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Longish   L’Ecole du Vin by Tom Byrnes Exploring La Tartine, one glass at a time   Drinking the Mrs. - A Capital Tradition  by Ken DuBois Here's to you, Mrs. Harriman's.   Bus One Seven by Roderick Armageddon The Connection of the Cup   Shortish   Is Evian Really Naïve Backwards? by Kent Lewis Getting a taste of your own tap water   In The News Starbucks to purchase Portland Bureau of Water Works   Coming Soon to A Coffee House Near You by David Volk When plain black coffee just isn’t enough   A Recipe from the Bartender's Guide to Advanced Mixology by David Lytle A refreshing alcoholic beverage with a crystal twist   Lists   Movie Reviews ‘Tis the season for indoor activities involving a warm beverage   Least Popular Mixed Drinks According to the Bartending Academy

Evolution of a Drink and the De-evolution of Man
by Kent Lewis

A few weeks ago, I celebrated my 31^st birthday with friends and family at a new restaurant/bar in Seattle. While I’m primarily a beer enthusiast, I do enjoy a fashionable and satisfying mixed drink once and awhile. Feeling that my birthday merited such an occasion, I took the liberty to order a Mojito. The minty-rum drink is nice and smooth, but left me yearning for something more. That’s exactly what I got.

For Mormons and wine drinkers in the house, a Mojito is a Cuban mixer involving mint and a tad of sugar and plenty o’ rum. Liking the combination, I elected to freestyle a drink of my own. I had the bartender mix Grey Goose vodka with a touch of Vermouth, pinch of sugar, squeeze of lemon and mashed mint leaves to create the ultimate martini. After two thorough test rounds and minor tweaking, we christened it the aptly named Kentini.

With three Kentinis in my otherwise empty tummy, the rest of the evening seemed to fade into a fuzzy dream. I don't remember what I had for dinner. I don't remember the heartfelt conversations with my cousin, nor do I remember dancing with the restaurant hostess. The only thing I remember was waking up in the morning with a slamming headache and mild nausea.

So the Kentini may need a little more work (perhaps less sugar to reduce hangover impact), but it’s certainly evolving into something special. I, on the other hand, need a lot more work.

On the subject of work, some of us are blessed with the opportunity to garner employment abroad. For Tom Byrnes, a few years in Paris meant an opportunity to become well versed in the national pastime of wine consumption.

While it’s important for wine enthusiasts to know their staple, it’s less frequent for hard liquor drinkers to have an intimate understanding of their favorite beverage. Ken DuBois provides us insight into a curious drink known as Mrs. Harriman’s.

Roderick Armageddon has a few ideas about the changing face of the American café — from Starbucks to your own local hangout; it’s more about where you drink than what you’re drinking.

Not everyone needs alcohol or caffeine to have a good time. Those that prefer to stick with plain old water may be surprised to find that a gin & tonic may be healthier in the long run. You may want to re-evaluate your decision, especially if you’re a bottled water fanatic. If my article on bottled water doesn’t scare you, I promise this news clipping from Associated Press will make you change your filter.

Since we’re on the subject, when Starbucks isn’t too busy fending off attacks from environmentalists and pranksters (see above), they’re developing new products to get your hard earned dough. In David Volk’s article, he outlines a few newer products that you’ll soon find in your local coffee shop, if you’re unlucky enough.

If you’re able to read this far without taking a field trip to a local bar or coffee shop, you’ll be glad you did. David Lytle gives us a secret recipe for a high tech drink with a twist that is not your standard lemon.

Winter means shorter days and longer night. What better way to spend your evenings than watching movies with your favorite drink. Don’t know what to watch? Our movie reviews should give you plenty of ammo.

Having trouble figuring out which drink to make for your session of movie madness? We know which drinks NOT to consider. Don’t forget to check out our gallery, featuring themed images and an Uncorked classic.