2020 Madison Public Library Foundation Fundraiser

There are two books Jordan Anthony recommended in 2015 when we visited two bars: Booker & Dax and Death & Co. Parts of my story: I did not drink booze; I was woefully ignorant of history, science, recipes in terms of the commonest cocktails. What is "mouthfeel?" What are techniques and how important are they? How do drink menus get written? By season? Why do people drink?

Chad Chriestenson at Old Sugar Distillery saw my "deer in headlights" look. He gently suggested I start with Google and YouTube. "Everything is on there." Five years later, I am ready to tackle books. I do make drinks by season, which seems what people did years ago by necessity.

My customers tell me they are ritualistic. Some of them share drink at the end of the day with their family, zero proof for children. Brunch is paired with a Bloody Mary and beer chaser. At the end of a hot or rainy day, I do appreciate an end of the day drink but mostly because I cannot do anything else. Hopefully being exhausted is not a ritual.

A favorite is Pisco Sour, a foamy drink. However, the drink I want to make is Milk Punch from "Punch: The Delights (and Dangers) of the Flowing Bowl" David Wondrich. It has a "silky" mouthfeel. "What drink I want like to make" or "What food are your satisfied eating at home" are safe topics of conversation. There is tons of material to fact-check. And if it isn't true, it isn't the end of the world. https://www.blossomtostem.net/clarified-milk-punch/

• "Liquid Intelligence" Dave Arnold

Dave Arnold interviewed by Nick Drinks: https://youtu.be/K_W613vGlW4

• "Death & Co" by David Kaplan, Nick Fairchild, Alex Day

Dave Kaplan interviewed by Nick Drinks: https://youtu.be/DgxUWR8kWuU

Please support the Madison Public Library by reposting, ordering an Ex Libris box, or reading a book:

Ex Libris: Box Set Edition

November 5 @ 11:00 am - November 8 @ 6:00 pm