A History Lesson With Booze ®


The LSD-25

In 1938, Dr. Albert Hoffman synthesized a bunch of compounds based on the fungus "ergot." The 25th compound - LSD-25.


Salty Lassi

Back in 1930, India was a British Colony and Indians were forced by law to buy British-made salt. Gandhi wasn't pleased, so he decided to march to the ocean and illegally make his own. The act touched off a massive nationwide protest and set the stage for India's Independence. This week marks the anniversary of the "Salt March" -- in honor of the legendary teetotaler.


The Littlefeather

This week back in 1973, Marlon Brando an Oscar for his role in "The Godfather" ...but he decided not to pick it up.


The Bloodyberry Fizz

This week back in 1844, the Navy's first propeller-powered steam ship, the USS Princeton, set sail from Alexandria, VA on a pleasure cruise that ended up being anything but pleasurable.


The Stork Club

This week in 1960, the host of the most popular evening show the "Tonight Show" just up and walked off the set during a taping.


The Elk Cloner

What started as a prank aimed at his friends has evolved into a $40 billion dollar a year headache for computer users worldwide. If you're interested in fighting the scourge of internet viruses, there's a Nigerian prince collecting money for the cause. Please send us your bank account number post-haste


Death On The Rocks

On January 12th, 1967, Dr. James Bedford became the first person to be cryonically preserved, his body sealed in a capsule full of supercold liquid nitrogen. Cryonicists still celebrate the anniversary -- they call it "Bedford Day." In honor of which we present this ice-cold re-imagining of the classic cocktail "Death In the Afternoon."


The Civil War

This week in 1862, Union Major-General Ulysses S. Grant issued his infamous General Order Number 11 — ordering every Jew in three Southern states to evacuate, on suspicion of war profiteering.


The Great Smog of London

For much of the 20th Century, England's romantic mist was actually a not-so-romantic brew of coal smoke and fog -- the word "smog" was coined to describe it. This week in 1952, the worst smog ever descended upon London, killing at least four thousand people... and providing the inspiration for this week's cocktail.


The Edison

On November 21st, 1877, Thomas Edison announced he'd invented the first working recording device — the phonograph. "The Edison," is the signature drink of the Edison bar in downtown L.A.