SQIRL Los Angeles

By Kevin Posey Published January 22, 2013

We first came to know Jessica Koslow, the mastermind behind SQIRL as a producer for American Idol. How she transitioned from the role of producer to genius purveyor of jams and preserves is pretty straight forward: do what you love with integrity, pride, and talent and success will follow. SQIRL (pronounced squirrel) works with organic farmers closely located to the kitchen in the truest sense of farm to table freshness as well as sustainable happiness for the land they farm.

With jams and jellies made in small batches in flavors like wild blueberry & tarragon or blackberry & Meyer lemon, to name a few, you are bound to find something to your liking and surprise your tastebuds in the process. Our personal favorite is an apple butter that reminds us of the kind of jam grandmama used to make.

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SQIRL is the ‘jam’ (we couldn’t help it) but it isn’t only just about that – they serve up some of the greatest breakfasts and lunches in LA: poached egg on a bed of roasted brussels sprouts or a tomato rubbed prosciutto sandwich are just a sampling of the ever changing menu. Jessica personally teaches classes on the art of making preserves as well as she told us, “Everyone should know what preservation means as a craft.”

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Born in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, at the eastern most tip of the state of Kentucky, Kevin's love of music…

Food & Drink

Taste a devil and an angel on each shoulder with this pair of tequilas

A pair of aged tequilas from Tequila Cayéya with an angelic and demonic theme

tequila cayeya angel devil cay ya

One of the distinctive features of aged tequila is its color, which is typically a rich amber brown that comes from its time spent in oak casks. But there is a type of aged tequila called Añejo Cristalino which is aged like an Añejo, but then filtered through charcoal to return it to crystal clear. The idea is to keep the intensity of flavors achieved through aging, whilst maintaining the clarity of an unaged tequila.

The brand Tequila Cayéya is now releasing a new Añejo Cristalino tequila, and this one is part of a paired set with an angels and devils theme. The El Diablo’s Elixir is aged for eighteen months in a three step process, beginning with six months in an American White Oak cask, before being moved to a French Oak cask for a further six months, and then transferred back to American White Oak for its final six months. It's then charcoal filtered to achieve clarity. It's nicknamed after the devil due to its 6-6-6 aging process.

Food & Drink

Angel’s Envy Releases Special New Mizunara Cask Whiskey

Mizunara Cask Whiskey

In celebration of the tenth anniversary of Angel's Envy's Founder's Day on August 19, the distillery released a new bourbon finished in Japanese Mizunara oak casks. This blend of four-year-old and nine-year-old whiskey spent an additional two years in these new charred oak casks, made from 200-year-old trees, during which it picked up a bouquet of floral notes including sandalwood, coffee, and a bit of smoke. "We chose this release for the tenth anniversary because my dad, having taken on several consulting roles in Japan during his career, always had a deep appreciation for the country and its distilling community," said cofounder and chief innovation officer Wes Henderson in a prepared statement. "This release, finished in Mizunara casks made from this rare, 200-year-old wood, felt fitting for such a special milestone for Angel’s Envy.”

This is a first for the distillery, and it really stands out in terms of flavor from its core range that is finished in port and rum barrels. "When we set out on this project, we knew where we wanted to end up, but we also knew we might not wind up there," said Henderson in a recent Zoom meeting. His son and production manager Kyle detailed the difficult and lengthy process of getting ahold of these barrels, which he said are extremely limited and tightly controlled by the Japanese government. It took about five years in total to procure them, and 18 months of that time was spent on a waiting list.

Food & Drink

Get your guava on with the Guavabuena tequila cocktail

A fresh tequila cocktail for spring

ESPOLÒN GUAVABUENA

While we love the traditional cocktail fruit flavors of lemon, lime, and strawberry, sometimes you're after something different. If you're interested in taking your cocktails in a new direction this season, you can follow the trends for spring flavors by incorporating exotic fruits into your drinks.

The guava is a juicy tropical fruit commonly found in South and Central America, and it has attractive pink flesh as well as a sweet, pear-like flavor with a floral or vanilla hint to it. It's a great partner for tequila, with its fruity flavors, so the team at Espolòn Tequila have come up with a cocktail featuring the two in combination.