We just returned from the 22nd edition of Tales of the Cocktail, the annual drinks conference/bacchanalia held in New Orleans during the ungodly summer period of late July.

So, what was the buzz this year? Throughout 60+ events and tastings, both intimate and epic in scope, we found six common threads:

1. The Espresso Martini Has Paved the Way for a Coffee Cocktail Explosion

The Espresso Martini is here to stay (Mr Black did a whole party about it, as our image above showcases), but coffee cocktails are just getting started.

2. The Olive Isn't Just for Martinis

You likely associate the olive with the almighty Martini, and we don’t blame you. But the olive can do so much more.

Yesterday, we asked you if you believe you've experienced the placebo effect for yourself. About 70% of you said yes, and 30% of you said no.

Review: 2024 Cadillac Lyriq SUV Is the Full Luxury EV Package, With an Asterisk

Cadillac has done admirable work to give the Lyriq a legitimately fresh face that still hews to the brand’s well-established visual identity. The “false grille” up front might resemble the prismatic view from the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon as it attempts a lightspeed launch, but it’s a surprisingly good fit with the SUV’s forward lighting and broad visage. Seen in profile, the Lyriq is a little more anonymous, disappearing against the rest of the battery-bearing crowd, but at the rear we get more signature lighting and sheet metal shaping that pulls it clearly back into the Cadillac camp.

IN THE NEWS

What’s a V8 worth? For some supercar buyers, an extra $400,000.

Shochu highballs are gaining popularity in the U.S.

AI website scrapers are evolving at alarming rates.

Can one protein make a difference in preventing Alzheimer’s disease?

Is Everyone as Obsessed With Stephen Nedoroscik as I Am?

BY LOGAN MAHAN

I’ll admit my introduction to the U.S. men’s national gymnastics team was via Taylor Swift.

With the prospect of an exciting announcement from the artist on Saturday night during NBC and Peacock’s Primetime in Paris, my roommate and I tuned into the 8 p.m. rebroadcast of the earlier Olympic swimming and gymnastics events. Unfortunately for us Swifties, there was no new news — just a re-airing of an Olympic promo video that was already posted on Twitter. But what my roommate and I discovered was arguably better than any new Swift announcement.

Don’t Miss These Incredible Overlooked Destinations in Japan

Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka represent the big three for most visitors to Japan. There, you’ll revel in the bright lights and big cities while enjoying plenty of history and culture. Elsewhere, maybe Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido is calling, or instead, the sandy, southern beaches of Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands, closer to Taiwan and China than Japan’s largest island of Honshu.

Swerving off the main tourist trail in the country, though, opens up a wealth of new possibilities. You’ll find reduced crowds at destinations tucked away amid lush, natural environments, as well as secondary cities that offer an abundance of attractions and regional culinary delights.