While Englishman Ben Hammersley is quite liberal in his politics, he is decidedly conservative in his temperment:
My wish is to see the reintroduction of cocktail hour. As a civilising force, a meditation on the day and a reinvigoration of the soul, the loss of the golden time before dinner has been a tragedy for all. It is time to bring it back. The children need it.
Last Friday, I sat contemplating my Churchill-tini (eight parts gin, open the vermouth, wave the glass in the direction of France, close the vermouth, two olives), when some young lads sullied the quiet demanding to buy bottles of Bacardi Breezer. Warm ones, it bothered them not, and - hold me - pineapple flavour. They are a lost generation.
Farming was invented for the grain for beer. The correct and judicious use of alcohol has been driving force behind humanity since pre-history. But the sight of the next generation preferring alcopops over Perfect Manhattans has been lost to our politicians, and the country is all the poorer for it. A generation has been betrayed.
You'd not drink absinthe on the beach, or a pina colada at a wake. But match the time and place to the drink, and you have the height of civilisation. And so, this evening, when work is done, find a hoodie, retire to a proper bar, order something in a stem glass, and improve the world, one olive at a time.
Comments