If you consider yourselves "Festive Boozing Consultants" and write a book with the title The Man Who Scared a Shark to Death and Other True Tales of Drunken Debauchery, my guess is you're qualified to compile a list of the Top 10 Coolest Bartenders of All Time.

Noel Boivin and Christopher Lombardo, authors of said book and list, sobered up just long enough to post Part 2 of their list today, and they've included some interesting choices.

You have to love the inclusion of Georgie, the battered bar jockey from The Sopranos (definitely check out the video compilations of Georgie beatings), and "Joe" the bartender from Sinatra's "One For My Baby". And the nods to Nick from "It's a Wonderful Life" and Al Swearengen of HBO's Deadwood are inspired.

But naming Moe Szyslak from The Simpsons the number Coolest Bartender Ever? Either complete genius, or in their drunken stupor they didn't realize he's a cartoon character.

Read the complete list here. (This link takes you to Part 2. You'll find a link to Part 1 there.)

Bourbon is a classic American spirit. One whose caramel color and warm, oaky taste make it perfect for drinking during these cold winter months. And while most people tend to drink bourbon up or on the rocks, it does work well mixed into a variety of cocktails.

One bourbon that blends well with a variety of mixers is Bulleit. Distilled in small batches, using a high level of rye and Augustus Bulleit's 175 year-old recipe, it's then aged for six years in flame-charred white oak barrels. The result is a 90 proof bourbon that's a lot smoother and mellower than it's alcohol content would have you believe.

Bulleit's favorite recipe is "The Ultimate Cocktail", which calls for 1 1/2 ounces of Bulleit Bourbon, 2 ounces of orange juice, juice form 1/2 fresh lime, a splash of grenadine and some ginger ale. To make it they suggest you add the Bulleit to a rocks glass, then throw all the other ingredients in the trash and enjoy.

Here's three other (actual) cocktail recipes that take advantage of this gold medal-winning bourbon to help warm you this winter.

THE SMOKEY MOUNTAIN
1 1/2 oz Bulleit Bourbon
1/2 oz Amaretto
Cranberry juice ...More

True or false: All vodka is made from potatoes.

The answer is false. While using potatoes yields the smoothest spirit, most vodkas you'll find on the shelf and drink at the bar are made from grains - wheat, rye, corn. Or a combo of the three.

So, why do the majority of vodka makers choose to use grain when potatoes make better vodka? Simple. Because it's easier. And cheaper. While cheap and easy may be fine for some things (late night snacks, strippers), it's not fine for the vodka you build your martini around.

Cirrus is a hand-made potato vodka, produced in small batches in a traditional pot-still, without the use of additives or anything else unnatural added in. This gives the resulting vodka a smoothness that's been described as "creamy", and a flavor profile that has just a hint of vanilla. And is one of the reasons Cirrus won the gold medal at the 2006 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

When you're mixing up cocktails for your girl this weekend, give Cirrus a try, and see if it doesn't raise the level of your drink. Here are a few ideas to get you started, some of which are from top restaurants around the country that use Cirrus in their cocktails. (I recommend trying several. Just for research purposes.)

CIRRUS BLOSSOM (Courtesy of Equinox Restaurant, Washington, DC)
2 oz of Cirrus vodka
1 oz of Bols cherry brandy liqueur
1/2 oz Of Cointreau/triplesec
1 1/4 oz of freshly squeezed lemon juice ...More

Do you start to sweat when the waiter comes by with the wine list, and your date looks at you - her man who is supposed to know everything about everything - to select something that she'll just adore with her oak grilled salmon? Start cheating.

The one thing about drinking wine is that you don't have to know about every wine to make an informed decision. Knowing a little about the grapes, their taste characteristics and what they pair well with helps a lot.

There's a few places online that have good, quick info that'll keep the wine ordering stress level to a minimum. One of them is VineVoyage.com

Created by Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, the site gives you a video "tour" of some of the wines that make up their Fleming’s 100 - the 100 wines they serve by the glass. The site's five videos feature some of the top wineries, ones that you'll probably see on a variety of wine lists.

And recognizing a wine on a list is a good thing. It takes a lot of the stress away. Plus it lets you fake your way through the selection with something convincing like, "Oh, the Wattle Creek from Sonoma County. They have a wonderful Chardonnay you'd love..." And then toss in some interesting info you got from the winery tour video. She'll think you're a sophisticated gentleman (as amazing as that sounds), and you can get through dinner sweat-free.

www.vinevoyage.com

When you think of Thailand, you immediately think of the food, the beaches, the women - and a whole host of other things. (Many of which happen to include those women.) Good beer typically doesn't come to mind.

Phuket Beer, the national beer of Thailand, may change that. A lager, brewed using all natural ingredients and German hops, Phuket is smooth, and incredibly drinkable. Part of that smoothness owes to the Jasmine rice that's added in the brewing process. It gives the beer a very slight sweetness, without having to add sugar. Making it a perfect beer to serve when there's ladies at the party. Especially when they continually ask to have a "fuk it". (For the record, it's pronounced "poo-KET". But they don't have to know.)

The first Thai beer ever to win a gold medal in competition, Phuket has been available in just a few US states for a couple of years, with a national rollout planned soon. (Check the website for availability.) If you're looking for something different to have at your next party, something with a little island flavor, go Phuket. You'll love it long time.

$7.99-$8.99 per six-pack
www.phuketbeerusa.com

If your Valentine needs a little liquid lubrication to get her love motor running, here are 20 love-inspired cocktails that would impress even Cupid, with names that'll make her go "awwww, that's so sweet" before you make her go "ooooh, that's so good".











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If you're idea of giving her something that sparkles on Valentine's Day runs more toward champagne than diamonds, then how about a basket packed with a bottle of bubbly, rich truffles and gourmet chocolates?

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Naked in a bubble bath with a beautiful woman and a bottle of wine more your style? The Luxury Spa and Wine basket pairs some calming bath tea, bubble bath, chocolates, and more, with a bottle of Chardonnay. (Getting the naked woman is up to you.)

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Valentine's baskets from $79.95
$10 off with coupon code bachvday
www.mywinesdirect.com