Saucier’s book is known not just for its recipes but also for its risqué illustrations of young women. Well, I say risqué, but they’re only so by 1950s standards. Today, they’re rather tame. Personally, I think they’re charming and fun. I know, I know. Portraying women in such a cartoonish way has its pitfalls, as [...]

Well, I apparently paid way too much for it, having embroiled myself in a bidding war on eBay and being too stubborn to back out, but I finally have a copy of Ted Saucier’s saucy 1951 cocktail book, Bottom’s Up! For those of you who don’t know the book, it’s a hefty thing, at a [...]

Mrs. Bitters and I had dinner last night at Hearth, in the East Village, and as we normally do, we started with cocktails. I got the Jim Hogg, named after an old-time Texas governor. Delicious, well-balanced drink. I don’t have proportions, but the ingredients are pecan-infused rye, sweet vermouth, and maple syrup. The spicy rye [...]

We celebrate Repeal Day. Perhaps we should also remember January 16, 1919, the day that the Eighteenth Amendment was ratified. One year later, Prohibition became the land’s law throughout the States.

Twenty-freakin’-three? Holy crap, we’re just shy of the two-year mark! Many, many thanks to Marleigh for hosting this month’s Mixology Monday!

Brandy MxMo is a challenge. With so many fruit brandies out there, how do you choose? Aside from apple brandies, I haven’t quaffed much from the many barrels of non-grape brandies that are available. So [...]

Tivo, VCR, or whatever recording technology you happen to have.

According to Gary Regan’s Ardent Spirits newsletter, David Wondrich is set to appear on Late Night with Conan O’Brien tomorrow, Friday, January 11, etc. Has Conan shaved his strike beard? It could be the battle of the beards!

I’ve been remiss in linking out to this, but my friend Andrew Wheeler, an English food and drinks writer, is blogging, with his writing partner Jill, at Very Good Taste.

Among the foody posts at Very Good Taste are a couple of great boozy entries–one on the Sazerac and another on gin.

I feel like I should [...]