an under appreciated art form is giving funny names to zoom meetings. anyway i just scheduled a “Meetin’ in the Ladies’ Zoom”

I finally (finally!) launched the Library of Wonders newsletter. Give it a read if you like weird facts and artifacts, couched in a little bit of forgotten history Welcome to the Library open.substack.com/pub/libraryo...

You can bid on a six pack of the last batch of Anchor Steam Beer and help fund the SF Historical Society. givebutter.com/c/SFHSLunche...

"Diageo has temporarily ceased whiskey production at its Balcones and George Dickel distilleries with the loss of 17 jobs, as it re-evaluates its ‘productivity goals’" www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2025/09/diag...

To celebrate the launch, BuzzBallz has also introduced KettleBallz, a five-pound, grape-scented kettlebell modelled after the brand’s Biggie drinks. The kettlebell can hold up to 1.5 litres of cocktail and comes with grape-scented sweatbands, wristbands and a cooling towel for US$20.

Gotcha!

Wow! "Tito's Handmade Vodka, the brand behind Texas' first legal distillery and the award-winning vodka, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the majority stake in LALO Tequila, one of the fastest-growing tequila brands in the United States."

There is no point in putting good journalism behind cheesy clickbait headlines. Click-to-reveal headlines indicate to the reader that there is only one fact in the story- the obfuscated subject. Congratulations, you got the click, but also you’re telling me your publication is not worth reading.

In the last day I’ve hand-coded html, done some unix terminal stuff, converted a Moveable Type website archive to a static one I could host for free mostly using AI bulk processing, changed DNS settings, etc. It’s been a long time but I still miss doing computer stuff for a living.

See you in November omnivorebooks.myshopify.com/products/dav...

NERD ALERT: Charles Neal, importer and author of definitive books on Calvados and Armagnac, has a new 700+ page book out on Cognac! www.charlesnealselections.com/buy-books.html amzn.to/4pBZzMs

I went to LA and taught ice diamond carving classes today. Back home already!

A flip-through of @davidwondrich.bsky.social new book, out Sept 23. Love the size and format. Link to Amzn if that how you roll: amzn.to/46e6fqX

Preparing a talk on the SF craft cocktail renaissance and citing this banger I wrote in 2006 when Bourbon & Branch first opened. www.sfgate.com/wine/article...

I’ve got too much room in my tour tomorrow, sign up! www.airbnb.com/experiences/...

the plural of “database" should be “databae”

NIN is oldies music

made u a tiktok

I wrote about Tequila Wars: www.foodandwine.com/jose-cuervo-...

Sad #beerhistory news from Dogfish Head - Dr Pat McGovern has died; a true pioneer of brewing archaeology.

A first look at my forthcoming Comic Book History of the Cocktail from the incomparable @alcademics.bsky.social. Thanks, Camper! www.alcoholprofessor.com/blog-posts/d...

Not to sound totally fun and unpredictable but I was reading a book and got off at the wrong subway stop.

new drink books for september 2025 www.alcademics.com/2025/08/savo...

SF Chronicle finally hired their new F&W director. www.sfchronicle.com/about/newsro...

I wrote about how spirits have different proofs in different countries. Nothing groundbreaking, except I learned that South Africa no longer requires a 43% ABV minimum, and that @robertsimonson.bsky.social is a gin hoarder. www.foodandwine.com/why-spirits-... (headline not mine)

it’s hard to argue with the results but fermentation is gross

Headlines Used to Have One Sentence. Not Anymore.

mother of god

new drink books for september 2025 www.alcademics.com/2025/08/savo...

iPhone phone call recording not auto-transcribing? It can be because it’s long. These instructions are also in the Alt text.

i do not have the time to pick up a new interest but just learned that there is a Waste Today Magazine www.wastetodaymagazine.com

Short documentary on Seattle bartender Murray Stenson. www.youtube.com/watch?v=twgd...

Age verification? I have smoked a cigarette on an airplane.

very hto today

Highly recommend @alcademics.bsky.social book "Doctors and Distillers: The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits, and Cocktails" www.amazon.com/Doctors-Dist... also, look up the history of the old Roman theriacs.

Added some newly released books to this list - one on navy rum and another on bar design: www.alcademics.com/2024/12/new-...

This week’s tablehopper: a deep dive into the tasting menu at Tiya 🦜, two new Mediterranean businesses, celebrate Joyce Goldstein and Jacques Pépin turning 90 🎉, a cocktail 🍸 history tour, the Oasis is closing 💔, and more. www.tablehopper.com/newsletter/t...

Three year birthday of Doctors and Distillers today. It is now available in Japanese, Russian, two forms of Chinese, and even British English!

Meteor? Twelve sided dice? Anyway it’s a groovy cube. www.eventbrite.com/cc/ice-diamo...

Oh wow I wrote this story at least 10 years ago and it never went online due to media ecosystem collapse… then showed up unbeknownst to me in 2021. www.popsci.com/cocktails-on...

Today’s science lesson with the kids was directional freezing. They don’t know it yet, but they’re barbacks in training. Thanks @alcademics.bsky.social

“The water tastes like jasmine?” Jasmin asked. “No, I said geosmin,” Geoff answered.

You’re telling me a ghost wrote this protocol?

Been awhile since I boosted this starter pack. Chime in if you think I need to add anybody, and pass it around to newcomers looking to quickly follow a bunch of journalists/researchers/business owners/etc. in the booze/cannabis/general vice space!

Ooh someone just shared this soda fountain manual collection on Archive dot org: archive.org/details/soda...