oh lord I was obsessed with Brideshead, the series and the book, but I had somehow forgotten that scene. I wonder if it's available to stream...which I would happily do while drinking one or two of your Brandy Alexanders. I've never had one before!
thanks reminding me of Brideshead Revisited! I was of a very young age when I was forced to watch it with my parents, as young ones back in the day watched what the elders choose to watch for themselves. Usually I detested watching their selection. But not so with Brideshead, I was hooked and waited eagerly for the weekly episodes. And fell in love with Jeremy Irons. I was around 9 years of age and apparently had a thing for men with narrow lips, more like slits really.
Do you still have a thing for narrow-lipped men? My father only took me to see the films he wanted to see, too. I think I sat through Kubrick's 3-hour Barry Lyndon at age 5 without complaint. Brideshead Revisited I discovered on my own. One of my secret adolescent pleasures.
Great stuff, Michael. Your writing is like the Alexander, fancy and a little dangerous. I’m not sure if it’s true, but heard that the Brandy Alexander is what John Lennon was drinking when he got kicked out of the Troubadour for heckling the Smothers Brothers, and being a general ass. As you say, they pack an awful punch. Well written, as always. Cheers!
Mr. Bergland! How excellent to hear from you. And here we have a Lennon spreading rumors about another Lennon. I really do hope that story is true. Brandy Alexanders always get you into trouble...
As my friend Brendan says about Brandy Alexander’s : “They drink cruel easy.”
Love this post, so great to revisit Brideshead and that scene, you’ve prompted me to watch it (and read it again, Michael. Another favorite line: “The wines were too various.”
I recall a St Patrick's Day in SFO, leaving my desk (I was a paralegal in the Transamerica Building) to join the festivities, and imbibing in a few too many of them. Easy to love this drink.
I love that you were going along with the theme, Erin. I honestly do not remember how I got from Venice Beach back to Koreatown. Or with whom. Sometimes, I prefer parts of my life to remain a mystery.
Just lovely. I want to try one. Sometimes when I was growing up in the 60's and we went out to eat my parents (can't remember which one or both) would order Grasshoppers - go figure) I've been reading you for years and thoroughly enjoy. I plan to subscribe in 2025 when I get caught up. Best - Kathy
I remember (barely) one time getting trashed on Boxcars and I think other shots in San Francisco on the last night of vacation. We missed our flights the next day and I spent an extended, broke, length of time in the airport until rebooked flight left. I managed to afford a restorative Bloody Mary. Good times! It was the best vacation of my life however. Kathy
OMG. Really. I haven't thought about this in YEARS. But somewhere there are pictures of me on top of a bar in a pink striped shirtwaist dress....Brandy Alexander was my drink of choice until I ended up in a strange city with, well never mind, you know...I had to switch to straight shots of Wild Turkey. It was safer.
My drink of choice is the martini precisely because I am constantly aware of how much alcohol I'm intaking at any given moment. Also: this is a story I definitely need to hear. Over cocktails preferably.
<Checks liquor cabinet for ingredients...>
It seems I do!
I just went to check my husbands lips, and he has narrow lips, though not like slits of Jeremy Irons'
Couldn’t wait to tap the “please study this guide” link. You never disappoint.
That was some EXCELLENT instructing.
I like to keep things nice and simple around here.
I do what I can, ma'am.
oh lord I was obsessed with Brideshead, the series and the book, but I had somehow forgotten that scene. I wonder if it's available to stream...which I would happily do while drinking one or two of your Brandy Alexanders. I've never had one before!
I read most of Waugh's works when I was younger but not Brideshead. Jeremy Iron's narrator's voice is permanently seared into my brain.
Also: Please proceed with yoru Brandy Alexander drinking with caution!
thanks reminding me of Brideshead Revisited! I was of a very young age when I was forced to watch it with my parents, as young ones back in the day watched what the elders choose to watch for themselves. Usually I detested watching their selection. But not so with Brideshead, I was hooked and waited eagerly for the weekly episodes. And fell in love with Jeremy Irons. I was around 9 years of age and apparently had a thing for men with narrow lips, more like slits really.
Do you still have a thing for narrow-lipped men? My father only took me to see the films he wanted to see, too. I think I sat through Kubrick's 3-hour Barry Lyndon at age 5 without complaint. Brideshead Revisited I discovered on my own. One of my secret adolescent pleasures.
"It's the first lady of the American thee-AYE-tur out cold in the guest room."
Helen was a lush and a tramp and it's about time the truth was told.
Oh, that moon is bright!
Great stuff, Michael. Your writing is like the Alexander, fancy and a little dangerous. I’m not sure if it’s true, but heard that the Brandy Alexander is what John Lennon was drinking when he got kicked out of the Troubadour for heckling the Smothers Brothers, and being a general ass. As you say, they pack an awful punch. Well written, as always. Cheers!
Mr. Bergland! How excellent to hear from you. And here we have a Lennon spreading rumors about another Lennon. I really do hope that story is true. Brandy Alexanders always get you into trouble...
As my friend Brendan says about Brandy Alexander’s : “They drink cruel easy.”
Love this post, so great to revisit Brideshead and that scene, you’ve prompted me to watch it (and read it again, Michael. Another favorite line: “The wines were too various.”
Every single line Blanche utters is gold.
Also: Please thank your friend Brendan for that line which I am certain to borrow liberally.
Will do!
I recall a St Patrick's Day in SFO, leaving my desk (I was a paralegal in the Transamerica Building) to join the festivities, and imbibing in a few too many of them. Easy to love this drink.
WAY too easy. Why are we drawn to all the pretty things that will destroy us?
Like wuzbands.
I have neither seen nor heard that term before but, if it means what I think it means, I love it.
I started using it when I was writing Art of the Pie. My editor loved it, too!
A gem!!! 👏👏👏👏 what a fun romp through cocktail lore and debauchery.
So how did you get home that night? I was paying attention but also drinking a Brandy Alexander. I thought this was a drinking game. 🍸
I love that you were going along with the theme, Erin. I honestly do not remember how I got from Venice Beach back to Koreatown. Or with whom. Sometimes, I prefer parts of my life to remain a mystery.
Mmm, yes. Probably best to leave that box to Pandora.
Just lovely. I want to try one. Sometimes when I was growing up in the 60's and we went out to eat my parents (can't remember which one or both) would order Grasshoppers - go figure) I've been reading you for years and thoroughly enjoy. I plan to subscribe in 2025 when I get caught up. Best - Kathy
I remember (barely) one time getting trashed on Boxcars and I think other shots in San Francisco on the last night of vacation. We missed our flights the next day and I spent an extended, broke, length of time in the airport until rebooked flight left. I managed to afford a restorative Bloody Mary. Good times! It was the best vacation of my life however. Kathy
Ok, I had to look up what a Boxcar was and I can see how onne might get very trashed on those. Like knocking back an Orange Julius.
Grasshoppers! Thank you for the lovely comment, Kathy.
Also, I knew of a girl in school named Brandy Alexander. Not sure if she kept her powders or her bottom dry.
(The reply I can’t quite come up with has to do with “keeping her bottom fudge-less”, but you see the difficulty there)
I certainly do and I'm certain ingesting Brandy Alexanders will not help the situation.
I wonder if she knew my sister's classmate Candy Fudge?
LOL
It just exudes the glamour of a beautiful, crafty, vixen cocktail. I want one, now.
I had the two I photographed this afternoon and I had to take a nap. But I did feel glamorous in my stupor.
Also, I read the last line as “…keep your bottoms dry.”
I always travel with talcum powder, just in case .
😂😂😂
Damn wouldn’t that be great for breakfast with or over Cocoa Puffs or Count Chocula?
The flavors would be indistinguishable.
But the texture!
And the alcohol percentage!
I read somewhere you can have breakfast any time of day, so why not cocktails? Or both? Together?
OMG. Really. I haven't thought about this in YEARS. But somewhere there are pictures of me on top of a bar in a pink striped shirtwaist dress....Brandy Alexander was my drink of choice until I ended up in a strange city with, well never mind, you know...I had to switch to straight shots of Wild Turkey. It was safer.
My drink of choice is the martini precisely because I am constantly aware of how much alcohol I'm intaking at any given moment. Also: this is a story I definitely need to hear. Over cocktails preferably.
I’m inviting myself along. Just let me know the date, time, and location.
The more the merrier!
I’m definitely there.