One of the nice things about having a reputation as a lush is that people often give you alcohol for your birthday! Even if your birthday was 60 days ago.  And if you consider being gifted with moonshine “nice.”

Now, technically moonshine is the product of an unlicensed still, but Donny visited the new Kings County Distillery in Williamsburg & brought me back a 200mL bottle of a terrifyingly clear liquid labeled “moonshine” with an index card reading:

Read the rest of this entry…

That bad boy up there is more than just steampunk pr0n. That is the still responsible for creating one of the most unusual and intriguing gins I’ve ever tasted.

Breuckelen Distillery had its Grand Opening the other day, so Donny and I wandered over to get a taste for ourselves. Founders Brad and Liz were both on-hand to give tours and show off their finished product. The story of how the distillery came to be (short story: he was a laid-off banker with a dream inspired by an in-flight magazine, long story: go here) is pretty inspiring, but what Brad had to say as he toured our group of 25-30 gin lovers around was even more interesting.

Read the rest of this entry…

Thekitchn.com just put up an awesome list of good quality booze for poor quality bank accounts. The list is bartender recommended and has some great stuff on it, including the yumliscious El Dorado Three Year Rum. check it out and drink more for less!!!  Best Bargain Booze.

As I sit here in line for the midnight show for the next installment of my childhood hero’s triumphant film career, I feel it necesary to reach out and share my joy. My offer to you? The perfect drink to accompany your viewing of iron man 2.

I chose a classic cocktail that I think perfectly represents iron man. It is a Blood and Sand.

The blood and sand is:

1 oz scotch whisky
1 oz orange juice
3/4 oz of cherry brandy
3/4 oz of vermouth

Shake and serve in a tumbler with ice.

The reasons for my choice are numerous. First of all, as the name implies, the drink is red and gold in color. Just like our good ol’ shellhead. Next, it is one of the few cocktails that uses scotch, a drink that alcoholic Tony Stark would heartily embrace. And finally, it is a classy drink from a classy time. And if Tony stark is anything, he’s a class machine. Also it sounds violent. And there was a lot of sand and blood in the first movie. And it’s dee-liscious.

So drink up and enjoy the movie!

Deep in hip Los Angeles is a hip neighborhood called Silver Lake. Deep in Silver Lake is the hip strip called Sunset junction. And right in the middle of Sunset Junction is my new favorite shop – Bar Keeper.

A self proclaimed “head shop for those who want to prepare and serve their cocktails with style” This store has just about everything you could need for the best bar of all time. Glasses of every shape, bar decorations and retro advertisements, pitchers, shakers, strainers, napkins, bottles for making your own infusions or bitters, and countless things I couldn’t even identify.  I’d been in it’s retro chic walls once before but two things were different this time that made me have to share this treasure with the internet. The first thing I noticed as I was walking in was a public notice of application to sell alcohol  (SCOOOOORE!) and the other was in the store – they had a table set up for bitters tasting.

Read the rest of this entry…

Happy best-excuse-to-drink-in-the-middle-of-the-week-ever Day, you guys!

To celebrate, We decided to hit one of our most favorite local bars, Laurel Tavern. It’s the Studio City neighbor of Los Angeles, right around the corner from our place, and I thought it would be perfect.  So, 5pm this afternoon the wifey and I went to the bar totally pizzumped about the possibility of not only Happy Hour Specials, but also St. P Day Specials! KILLER COMBO RIGHT? Well i was mighty surprised when the waitress said to me, “Sorry no specials today.”

Read the rest of this entry…

L Magazine, that free little sidewalk magazine, named the best NY bars in their newest issue. Two of my favorites made the list:

Bar Great Harry was named “Best Bar in Which to Make-Out in the Back Room” while Lucky 13 was called “Best Bar for Lovers of PBR, Well Whiskey, Slasher Flicks, and Erotic Photo Hunt.”

Welcome to the Don’t Files, where I drink things you shouldn’t so that you don’t have to.

A couple nights ago I found myself in a corner store with some friends picking out my drink for the night. Seeing as how I am drawn to shiny colorful things I found myself staring at a blindingly gaudy row of malt-beverage-energy-drink-liver-killers called Four Loko. It didn’t matter that the name was like way stupid, they looked beautiful. Plus there was a blue raspberry flavor! What could go wrong?!

I’ll start with the facts about this drink. It tastes like runoff from a wet dog that has been shampooed with urine and tanning oil. When I opened the can, the entire room gagged in unison at the horrible smell it shot out like a sticky cloud of nightmares. But I soldiered on for the good of the don’t files and the many evenings that could be saved if I was strong enough to sacrifice mine.

While I guess it is supposed to get you drunk and give you energy, it ended up just makings sleepy and mildly annoyed. Probably because of the 279 oz of sugar they get into every can. Even the respectable 12% alc content couldn’t overcome the sugar sucker punch this coma enducing energy drink holds.

In conclusion, Don’t. Also, I am gonna go out on a limb and say that unless you like vomitting after a night of drinking and then being wide awake for another 6 hours, I would stay away from all alcoholic energy drinks. Seriously. Just don’t.

My wifey pointed me to this gem from the internets yesterday.  Apparently Men’s Health magazine wrote an article listing the 100 drunkest cities in America.  My reaction? “Awesome, I hope we’re on there! GO L.A.!!!!!”  But my dreams were shattered when I saw first place. Fresno. Yep, Fresno, CA. Second place went to Reno and the bronze medal was awarded to Billings Montana. LA wasn’t even in the top ten! Read the rest of this entry…

Before a wonderful dinner at Po, my friend Jeff & Eva suggested we meet at Vol de Nuit, a Belgian beer bar in the West Village. Tucked away in the same neighborhood (and sharing some of the same clientele) as a dozen over crowded, noisy bars, Jeff suggested this excellent Trappistes Rochefort. Dark and complex, and just over 9% alcohol. I then had a draught beer that was just as dark but nowhere near as flavorful, though the name it escapes me so beware if you go there for a drink.

Vol de Nuit — 148 W 4th St.