot Toddy anyway? If you look at the history of drinks, the Toddy precedes the cocktail on the evolutionary tree of alcoholic beverages. It first appeared in print in the mid-eighteenth century and was a common prescription for whatever ailed you. Ironically, these days the American Lung Association frowns upon the use of alcoholic beverages to treat things like the common cold because alcohol causes dehydration. Times have surely changed. The basic components of a toddy are a base spirit, hot water, sugar, and freshly ground nutmeg. The nutmeg is optional and cold water can easily be used during the warmer months if you desire.

FROM THE BACK of the bar, The Kraken appears menacing. The black-capped bottle is designed with dual grab handles reminiscent of the glory days of infamous pirates such as Edward Teach (Blackbeard) and Jack Rackham (Calico Jack). The antique-looking label features a giant cephalopod emerging from the darkest depths of the ocean, seemingly in search of a wooden vessel to crush in its massive tentacles. Those familiar with the legend of the Kraken know that science has determined that this beast is probably more fact than fiction. Like the Kraken of Icelandic lore, the bottle behind the bar has its own inky black liquid. Let's see if we can get to the bottom of the mystery of what's inside that cool bottle.

The Kraken is a black-spiced rum. As you may recall from a previous post, rum is a distillate made from the byproducts of the production of sugarcane: molasses and sugarcane juice. They are first fermented and then distilled. The clear liquid from these processes is then aged, usually in oak barrels. A grading system is used to describe rums based on the location where it was produced. For instance, the majority of Light Rum comes from Puerto Rico. They tend to be mild in flavor, making them popular as an ingredient in cocktails.

A COUPLE OF weeks ago, I wrote about some really great Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand. At the end of that post, I promised to write about another great region that I had the privilege of enjoying wine samples from -- South Africa. Unfortunately, I've misplaced my notes from the wine festival. This isn't bad news, however, since I've had other really excellent wines from a place that is known more for being an annual vacation destination for the Great White Shark than it is for being one of the great wine-producing regions in the world.

The Republic of South Africa is located on the southern tip of the continent of Africa. It has a coastline that is approximately 1740 miles in length and stretches west to the Atlantic Ocean and east to the Indian Ocean. It is a country diverse in culture and language. There are currently eleven official languages in South Africa, including English, which is the fifth most-spoken language there.

I CAN'T THINK of very many people who didn't make a big deal out of the fact that last Sunday was October 10, 2010. It was a numerologist's dream come true. I know someone who actually sat around staring at their digital watch waiting for 10:10:10 A.M. in order to get the full effect of this once in a lifetime phenomenon. It's so rare that it only happens once a century, so we are fortunate to have had the opportunity to witness it -- or totally ignore it. I was pretty excited about October 10, 2010, but not because of any numerological interest, but because it was the release date for the much anticipated Stone Vertical Epic 10-10-10.

For those of you who read my posts, you know that one of my all time favorite breweries is Stone Brewing Company, located near San Diego. I visited them in 1999, when they were relatively new. I was amazed by their beers, yet dismayed that they weren't available in Virginia back then. But, as time passed and laws softened, Stone Brewing's offerings began to make their way east. I remember the excitement the first time I saw Arrogant Bastard Ale on the shelves of my favorite beer outlet. In time, Stone's beers began showing up on the beer lists at some of my favorite restaurants.

DESPITE THE GRUMBLINGS of some, there really were some great wines at the Vineyards by the Fountain Wine Festival a couple of weekends ago. As promised, this week I'll talk about one of the wine regions that stood out at this year's festival -- New Zealand.

Contrary to popular belief, New Zealand is completely different from Australia. It's an island country located about 1,200 miles southeast of Australia and it is actually closer to Fiji than it is to Australia. New Zealand consists two main landmasses, the North Island and the South Island. There are also several other smaller islands such as Chatham Island and Stewart Island. Most of New Zealand's population is of European decent and the most common language spoken there is English. The name New Zealand is believed to have originated with Dutch cartographers, who called the islands Nova Zeelandia, after the Dutch province of Zeeland. It is not known when the term New Zealand was first used, but it first appeared in print in 1645. It is thought that the name may have been chosen by cartographer John Blaeu. For the cartography-impaired, a cartographer draws maps and charts.