What's old is new again - except when your drunk... That feels pretty much the same as it did 100 years ago.

In his new book “Imbibe!” (Perigee Books, $23.95), a biography and annotated recipe book, David Wondrich revisits the life and times of Jerry Thomas, the famed mixoligist at the turn of the century. (If you don't feel like reading the book, the NYTimes does a great job of sumarising it - I didn't actually read it either, but whatever!!)

While the article is interesting and I'm sure the book is engrossing, what caught my fancy was how everything old is new. At a time when everyone is obsessed with micro brews, single malt scotches and vintage wines, it's refreshing to read of a time when creativity and professional life could combine to form delicious libations of sweet remedy... While this fellow did die broke, his contribution to bar life is greatly appreciated and the commentary regarding the evolution of the cocktail, fascinating..

So go out and drink a blue blazer - if you can find someone to mix it up!