THINKING DRINKERS ALMANAC

'Pioneers of alcohol-based comedy' - The Sunday Times, this pair of award-winning alcohol experts are also historians and write and perform together. Their motto is drink less, drink better, and their almanac is sub-titled 'Adventurous Drinks and Eccentric Tales for Every Day of the Year.' As Aristophanes once said 'Quick, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever.' That's just one of 366 (29th February is free) entries in this eclectic, elbow-bending anthology of discerning drinks and fascinating and unusual facts. Other stories include a pair of whisky highballs for 'National Giraffe Day', a South African sparkling wine served at the inauguration of both Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela, an Alpine elixir inspired by a chap who eats aeroplanes, and a gin cocktail created in honour of someone who sewed monkey's testicles onto the face of a Frenchman. The pair know that alcohol is a fickle fellow that can flip from faithful friend to fearsome foe in the space of a few sips. The 1st January marks the fact that Bass (of the Pale Ale) Triangle registered the first ever trademark in 1876 and 2nd January the most famous bookseller Erika Roe unclasped her bra and ran on to the rugby pitch while England was playing Australia. The pair are drinking a pint of Naked Ladies from Twickenham Fine Ales, a brewery situated less than a mile from the stadium. The birth of Isaac Newton, the death of Sir Ernest Shackleton, the Gibson Flying V guitar patented (1958) is celebrated with a Gibson Martini. For each there is a little potted history plus of course the recipe, ingredients and how best to serve with garnishes, using a cocktail shaker, crushed ice, strainer etc. Firsts include steps on the Moon (communion wine used by Buzz Aldrin) and the first episode of Mad Men released in 2007 celebrating that Don Draper drank - a lot - with Hamm's Beer, an American cult classic, now owned by Coors. 272pp, stylish design.