About this site

Posted by Adam in Discourses on February 16, 2012

That Sweet Burn is a website about how to win at drinking. We believe you’ll have even more fun if you dedicate some thought to what’s going down your gullet. Alcohol is a world to be explored without hesitation or fear of the unknown. We’re based in Toronto and you can follow us on Twitter [...]

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I drank the chicken and the egg. It was gross.

Posted by Adam in Alcoxotica on March 29, 2013

Hey, have you ever tried Tic Tack? It’s the liquor they serve in El Salvador, and also in Hell.

In the course of my never-ending quest to drink weird booze, I noticed this odd product I’d never heard of at the Summerhill liquor store.** It was difficult to ignore the cartoonishly yellow and red label [...]

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Bourbon, tequila, mezcal

Posted by Adam in Links on March 25, 2013

Feel like reading about some spirits? Check out some recent booze writing of mine:

• For CityBites, a local Toronto magazine for food (and drink) lovers, I interviewed Fred Noe of the storied Beam family.

• In the National Post, I continued my March Mexican Madness with columns about Tromba tequila and Fortuna mezcal (pictured [...]

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Let it Phoebe Snow

Posted by Adam in Classic Cocktails on March 20, 2013

Well, spring is technically here in my home of Toronto and yet the snow is still with us — with more on the way Wednesday night. 

But hey, I’m not naïve enough to expect March in Canada to be nice. The snow is even lovely at times [writer ducks while fellow Canadians throw things at [...]

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Rye whisk(e)y smackdown: USA vs. Canada

Posted by Adam in Category smackdowns on March 14, 2013

Seven spicy ryes did congregate on my dining room table last Saturday night, as I held a seven-brand (but really six) Rye Whisk(e)y Smackdown! It was a blind tasting pitting three U.S. rye whiskies against three from my beloved homeland, Canada (which is currently thawing out, thanks for asking).

First: What is rye?

The quick [...]

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The drinks of Japan, France, Mexico … and Toronto

Posted by Adam in Links on March 12, 2013

Hey there, here’s a quick heads-up for some recent booze writing of mine:

• At The Looptail, the blog of the Toronto-based tour company G Adventures, I have a two-part primer on what to drink in Japan. Part One looks at whisky, awamori, shochu and beer, while Part Two concerns sake, naturally.

• Over at [...]

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How to make bacon tequila

Posted by Adam in How to win at drinking on February 27, 2013

Because bacon bourbon is so totally 2008, I decided to make something that I believe would be new and different (and awesome): bacon tequila.

Here’s the procedure I followed last night, based on a synthesis between the bacon bourbon made famous by NYC cocktail bar PDT and the wonderful bacon vodka crafted by Robin Wynne [...]

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Whisky for kids, and other recent writing

Posted by Adam in Links on February 24, 2013

Should we be wary of the “spiced” Canadian whiskies proliferating at our nation’s liquor stores? In a word, yes, I argue in a recent Happy Hour booze column in the National Post. Read it here.

Other recent columns:

• Don’t think of vermouth as purgatorial. Think of it as celebratory, and worth celebrating.

• Red, [...]

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Kiss Valentine’s Day hello with retro cocktails

Posted by Adam in Classic Cocktails, Links on February 12, 2013

This kiss-in-the-dark cocktail is one of three vintage drinks I’ve revived for a special Valentine’s edition of my Happy Hour column at the National Post. Click here for the rest, and the recipes.

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I’ll have a Ramos gin fizz, hold the Ramos

Posted by Adam in Toronto booze news on February 6, 2013

A friend spotted this misleading shelf tag at the LCBO recently and snapped this photo. Any recipe for a Ramos gin fizz that says egg white and orange flower water are not essential misses the point of the frothy, sweet drink and is not worthy of the name Ramos. (For a real Ramos, click here [...]

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Great Canadian bitters

Posted by Adam in Toronto booze news on February 5, 2013

Monday night I had the pleasure to sample Kale & Nori’s Bittered Sling cocktail bitters at an industry showcase event at Toronto’s Marché.

While turnout was what one might expect for a cold Monday February night, Kale & Nori’s Lauren Mote graciously walked That Sweet Burn through the range of vibrant flavours, largely made with [...]

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