"A Compendium of Impish, Romantic, Amusing, and Occasionally Appalling Potations from Bygone Eras"

"It's always five o'clock somewhere," as the old saying goes. And this expression, of course, was as true in the 1770s or 1860s or 1930s as it is today --- and maybe it's all the more fitting right this instant, as we approach the holiday season. On today's show, therefore, we are discussing the histories, traditions, origins, myths, and/or recipes related to various cocktails. (And where does the term "cocktail" come from, by the way?) We are joined by phone by Lesley Blume, a New York-based journalist, writer, and cultural observer who's covered fashion, media, and culture for a variety of publications; Blume's new book is called "Let's Bring Back --- The Cocktail Edition: A Compendium of Impish, Romantic, Amusing, and Occasionally Appalling Potations from Bygone Eras." As a critic for The Paris Review has noted: "[This book] is such good reading --- it's a mix of cocktail lore, recipes, anecdotes, and quotations --- that I think even a teetotaler would enjoy it."