“Thinking Drinkers: The Enlightened Imbiber’s Guide to Alcohol” by Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham

‘For art to exist, for any sort of aesthetic activity to exist, a certain physiological precondition is indispensable: intoxication.’ Friedrich Nietzsche

Exploring their mantra of ‘Drink Less but Drink Better’, the Thinking Drinkers, celebrated drinks journalists and proud BGBW members Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham, have performed sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and the Soho Theatre in London.

Now, inspired by their show, they bring us “Thinking Drinkers: The Enlightened Imbibers Guide to Alcohol”, an intoxicating read that delves into the history and development of alcohol, from early Sumerian beer brewers to famous imbibers such as Van Gogh, Ernest Hemingway, Norm from ‘Cheers’ and John Wayne to Blackbeard and Dorothy Parker, to name but a few.

It’s steeped in fascinating facts and trivia on subjects such as the ‘Three Martini Lunch’, the origin of the word ‘teetotal’ and some frankly weird shenanigans around the subject of absinthe! Chapter topics range from beer and cider to wine, whisky, fruit-based spirits, tequila, vodka, rum and gin, as well as liqueurs. Fun and quirky illustrations highlight celebrated drinks, characters, places in time and the drinks themselves, while McFarland and Sandham bring together the best of their well- informed and hugely entertaining writing in this handsome and covetable volume that will to both elite and amateur elbow-benders.

BEN MCFARLAND and TOM SANDHAM are leading drinks experts, writers and performers. Together they co-founded www.thethinkingdrinkers.com, and they regularly perform, talk and write as The Thinking Drinkers.

Ben McFarland has been named the British Guild of Beer Writers’ Beer Writer of the Year on three separate occasions, the first time in 2004 as the youngest ever recipient. He is the author of three books, including “Good Beer Guide West Coast USA” (co-written with Tom Sandham); “World’s Best Beers” and “Boutique Beers” http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ben-McFarland/e/B001JPCDYQ

Tom Sandham is the successful author of World’s Best Cocktails and an expert on all kinds of spirit drinks. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Worlds-Best-Cocktails-Couture-Bartenders/dp/1906417784

Both authors write regularly for a wide range of consumer and specialist magazines, including Jamie Oliver Magazine, The Guardian, Independent on Sunday, The Daily Telegraph, Imbibe, Draft Magazine and Time Out. After three years at the Edinburgh Festival, the Thinking Drinkers returned to the Scottish capital in 2014 with their new show “The Thinking Drinkers Guide to the Legends of Liquor” and, following a sell-out run, they are about to embark on an eight date tour of the south-east https://www.kililive.com/artists/the-thinking-drinkers.

Details and Tickets Below!

Fri 24 Oct 2014

The Thinking Drinkers ‘Legends of Liquor’

Harpenden, Harpenden Public Halls

Sat 1 Nov 2014

The Thinking Drinkers ‘Legends of Liquor’

Fleet, The Harlington

Thu 6 Nov 2014

The Thinking Drinkers ‘Legends of Liquor’

Epsom, Epsom Playhouse

Fri 7 Nov 2014

The Thinking Drinkers ‘Legends of Liquor’