Isaac's Annual Gift Giving Guide

This year for my Gift Giving Guide, "Classic" is the theme. Classics never go out of style and are sure to impress the boozehound you're buying for. OK, the truth is that this is my own Christmas wish list, so people take note!

Expensive ($50 or more)
Thomas H. Handy Rye Whiskey
Forget about throwing another log on the fire. This one is going to set fire to your log. (OK, even I don't exactly know what that means.) High proof and proud, this Rye is rich, confectionary and spicy--a great addition to the Antique Collection.

Not Cheap ($50 or less)
Monogrammed Shaker
Oh yeah, baby. Style and function. Plus it's nice to see your initials in steel. Williams Sonoma will let you preview your personalized shaker. Check it out.

Cheap($20 or less)
Waldorf Astoria Bar Book by A.S. Crockett
Classic cocktail recipes, lore and history. And you thought you had to hang around old used book stores to get your hands on a gem like this. After you give the bar book as a gift, make sure you follow up with your mixologist-in-the-making to see what he or she has been trying out. Maybe even sample a few yourself. This is the gift that keeps on giving.

Dirt Cheap ($10 or less)
Homemade Grenadine
Grenadine has multiple uses from kiddie drinks to ice cream topping. But there's no better use than in a classic cocktail like the Blinker. The problem is most people don't know the delicious tart and sugary red sap from the juice in an empty bottle of maraschino cherries. Teach through example.

Peanuts ($5 or less)
Fee Brother's Lemon Bitters
Get off easy and help people make better drinks at the same time. I collect bitters so this is a no-brainer. Lemon is my next purchase unless my Mom reads this blog and is looking for a stocking stuffer (wink, wink).

Keep On Drinking in the Free World: Repeal Day Revelry

Now that we've recovered from pounding Dogfish Head 90-minute I.P.A.'s, Manhattans and (gulp) 137 proof rye whisky, its time to tell the tale of Repeal Day.

We got started later than expected, around 5 P.M. Although Lonnie and I had a tipple or two winding up for the festivities. Billy Martin, Jr. greeted us and cheered the holiday by telling us a story or two. We pitched camp at Lyndon B. Johnson's booth and were joined throughout the night by 20 or so of our close friends.

We agreed that Billy Martin's was the right place, but we needed a tradition. Something generations of dedicated drinkers could get behind for Repeal Day. Something they could raise their mugs to. So we decided toasting was the one.

Every participant had to have their own unique toast. Over the coarse of eight hours, from 5 P.M. to 1 A.M. we heard quite a few. Here are the highlights:

Adam Birdbath gave us the most poetic toast of the evening with:

To the liquid of our fortunes and our ruin.

In the category of too true, Lonnie gave us something to ponder with:

Here's to you and here's to me,
Never two friends better be,
But if we should happen to disagree,
F-ck you, here's to me.

Your very own Isaac Washington did a little flag waving with this ditty:

There are few things Utah has done for us all,
But there's one thing they've done when we call:
"Hey Bartender, another whiskey," and he breaks the seal,
For it was on this Day in 1933 Utah's vote did repeal,
The damndest legislation to ever be passed,
To the enemies of freedom, you can kiss my ass!

And, finally, a toast to Jeffrey Morgenthaler for lighting up the bloglines and promoting the second g-damn most important day next to the birth of Jesus.

Whaddya say we do it all again next year?