The Appleton Estate  has been producing exceptional-quality rums since 1749, and their Appleton Estate Extra 12 Year Old and Appleton Estate 21 Year Old  celebrate their fine tradition of handcrafting award-winning rums. Whether you are looking for the perfect gift for your favorite rum aficionado, small batch bourbon lover, or single malt devotee, these aged Appleton Estate Jamaica Rums will definitely be appreciated.

Debra C. Argen and Edward F. Nesta aka The Spirited Travelers of Luxury Experience helped Paul and Ann Tuennerman, aka Mr. and Mrs. Cocktail, Founders of Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, Louisiana celebrate the 7^th anniversary by visiting the spirit tasting rooms with cocktails, enjoying breakfast cocktails, attending cocktail seminars, and hosting a Spirited Dinner at Bacco with cocktail pairings. As you may have guessed, Tales of the Cocktail is a culinary and cocktail celebration where the emphasis is on knowledge and having a good time.

While restaurants frequently have wine pairing dinners, cocktail pairing dinners are rather a new concept. For a Spirited Dinner at Bacco in New Orleans, Louisiana, as part of Tales of the Cocktail 2009, Debra C. Argen and Edward F. Nesta aka The Spirited Travelers of Luxury Experience Company threw caution to the wind to create creative cocktails with ingredients that included Creole mustard, cucumbers, and dill simple syrup to pair with Executive Chef Chris Montero's exciting menu.

"Location, location, location" is a real estate phrase used to distinguish an exceptional property; location can also be applied as one of the many factors that distinguish the award-winning Heavy Water Vodka made in Sweden from winter wheat.

For rum aficionados, at the end of a day well spent, there is something special about relaxing and reliving the moment with a glass of excellent sipping rum. Joy Spence, Master Blender of Appleton Estate, the oldest sugar estate and distillery in Jamaica, proudly announces the latest achievement in a tradition that dates to 1749, Appleton Estate Limited Edition 30-Year Old Rum. Having tasted this spectacular product, if you are a collector of fine rum, then run; do not walk to purchase a bottle, as they will not last for long.

Having spent many years skiing in Vermont, the image I have is one of wholesomeness, majestic mountains, maple syrup, and dairy products; after tasting Vermont Spirits White Vodka and Vermont Spirits Gold Vodka, I found another reason why I love Vermont. Ingeniously incorporating 100% milk sugar in the Vermont Spirits White Vodka and 100% maple sap in the Vermont Spirits Gold Vodka, Vermont Spirits Vodkas are unlike other vodkas, and with every sip I could taste the goodness of the region.

Although tequila is the more famous of the Mexican spirits, mezcal is 500 years old and is older than tequila, yet despite being the senior agave this wonderful spirit is often overlooked. The award-winning Scorpion Mezcal from Oaxaca, Mexico is out to change that by offering artisan line of mezcals that include Scorpion Mezcal Silver, Scorpion Mezcal Reposado, Scorpion Mezcal Añejo 1 year, Scorpion Mezcal Reserva Añejo 5 Year, and Scorpion Mezcal Gran Reserva Añejo 7 Year that are perfect for cocktails as well as for sipping.

To quote our favorite Celtic band, MacTalla Mór Celtic Roots Band, "The pipes are calling resistance is futile," although this could easily have been the refrain for aficionados who attended WhiskyLive 2009 in New York to taste a wee dram or two of the good stuff.

As we begin 2009, Luxury Experience looks back to 1997 to appreciate the nuances of Rhum J.M. Vieux 1997, a banner year for films (Titanic, As Good as it Gets), music (Change the World - Eric Clapton, High Life - Wayne Shorter)  and rhum agricole from Martinique.

As a whisky (as well as whiskey) aficionado, Malt Advocate's WhiskyFest 2008, held in New York City, was a night to remember with over 120 brands representing more than 200 products, and 11 educational seminars.

Tall, sleek, numbered, and wearing a sexy gold medallion inscribed with CHARBAY California around its neck, CHARBAY Whiskey Release II is a limited edition for dedicated whiskey connoisseurs from CHARBAY® Winery & Distillery. Flavored with hops, CHARBAY Whiskey Release II is an exceptional winner that stands out when you want to celebrate life at its finest.

Do you know the difference between rum, ron, and rhum? Dori Bryant's annual Polished Palate RumFest 2008 brought New York rum aficionados out in droves for an exciting evening of education and spirits tasting, and of course, Luxury Experience Magazine was there.

Edward Hamilton had New Yorkers "Setting Sail for the Islands" with his New York Ministry Of Rum Festival 2008 held at Papillon Bistro & Bar where we had the opportunity to experience 60 delicious rums.

Tales of the Cocktail 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana took the cocktail world to new levels with an exciting line-up of over 130 culinary and cocktail events including seminars with some of the top industry professionals including Dale DeGroff, Tony Abou-Ganin, and Audrey Saunders.

The Spirited Travelers aka Debra C. Argen and Edward F. Nesta of Luxury Experience Magazine share their cocktail recipes from their guest appearance as Bar Chefs at Ralph's on the Park in New Orleans for a spirited evening of cocktail and food pairing during Tales of the Cocktail.

Luxury Experience Magazine presents exciting cocktail recipes from the Tales of the Cocktail 2008 that was held in New Orleans, Louisiana.

When Ed Hamilton, Ministry of Rum, asked us if we would like to be rum judges for the 2008 Ministry of Rum Tasting Competition as part of the Tales of the Cocktail  in New Orleans, we readily agreed to participate.

The Spirited Travelers aka Debra C. Argen and Edward F. Nesta present a seminar on Cognac and Armagnac: Understanding the Nuances of the Spirits at the Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Created in the 1930s, B&B Liqueur celebrates its 70^th anniversary in 2008, and Luxury Experience Magazine is already starting the party! B&B is the "grandson" of Bénédictine Liqueur, which was created in 1510. Both of these spirits combine herbs and spices for a unique taste all their own.

I first "discovered" cachaça, the national spirit of Brazil made with fresh sugar cane juice, many years ago when I lived there, and since then, I am always on the lookout for outstanding new cachaças. My latest cachaça discovery is Sagatiba Cachaça manufactured in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

The esteemed Brandy Library in New York was the perfect venue for a memorable evening of Delamain Cognac tasting with Delamain descendant, Charles Braastad, which was definitely a luxury experience.

Café Bohême is a delicious liqueur made with a blend of coffee, French vodka, vanilla, and cream, that after taking a sip had me toasting "C'est magnifique!"

Peru has been making pisco since the 16^th century, and experiencing BarSol Pisco, I felt that I was not only drinking a well-crafted spirit, but also drinking in Peruvian culture and history.

An interesting look at cocktail trends with fourth generation Joe Fee of Fee Brothers, the famous line of cocktail mixes used throughout the hospitality industry.

Joe Fee of Fee Brothers calls their line of bitters the "spice rack behind the bar," which is all well and good for cocktails, but I believe that chefs should revolt and add Fee Brothers Bitters to their own culinary spice racks in the kitchen!

The 1995 Knappogue Castle Irish Whiskey has a pale golden color, a lingering silkiness on the palate, and is pure Irish magic.

Delamain Cognac, one of the oldest names in the Cognac region, is where 200 years of history meets elegance.

Tales of the Cocktail celebrated its 5th anniversary from July 18 - 22, 2007 in New Orleans, and the "tales" have never been better!

The 2007 Tales of the Cocktail hosted many great seminars, two of which included Spirited Women Past and Present and Sake to Me!