Ten Unknown Facts About the World of Booze and Cocktails, as Described in Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History, by Mark Spivak
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1. The connection
between moonshine and NASCAR: The racing circuit has been careful to cover this
up, in their efforts to portray the sport as clean, wholesome family
entertainment. All the early drivers were bootleggers. They jazzed up their
cars to avoid the revenue agents, raced informally among themselves, and in
1947 got together and founded NASCAR.
Mark Spivak is an award-winning writer specializing in
wine, spirits, food, restaurants and culinary travel. He was the wine writer
for the Palm Beach Post from 1994-1999, and since 2001 has been the Wine and
Spirits Editor for the Palm Beach Media Group, as well as the restaurant critic
for Palm Beach Illustrated. His work has appeared in National Geographic
Traveler, Robb Report, Ritz-Carlton, Continental, Art & Antiques, Newsmax,
Dream of Italy and Arizona Highways. From 1999-2011 he hosted Uncorked! Radio,
a highly successful wine talk show on the Palm Beach
affiliate of National Public Radio.
Mark began writing Iconic Spirits after becoming fascinated with the untold stories behind the world’s greatest liquors. As a writer, he’s always searching for the unknown details that make his subjects compelling and unique.His latest book is Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History.
Visit Mark’s website at http://www.iconicspirits.net.
Become a fan of Mark Spivak at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mark.spivak.3
Pick up your copy of Iconic Spirits at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Iconic-Spirits-Intoxicating-Mark-Spivak/dp/0762779268/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344434224&sr=1-1&keywords=iconic+spirits
Ten Unknown Facts
About the World of Booze and Cocktails, as Described in Iconic Spirits: An
Intoxicating History, by Mark Spivak
2. Absinthe was
once considered to be the most dangerous substance on earth, the repository of
all the evil in the universe. One drink was considered sufficient to send
someone on a downward spiral of alcoholism, insanity and death. Absinthe was
banned in the U.S. in 1912, and not legalized again until
2007.
3. Millions of
cases of Campari and other bitters are sold each year, yet the taste receptors
on our tongues warn us not to drink them: Bitter substances are regarded as
potentially toxic or poisonous, yet they are also regarded as some of the
sexiest potions on earth.
4. The worst
epidemic of mass drunkenness is history was the Gin Craze, which occurred in 18th
century London; 15-20% of the population was drunk for
nearly 50 years.
5. Spirits baron
Sidney Frank made his initial fortune with Jägermeister, a German herbal
liqueur that tasted like NyQuil mixed with mouthwash. In 1996, he invented Grey
Goose from the flash of an idea, and sold it in 2004 for $2.2 billion.
6. Nearly 60% of
the Cognac sold in America is consumed in hip hop clubs.
7. Bacardi went
bankrupt three times before becoming the world’s pre-eminent rum brand.
8. The worldwide
demand for Scotch whisky was actually created by a microscopic
bug---phylloxera---that devastated French vineyards toward the end of the 19th
century. No grapes meant no Cognac, so consumers turned to Scotch for solace.
9. Bourbon was
recognized by an Act of Congress as America’s native spirit, a “distinctive product of
the United
States.”
10. John Paul
Dejoria was homeless twice in his life. He started John Paul Mitchell Systems
on a shoestring, went on to found Patrón Tequila, and today is ranked by Forbes
magazine as the 66th wealthiest person in America.
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Mark began writing Iconic Spirits after becoming fascinated with the untold stories behind the world’s greatest liquors. As a writer, he’s always searching for the unknown details that make his subjects compelling and unique.His latest book is Iconic Spirits: An Intoxicating History.
Visit Mark’s website at http://www.iconicspirits.net.
Become a fan of Mark Spivak at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mark.spivak.3
Pick up your copy of Iconic Spirits at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Iconic-Spirits-Intoxicating-Mark-Spivak/dp/0762779268/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344434224&sr=1-1&keywords=iconic+spirits
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