"been slacking on the posts, more to come soon"
Wine in Roman society had a long and changeable history. At certain times prohibited to certain social groups, it was believed to be a health drink. It was also enjoyed in a variety of different ways. The Romans and Alcohol Wine was the Roman’s alcoholic drink of choice. Viticulture was established in long before the influence of the Greeks. The Romans had their own god of wine, Dionyus, a deity with very particular Roman characteristics which were incompatible with the Greek wine God Dionysus. This indicates that Liber developed separately and could not be directly associated with any Greek gods. Beer was available but regarded as an inferior drink. Roman beer was made from rye and was extremely cheap, half the price of the worst kinds of wine. It was not a drink for the sophisticated although beer foam was used in the cosmetics of roman ladies. Despite its popularity, wine was not traditionally drunk widely throughout society. According to the laws of Romulus, only free men over the age of 35 were allowed to drink wine. Women and slaves were prohibited. According to legends, Roman husbands were entitled to kill their wives for even attempting to drink wine. Cato describes the origins of the custom of husbands greeting their wives with a kiss on their return home. It was to ensure they had not been drinking. By the republic, these prohibitions were loosening up and wine was becoming more widely available even to the lowest classes of Roman society. The Health Benefits of Wine The Romans believed that wine could be a healthy drink. Aged wines in particular were believed to aid sleep, circulation and the digestive system. Wine was even given to cattle for certain types of bovine illness. Not everyone saw wine as a good thing. Pliny the Elder attributed the drinking of wine to madness and bad behaviour that could result in crime. What Did the Roman’s Add to Wine? The Romans did not usually drink their wine neat. Older wines were often very strong and mixed with water to dilute their heady nature. Wine was also warmed to make a comforting drink. It was also customary to add fruit, herbs or spices to wine before drinking. Wine did not always keep well. Colour and flavour could be impaired not only by the deterioration of wine but also by methods used to improve it. Filtering wine with chalk to remove cloudiness and smoking it to remove impurities could leave it bitter or faded. Aloe, saffron and elderberry were used as natural colour enhancers and flavour was accentuated with flowers such as violet, lilac, rose and myrtle as well as spices such as pepper, cinnamon and coriander. The Colour and Aging of Roman Wine Roman wine came in a variety of shades of colour that were linked not only to grape type but age. ALBUS was a light young white wine. FULVUS was an older white, golden yellow in colour. SANGUINEUS was a young red, blood red in colour whilst NIGER was an older red, so dark it looked black. Wine was generally only considered drinkable up to the age of about 20 years. There were exceptions to this. Pliny mentions the Consul Optimus, a famous aged wine. Named after the consul of the year of its creation, it was reputedly 200 years old. It was however undrinkable on its own and was instead mixed with younger wines to improve their flavour. Types of Roman Wine There were many different types of Roman wine. Some were named according to vintage and others according to how they were made and the ingredients they used. FALERNUM. The most famous Roman wine was a fulvus white. It was best drunk aged although it was reputed to last no longer than 20 years. CALENUM. Similar to Falernum, this had a lighter taste and was apparently the patrician’s favourite. ALBANUM. There were two types: dry and sweet. It was regarded as a quality wine that needed 15 years to mature. MASSILITANUM. A smoky, cheap wine that was reputedly healthy but not very tasty. MOMENTANUM. Need at least five years to be drinkable and even then it was unremarkable according to Martial . MULSUM-the aperitif of choice. Mulsum was wine combined with honey, either during or after fermentation. Columella recommended the addition of the honey during brewing although Pliny the elder felt it should be added to a dry wine before serving. PASSUM. Raisin wine. Made from half dried grapes left on the vine, passum was a sweet drink. CONDITUM. A wine mixed with pepper, honey and seawater, which was an ancient Greek custom. Cato recommended the use of Apician grapes. LORA-the wine of slaves, Lora was made from the leftovers of grape production. Grape pulp was mixed with water and pressed a second or third time. POSCA. Not strictly a wine, this was a vinegar based drink, often popular with travellers. The vinegar was carried in a flask and added to water, making a reputedly refreshing beverage. The custom arose because of vinegars disinfecting properties. It therefore a way of making unreliable water drinkable. To improve flavour it was often flavoured with spices and honey. Posca was the drink given to Christ on the cross. Its refreshing nature indicates this was not the cruel gesture it is reputed to be. Sources:Around the Roman Table by Patrick Faas.Macmillan (2003) Cato and Varro: On Agriculture. trans. W D Hooper & H B Ash. Loeb Classical Library Wine in Roman society had a long and changeable history. At certain times prohibited to certain social groups, it was believed to be a health drink. It was also enjoyed in a variety of different ways. The Romans and Alcohol Wine was the Roman’s alcoholic drink of choice. Viticulture was established in long before the influence of the Greeks. The Romans had their own god of wine, Dionyus, a deity with very particular Roman characteristics which were incompatible with the Greek wine God Dionysus. This indicates that Liber developed separately and could not be directly associated with any Greek gods. Beer was available but regarded as an inferior drink. Roman beer was made from rye and was extremely cheap, half the price of the worst kinds of wine. It was not a drink for the sophisticated although beer foam was used in the cosmetics of roman ladies. Despite its popularity, wine was not traditionally drunk widely throughout society. According to the laws of Romulus, only free men over the age of 35 were allowed to drink wine. Women and slaves were prohibited. According to legends, Roman husbands were entitled to kill their wives for even attempting to drink wine. Cato describes the origins of the custom of husbands greeting their wives with a kiss on their return home. It was to ensure they had not been drinking. By the republic, these prohibitions were loosening up and wine was becoming more widely available even to the lowest classes of Roman society. The Health Benefits of Wine The Romans believed that wine could be a healthy drink. Aged wines in particular were believed to aid sleep, circulation and the digestive system. Wine was even given to cattle for certain types of bovine illness. Not everyone saw wine as a good thing. Pliny the Elder attributed the drinking of wine to madness and bad behaviour that could result in crime. What Did the Roman’s Add to Wine? The Romans did not usually drink their wine neat. Older wines were often very strong and mixed with water to dilute their heady nature. Wine was also warmed to make a comforting drink. It was also customary to add fruit, herbs or spices to wine before drinking. Wine did not always keep well. Colour and flavour could be impaired not only by the deterioration of wine but also by methods used to improve it. Filtering wine with chalk to remove cloudiness and smoking it to remove impurities could leave it bitter or faded. Aloe, saffron and elderberry were used as natural colour enhancers and flavour was accentuated with flowers such as violet, lilac, rose and myrtle as well as spices such as pepper, cinnamon and coriander. The Colour and Aging of Roman Wine Roman wine came in a variety of shades of colour that were linked not only to grape type but age. ALBUS was a light young white wine. FULVUS was an older white, golden yellow in colour. SANGUINEUS was a young red, blood red in colour whilst NIGER was an older red, so dark it looked black. Wine was generally only considered drinkable up to the age of about 20 years. There were exceptions to this. Pliny mentions the Consul Optimus, a famous aged wine. Named after the consul of the year of its creation, it was reputedly 200 years old. It was however undrinkable on its own and was instead mixed with younger wines to improve their flavour. Types of Roman Wine There were many different types of Roman wine. Some were named according to vintage and others according to how they were made and the ingredients they used. FALERNUM. The most famous Roman wine was a fulvus white. It was best drunk aged although it was reputed to last no longer than 20 years. CALENUM. Similar to Falernum, this had a lighter taste and was apparently the patrician’s favourite. ALBANUM. There were two types: dry and sweet. It was regarded as a quality wine that needed 15 years to mature. MASSILITANUM. A smoky, cheap wine that was reputedly healthy but not very tasty. MOMENTANUM. Need at least five years to be drinkable and even then it was unremarkable according to Martial . MULSUM-the aperitif of choice. Mulsum was wine combined with honey, either during or after fermentation. Columella recommended the addition of the honey during brewing although Pliny the elder felt it should be added to a dry wine before serving. PASSUM. Raisin wine. Made from half dried grapes left on the vine, passum was a sweet drink. CONDITUM. A wine mixed with pepper, honey and seawater, which was an ancient Greek custom. Cato recommended the use of Apician grapes. LORA-the wine of slaves, Lora was made from the leftovers of grape production. Grape pulp was mixed with water and pressed a second or third time. POSCA. Not strictly a wine, this was a vinegar based drink, often popular with travellers. The vinegar was carried in a flask and added to water, making a reputedly refreshing beverage. The custom arose because of vinegars disinfecting properties. It therefore a way of making unreliable water drinkable. To improve flavour it was often flavoured with spices and honey. Posca was the drink given to Christ on the cross. Its refreshing nature indicates this was not the cruel gesture it is reputed to be. Sources:Around the Roman Table by Patrick Faas.Macmillan (2003) Cato and Varro: On Agriculture. trans. W D Hooper & H B Ash. Loeb Classical Library

Wine in Roman society had a long and changeable history. At certain times prohibited to certain social groups, it was believed to be a health drink. It was also enjoyed in a variety of different ways.

The Romans and Alcohol

Wine was the Roman’s alcoholic drink of choice. Viticulture was established in long before the influence of the Greeks. The Romans had their own god of wine, Dionyus, a deity with very particular Roman characteristics which were incompatible with the Greek wine God Dionysus. This indicates that Liber developed separately and could not be directly associated with any Greek gods.

Beer was available but regarded as an inferior drink. Roman beer was made from rye and was extremely cheap, half the price of the worst kinds of wine. It was not a drink for the sophisticated although beer foam was used in the cosmetics of roman ladies.

Despite its popularity, wine was not traditionally drunk widely throughout society. According to the laws of Romulus, only free men over the age of 35 were allowed to drink wine. Women and slaves were prohibited. According to legends, Roman husbands were entitled to kill their wives for even attempting to drink wine. Cato describes the origins of the custom of husbands greeting their wives with a kiss on their return home. It was to ensure they had not been drinking. By the republic, these prohibitions were loosening up and wine was becoming more widely available even to the lowest classes of Roman society.

The Health Benefits of Wine

The Romans believed that wine could be a healthy drink. Aged wines in particular were believed to aid sleep, circulation and the digestive system. Wine was even given to cattle for certain types of bovine illness.

Not everyone saw wine as a good thing. Pliny the Elder attributed the drinking of wine to madness and bad behaviour that could result in crime.

What Did the Roman’s Add to Wine?

The Romans did not usually drink their wine neat. Older wines were often very strong and mixed with water to dilute their heady nature. Wine was also warmed to make a comforting drink.

It was also customary to add fruit, herbs or spices to wine before drinking. Wine did not always keep well. Colour and flavour could be impaired not only by the deterioration of wine but also by methods used to improve it. Filtering wine with chalk to remove cloudiness and smoking it to remove impurities could leave it bitter or faded. Aloe, saffron and elderberry were used as natural colour enhancers and flavour was accentuated with flowers such as violet, lilac, rose and myrtle as well as spices such as pepper, cinnamon and coriander.

The Colour and Aging of Roman Wine

Roman wine came in a variety of shades of colour that were linked not only to grape type but age.

  • ALBUS was a light young white wine.
  • FULVUS was an older white, golden yellow in colour.
  • SANGUINEUS was a young red, blood red in colour whilst
  • NIGER was an older red, so dark it looked black.

Wine was generally only considered drinkable up to the age of about 20 years. There were exceptions to this. Pliny mentions the Consul Optimus, a famous aged wine. Named after the consul of the year of its creation, it was reputedly 200 years old. It was however undrinkable on its own and was instead mixed with younger wines to improve their flavour.

Types of Roman Wine

There were many different types of Roman wine. Some were named according to vintage and others according to how they were made and the ingredients they used.

  • FALERNUM. The most famous Roman wine was a fulvus white. It was best drunk aged although it was reputed to last no longer than 20 years.
  • CALENUM. Similar to Falernum, this had a lighter taste and was apparently the patrician’s favourite.
  • ALBANUM. There were two types: dry and sweet. It was regarded as a quality wine that needed 15 years to mature.
  • MASSILITANUM. A smoky, cheap wine that was reputedly healthy but not very tasty.
  • MOMENTANUM. Need at least five years to be drinkable and even then it was unremarkable according to Martial .
  • MULSUM-the aperitif of choice. Mulsum was wine combined with honey, either during or after fermentation. Columella recommended the addition of the honey during brewing although Pliny the elder felt it should be added to a dry wine before serving.
  • PASSUM. Raisin wine. Made from half dried grapes left on the vine, passum was a sweet drink.
  • CONDITUM. A wine mixed with pepper, honey and seawater, which was an ancient Greek custom. Cato recommended the use of Apician grapes.
  • LORA-the wine of slaves, Lora was made from the leftovers of grape production. Grape pulp was mixed with water and pressed a second or third time.
  • POSCA. Not strictly a wine, this was a vinegar based drink, often popular with travellers. The vinegar was carried in a flask and added to water, making a reputedly refreshing beverage. The custom arose because of vinegars disinfecting properties. It therefore a way of making unreliable water drinkable. To improve flavour it was often flavoured with spices and honey. Posca was the drink given to Christ on the cross. Its refreshing nature indicates this was not the cruel gesture it is reputed to be.

Sources:Around the Roman Table by Patrick Faas.Macmillan (2003)

Cato and Varro: On Agriculture. trans. W D Hooper & H B Ash. Loeb Classical Library

SINK THE BISMARCK! This new “Quadruple IPA” by BrewDog is not for the occasional beer drinker. Then again, what beer that is 41% abv is for anyone. This new beer is considered the most potent in terms of alcohol in the world. One bottle of this at 82 proof is roughly 10-12 shots worth of an American style whiskey/blended scotch or decent bottle of Vodka. BrewDog sells this exclusively though there website for 40 pounds (roughly $63) per bottle. http://www.brewdog.com/product.php?id=47&image_to_use=Image SINK THE BISMARCK! This new “Quadruple IPA” by BrewDog is not for the occasional beer drinker. Then again, what beer that is 41% abv is for anyone. This new beer is considered the most potent in terms of alcohol in the world. One bottle of this at 82 proof is roughly 10-12 shots worth of an American style whiskey/blended scotch or decent bottle of Vodka. BrewDog sells this exclusively though there website for 40 pounds (roughly $63) per bottle. http://www.brewdog.com/product.php?id=47&image_to_use=Image

SINK THE BISMARCK!

This new “Quadruple IPA” by BrewDog is not for the occasional beer drinker. Then again, what beer that is 41% abv is for anyone. This new beer is considered the most potent in terms of alcohol in the world. One bottle of this at 82 proof is roughly 10-12 shots worth of an American style whiskey/blended scotch or decent bottle of Vodka.

BrewDog sells this exclusively though there website for 40 pounds (roughly $63) per bottle.

http://www.brewdog.com/product.php?id=47&image_to_use=Image

Getting Back to Our Roots There have been many books and many discussions on the life of whom I consider one of my biggest influences in my life, Theodore Roosevelt. He was a renaissance man: a conservationist, athlete, military officer, history buff, author, explorer, and most famously he was an accomplished politician. I will not give a full biography on him, that would just be boring and I am not at all qualified to do so. But, here is my justification on why we need to incorporate his ideals on life and his thoughts on ‘Man’ into modern life with the modern American man. Roosevelt was from a very well to do family in New York. He had no reason to join the military and fight in the Spanish-American War or go to Montana and be a cattle rancher and be the deputy sheriff of Billings, Montana; But he did so because he thought those experiences would bring him closer to the male spirit. He thought man had to get back to something more primal, to get back to the wilderness, and experience what thousands of generations of man before us has experienced. These thoughts of Roosevelt a century ago has effected me profoundly in recent years. After his presidency he did not live a quiet retirement by any stretch, in 1909 he went to Africa: Roosevelt and his companions killed or trapped over 11,397 animals, from insects and moles to hippopotamuses and elephants. These included 512 big game animals, including six rare white rhinos. The expedition consumed 262 of the animals. Then he came back and ran the most successful 3rd party attempt under the “bull moose” party for president and won a record 27% of the vote. After that election he went on another voyage, this time to the Amazon. His goal was to find the headwaters of the River of Doubt (Rio da Dúvida) which he did find. He wasn’t a slave to trends or to anyone’s presumptions of him. Teddy did what he wanted to do, he was the admiral of his own destiny. This is a quality I think everyone should have in their life and few actually possess. Now obviously few people can take the trips and experience what he experienced in this day and age. But, what we can do is be a proponent of masculinity and reclaiming the male spirit as Teddy Roosevelt tried to do his entire life. I think that as men, we all need to do some soul searching and find out what it means to be a man again. This over feminization of the American man has gotten to the point where it is out of control. Teddy saw it happening in the turn of the 1800s to the 1900s, and I do not think it has gotten any better, it has actually gotten worse. The theme of masculinity has come back in in brief glimpses, most recently in the early 90’s (it has disappeared since then). I’ll leave you this this quote from Home Improvement: Wilson: A lot of men feel lost, confused. You see Tim, the Industrial Revolution took the adult male out of the home. Boys were left without an older man to teach them how to be men. We need to get back to something more primitive. Atavistic. Tim: [Grunting] Oh-oh! Atavistic. Wilson: Hm. Tim: How d’you spell that? Wilson: Let’s just say primitive. Tim: Alright. Wilson: Men need to spend more time around the campfire with their elders, like in ancient days, seeking wisdom, telling stories, sharing. Tim: Would these men all have to be naked? Wilson: No, no, no, that’s optional. You see Tim, it’s time for men to reclaim the male spirit. I could not agree more. -Col. Mustard Getting Back to Our Roots There have been many books and many discussions on the life of whom I consider one of my biggest influences in my life, Theodore Roosevelt. He was a renaissance man: a conservationist, athlete, military officer, history buff, author, explorer, and most famously he was an accomplished politician. I will not give a full biography on him, that would just be boring and I am not at all qualified to do so. But, here is my justification on why we need to incorporate his ideals on life and his thoughts on ‘Man’ into modern life with the modern American man. Roosevelt was from a very well to do family in New York. He had no reason to join the military and fight in the Spanish-American War or go to Montana and be a cattle rancher and be the deputy sheriff of Billings, Montana; But he did so because he thought those experiences would bring him closer to the male spirit. He thought man had to get back to something more primal, to get back to the wilderness, and experience what thousands of generations of man before us has experienced. These thoughts of Roosevelt a century ago has effected me profoundly in recent years. After his presidency he did not live a quiet retirement by any stretch, in 1909 he went to Africa: Roosevelt and his companions killed or trapped over 11,397 animals, from insects and moles to hippopotamuses and elephants. These included 512 big game animals, including six rare white rhinos. The expedition consumed 262 of the animals. Then he came back and ran the most successful 3rd party attempt under the “bull moose” party for president and won a record 27% of the vote. After that election he went on another voyage, this time to the Amazon. His goal was to find the headwaters of the River of Doubt (Rio da Dúvida) which he did find. He wasn’t a slave to trends or to anyone’s presumptions of him. Teddy did what he wanted to do, he was the admiral of his own destiny. This is a quality I think everyone should have in their life and few actually possess. Now obviously few people can take the trips and experience what he experienced in this day and age. But, what we can do is be a proponent of masculinity and reclaiming the male spirit as Teddy Roosevelt tried to do his entire life. I think that as men, we all need to do some soul searching and find out what it means to be a man again. This over feminization of the American man has gotten to the point where it is out of control. Teddy saw it happening in the turn of the 1800s to the 1900s, and I do not think it has gotten any better, it has actually gotten worse. The theme of masculinity has come back in in brief glimpses, most recently in the early 90’s (it has disappeared since then). I’ll leave you this this quote from Home Improvement: Wilson: A lot of men feel lost, confused. You see Tim, the Industrial Revolution took the adult male out of the home. Boys were left without an older man to teach them how to be men. We need to get back to something more primitive. Atavistic. Tim: [Grunting] Oh-oh! Atavistic. Wilson: Hm. Tim: How d’you spell that? Wilson: Let’s just say primitive. Tim: Alright. Wilson: Men need to spend more time around the campfire with their elders, like in ancient days, seeking wisdom, telling stories, sharing. Tim: Would these men all have to be naked? Wilson: No, no, no, that’s optional. You see Tim, it’s time for men to reclaim the male spirit. I could not agree more. -Col. Mustard

Getting Back to Our Roots

There have been many books and many discussions on the life of whom I consider one of my biggest influences in my life, Theodore Roosevelt. He was a renaissance man: a conservationist, athlete, military officer, history buff, author, explorer, and most famously he was an accomplished politician.

I will not give a full biography on him, that would just be boring and I am not at all qualified to do so. But, here is my justification on why we need to incorporate his ideals on life and his thoughts on ‘Man’ into modern life with the modern American man.

Roosevelt was from a very well to do family in New York. He had no reason to join the military and fight in the Spanish-American War or go to Montana and be a cattle rancher and be the deputy sheriff of Billings, Montana; But he did so because he thought those experiences would bring him closer to the male spirit.

  • He thought man had to get back to something more primal, to get back to the wilderness, and experience what thousands of generations of man before us has experienced.

These thoughts of Roosevelt a century ago has effected me profoundly in recent years. After his presidency he did not live a quiet retirement by any stretch, in 1909 he went to Africa:

  • Roosevelt and his companions killed or trapped over 11,397 animals, from insects and moles to hippopotamuses and elephants. These included 512 big game animals, including six rare white rhinos. The expedition consumed 262 of the animals.

Then he came back and ran the most successful 3rd party attempt under the “bull moose” party for president and won a record 27% of the vote. After that election he went on another voyage, this time to the Amazon. His goal was to find the headwaters of the River of Doubt (Rio da Dúvida) which he did find. He wasn’t a slave to trends or to anyone’s presumptions of him.

Teddy did what he wanted to do, he was the admiral of his own destiny. This is a quality I think everyone should have in their life and few actually possess.

Now obviously few people can take the trips and experience what he experienced in this day and age. But, what we can do is be a proponent of masculinity and reclaiming the male spirit as Teddy Roosevelt tried to do his entire life.

I think that as men, we all need to do some soul searching and find out what it means to be a man again. This over feminization of the American man has gotten to the point where it is out of control. Teddy saw it happening in the turn of the 1800s to the 1900s, and I do not think it has gotten any better, it has actually gotten worse.

The theme of masculinity has come back in in brief glimpses, most recently in the early 90’s (it has disappeared since then).

I’ll leave you this this quote from Home Improvement:

Wilson: A lot of men feel lost, confused. You see Tim, the Industrial Revolution took the adult male out of the home. Boys were left without an older man to teach them how to be men. We need to get back to something more primitive. Atavistic.

Tim: [Grunting] Oh-oh! Atavistic.

Wilson: Hm.

Tim: How d’you spell that?

Wilson: Let’s just say primitive.

Tim: Alright.

Wilson: Men need to spend more time around the campfire with their elders, like in ancient days, seeking wisdom, telling stories, sharing.

Tim: Would these men all have to be naked?

Wilson: No, no, no, that’s optional. You see Tim, it’s time for men to reclaim the male spirit.

I could not agree more.

-Col. Mustard

John Walker 1805 Pack $20,000/750ml This cask-strength blend was specially created as an homage to John Walker. It’s a blend of extremely rare whiskies, many from now-defunct distilleries and all ranging in age from 45 to 70 years old. Only 200 bottles exist, and none is for sale. Rather, each bottle will be presented, privately, to a select individual “who has made a significant contribution to modern life,” says Brand Manager Bill Topf. Steve Fossett, the first person to zip around the world in a hot-air balloon was considered “bottle worthy.” JW’s keeping mum about other giftees. via Forbes.com http://www.forbes.com/2007/06/01/whisky-expensive-bottle-forbeslife-cx_pl_0601whisky_slide_3.html This quite literally is the gold standard in blended scotch. I hope to achieve a life where I would be considered “bottle worthy” -Mr. Body John Walker 1805 Pack $20,000/750ml This cask-strength blend was specially created as an homage to John Walker. It’s a blend of extremely rare whiskies, many from now-defunct distilleries and all ranging in age from 45 to 70 years old. Only 200 bottles exist, and none is for sale. Rather, each bottle will be presented, privately, to a select individual “who has made a significant contribution to modern life,” says Brand Manager Bill Topf. Steve Fossett, the first person to zip around the world in a hot-air balloon was considered “bottle worthy.” JW’s keeping mum about other giftees. via Forbes.com http://www.forbes.com/2007/06/01/whisky-expensive-bottle-forbeslife-cx_pl_0601whisky_slide_3.html This quite literally is the gold standard in blended scotch. I hope to achieve a life where I would be considered “bottle worthy” -Mr. Body

John Walker 1805 Pack

$20,000/750ml

This cask-strength blend was specially created as an homage to John Walker. It’s a blend of extremely rare whiskies, many from now-defunct distilleries and all ranging in age from 45 to 70 years old. Only 200 bottles exist, and none is for sale. Rather, each bottle will be presented, privately, to a select individual “who has made a significant contribution to modern life,” says Brand Manager Bill Topf. Steve Fossett, the first person to zip around the world in a hot-air balloon was considered “bottle worthy.” JW’s keeping mum about other giftees.

via Forbes.com

http://www.forbes.com/2007/06/01/whisky-expensive-bottle-forbeslife-cx_pl_0601whisky_slide_3.html

This quite literally is the gold standard in blended scotch. I hope to achieve a life where I would be considered “bottle worthy”

-Mr. Body

Wild Blue 6.99/6 Pack I was browsing my local beer distributor for something different tonight, something a little off kilter. What i found was Wild Blue by Anheuser-Busch (makers of Budweiser). To be honest I was pretty excited about trying what was described on the bottle as a blueberry lager. Also, lucky I haven’t had many bad experiences with fruit/vegetable beer either (Sam Adams makes a great Fruit/Witbier -Blackberry Witbier). Color: Dark deep purple/borderline dark red. Got a decent light purple/pink head on pour, but the head quickly dissipated. Taste: Definitely a rush of sweet with some blueberry and grape tones. Had prevalent but not overpowering carbonation. Left a light sticky taste in the roof of mouth. Also at 8% ABV, a few of these will start the nights escapades very quickly. However, I really couldn’t get much of a “beer” taste though and that’s brings me to the final word. The Final Word: Is this a good drink…yes Is it a good “beer”… No. I really couldn’t get much of a beer taste although it had some characteristics of a beer taste; It more closely resembled a carbonated wine cooler. I would recommend this at 6.99 per 6 pack for a decent drink that comes in a beer bottle, that other people would assume is a beer and wouldn’t really question your manhood about if they found out you were drinking a blueberry flavored wine cooler. And at 8% ABV after 2-3 of these you might try to convince yourself your drinking a beer. But, make no mistake about it, your drinking blueberry flavored a carbonated wine cooler. 5/10 ZimaBottles -Lord Licorice Wild Blue 6.99/6 Pack I was browsing my local beer distributor for something different tonight, something a little off kilter. What i found was Wild Blue by Anheuser-Busch (makers of Budweiser). To be honest I was pretty excited about trying what was described on the bottle as a blueberry lager. Also, lucky I haven’t had many bad experiences with fruit/vegetable beer either (Sam Adams makes a great Fruit/Witbier -Blackberry Witbier). Color: Dark deep purple/borderline dark red. Got a decent light purple/pink head on pour, but the head quickly dissipated. Taste: Definitely a rush of sweet with some blueberry and grape tones. Had prevalent but not overpowering carbonation. Left a light sticky taste in the roof of mouth. Also at 8% ABV, a few of these will start the nights escapades very quickly. However, I really couldn’t get much of a “beer” taste though and that’s brings me to the final word. The Final Word: Is this a good drink…yes Is it a good “beer”… No. I really couldn’t get much of a beer taste although it had some characteristics of a beer taste; It more closely resembled a carbonated wine cooler. I would recommend this at 6.99 per 6 pack for a decent drink that comes in a beer bottle, that other people would assume is a beer and wouldn’t really question your manhood about if they found out you were drinking a blueberry flavored wine cooler. And at 8% ABV after 2-3 of these you might try to convince yourself your drinking a beer. But, make no mistake about it, your drinking blueberry flavored a carbonated wine cooler. 5/10 ZimaBottles -Lord Licorice

Wild Blue

6.99/6 Pack

I was browsing my local beer distributor for something different tonight, something a little off kilter. What i found was Wild Blue by Anheuser-Busch (makers of Budweiser). To be honest I was pretty excited about trying what was described on the bottle as a blueberry lager. Also, lucky I haven’t had many bad experiences with fruit/vegetable beer either (Sam Adams makes a great Fruit/Witbier -Blackberry Witbier).

Color: Dark deep purple/borderline dark red. Got a decent light purple/pink head on pour, but the head quickly dissipated.

Taste: Definitely a rush of sweet with some blueberry and grape tones. Had prevalent but not overpowering carbonation. Left a light sticky taste in the roof of mouth. Also at 8% ABV, a few of these will start the nights escapades very quickly. However, I really couldn’t get much of a “beer” taste though and that’s brings me to the final word.

The Final Word:

Is this a good drink…yes

Is it a good “beer”… No.

I really couldn’t get much of a beer taste although it had some characteristics of a beer taste; It more closely resembled a carbonated wine cooler.

I would recommend this at 6.99 per 6 pack for a decent drink that comes in a beer bottle, that other people would assume is a beer and wouldn’t really question your manhood about if they found out you were drinking a blueberry flavored wine cooler.

And at 8% ABV after 2-3 of these you might try to convince yourself your drinking a beer.

But, make no mistake about it, your drinking blueberry flavored a carbonated wine cooler.

5/10 ZimaBottles

-Lord Licorice

What Should Already be in Your Milk Crate: Justice “Cross” If you don’t occasionally throw on a pair of tight Levis, get wasted off of Grand Marnier, and rock your body to Justice then I’m afraid you are in need of a serious lifestyle change… This French duo exploded on the scene in 2007 with their debut album “Cross”. Deemed the most promising electro group since Daft Punk, this group has ripped up the electro-pop scene in Europe, and managed to wet the panties of all the women that have listened to them in the past five years. Of course, this much could be expected under Ed Banger’s record label, whose artists include but are not limited to; Uffie, Mr. Oizo, Dj Mehdi, & Krazy Baldhead. So if this group is not yet in your milk crate, awaiting the next moment you pour a glass of Grand Marnier, go out and get it. You’ll enjoy their most popular hits; “D.A.N.C.E.” & “Phantom”, but be on the look out for my personal favorites; “DVNO” & “The Party” (featuring my favorite foul-mouthed Miami native - Uffie). “DVNO” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nWnLxYzuBE “The Party” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbN5B93mpFE If you’re hungry for more, take a look at their live album released in 2008, “A Cross the Universe”, and stay tuned for a new album later this year. (name and date to be announced) 9 out of 10 one night stands with dirty french girls - You don’t need to know my name to figure out how cool I am… What Should Already be in Your Milk Crate: Justice “Cross” If you don’t occasionally throw on a pair of tight Levis, get wasted off of Grand Marnier, and rock your body to Justice then I’m afraid you are in need of a serious lifestyle change… This French duo exploded on the scene in 2007 with their debut album “Cross”. Deemed the most promising electro group since Daft Punk, this group has ripped up the electro-pop scene in Europe, and managed to wet the panties of all the women that have listened to them in the past five years. Of course, this much could be expected under Ed Banger’s record label, whose artists include but are not limited to; Uffie, Mr. Oizo, Dj Mehdi, & Krazy Baldhead. So if this group is not yet in your milk crate, awaiting the next moment you pour a glass of Grand Marnier, go out and get it. You’ll enjoy their most popular hits; “D.A.N.C.E.” & “Phantom”, but be on the look out for my personal favorites; “DVNO” & “The Party” (featuring my favorite foul-mouthed Miami native - Uffie). “DVNO” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nWnLxYzuBE “The Party” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbN5B93mpFE If you’re hungry for more, take a look at their live album released in 2008, “A Cross the Universe”, and stay tuned for a new album later this year. (name and date to be announced) 9 out of 10 one night stands with dirty french girls - You don’t need to know my name to figure out how cool I am…

What Should Already be in Your Milk Crate: Justice “Cross”


If you don’t occasionally throw on a pair of tight Levis, get wasted off of Grand Marnier, and rock your body to Justice then I’m afraid you are in need of a serious lifestyle change…

This French duo exploded on the scene in 2007 with their debut album “Cross”. Deemed the most promising electro group since Daft Punk, this group has ripped up the electro-pop scene in Europe, and managed to wet the panties of all the women that have listened to them in the past five years. Of course, this much could be expected under Ed Banger’s record label, whose artists include but are not limited to; Uffie, Mr. Oizo, Dj Mehdi, & Krazy Baldhead.

So if this group is not yet in your milk crate, awaiting the next moment you pour a glass of Grand Marnier, go out and get it. You’ll enjoy their most popular hits; “D.A.N.C.E.” & “Phantom”, but be on the look out for my personal favorites; “DVNO” & “The Party” (featuring my favorite foul-mouthed Miami native - Uffie).

“DVNO” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nWnLxYzuBE

“The Party” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbN5B93mpFE

If you’re hungry for more, take a look at their live album released in 2008, “A Cross the Universe”, and stay tuned for a new album later this year. (name and date to be announced)

9 out of 10 one night stands with dirty french girls

- You don’t need to know my name to figure out how cool I am…

Consider Ron White the thinking man’s drinking man. He might be a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, but he’s less of a redneck than Foxworthy and quite a few IQ points above Larry the Cable Guy. White’s a refined gentleman with an occasional foul mouth, infamous for performing while smoking an omnipresent cigar and sipping fine Scotch. We asked the stand-up to share the lessons he’s accrued about that delicious, amber brown liquor. Be forewarned: Teetotalers might want to skip this one. “If I meet one more person in recovery, I’m gonna throw up,” White told us. “I’ve been drinking like a fish since I was about 15, and I’m fine.” “My uncle was a big Scotch drinker. He was an executive for Phillips Petroleum. I thought as a kid every briefcase had a pint of Cutty Sark in it — his always did. He was an alcoholic, full-blown, and died that way — as I will too. I pray that I don’t get hit by a car first.” And if you’re lucky, your parents will offer real life lessons — like handy hangover remedies. “It’s all about prevention. That’s what my mother told me — my mother’s a drinker. If you put two Alka-Seltzers in a glass and chug it before you go to bed, it doesn’t matter what you drink.”Acquire the Taste, Then Acquire Some Money“Scotch is an acquired taste, and it does take a little bit of a while to acquire it,” says White. Over time, one’s appreciation for Scotch will grow — and that appreciation ain’t cheap. “You’re eventually drinking the drink that people who are gonna die penniless drink, which is the $250 bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue, or the $180 bottle of 18-year old Mac [Macallan].” Filling Your Cabinet “I started off with Dewar’s, for the most part, and then went to Johnnie Walker Black, never Red. Now I drink mostly single malts.” White opened the door to his Scotch cabinet and itemized what was inside: a 50-year old Ballantine, a 16-year old Bushmills, five bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue and a case of 18-year old Macallan. If You Drink Scotch, Love Scotch “It’s the people that want to impress me by asking for Scotch and then putting a ton of ice in it, letting that melt, and then leaving with it three-quarters gone — it’s those people that need to die,” White warns. “[But] my girlfriend’s mother loves Johnnie Walker Blue. She’s about 70, from Mexico — to see her face light up when you give her a little splash, neat, in a good Scotch glass — that’s a cool thing.”Don’t Force It An appreciation for Scotch might just be an innate characteristic that you either have or don’t, like the ability to curl your tongue. “Maybe you are born with it,” White surmises. “I have a friend — Steve Cook, my road manager — we’ve been best friends since we were 6. He can pour a bar mat into his mouth at the end of a night and drink whatever was in it, but he can’t walk by an open bottle of Scotch without gagging. I guess some people never get there.” The Dream Combo Ron White’s favorite cigar and Scotch? A Romeo y Julieta Churchill from our Cuban neighbors and a 30-year-old Macallan ($1,000 a bottle). Cuban cigars are illegal in the U.S., so White wasn’t about to spill his secrets on how to acquire the smoke. “Now you’re getting into some crime activity, so I can’t really divulge my sources … ” Perhaps we can offer that information in a later feature. Via Asylum.com http://www.asylum.com.au/2009/06/05/ron-white-wants-you-to-drink-scotch-like-a-man/ Consider Ron White the thinking man’s drinking man. He might be a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, but he’s less of a redneck than Foxworthy and quite a few IQ points above Larry the Cable Guy. White’s a refined gentleman with an occasional foul mouth, infamous for performing while smoking an omnipresent cigar and sipping fine Scotch. We asked the stand-up to share the lessons he’s accrued about that delicious, amber brown liquor. Be forewarned: Teetotalers might want to skip this one. “If I meet one more person in recovery, I’m gonna throw up,” White told us. “I’ve been drinking like a fish since I was about 15, and I’m fine.” “My uncle was a big Scotch drinker. He was an executive for Phillips Petroleum. I thought as a kid every briefcase had a pint of Cutty Sark in it — his always did. He was an alcoholic, full-blown, and died that way — as I will too. I pray that I don’t get hit by a car first.” And if you’re lucky, your parents will offer real life lessons — like handy hangover remedies. “It’s all about prevention. That’s what my mother told me — my mother’s a drinker. If you put two Alka-Seltzers in a glass and chug it before you go to bed, it doesn’t matter what you drink.”Acquire the Taste, Then Acquire Some Money“Scotch is an acquired taste, and it does take a little bit of a while to acquire it,” says White. Over time, one’s appreciation for Scotch will grow — and that appreciation ain’t cheap. “You’re eventually drinking the drink that people who are gonna die penniless drink, which is the $250 bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue, or the $180 bottle of 18-year old Mac [Macallan].” Filling Your Cabinet “I started off with Dewar’s, for the most part, and then went to Johnnie Walker Black, never Red. Now I drink mostly single malts.” White opened the door to his Scotch cabinet and itemized what was inside: a 50-year old Ballantine, a 16-year old Bushmills, five bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue and a case of 18-year old Macallan. If You Drink Scotch, Love Scotch “It’s the people that want to impress me by asking for Scotch and then putting a ton of ice in it, letting that melt, and then leaving with it three-quarters gone — it’s those people that need to die,” White warns. “[But] my girlfriend’s mother loves Johnnie Walker Blue. She’s about 70, from Mexico — to see her face light up when you give her a little splash, neat, in a good Scotch glass — that’s a cool thing.”Don’t Force It An appreciation for Scotch might just be an innate characteristic that you either have or don’t, like the ability to curl your tongue. “Maybe you are born with it,” White surmises. “I have a friend — Steve Cook, my road manager — we’ve been best friends since we were 6. He can pour a bar mat into his mouth at the end of a night and drink whatever was in it, but he can’t walk by an open bottle of Scotch without gagging. I guess some people never get there.” The Dream Combo Ron White’s favorite cigar and Scotch? A Romeo y Julieta Churchill from our Cuban neighbors and a 30-year-old Macallan ($1,000 a bottle). Cuban cigars are illegal in the U.S., so White wasn’t about to spill his secrets on how to acquire the smoke. “Now you’re getting into some crime activity, so I can’t really divulge my sources … ” Perhaps we can offer that information in a later feature. Via Asylum.com http://www.asylum.com.au/2009/06/05/ron-white-wants-you-to-drink-scotch-like-a-man/

Consider Ron White the thinking man’s drinking man. He might be a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, but he’s less of a redneck than Foxworthy and quite a few IQ points above Larry the Cable Guy. White’s a refined gentleman with an occasional foul mouth, infamous for performing while smoking an omnipresent cigar and sipping fine Scotch.


We asked the stand-up to share the lessons he’s accrued about that delicious, amber brown liquor. Be forewarned: Teetotalers might want to skip this one. “If I meet one more person in recovery, I’m gonna throw up,” White told us. “I’ve been drinking like a fish since I was about 15, and I’m fine.”


“My uncle was a big Scotch drinker. He was an executive for Phillips Petroleum. I thought as a kid every briefcase had a pint of Cutty Sark in it — his always did. He was an alcoholic, full-blown, and died that way — as I will too. I pray that I don’t get hit by a car first.” And if you’re lucky, your parents will offer real life lessons — like handy hangover remedies. “It’s all about prevention. That’s what my mother told me — my mother’s a drinker. If you put two Alka-Seltzers in a glass and chug it before you go to bed, it doesn’t matter what you drink.”

Acquire the Taste, Then Acquire Some Money
“Scotch is an acquired taste, and it does take a little bit of a while to acquire it,” says White. Over time, one’s appreciation for Scotch will grow — and that appreciation ain’t cheap. “You’re eventually drinking the drink that people who are gonna die penniless drink, which is the $250 bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue, or the $180 bottle of 18-year old Mac [Macallan].”

Filling Your Cabinet
“I started off with Dewar’s, for the most part, and then went to Johnnie Walker Black, never Red. Now I drink mostly single malts.” White opened the door to his Scotch cabinet and itemized what was inside: a 50-year old Ballantine, a 16-year old Bushmills, five bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue and a case of 18-year old Macallan.


If You Drink Scotch, Love Scotch

“It’s the people that want to impress me by asking for Scotch and then putting a ton of ice in it, letting that melt, and then leaving with it three-quarters gone — it’s those people that need to die,” White warns. “[But] my girlfriend’s mother loves Johnnie Walker Blue. She’s about 70, from Mexico — to see her face light up when you give her a little splash, neat, in a good Scotch glass — that’s a cool thing.”

Don’t Force It
An appreciation for Scotch might just be an innate characteristic that you either have or don’t, like the ability to curl your tongue. “Maybe you are born with it,” White surmises. “I have a friend — Steve Cook, my road manager — we’ve been best friends since we were 6. He can pour a bar mat into his mouth at the end of a night and drink whatever was in it, but he can’t walk by an open bottle of Scotch without gagging. I guess some people never get there.”

The Dream Combo
Ron White’s favorite cigar and Scotch? A Romeo y Julieta Churchill from our Cuban neighbors and a 30-year-old Macallan ($1,000 a bottle). Cuban cigars are illegal in the U.S., so White wasn’t about to spill his secrets on how to acquire the smoke. “Now you’re getting into some crime activity, so I can’t really divulge my sources … ” Perhaps we can offer that information in a later feature.

Via Asylum.com

http://www.asylum.com.au/2009/06/05/ron-white-wants-you-to-drink-scotch-like-a-man/

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

“Rebel, Rebel” by Seu Jorge

"I didn’t know just what I should do…
So I sat back down and had a beer…
and felt sorry for myself."
-Hootie and The Blowfish