March 14, 2011

Quotable Drunkard Book For All Your Drunken Quoting Needs

"I'm not a heavy drinker. I can sometimes go for hours without touching a drop." - Noel Coward

We've always called alcohol our favorite social lubricant, that thing that untrips our tongues and helps free the witty social butterfly that lives inside us. There are some moments, however, where our wit fails us and we wish we had a reference to find out what some other drunk might have said. That's where The Quotable Drunkard book comes in.

Just think - you'll be able to pre-memorize multiple quotes for your next St. Patrick's Day toast, Best Man speech or parole hearing. We've been thumbing through the review copy we were sent and we've found quite a few good quotes, both short quips and longer passages, along with cocktail recipes and other tidbits.

The Quotable Drunkard: Words of Wit, Wisdom, and Philosophy From the Bottom of the Glass (Amazon)

March 10, 2011

Charbay Rum & Tequila Arrive for Review

A while back, we did a couple Charbay whiskey reviews (Hopped and Doubled & Twisted), and we have to say - we liked what we drank. We've just gotten our hands on two more bottles - their rum and tequila to be exact - and we hope to get to tasting them ASAP. In our review of the hopped whiskey we advised you to rough up the elderly if it meant you could get a chance to taste it - we'll try to keep things a bit more peaceable with these reviews.

Learn more about what these folks are up to at Charbay.com.

March 9, 2011

Kegworks Beer Pocket Hoodie

We've covered beer pouch hoodies before, but we're re-inspired to wear beer-friendly outerwear ever since we discovered the Columbia Koozie jacket., the greatest addition to clothing since the invention of the tube top.

We like this Kegworks beer pouch hoodie on its own with its beer pouch that replaces the traditional kangaroo pouch, but if you wear this with the Koozie you'll be a brew force to be reckoned with. One beer in the sweatshirt pouch, two in the Koozie pockets, one in each hand, and one in your belly - that makes a six-pack much easier to transport, doesn't it?

KegWorks Beer Pouch Hoodie Sweatshirt: Large

March 7, 2011

Sloshed Reviews Last Round Hangover Support

We've heard about Last Round, a "hangover support" supplement that claims to take the edge off your Irish Flu, for a couple months now. We've heard good things, but our hands down favorite review probably comes from Sloshed!. We know from experience it can be tough to scientifically test a hangover remedy since there are so many factors that can add to them, but we think they did a damned fine job:

First, we thought of the worst possible combination of alcoholic beverages that would be sure to give us a legendary hangover, or at least induce hours of painful headaches: we consumed a bottle of wine, several beers (both craft and shitty adjunct lager), three cocktails, and because I'm a perfectionist, one shot of grain alcohol to top it off. We drank no water at all, had a very light dinner beforehand, and took no pain relievers or aspirin at any time. Then, after we were good and sauced, we each took a bottle of Last Round before bed.

Head on over to Sloshed! to see the results, let us just say - based on this we might just order a case.

March 2, 2011

Columbia Koozie Hoodie Jacket

Spring is coming, and for us that means a whole lot more standing outside drinking beers than we do in the winter. Columbia's Koozie jacket is water and stain resistant, includes custom-built beer pockets, and has an integrated bottle opener. For seventy five bones we don't think you can go wrong - we're cool with the beer drinking part but please never let us hear you were "bro-in' down with your BFFs" like they say in the product description. You will be dead to us.

Altrec (Also available at Amazon) [via Uncrate]

February 28, 2011

Bartender Butterfly Bottle Opener

While we're patiently waiting for the Worst Cold in the World (TM) to loosen its grip on us so we can smell well enough to do some reviews, we've been spending our time trolling around looking for a new bottle opener for the Liquor Snob offices.

Don't ask us how we stumbled across this one, but it seems like a good way to get your bottles open while also channeling your inner ninja - or at least your inner misunderstood teen. Not sure why it's called the "bartender" when it adds extra steps most bartenders wouldn't want but hey - who're we to judge?

Black Butterfly Bottle Opener

February 25, 2011

Absinthe: A Documentary

For many people, absinthe is a drink that is clouded in mystery and made intimidating by rumors and innuendo. "I don't know," they'll say when the subject comes up, "is it going to make me cut any body parts off?" We just found out about a documentary that's attempting to separate fact and fiction for the enigmatic spirit. We haven't seen it yet, but we plan to post haste.

From the synopsis:

Absinthe: was it ambrosia or poison, artistic muse or ticket to madness and death? There is a tremendous fascination with absinthe, yet few truly know its rich history. The documentary ABSINTHE definitively brings the Green Fairy out of her clouded past where, for one hundred years, her fabled effects and demonized reputation have excited equal doses of admiration and loathing.

Check out the trailer below and hit the Absinthe Film website for more info; you can also stream the movie at Amazon.

ABSINTHE documentary film trailer from absinthe on Vimeo.

February 24, 2011

Ultimate Factories Makes Thursdays Jack & Coke Night

Like you needed another excuse to drink on Thursdays, but here you go - the National Geographic show Ultimate Factories will be airing episodes about Jack Daniels and Coca Cola in March. The JD episode will air Thursday, March 10, and the Coke ep will air on the 17th.

Jack Daniels:

Ultimate Factories travels to Lynchburg, Tennessee, where tradition and technology intersect to make 150 million bottles of Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 each year. The factory holds enough whiskey to fill 3 million bottles at any given time, fermented with yeast that descends from the same used in the original batch 140 years ago.

Coca Cola

Coca-Cola reaches more countries than there are in the United Nations, and it takes a power factory to provide a beverage with a famously secret formula consumed in over 99 percent of the populated world. Machines in a bottling plant pump out almost 800 bottles per minute, utilizing specialized air-veyor belts to maximize efficiency.

Our recommendation is that you start drinking Jack & Cokes on the 10th and just keep going for the week. That way you'll be properly lubed up for St. Patrick's Day.*

[Image via Flickr]

* You realize that's a horrible idea and we're not actually recommending that, right?

February 23, 2011

Bitter Truth EXR Review

The Bitter Truth - E**X**R
Amaro-style herbal liqueur
60 Proof (30% ABV)
The Bitter Truth

They Say: "E**X**R is velvety smooth while at the same time clean, aromatic and herbaceous. It embodies the caramel sweetness of port and the bitter flavors of a classic Italian Amaro."

We Say: We're fans of The Bitter Truth bitters, and we were surprised when we heard they were making a liqueur. The nose is bitter, which is to be expected, and most folks would acquaint the smell with a certain famous herbal liqueur called Jagermeister. The flavor is sweeter than we expected up front, with a lingering herbal taste that lasts, and it feels a bit syrupy on the tongue. At the end it's much closer to a Fernet than a Jager, and it's something we'd like to experiment more with in terms of cocktails. One of the recipes on the website is E**X**R and Ginger, which we mixed and really enjoyed the way the herbal flavors opened up with the ginger beer.

The Verdict: E**X**R is an enigma wrapped in a riddle, smothered in mystery sauce. It starts off sweet and ends up with a pleasant bitterness that will appeal to adventurous drinkers and those who like their drinks with some zazz. Try it in Negronis, or swap it in for vermouth in your favorite drinks - give in to your spirit of adventure and we think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

February 22, 2011

Eristoff Vodka Launching in US

Looks like the vodka brands at your local liquor store will have to make room for Eristoff, a European brand being released by the Bacardi family. Eristoff is triple distilled and you can get it in three varieties - Original, Red and Black.

Eristoff Original (80 proof), Eristoff Red (40 proof) named for its bright red color and sweet taste of sloe berries, and Eristoff Black (40 proof) named for its dark, bold color and taste of wild berries. Eristoff is available in a full range of sizes: 1.75 liter (SRP $23.99), 1.0 liter (SRP $16.99), 750 ml (SRP $13.99), 350 ml (SRP $9.99), 200 ml (SRP $5.99) and 50 ml (SRP $1.49)

And check out that wolf on the label, huh? Why not pick up a bottle and see if it makes you howl at the moon? More at Bacardi and Eristoff.