Items: National edition

Eric Felten disses the gun and takes on boutique tonic and Italian sodas. Also,  a history of drinking and the Olympics. 

Darcy at The Art of Drink finds an early historical reference to falernum- and a recipe.

A New York bar opens that serves only absinthe and beer. 

Oh Gosh manages to find four Old Tom gins to compare. One is from a brand called "Secret Treasures." Sounds dirty.

Fermentarium has 8 drunk driving lessons we can learn from beer nuts.