Tales of the Cocktail 2015

World War II, which ended 70 years ago this August, was the largest event in human history. It affected every aspect of life for those who lived through it and its aftermath has shaped every aspect of the world today. Not even the humble cocktail was immune to its influence, as a thirsty and often terrified humanity was forced to extraordinary lengths of improvisation and invention in order to sip something that might at least for a moment help it to forget the horrors around it. Join Jeff “Beachbum” Berry and David “No Nickname Can Stick to Me” Wondrich in another one of their trademarked anecdotal, amusing and yet respectful historical explorations as they delve into the ways a thirsty planet reacted to this awful, all-encompassing event. Dr. Wondrich will for the purpose of this seminar assume the role of General Eisenhower and command the European Theater of Operations, while Tiki God Berry will act as General MacArthur and return to his Pacific stomping grounds. From the halls of Tutankhamen (or at least the bar at Shepheard’s Hotel, Cairo) to the shores of Waikiki; from the drinking habits of world leaders--Churchill’s champagne, Roosevelt’s Martinis, Stalin’s rough Georgian wine, Hitler’s water—to the improvisations of strong men armed; from the deprivations of the home-front to the ingenuity (where “ingenuity” = rum, vodka and tequila) with which they were overcome, the discussion will be wide-ranging, thorough and almost entirely free of flying shrapnel or debris. There will be historic cocktails, naturally.