Doctors and Distillers -- by Camper English
Topic selection is often the true key to success in an article, book, or screenplay, and Camper English hit the bull's eye in this one.
Liqueurs, drinks, booze, hooch, and such often had their beginnings intended as medicine by someone a long time ago. Healers, medicine people, and the various makers of these solutions came from way back in our DNA before doctors, nurses, the American Medical Association, or any other bureaucracy got started. As the book explains, the healers and their liquid cures came along at a time when doctors and medicine were too far away, and expensive. Sound familiar?
Doctors and Distillers put other ideas into play. How about lagging attendance at the Oakland A's games? What if a fan, or their bored spouse, could get a shot to try and fix whatever ails them between innings? With or without the alcohol in the drink? Maybe it's time to think beyond the beer stand or just expand its offerings.
I think I counted 85 pages marked for further study in a book that kept my sticky tabs at arm's reach. My only disappointment in this book was a lack of focus on the liqueurs of Europe that I knew intimately at one time, some 30 years ago. My favorite was Pacharan, made from the sloe berry, usually found in the Spanish Basque Country. It did wonders for my newspaper deadline blood pressure by just sipping a full shot glass -- once a month! I also discovered Liqueur de Yierbas from up in La Coruna, but it never lasted. Some thirsty friends liked it too much.
Farther travels led to even more finds. I was introduced to more local liqueurs in the little islands near Gothenburg, Sweden. I was tempted by a small private collection of 4 varieties that caught my attention, but time and social protocol didn't allow for sampling.
Camper English's D&D didn't delve far enough into such liqueurs, but I wouldn't be surprised if he came up with a separate book for that.
Doctors and Distillers is likely to spark parts of your imagination, too. I'll let you decide for yourself. There are also a lot of mixed-drink recipes here.
Liqueurs, drinks, booze, hooch, and such often had their beginnings intended as medicine by someone a long time ago. Healers, medicine people, and the various makers of these solutions came from way back in our DNA before doctors, nurses, the American Medical Association, or any other bureaucracy got started. As the book explains, the healers and their liquid cures came along at a time when doctors and medicine were too far away, and expensive. Sound familiar?
Doctors and Distillers put other ideas into play. How about lagging attendance at the Oakland A's games? What if a fan, or their bored spouse, could get a shot to try and fix whatever ails them between innings? With or without the alcohol in the drink? Maybe it's time to think beyond the beer stand or just expand its offerings.
I think I counted 85 pages marked for further study in a book that kept my sticky tabs at arm's reach. My only disappointment in this book was a lack of focus on the liqueurs of Europe that I knew intimately at one time, some 30 years ago. My favorite was Pacharan, made from the sloe berry, usually found in the Spanish Basque Country. It did wonders for my newspaper deadline blood pressure by just sipping a full shot glass -- once a month! I also discovered Liqueur de Yierbas from up in La Coruna, but it never lasted. Some thirsty friends liked it too much.
Farther travels led to even more finds. I was introduced to more local liqueurs in the little islands near Gothenburg, Sweden. I was tempted by a small private collection of 4 varieties that caught my attention, but time and social protocol didn't allow for sampling.
Camper English's D&D didn't delve far enough into such liqueurs, but I wouldn't be surprised if he came up with a separate book for that.
Doctors and Distillers is likely to spark parts of your imagination, too. I'll let you decide for yourself. There are also a lot of mixed-drink recipes here.
posted by mmblog @ 7:12 AM
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