Drinks, drinks, and drinks

New York City bartender extraordinaire Jim Meehan recently gave a Google Talk about the evolution of bartending and his own journey toward writing his acclaimed PDT Cocktail Book. That journey, he says, started with the question, "Why write a cocktail book unless you're going to add something new?" And so — after wisely providing his audience with mezcal drinks — Meehan launches into a slideshow history of bar books. While showing slides of the first celebrity bar books from 1910 or the encyclopedia-style books that came later, Meehan explains things like while "the cocktail really pretty much goes into the toilet by the 1950s," the 1970s were actually the "absolute darkest point of the cocktail." - Eric - seven eleven

Chambord is full of win ;) sounds delicious - WarLord

"Margaritas are undoubtedly already on your Cinco de Mayo menu (including a fruity variation or five), so we thought we would offer up a few other refreshing tequila-based drinks to try. All of these cocktails can be easily mixed in a big batch, so they're ready for as big a party as you decide to throw." - Eric - seven eleven from Bookmarklet

""After dissolving the brick in a gallon of water, do not place the liquid in a jug away in the cupboard for twenty days, because then it would turn into wine." The makers of the Vino Sano Grape Brick even dutifully indicated what flavors one's careless handling of grape bricks would result in: burgundy, sherry, port, claret, riesling, etc." - Eric - seven eleven from Bookmarklet

"Wilfred Sands came up with this drink, the signature cocktail of the exclusive and stunning Lyford Cay Club, when asked for a rum drink that was not overly sweet and could be served in a short glass. Forty-two years later, Sands still serves up Rum Dums from the men’s locker room at the Lyford Cay golf course. The recipe has been kept concealed, but Avenue magazine made it a mission to uncover the original Lyford Cay Club cocktail with the following recipe." - Eric - seven eleven from Bookmarklet

1 1/2 ounces light rum 3 1/2 ounces sweet and sour mix (recipe below) 1 ounce dark rum (Sands uses Meyer’s Jamaican Rum) Sweet and Sour Mix: 1 cup lemon juice 1 cup simple syrup (boil equal part sugar and water, stirring until sugar is dissolved) 2 cups water 1 raw egg white. Stir all sweet and sour mix ingredients together in a pitcher. Combine light rum and sweet and sour mix in a... more... - Eric - seven eleven

"What I like most about spring and summer is the blossoming of aromas and how that signals the awakening of life after the rest of winter. I’ve put together an extensive shopping list to take with you to your local wine shop or liquor store. Keep in mind I have listed the wines in descending order of price because I found the quality actually compared pretty directly to the price (one of the few times that ahs happened)." - Elena from Bookmarklet

"Like most things in New Jersey, the beer scene often gets a bad rap. Sandwiched between Philadelphia and New York—two craft beer monoliths in their own right—and burdened with antiquated liquor laws, the Garden State bears the brunt of as many beer jokes as those that mention highway exits or garbage dumps. But New Jersey is not all fists pumps and Real Housewives. Thanks to public demand, recent legislation has eased up on microbreweries, brewpubs, and growler sales to allow beer options in New Jersey to improve significantly. Want a taste of the new New Jersey beer scene? Check out these 5 brews." - John (bird whisperer) from Bookmarklet

I don't think I've tried the others, but I really like all the Flying Fish beers I've tried. - John (bird whisperer)

That Oatmeal Milk stout sounds really good. - Jennifer Dittrich

"Winter has come and gone, which means it’s time for the third season of HBO’s Game of Thrones. Fans of the books know how important food and drink are in giving life to the world of Westeros. So as you gather with friends to watch the season premiere on Sunday, March 31st, why not liven up your viewing party with a little authenticity (and Tyrion-approved amounts of spirits)? Click through for a new round of third season-inspired specialty cocktails and a few standout Westerosi recipes collected from around the web." - Just Kidée: Road Warrior from Bookmarklet

Perfect....we're having a costumed gathering for the first episode. A few of us are really going all out. Should be fun! - Just Kidée: Road Warrior

"We all know that hangovers make you feel like crap. But are they dangerous? Well, that depends. Many people when badly hungover feel kind of like they've been run over by a truck, and I don't know that that's a good condition for, say, operating heavy machinery. Is it the headache, the nausea, the fatigue? Or is there an actual cognitive effect of hangover? And of course, the important question: when it comes to liquor, which ones make you sicker? Not all liquors are created equal. Bourbon is the color and flavor that it is not just because of the alcohol, but because of "congenors" other chemicals that are present in the mix and which get left behind for a little bit after the alcohol itself goes away. These are some rather unsavory sounding chemicals which include formaldehyde, fesel oil, and methanol (all natural doesn't mean clean!). Compared to clear old vodka, bourbon has 37 times the congenors. And what does that mean for hangover?" - John (bird whisperer) from Bookmarklet

But Bourbon tastes better. Oh and the black label Evan Williams? That will give you a hangover. - Eric - seven eleven

I support this message. - Just Kidée: Road Warrior from BuddyFeed

*clinkies* - Anika

"Ingredients: 3 scoops vanilla ice cream 1 oz. vanilla vodka ½ cup Cap’n Crunch cereal (dry) milk, as needed to get desired consistency whipped cream (for garnish) Method: Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and top with whipped cream and Cap’n Crunch." - Eric - seven eleven from Bookmarklet

OMG. Why don't I have a milkshake now? - Spidra Webster

"The true hit of the evening was the Tun 1401. A “tun” is big marrying vessel, and Tun 1401 is the result of marrying seven different whiskeys, the youngest being 37 years and the oldest being 47 years. Wow! What a whiskey. The nose included notes of fruitcake, chocolate toffee, dried fruits spices, tobacco … Just a monster pour. Cousin says if you see this one on the shelf, snap it up—it’s easily his favorite whiskey in the Balvenie line." - Eric - seven eleven from Bookmarklet

Drink whenever a contestant cries - Elena

Drink whenever a contestant injures self - Elena

"LOUISVILLE, KY. After backlash from customers, the producer of Maker's Mark bourbon is reversing a decision to cut the amount of alcohol in bottles of its famous whiskey. Rob Samuels, Maker's Mark's chief operating officer, said Sunday that it is restoring the alcohol volume of its product to its historic level of 45 percent, or 90 proof. Last week, it said it was lowering the amount to 42 percent, or 84 proof, because of a supply shortage. "We've been tremendously humbled over the last week or so," Samuels, grandson of the brand's founder, said of customers' reactions. The brand known for its square bottles sealed in red wax has struggled to keep up with demand. Distribution has been squeezed, and the brand had to curtail shipments to some overseas markets. In a tweet Sunday, the company said to its followers: "You spoke. We listened."" - Elena from Bookmarklet

"Every once in a while you know you stumble upon something glorious. That something just so happens to be our Private Reserve Pumpkin. We have combined our signature taste with a refreshing pumpkin finish. Limited to just two and half hours on the production line this is a true connoisseur's cider." - Derrick from Bookmarklet

recently discovered a small batch reserve Woodchuck cider on tap at a local place and it was DEEE-lish. - t-ra: not givin up

"DISARONNO & TEA A wickedly tempting winter warmer Combine piping hot tea with the smooth sweetness of DISARONNO, for a treat that's bound to ward off the winter blues. Top with whipped cream. 1½ parts DISARONNO 6 parts Hot tea Whipped cream METHOD Pour all ingredients into a mazagran glass, top with whipped cream." - CarlC, spelling expert from Bookmarklet

I may have replaced the whipped cream with a little bit of ice cream. May have. - CarlC, spelling expert

Sounds like she's in her element. - LB: #TeamMonique

"If you run with anything resembling the right kind of crowd, you likely have at least one bottom-shelf drinker on your holiday shopping list. At first blush, this breed of boozer might seem easy to impress—What do you get the man who has nothing? Well, a six-pack of tube socks and a plastic jug of rum is a good start—but the bottom-shelf lifestyle is about so much more than a simple lack of shame, resources, or discernment." - Eric - seven eleven from Bookmarklet

"You may have seen the story yesterday (in the New York Times, no less) announcing that a custom-made Game of Thrones beer is on the way. Want to see what the bottle looks like? Below is a first look at Iron Throne, a blonde ale from Ommegang brewery that’s “crafted to directly tie into themes and nuances of the medieval-like fantasy realm of Westeros and the surrounding kingdoms.” In other words, you can not only taste Westeros in every sip, but even get a little hint of Braavos too." - Just Kidée: Road Warrior from Bookmarklet

Also known as egg nog. - Julian

:) - Eric - seven eleven

egg nog made with bourbon > store egg nog with bourbon - Jennifer Dittrich

"With only four ingredients, the Ginger Snap is extremely simple to make. And simple is a good thing when you're having a kitchen meltdown and your relatives are in the yard yelling about politics. But those four ingredients will come together to present a bold, spicy, autumnal cocktail of the highest order—one that will work beautifully as a pre-dinner cocktail or a pairing for the main event. As a matter of fact, the only prep work involved is making the ginger-infused simple syrup, which you can do up to a week ahead of time.  One note of advice: Those typical bright red maraschino cocktail cherries are cloyingly sweet and impregnated with synthetic dyes. Leave them on the shelf and look for good-quality pickled cherries—it is definitely worth it." - Eric - seven eleven from Bookmarklet

What you’ll need: 1½ parts bourbon ½ part ginger syrup* (or use simple syrup) 1 part ginger beer Quality pickled cherries How to make it: Fill a tall glass halfway with ice. Muddle a few cherries in a shaker, and add ice cubes, syrup, and bourbon. Shake well and strain into your tall glass. Top with ginger beer, garnish with a couple of cherries, and serve. Read more at Men's Health: http://www.menshealth.com/guy-gou... - Eric - seven eleven

Triple Chocolate Truffle 2 oz Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate ½ oz Chocolate Liqueur ½ Creme de Cacao ½ Cream - Elena from Bookmarklet

I was out of cream so I used Irish Cream instead. It's yummy! - Elena

combined with the three shots I've already had, I might be a little drunk - Elena