Alcoholica Esoterica

Finally there's a book that's almost as much fun as having a couple of drinks. <b>Alcoholica Esoterica</b> presents the history and culture of booze as told by a writer with a knack for distilling all the boring bits into the most interesting facts and hilarious tales. It's almost like pulling up a stool next to the smartest and funniest guy in the bar. Divided into chapters covering the basic booze groups--including beer wine Champagne whiskey rum gin vodka and tequila--<b>Alcoholica Esoterica</b> charts the origin and rise of each alcohol's particular charms and influence. Other sections chronicle Great Moments in Hic-story Great Country Drinking Songs 10 Odd Laws and Mt. Lushmore Parts I-V. Additionally famous quotes on the joys and sorrows of liquor offer useful shots of advice and intoxicating whimsy.<p>Did you know...</p><ul><li><p>that the word bar is short for barrier? Yes that's right--to keep the customers from getting at all the booze.</p></li><li><p>that Winston Churchill's mother supposedly invented the Manhattan?</p></li><li><p>that the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock because the sailors on the Mayflower were running low on beer and were tired of sharing?</p></li><li><p>that you have a higher chance of being killed by a flying Champagne cork than by a poisonous spider?</p></li><li><p>that the Code of Hammurabi mandated that brewers of low-quality beer be drowned in it?</p></li><li><p>that beer was so popular with medieval priests and monks that in the thirteenth century they stopped baptizing babies with holy water and started using beer?</p></li></ul>