The Pour
A journal of spirits, stories, and the quiet ritual of the glass. Each pour is a study in patience — from single malts to Japanese blends — revealing how sound, scent, and stillness meet in the moment before the first sip.
The Pour
More Reads From Tracks & Tales-
Angostura — The Small Bottle That Teaches a Dri...
Rafi MercerA new Rafi Mercer essay exploring the deep history and quiet magic of Angostura bitters — the secretive, aromatic force that gives the Old Fashioned its soul.
Angostura — The Small Bottle That Teaches a Dri...
Rafi MercerA new Rafi Mercer essay exploring the deep history and quiet magic of Angostura bitters — the secretive, aromatic force that gives the Old Fashioned its soul.
-
The Zest That Changes Everything — On the Quiet...
Rafi MercerThe quiet power of small rituals — from twisting orange zest over an Old Fashioned to the subtle art of deep listening.
The Zest That Changes Everything — On the Quiet...
Rafi MercerThe quiet power of small rituals — from twisting orange zest over an Old Fashioned to the subtle art of deep listening.
-
The Orange That Opens the Room
Rafi MercerA quiet meditation on the ritual of an Old Fashioned — the citrus flare, the warmth it opens, and the small brightness that can shift a whole night.
The Orange That Opens the Room
Rafi MercerA quiet meditation on the ritual of an Old Fashioned — the citrus flare, the warmth it opens, and the small brightness that can shift a whole night.
-
Five Drinks for the Home Listening Bar
Rafi MercerFive drinks that shape the perfect home listening bar — from the Old Fashioned to the Highball, Rafi Mercer explores the art of sound and taste.
Five Drinks for the Home Listening Bar
Rafi MercerFive drinks that shape the perfect home listening bar — from the Old Fashioned to the Highball, Rafi Mercer explores the art of sound and taste.
-
An Old Fashioned Kind of Origin
Rafi MercerRafi Mercer reflects on his drink of choice — the Old Fashioned — a simple, timeless ritual that resets the senses and sets the tone for slow listening around the...
An Old Fashioned Kind of Origin
Rafi MercerRafi Mercer reflects on his drink of choice — the Old Fashioned — a simple, timeless ritual that resets the senses and sets the tone for slow listening around the...
-
The Shape of Oak — On the Making of Whisky Barrels
Rafi MercerFrom oak forests to fire and iron hoops, whisky barrels shape every dram. Rafi Mercer explores the craft of coopers and the soul of the cask.
The Shape of Oak — On the Making of Whisky Barrels
Rafi MercerFrom oak forests to fire and iron hoops, whisky barrels shape every dram. Rafi Mercer explores the craft of coopers and the soul of the cask.
-
The Ten Whiskies That Belong in Your Cocktail C...
Rafi MercerTen whiskies belong in every cocktail cabinet. From rye to Japanese blends, Rafi Mercer explores the bottles that sing best when mixed.
The Ten Whiskies That Belong in Your Cocktail C...
Rafi MercerTen whiskies belong in every cocktail cabinet. From rye to Japanese blends, Rafi Mercer explores the bottles that sing best when mixed.
-
Bottles and Decanters — The Shape of Whisky
Rafi MercerBottles carry history, decanters create atmosphere. Rafi Mercer explores how glass shapes whisky — preservation, presentation, and ritual.
Bottles and Decanters — The Shape of Whisky
Rafi MercerBottles carry history, decanters create atmosphere. Rafi Mercer explores how glass shapes whisky — preservation, presentation, and ritual.
-
The Weight of the Glass
Rafi MercerThe weight of a whisky glass changes everything — in hand, in sound, in presence. Rafi Mercer reflects on glassware, ritual, and listening bars.
The Weight of the Glass
Rafi MercerThe weight of a whisky glass changes everything — in hand, in sound, in presence. Rafi Mercer reflects on glassware, ritual, and listening bars.
-
The Manhattan — Elegance in the City
Rafi MercerThe Manhattan is whisky elegance in a glass — rye, vermouth, bitters. Rafi Mercer reflects on its timeless city poise in The Pour.
The Manhattan — Elegance in the City
Rafi MercerThe Manhattan is whisky elegance in a glass — rye, vermouth, bitters. Rafi Mercer reflects on its timeless city poise in The Pour.
-
The Whisky Sour — Balance in a Glass
Rafi MercerBy Rafi Mercer Some drinks lean heavy, others lean light. The Whisky Sour lives in between. It is a drink that balances weight and lift, sweet and sharp, whisky and...
The Whisky Sour — Balance in a Glass
Rafi MercerBy Rafi Mercer Some drinks lean heavy, others lean light. The Whisky Sour lives in between. It is a drink that balances weight and lift, sweet and sharp, whisky and...
-
The Old Fashioned — Time in the Glass
Rafi MercerThe Old Fashioned is whisky at its most elemental — spirit, sugar, bitters, citrus. Rafi Mercer explores its ritual, wisdom, and presence in The Pour.
The Old Fashioned — Time in the Glass
Rafi MercerThe Old Fashioned is whisky at its most elemental — spirit, sugar, bitters, citrus. Rafi Mercer explores its ritual, wisdom, and presence in The Pour.
-
The Highball — Whisky in Motion
Rafi MercerThe Whisky Highball turns simplicity into ritual. Rafi Mercer explores whisky in motion, paired with SAULT’s 5, for The Pour at Tracks & Tales.
The Highball — Whisky in Motion
Rafi MercerThe Whisky Highball turns simplicity into ritual. Rafi Mercer explores whisky in motion, paired with SAULT’s 5, for The Pour at Tracks & Tales.
-
How to Begin a Whisky Shelf Collection at Home
Rafi MercerBegin your whisky shelf at home with balance, story, and atmosphere. A Tracks & Tales guide to curating bottles for sound and memory.
How to Begin a Whisky Shelf Collection at Home
Rafi MercerBegin your whisky shelf at home with balance, story, and atmosphere. A Tracks & Tales guide to curating bottles for sound and memory.
-
Oban — A Dog, A Town, A Dram
Rafi MercerA trip to Oban became more than a dram — a distillery visit, a coastal town, and even the name of a spaniel. Whisky as memory in the Tracks &...
Oban — A Dog, A Town, A Dram
Rafi MercerA trip to Oban became more than a dram — a distillery visit, a coastal town, and even the name of a spaniel. Whisky as memory in the Tracks &...
-
Whisky in the Listening Bar — Spirit and Sound
Rafi MercerWhisky and listening bars belong together — spirit and sound shaping atmosphere, patience, and place in the Tracks & Tales Whisky Guide.
Whisky in the Listening Bar — Spirit and Sound
Rafi MercerWhisky and listening bars belong together — spirit and sound shaping atmosphere, patience, and place in the Tracks & Tales Whisky Guide.
-
GlenDronach 15 “Revival” — The Sherry Cathedral
Rafi MercerGlenDronach 15 “Revival” is Speyside’s sherry cathedral — rich and velvety — paired with Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions in the Tracks & Tales Whisky Guide.
GlenDronach 15 “Revival” — The Sherry Cathedral
Rafi MercerGlenDronach 15 “Revival” is Speyside’s sherry cathedral — rich and velvety — paired with Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions in the Tracks & Tales Whisky Guide.
-
Benromach 10 — Smoke in Speyside
Rafi MercerBenromach 10 revives the smoky side of Speyside — balanced with fruit and malt — paired with King Tubby’s Dub From the Roots in the Tracks & Tales Whisky Guide.
Benromach 10 — Smoke in Speyside
Rafi MercerBenromach 10 revives the smoky side of Speyside — balanced with fruit and malt — paired with King Tubby’s Dub From the Roots in the Tracks & Tales Whisky Guide.
-
Old Pulteney 12 — Brine and Brightness
Rafi MercerOld Pulteney 12 is the maritime malt — crisp, briny, and bright — paired with Harold Budd & Brian Eno’s The Plateaux of Mirror in the Tracks & Tales Whisky...
Old Pulteney 12 — Brine and Brightness
Rafi MercerOld Pulteney 12 is the maritime malt — crisp, briny, and bright — paired with Harold Budd & Brian Eno’s The Plateaux of Mirror in the Tracks & Tales Whisky...
-
Caol Ila 12 — Smoke with Clarity
Rafi MercerCaol Ila 12 shows Islay peat with clarity — citrus, smoke, and balance — paired with Brian Eno’s Ambient 1: Music for Airports in the Tracks & Tales Whisky Guide.
Caol Ila 12 — Smoke with Clarity
Rafi MercerCaol Ila 12 shows Islay peat with clarity — citrus, smoke, and balance — paired with Brian Eno’s Ambient 1: Music for Airports in the Tracks & Tales Whisky Guide.
-
Bunnahabhain 12 — Quiet Depths of Islay
Rafi MercerBunnahabhain 12 shows Islay without peat — rich, nutty, and maritime — paired with Bill Evans’s Sunday at the Village Vanguard in the Tracks & Tales Whisky Guide.
Bunnahabhain 12 — Quiet Depths of Islay
Rafi MercerBunnahabhain 12 shows Islay without peat — rich, nutty, and maritime — paired with Bill Evans’s Sunday at the Village Vanguard in the Tracks & Tales Whisky Guide.
-
Glenfiddich 15 Solera — Harmony in Motion
Rafi MercerGlenfiddich 15 Solera blends tradition and innovation — smooth, layered, dynamic — paired with Herbie Hancock’s Head Hunters in the Tracks & Tales Whisky Guide.
Glenfiddich 15 Solera — Harmony in Motion
Rafi MercerGlenfiddich 15 Solera blends tradition and innovation — smooth, layered, dynamic — paired with Herbie Hancock’s Head Hunters in the Tracks & Tales Whisky Guide.
-
Balvenie DoubleWood 12 — Patience in Two Acts
Rafi MercerBalvenie DoubleWood 12 is Speyside’s gentle masterpiece — honey, vanilla, and sherry spice — paired with Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On in the Tracks & Tales Whisky Guide.
Balvenie DoubleWood 12 — Patience in Two Acts
Rafi MercerBalvenie DoubleWood 12 is Speyside’s gentle masterpiece — honey, vanilla, and sherry spice — paired with Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On in the Tracks & Tales Whisky Guide.
-
Old Pulteney 18 — The Maritime Malt
Rafi MercerScapa Skiren is Orkney’s gentler single malt — honeyed, citrus-bright, and coastal — paired with Hiroshi Yoshimura’s Music for Nine Postcards in the Tracks & Tales Whisky Guide.
Old Pulteney 18 — The Maritime Malt
Rafi MercerScapa Skiren is Orkney’s gentler single malt — honeyed, citrus-bright, and coastal — paired with Hiroshi Yoshimura’s Music for Nine Postcards in the Tracks & Tales Whisky Guide.
Hello · Hallo · Bonjour · Ciao · Hola · Hallo · Olá · Hej · こんにちは · 你好
Every month, The Listening Club gathers around the world. Join here.
Ten bottles that shape the perfect cocktail shelf — versatile, characterful, and alive in the glass.
Not every whisky wants to be in a cocktail. Some are meant to be drunk neat, patient and undisturbed. Others — bold, bright, versatile — come alive when stirred, shaken, or lengthened.