Black Wednesday
Ah, yes. Black Wednesday. Retailers get out of the red and into the black on Friday. Today, their bar-owning brethren get into the black first. "Thanksgiving Eve, or Black Wednesday, is as strong as ever as one of the biggest bar nights of the year. 'There's no question it's a top five holiday for most bars,' says David Henkes, vice-president and on-premise practice leader for Chicago-based retail insights firm Technomic Inc. 'Thanksgiving is a universal holiday, and many people want a night to spend with old friends before the family obligations take over.'" Link. One bar owner in the Chicago area puts the evening into perspective: "'Sales for the night before Thanksgiving are triple or quadruple a typical Wednesday . . . it's almost as big as New Year's." * * * * * * *Actually, I'm a little surprised that they say it's "almost as big." I remember hearing in the past couple of years that Black Wednesday was the biggest bar night of the year. Maybe the TSA pat-downs are putting a damper on holiday flights. * * * * * * * So what drinking fare do I have for this evening? A couple of pretty cool things. First, if you're into that whole pirate scene (be careful: see Amazon link below), The Atlantic says the lost maritime art of mixing gunpowder and liquor is making a comeback. "Simpson is the creator of Man O'War Gunpowder Rum, which is made of blended rums infused with black gunpowder and other ingredients. Simpson had also read about Blackbeard's explosive concoction, which got him to thinking: sailors used to add all sorts of things to their rum to make it more palatable ”¦ charcoal was sometimes used in casks aboard ships to keep the contents tasting fresh ”¦ gunpowder contains a lot of charcoal ”¦ and, well, why not? 'A lot of it is my own hypothesis,' Simpson admits. In addition to gunpowder, Man O'War is infused with tobacco and chili peppers." * * * * * * * I won't be engaged in high-class drinking today. I'm first heading to a client's tool-and-die shop for a late lunch and free beer, then heading to the Hillcrest Lounge for greasy food and longnecks beers. But if you're into the high-class thing, Taki Magazine recently ran this insightful piece: Bunky Mortimer's Upper Class Guide to Drinking. Excerpt: "Real men drink martinis. Straight up. If you want to be like James Bond, you can order one that's half gin, half vodka. It's not bad, but the proper cocktail is gin, perhaps with a soupçon of French vermouth, shaken, not stirred. The best gin is Plymouth's, the Royal Navy's official botanical. The Admiralty know what they're doing. British sailors are entitled to a daily ration of rum, and the ward room is well stocked." * * * * * * * The Discovery Channel has started a worthwhile series: Brew Masters. I haven't caught an episode, but I came close twice. * * * * * * * And finally, when you get to the point tonight where you can't drink anymore, hoist just one more . . . for your health: Scientists Learn Why Alcohol Can Be Good For You. But never forget Chesterton's observation in "Omar and the Sacred Vine." It's not good to drink for the health of it. That's rational drinking and a sure sign of ruin. Drink because there's no reason for it. Drink just because it's fun.
Have a great holiday season.
