If you read my book Doctors and Distillers you know that cure-all theriacs often contained viper flesh. Now one person has recreated a recipe for a branded theriac called L’Orvietan, with everything but the snake. Bernardini had to travel across Europe on the trail of L’Orvietan. He scoured historic archives... Read more →
For my book Doctors and Distillers I referred to the Smithsonian's "Balm of America" collection of patent medicines. The collection is images of patent medicine bottles, pills, etc. I was just made aware of another patent medicine collection at NYU - and in this one you can spin the bottles... Read more →
A very important early book on distillation is Hieronymous Braunschweig's The Virtuous Book of Distillation. It is otherwise known as the Large Book on Distillation, and it was first published in 1512, after the Small Book in 1500. I believe it was first printed in German, then translated into Dutch,... Read more →
I've heard authors saying the "due to supply chain issues" you should buy any books you plan on purchasing as holiday gifts super early this year. You have been notified! Last month I posted 22 books released in October. Well, this month there are 32 more! Mostly I cover cocktails... Read more →
A little global pandemic won't stop cocktail books from coming out this summer! In this posting we have books coming out in June 2020 or before (along with a couple I missed from the end of 2019/beginning of 2020). They star some of the big names in bartending: Eric Alperin,... Read more →
Science booze news - stories on water, whisky, artificial intelligence, activated charcoal, synthetic quinine, and more! Read more →
We looked at labelling for nuts, seafood, soy, gluten, vegan/vegetarian, how these are listed on various menus or handled only in person, and look at a few unusual things that need to be labelled in UK bars. Bars I spoke to include Trick Dog, the Proper Hotel, and the Tonga Room in San Francisco, Bar Clacson in LA, Bresca in DC, Saint Ellie in Denver, Bar Fiori in NYC, The Aviary in Chicago and New York, and The Hide Bar in London. Read more →
One day science says drinking will make you live forever. The next day science says it will kill you tomorrow. Good Booze, Bad Booze is an Alcademics category where I put all these stories together. Read more →