
At the
Food Network's NYC Wine and Food Festival, besides
the delicious food, there was a plethora of interesting spirits. I waded through the depths of the rums, tequilas, and everything in between, and have picked my top four pours to share with you. If you're into trying out the newest, latest liquors, I highly recommend you seek out these bottles.

It's the middle of Fall, and the festivities are bigger than ever. From
Spencer, WV, to
San Francisco, there's something for everyone, whether you've got a
craving for candy or a
hankering for ham. Know of something we've left out?

I've always been a complete novice to the category of spirits known as
aperitifs. These old-school standbys — which include
liqueurs, dry
champagne, and fortified wines — rose to fame in Europe in the 1800s, and have remained popular ever since.
When I received a bottle of
Dubonnet (
$11.99), I decided to begin my aperitif studies.

My favorite condiment in the entire world might just be
Tabasco hot sauce (
DearSugar and I both put it on everything!) — so when I heard the hot-sauce empire was developing its own tequila, I got my hands on a bottle stat.
If you're a fan of tequila and not afraid of heat, you should definitely give
Tabasco Tequila ($21.99) a try. The spirit has the toasty-tart flavor of tequila with a bit of spice that's not overpowering.

Events are all over the map this week, especially in New York and California. As usual, there's no shortage of festivals for the oenophile. The other activities, however, really demonstrate our country's appreciation for regional American foods, from shellfish on the Eastern seaboard to kolaches in Texas.