With the economic turmoil looming over the American people at present, I’ve supposed for a good while now that alcohol could in fact be a “recession proof” magic-bullet of sorts. Think about it, if times are bad people drink… they may not spend as much money on doing so, but people will drink regardless of the circumstances in order to rid themselves of worry, stress, and other things nagging at their minds and weighting their conscience (sadly, this of course can lead to alcohol abuse with folks who begin to feel more than a mere desire to drink socially).

Shhh!

Conversely, if times are good, money abounds, and jobs flourish, people still drink because now they can certainly afford to do so! Besides, good times and a booming economy call for celebration, right?

In addition to the notion that drinking may be recession-proof activity, another well-maintained theme here at Culture of Spirits is the notion that prohibition is NOT a good thing. However, in observing new trends in bars opening recently around the country, could it actually be that there are elements of prohibition-era America emerging today that are helping create a different kind of atmosphere… and a new kind of clientele… in bars and pubs around the country?

(more…)

A press release by the American Fertility Association announced the first installment of its “Manicures and Martinis” infertility program in New York recently, intended to educate some-day mothers about the realities of infertility. In keeping with trends toward organic beverages, the event offers real martinis, or for the teetotalers among us, the “Fertilitini”, their new trademark non-alcoholic beverage, made with all organic ingredients. Below is the AFA’s original press release about the event:

NEW YORK, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ — The American Fertility Association launched the much anticipated Manicures & Martinis infertility prevention program Tuesday night at Dashing Diva Nail Salon in Gramercy Park, Manhattan. The event exceeded all expectations, drawing a standing-room-only crowd of young women from around the city and beyond. Manicures & Martinis targets young women who are not quite ready to conceive, but might one day want to have a child. The series features health care professionals leading a conversation about how to prevent infertility, while the attendees enjoy a complimentary manicure and martini or a Fertilitini(TM), an all-organic, alcohol-free beverage, whose recipe is the winning entry from a nationwide contest.

(more…)

It’s that time again… we’re less than four days away from Super Bowl 2009. For most people, this date marks the annual gathering of sports enthusiasts for the biggest sporting event celebrated all year long, although some folks would admit to only going to Super Bowl parties for the snacks, if not solely for the alcohol served!

Avacado Slice

Among the kinds of snacks likely to garnish dens and living rooms across the country, one can expect to find an endless number of dips, ranging from cheese-based to chunky fruit-filled delights like the Latin American traditional favorite, avacado-based guacamole.

Each year, an estimated 25,000 tons of avacados are consumed on Super Bowl Sunday in guacamole dip. However, this year you can really impress your friends with your creative use of the world’s most protein-packed green fruit, by simply leaving them in the blender just a bit longer! In her book The Flavours of Vietnam, chef Meera Freeman shares that “One of the most intriguing things for anyone observing Vietnamese restaurant patrons is the consumption of mysterious colored drinks, many of which include a vibrant green layer…these drinks are known as chè in Vietnamese (Sinh To Bo here in the states), and are a cross between a drink and a dessert.” According to Freeman, a chè shake can be made by mixing coconut milk, sugar syrup , crushed ice and avacado in a blender (with a bit of chocolate syrup to-taste). The thick, creamy result was recently described by The Chicago Tribune as “sweet, rich, (and) satisfying… instant comfort food once you overcome the initial oddity.”

Of course, Culture of Spirits readers with adventurous appetites might consider making this specialized beverage a little more interesting with the inclusion of a bit of lite rum. Below you will find our official Superbowl 2009 “Jacked Up Sinh To Bo” recipe, sure to startle, amaze, and sicken your friends on the day of this year’s “Big Game”:
(more…)

While independents and constitutional conservatives in states like North Carolina continue to pursue their battle against proposed REAL IDs, in Utah yesterday the newly introduced HB 129, introduced by Republican Representative Curtis Oda of Clearfield, aims at bringing more severe penalties against those who either provide or use a fake ID used in the illegal sale of liquor to minors.

(more…)

Let’s face it; nearly everyone I know is a health-freak these days (myself included). Granted, this mentality from time-to-time does seem to gravitate toward and hover around particular areas of the US (and the world, for that matter). Still, no matter where you go, what seems to clench the deal is seeing fast food restaurants like McDonalds and Taco Bell making renewed efforts to provide healthier alternatives to the time-tested standards on their menus; from the inclusion of whole-wheat buns with Premium Chicken sandwiches, to Taco Bell’s “Fresco” menu, which offers low-cal alternatives to items on the regular menu, available upon request.

It isn’t surprising, therefore, that the alcohol industry poses no exception to the trend toward lower caloric intake, organic components, and even environmentally “green” standards. Beverage World recently reported that sales of premium spirits are up 92 percent in the last year, in spite of the downward trends seen in the American economy. Similarly, USA Today points out that demand for organic spirits, especially in conjunction with drinks mixed using organic fruit juices and other natural flavoring, also appears to be on the rise.  (more…)

For a while now, various studies have suggested that moderate alcohol consumption is actually good for most of us. In fact, by today’s standards to state otherwise is to simply ignore the fact that known benefits (not merely from antioxidants present in beverages like red wine) do indeed exist among alcohol consumers. For instance, among demographics ranging from college students to middle aged parents, minimal-to-zero regular alcohol consumption was found to have effects similar to the repercussions one might expect later in life as a result of binge drinking during early adulthood.

As it turns out, production of proteins known to help reduce the risk of heart problems in later life can be stimulated by the weekly (or even daily) consumption of alcoholic beverages in moderation. Interestingly, either extreme, whether it be tendencies to over-use alcohol, or simply to avoid it altogether, yield the same lessened production of the aforementioned proteins, and hence a greater risk of heart problems later on. According to cardiology consultant Arthur Klatsky in a statement from March of 2007, “many epidemiologists now feel that there is little doubt that alcohol exerts a protective effect against Coronary Artery Disease.”

Previous studies of this sort have tended to focus more on people ranging in age from their mid twenties to middle age, looking ahead toward medical conditions that tend to begin to appear around age fifty. However, new research suggests that moderate alcohol consumption may also protect older healthy adults from suffering disabilities which could later lead to difficulty walking, eating, or performing simple tasks and errands. (more…)