08/25/11

Two Matters of Interest: Alcohol and You, and Alcohol and Shipping

Whole countries and the societies within them have responded to unacceptable behavior and drunk driving with more stringent laws. Drinking and driving is not a correct combination, and the challenge is to know when you, or a friend, has crossed through the gray area and entered the red zone.

A few weeks ago, on June 23, we wrote a column in these pages about how the body deals with alcohol. The more immediate concern may be at what point one's blood alcohol content (BAC) exceeds the .08 percent level defined by law as the outer limit of sobriety. Unless we all carry a meter around, calibrated just like the police’s at the checkpoint up the road, how do...

Posted at 12:54 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

08/18/11

Sizing Up the Sazerac Story

The Official List for Louisiana:

State Motto: Two. "The Bayou State" and "Sportsman’s Paradise"
State Flower: Magnolia
State Tree: Bald Cypress
State Song: "Give Me Louisiana" (you really didn’t think it was "You Are My Sunshine" or "When the Saints Go Marching In," did you?)
State Bird: Eastern Brown Pelican
Cocktail for Largest Metropolitan Area: Sazerac

As if further proof was needed that “we are different from just about everyone else,” in 2008, amidst a number of economic and managerial crises, the Legislature of the State of Louisiana passed a bill through both houses, signed by the Governor, affirming by law that the Sazerac is the official cocktail of New Orleans. An...

Posted at 09:31 AM | Permalink | Comments: 1

08/11/11

The True Spirit of New Orleans

There are those gentle souls among us who would argue that Kentucky whisky is the most befitting and representative spirit of our city thanks to historical trading activities that even pre-date the Age of Steam.

Others note that gin has the upper hand on connections to the citizens of this community, thanks to Henry C. Ramos and his soothing concoction, the gin fizz.

Wine is always appropriate, with emphasis on cognac and absinthe, so passionately enjoyed by our forefathers, and foremothers, leaving permanent marks on this town’s signage and restaurant beverage lists.

But I would say that rum, in all its many splendors and flavors, is really the spirit of the Crescent City. Rum is universally sold along our most celebrated party street, being a key ingredient...

Posted at 09:49 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0

08/04/11

Tales' End

I did not want to rush headlong, all willy-nilly, into the gushy praise and comments that were heaped immediately from all corners after the recent spirits festival Tales of the Cocktail. I preferred to take a more measured approach in my gushy praise.

Let us be very clear: this event ranks as one of the top three spirits events in the world. (Don’t ask me to name the others.)

Ann and Paul Tuennerman have put together a festival that rolls out on Tuesday and never loses momentum until the last glass is rimmed late Sunday afternoon. Any one of the evening blockbuster events, and there are at least four every night, would make a convention coming to town proud of the effort, and it would stand as the singular event for the attendees.

For Tales, there were more...

Posted at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments: 0