San Francisco Drinks

This weekend is the combined New York and Boston Marathons of spirit tastings - the San Francisco World Spirit Competition, whose motto, I think, is "The liver is evil and must be destroyed!"

No, not really, because it's all about the spitting. Sure, at the end of the day, after trying to suss out the differences among eight berry flavored vodkas, or 14 non-Speyside Highland Single Malt Scotch whiskys, or a snootful of brandies, you could find a few glasses pushed to the side, at least at my table, waiting to be sampled in the dusk of an emptying room. But through the day, holding on to your senses, in fact, keeping them sharp so they are working away on all cylinders, means no drinkie for Johnnie until day is done. Just like back in those factory days.

The best part of one of these tasteathons is the results, when one receives the list of what it was you were actually sniffing and slurping, when you discover you really don't like that bourbon you once revered, or don't hate that vodka everyone's talking about after all. To paraphrase David Mamet from "Glengarry Glen Ross:" Always be tasting!

PS: Why is there still no Scotch whisky called Glengarry Glen Ross?