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January 30, 2017 · 61 min

Getting Into the Colonial Spirit(s)

A toast to our drunken history, with the book’s creators.

Ed, John (suffering from a miserable cold), and Tim (hobbled by influenza), dive into the instructive and wildly entertaining book, Colonial Spirits: A Toast to Our Drunken History, and chat to its equally instructive and entertaining creators, author Steven Grasse and illustrator Michael Allen.

Colonial Spirits: A Toast to Our Drunken History

Other highlights include:

  • A dizzying treatment of Ben Franklin's "Drinker's Dictionary."
  • How to make Cock Ale in the original 18th century way.
  • Taste tests of Cranberry Shrub, Milk Punch, the Hot Flip, and Ginger Liqueur.

Plus, a reflection on the end of the Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus after nearly 150 years. (And do you remember that unicorn?)