Eliza Dumais

New York

Writer and Editor at Freelance

ok sport // currently @vice, formerly @refinery29 @thrillist @domino

Articles

The Problem of the Cocktail Garnish

1 week ago | ediblebrooklyn.com | Eliza Dumais

On a scale from one to wild, the contemporary cocktail garnish is hard to place. At present, your drink—regardless of what, exactly, you’ve ordered—seems just as likely to arrive topped with a tidy curl of orange peel as, say, a proper octopus tentacle, or perhaps an entire quail. Therein lies the problem of the garnish: Nontraditional innovation is certainly a positive, but when does innovation cross the absurdity threshold? How much caviar do we really need on any given table?
For Wine Writer Alice Feiring, Natural Wine Is Not Just a Trend

2 weeks ago | punchdrink.com | Eliza Dumais

Alice Feiring has been writing about natural wine since long before “chilled red” and “skin contact” emerged as standard subheadings on wine lists. In fact, her work predates popular use of the moniker “natural wine” itself. “My first big wine story came out in 2001—after which, I was immediately branded as a natural wine writer,” she says.
Coravin Timeless Three+ Review

1 month ago | wsj.com | Eliza Dumais

By Ian Garrity, as told to Eliza Dumais As a sommelier, I want to usher in a new generation of drinkers-and make wine feel more democratic on the whole—but that's not always easy. For casual and novice drinkers, it's tough to experiment or try new things when desirable bottles can be extremely pricey, and are limited. Even for seasoned drinkers, the cost prohibits plenty of folks from tasting bottles from sought after producers or regions.
Have we reached ‘Peak Can’? Eliza Dumais on the supposed joys of aluminium

1 month ago | decanter.com | Eliza Dumais

Alas, the can epidemic surges onward. In the year of our lord 2025, there is nothing that Big Beverage will not put in a can: kombucha, martinis, cold brew, water. And it comes as no surprise that wine falls at the top of the list of trending can-able substances. But, for all its proliferation, to what degree are we meant to take it seriously? ‘If you wanna drink out of a can, why not just drink anything else?’ one bartender inquired when I addressed the subject.
The Destination Bachelorette Burnout Is Real-Plan a Local One Instead

1 month ago | cntraveler.com | Eliza Dumais

The bachelorette party—nearly Shakespearean in its implied drama and delight—has grown so profoundly popular as to seem a mandated prerequisite to marriage itself (did you even wed if you didn’t fly to Miami beforehand to inhale espresso martinis with your nearest and dearest?!).
The Destination Bachelorette Burnout Is Real-Plan a Local One Instead

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Eliza Dumais

Olga Pankova/GettyThe bachelorette party—nearly Shakespearean in its implied drama and delight—has grown so profoundly popular as to seem a mandated prerequisite to marriage itself (did you even wed if you didn’t fly to Miami beforehand to inhale espresso martinis with your nearest and dearest?!).
The failure of the Surgeon General: Eliza Dumais on the irrelevance of warning labels

2 months ago | decanter.com | Eliza Dumais

My cigarette principles are as follows: I only smoke after midnight or in France – whereby packs of Marlboro Gold come plastered with close-up shots of blackened lungs or chains of rotting teeth. And while yes, I belong to the absolute lowest common denominator of smoker (neither debaucherous enough to lean in, nor righteous enough to properly abstain) my point is that such warning labels, even at their most graphic, have done little to scare me off (even sans the chemical draw of addiction).
So Long, Chilled Reds. The “Big Red” Renaissance Is Upon Us.

Jan 20, 2025 | punchdrink.com | Eliza Dumais

You’re familiar with the Big Reds guy. You can picture him now: monocled, aging, really into discussing credit card points. Nothing like the stick-and-poked pét-nat evangelist at your local wine bar. Then again, historically speaking, all trends obey the laws of circularity... and if low-rise jeans can return to favor, so, too, can Bordeaux. It goes without saying that the “chilled red” movement has gone rogue.
Is Sex Good For Your Skin? The Orgasm Glow, Explained

Jan 18, 2025 | getmaude.com | Eliza Dumais

Maybe they're born with it, maybe it’s orgasm. All great Internet Soliloquies begin with the same, storied opening line: “So, a lot of you have been asking me about my skincare routine”––after which, you’ll likely hear a Youtube heiress wax poetic about toning, exfoliation, night masks, cardio, and maybe the thrice daily consumption of a rare variety of Japanese sweet potato.
Is January still dry? Eliza Dumais on an alcohol-free month

Jan 12, 2025 | decanter.com | Eliza Dumais

On a spectrum ranging from agony to ecstasy, abstinence to excess, Dry January is… fluid, contrary to its title. The practice – call it a tradition, a resolution, a balm – is a reliable source of cultural lore. Whether you’re going completely dry, damp, or wet, you will find yourself inundated with algorithmically related content: Articles outlining the benefits of abstaining, Instagram ads for non-alcoholic spirits, Twitter (X) jokes denigrating the ‘holier-than-thou’ practice.