Celebri-Quotes

Pat Sajack

2012-01-27T17:12:00.002-05:00

The game show host

• TV game show host Pat Sajak admitted in an interview with ESPN2 that he and longtime eye candy Vanna White used to knock back numerous drinks during breaks in taping their "Wheel of Fortune" show.

"Our dinner breaks would be 2½ hours long while they drove in new cars and boats and gazebos and stuff. So, at NBC in Burbank we had a place called Los Arcos across the street, and they served great margaritas.

"So, Vanna and I would go across and have two or three or six and then come and do the last shows and have trouble recognizing the alphabet."

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Whiskey book in stores, online

2011-12-26T15:16:00.001-05:00

William M. Dowd
(Photo: Albany Times Union/Paul Buckowski)

Looking for an addition to your book collection or a gift for someone special? Pick up copies of my new book, "Barrels & Drams: The History of Whisk(e)y In Jiggers and Shots," from the New York publisher Sterling Epicure.

The suggested retail price for the hardcover book is $18.95. You can get a copy, often at a discounted price, via such online sites as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart and others, as well as numerous online booksellers in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Many independent booksellers also have it available.

Here are excerpts from several reviews:

“Bill Dowd knows an awful lot about spirits. So, too, do the estimable scribes he’s included in Barrels & Drams, an outstanding collection of writing about that most beloved and oft-quaffed fortified liquid, whiskey. Tom Wolfe, David Wondrich, Jim Murray and Daniel Okrent are among the 20-plus essayists included in this fun, conversational ride through the history of bourbon, Scotch and Irish whiskey. … And Dowd’s no slouch himself when it comes to spinning a yarn. … Already looking forward to the next edition. But for now, buy ‘Barrels & Drams’.”

– Dan Dunn, The Imbiber.com/Sirius Radio

“Whiskey enthusiasts and liquor history buffs will really enjoy this collection of stories that tell the story of whiskey’s past. … If there is one history book you want to add to your collection this year, this is the one.”

– Colleen Graham, Ask.com cocktails columnist

“The book’s small batches of information and easy-to-read format make it the quintessential bathroom compendium. But it also belongs in every tavern and home bar, within easy reach of a two-finger pour of Glenlivet. … Dowd has studded the volume with fascinating trivia and delicious history, from ancient Mesopotamia to the 1791 Whiskey Rebellion in America.”

– Paul Grondahl, Hearst News Service

“I’m having a blast reading it.”

– Drink.Think.com

"Pour a glass of your favorite brown spirit and settle in for “Barrels and Drams: The History of Whisk(e)y in Jiggers and Shots,” edited by William M. Dowd. This collection of essays introduces us to whiskey and heroes worldwide. We’re educated on what to collect, where to hide it, how to make a blend and the horror of drinking whiskey from plastic."

-- Bloomberg News

Whiskey anthology perfect for holiday gifts

2011-11-07T13:51:00.001-05:00

Here's a thought for an easy holiday gift. Pick up copies of my new book, "Barrels & Drams: The History of Whisk(e)y In Jiggers and Shots," just released by the New York publisher Sterling Epicure.

The suggested retail price for the hardcover book is $18.95. You can get a copy, often at a discounted price, via such online sites as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart and others.

Bill Dowd

I selected, edited and co-wrote this collection of essays from numerous writers famous in the field, from F. Paul Pacult to David Wondrich, and such multi-field notables as Tom Wolfe to Pulitzer Prize winner Daniel Okrent of The New York Times.

Through them you will discover the spread of whiskey throughout the world and how it helped build countries. Read profiles of some of the most famous giants of the industry as Jack Daniel, George Smith and the Beam family.

Plus, go behind the scenes of Prohibition to check out the legendary gangsters, small-time rumrunners, and a famous NASCAR champion who made his mark as a moonshine runner. And, you'll get insiders' looks at legitimate whiskey-making in such diverse spots as Scotland, Ireland, the U.S., South Africa, India and Japan, as well as how the infamous Whiskey Ring scandal almost brought down a U.S. presidency.

Tom Brokaw

2011-11-01T14:27:00.001-04:00

Tom Brokaw

• Former “NBC Nightly News” anchor Tom Brokaw is profiled in New York magazine. Among the questions he answered ...

Q: What’s your drink?

A: We have a Polish audio technician with whom I have worked all over the world for years. He makes a killer home-brew lemon vodka.

We have shared shots with Gorbachev, and toasted the fall of the Berlin Wall, the visit of Pope John Paul to Warsaw, the release of Nelson Mandela, and most of the historic events of the last 30 years.

I want to be buried with a milk bottle of Majik’s lemon vodka.

Olivia Munn

2011-10-20T16:49:00.004-04:00

In GQ magazine photo.

• The actress Olivia Munn, 31, has an unusual beverage that helps her get through physical workouts: tequila. She talked about it with Radar Online.

Q: What helps get you through a physical workout?

A: It seems weird, but I drink. I drink when I work out. I literally hate working out. My friends ask me if I want to go hiking up Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles and I'm like ... 'Why would you want to go outside? Why would you like to climb up a mountain?' I really do drink when I work out. I have to trick myself into thinking I'm doing something fun."

What does she drink most? Tequila.

Daniel Craig

2011-08-15T15:22:00.002-04:00

• Daniel Craig may be a star in his own right. but when he met the legendary Harrison Ford before they began filming "Cowboys & Aliens," he felt intimidated, as he revealed in an interview with Esquire magazine.

"You rarely get these opportunities to actually speak to people you admire. I think it's human nature to get a bit nervous around people like that, but certainly a coupe of large malt whiskies helped loosen my tongue.

"I was very open about how much he's influenced me. He's Harrison Ford, you know? He knows how to ride a horse, shoot a gun, build a house, fly a helicopter. But he's also very funny, very dry. Thank God. Could have gone either way, I suppose."

Kyle MacLachlan

2011-06-25T15:46:00.002-04:00

• The actor Kyle MacLachlan has a growing sideline as co-owner of the Pursued By Bear winery in Washington State. In an interview with The New York Times, he spoke tongue-in-cheek about the vagaries of finding a profit in such a difficult, competitive field.

MacLachlan: "I buy the barrels and (partner) Eric (Dunham) buys the grapes and pays for all the equipment, and then we split whatever profit there might be."

NYT: How big were the profits so far?

MacLachlan: "We were in the high four-figures last year -- almost $9,000 apiece."

Jeneil Williams

2011-06-14T15:29:00.001-04:00

As seen in Harper's Bazaar

• Jamaican model Jeneil Williams, who has been on dozens of magazine covers worldwide, was interviewed by the jamaica Observer. Among other things, she was asked ...

Q: What's your favorite drink?

A: A glass of perfectly chilled Pinot Grigio.

Q: What's been your most memorable experience since you've been working in the fashion industry?

A: Shooting with Karl Lagerfeld for the second time. It was really fun, it was like hanging out rather than working. It was for the Diet Coke campaign.

Q: What's your idea of the perfect date?

A: Simple lounging, going to the movies, and then to dinner with a nice glass of wine.

Barbara Marx Sinatra

2011-06-04T19:43:00.001-04:00

Barbara and Frank

• Frank Sinatra was known for his non-stop partying and legendary drinking bouts. However. some of that was a faced, according to his last wife, Barbara Marx Sinatra. This is excerpted from her new book, "Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank Sinatra," published by Hutchinson.

"Those who drank and stayed up till the early hours -- Bill Holden, Robert Mitchum, John Wayne, Glenn Ford and Orson Welles -- were part of his in-crowd. Those who preferred a more staid lifestyle -- such as Tony Bennett, Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby and Henry Fonda -- were seldom invited, though Frank would often turn up at their places for breakfast at sunrise.

"When we went out, Frank almost always picked up the tab. He couldn't have cared less about money, and spent cash like a drunken sailor, giving $100 tips to busboys and waitresses.

"He was rarely drunk, and would order a Jack Daniel's on the rocks, take a sip or two, abandon it, then call the waiter to 'Bring another round.'

"He carried on like that all evening, completely in charge of his faculties while everyone else got smashed. Meanwhile, he was flirting with every female, but so discreetly that only the women noticed."

Carine Roitfeld

2011-05-21T16:10:00.002-04:00

• Carine Roitfeld, 55, who in a controversial move recently quit as editor-in-chief of French Vogue, spoke about her roots and her drinking preferences during a wide-ranging interview with the Financial Times of London.

Q: What do you like to drink?

A: "What do you like to drink? Vodka? Me, I don’t have vodka at lunch. It will be around 8 p.m. when I go home that I will have a little shot. It’s my Russian roots."

Q: What about champagne?

A: "A problem at fashion parties” [so before she goes out she will have a shot of vodka to ensure she arrives in a good mood.]

[Go here for the full interview.]

Christa Miller

2011-04-22T12:54:00.001-04:00

• The cast of the TV series "Cougar Town" downs a LOT of wine in the course of its weekly comedy episodes. In an interview with the New York Post, co-star Christa Miller, who plays bitchy Ellie Torres, talks about the drinking aspects of the series.

Christa: "You can ... turn the show into a drinking game. There’s one every time we drink, you have to drink, which is insane in some episodes. It’s crazy. Someone said that every time Ellie gives a withering glare to someone, you should drink. Which I thought was funny. Then I thought I should maybe tone down the withering glare if that truly becomes part of the drinking game. I don't want to hurt anyone."

Post: "Can you safely say that 'Cougar Town' could out drink 'Mad Men?' "

Christa: I feel like we have to. I mean, Jules [the character played by Courtney Cox] is drinking out of a candle holder in Mexico because she didn’t bring Big Joe [her oversized wine glass]with her. One of them actually fits two entire bottles of wine. It’s ridiculous.

Post: Obviously you're not really drinking wine on the show, what is it?

Christa: Grape juice. But you have to sip it. You don’t want to get a scene where you’re drinking a lot. Ian [Gomez, who plays her husband, Andy] had a scene where he lost a bet and had to keep chugging glasses, take after take, and the sugar headache is worse than being drunk.

Sir Anthony Hopkins

2011-01-19T18:16:00.003-05:00

• The iconic British actor Sir Anthony Hopkins, 73, is starring in the new film "The Rite." In an interview with CNN, he commented on his drinking history.

"I drank anything I could back in the old days. Whatever I couldn't eat, whatever I couldn't chew, I drank.

"Tequila was my hooch. That nearly undid me, drove me nuts, so I stopped. ... I just drink tonic water now or iced tea."

Phil Keoghan

2011-01-19T18:13:00.002-05:00

• Phil Keoghan, Emmy Award-winning host of the reality show "The Amazing Race," was interviewed for the January issue of Bon Appétit magazine about his food and wine interests.

"I have one glass of Pinot Noir every day. I have a note from my doctor to drink a glass of wine every day! I have the prescription framed at home. He said I have to focus on incorporating more olive oil and red wine into my diet to raise up my 'good' cholesterol, which was low.

"I'm not big on drinks and I don't drink much, but I absolutely love relaxing at home with food and a nice Pinot Noir."

Sofia Coppola

2010-12-16T15:03:00.001-05:00

• New York City-born Sofia Coppola, 39, daughter of iconic movie director Francis Ford Coppola and a very competent filmmaker in her own right, discussed her family's California winery during an interview with New York magazine's Grub Street staffers.

Q: Your father owns a vineyard. Do you ever take any interest in that at all?

A: In the vineyard?

Q: Yes, or in the wine-making process. Are you into that at all?

A: Yeah. My brother made a wine, and I don’t know as much about it as I feel like I should, but I’m going there for the holidays, and I love to be involved in it and visit and see what they’re making. I’m learning. ...

Q: Does anybody stomp on grapes there?

A: Not anymore, but there’s a bottle somewhere from when we first moved there. I was a little kid and stomped on some grapes, and they bottled it and called it Lafitte Sofia. So there’s a bottle somewhere from 1977 or something. [Laughs.] It’s probably in our cellar somewhere. But we don’t stomp on the grapes anymore. It’s more high tech.

KT Tunstall

2010-12-03T11:14:00.002-05:00

• Singer-songwriter KT Tunstall is a true child of Scotland. She even has a guitar made from an old Talisker whisky barrel. In an interview in the current issue of Whisky magazine, she commented on -- among many things -- her passion for whisky.

"Whisky for me is linked to the landscape, and I find there is a bit of escapism in whisky when I know where it's made and I've been to some of the places where it's made and I've learnt about how it's made.

"I really, really respect and appreciate the process and the unique aspects to different whiskies. And, I know how much passion goes into it. A lot of the time it's a natural process. Seeing these distilleries and these fantastic locations, there is something exceptionally romantic about it. It is the work of artisans."

Lea Michele

2010-10-21T11:36:00.002-04:00

• Lea Michele, the pint-sized diva of "Glee" who has made herself the darling of NYC and other burgs around the globe, is on the current cover of the UK edition of Marie Claire and a bit unwrapped on inside pages. In an interview with E! Online, Michele addresses her attitude toward drinking, smoking and drugs.

"I don't smoke and I don't do drugs. This show would be a huge pressure on someone who wanted to rebel and who wants to party, but I don't have those needs or wants.

"These days I have one glass of wine and I'm completely gone. I've never been a 'Lets go out and have a Cosmopolitan' kind of girl. I don't even think I've ever tasted a Cosmopolitan before."

Patricia Clarkson

2010-08-05T15:01:00.006-04:00

• Oscar nominee ("Pieces of April") Patricia Clarkson recently completed filming "Cairo Time" in Egypt. In an interview with PopEater.com, she answered questions about food and drink there.

Q: Did you eat a lot of Middle Eastern food?

A: To some extent. I don't know if you've known anyone who has gone to Cairo, but it's kind of like Mexico -- you get sick. But I never got sick, so whenever I ate, I ate pretty much the same thing. There was nothing for them to shoot if I got sick, so I was religious about it. But I had some beautiful food and beautiful Egyptian wine.

Q: So you're telling me you never got food poisoning ... but you were tipsy on the set.

A: [Laughs] Yes, that's all I drank. No, at the end of the week when I didn't have to shoot the next day -- oh my, the beautiful wines and the sun setting over the Nile...

Q: You've been described as having a whiskey voice.

A: I don't like whiskey at all, but I have always liked bourbon.

Dan Aykroyd

2010-05-23T16:23:00.002-04:00

• Canadian actor/entrepreneur Dan Aykroyd has been so busy of late pushing his Crystal Head brand vodka some people might forget his first foray into adult beverages was his line of Dan Aykroyd Wines. When he was told Canadian troops stationed in Afghanistan were allowed to have free beer but had to pay for wine for their two-drinks-a-month allotment, he quickly reacted by having hundreds of bottles of his wines shipped from Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd., located in Niagara-On-the-Lake, Ontario, to Afghanistan free. The Canadian Press asked for his comment on the move.

"I was on board the moment Diamond Estates mentioned their support of our troops with Dan Aykroyd Wines.

"This is a very proud moment for me as a Canadian and I hope these wines can inspire some light-hearted times during this difficult mission for our armed forces."

The wine donation will last for the duration of Canada's military commitment there, which will expire in 2012.

[Note: Aykroyd recently sold his one millionth bottle of vodka.]

Christina Hendricks

2010-04-20T14:28:00.007-04:00

• Christina Hendricks, a stunning member of the cast of TV's "Mad Men," has been named Esquire magazine's sexiest woman in the world. In the lengthy interview, she touches on many aspects of what she thinks about men. Here's just one.

Q: What do real men drink?

A: We want you to order Scotch. It's the most impressive drink order. It's classic. It's sexy. Such a rich color. The glass, the smell. It's not watered down with fruit juice. It's Scotch. And you ordered it.

Michael Bublé

2010-03-24T14:40:00.002-04:00

• The singer Michael Bublé is known for his exhausting tour schedule that would test the endurance of anyone. During an appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman," the host asked him how he handles such a hectic schedule.

"I used to finish after the show and I enjoyed a nice glass of scotch, a couple glasses of scotch and a ciggy ... but it killed me, I couldn't stay healthy. ...

"You have to be an athlete. You have to actually stay physically and mentally healthy."

Sean Combs

2010-03-24T14:39:00.003-04:00

• The music/clothing/vodka/video/whatever entrepreneur was quoted in the New York Post when discussing Ciroc vodka, the spirit for which he is the official spokesman:

"If you're not drinking Ciroc vodka, then you're drinking pee-pee."

This from a guy who used to call himself P. Diddy.

Claudia Schiffer

2010-03-24T14:38:00.002-04:00

• Supermodel Claudia Schiffer, 39, and her husband, the director Matthew Vaughn, are expecting a baby girl in May. They have two children, Clementine, 5, and Caspar, 7. Claudia discussed her pre-natal nutrition with the UK's Daily Mirror newspaper.

"I'd love a beer. That's all I've been craving.

"I didn't even like it before I was pregnant. Alcohol's bad for you when you're pregnant, but I just want beer."

Jim Murray

2009-11-30T15:19:00.003-05:00

• Jim Murray, author of the United Kingdom's renowned Whisky Bible, ruffled a lot of feathers with some comments he made while releasing the 2010 edition of his guide, the top-selling such publication in the UK. His top pick was Sazerac 18 Year Old, a Kentucky rye.

"There is still a sneering attitude in some quarters that, if it is not made in Scotland, then somehow it is not proper whisky.

"I don't think the Scots have a lot to be complacent about at the moment in terms of whisky. While the best is still exceptional, there is a lot of Scotch whisky out there which is really not good at all."

Lady Gaga

2009-11-29T15:11:00.002-05:00

• Lady Gaga (a/k/a Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta), 23, is arguably the hottest dance music star in show biz today. The irrepressible, gaudily-attired American singer (her latest album is "The Fame Monster") didn't get that way by wasting her time doing the club scene, as she noted in an MTV interview.

"I don't go to nightclubs. You don't see pictures of me falling out of a club drunk.

"I don't go -- and that's because I usually go and then, you know, a whiskey-and-a-half into it, I got to get back to work.

"Because I love my work so much, I find it really hard to go out and have a good time."

Kate Hudson

2009-11-02T18:36:00.003-05:00

• Like her mom, the actress Goldie Hawn, Kate Hudson has never been on the chubby side. Quite the opposite, as discussed in an interview with the actress in the current issue of Elle magazine. She dropped to about 105 pounds for a movie role as a terminally ill woman.

"I love my glass of wine. I love tequila.

"To be in New York for two weeks and not have one beverage! I'm not sure I've ever done that.

"I'm not, like, 110 pounds, but I'm probably heading towards that."

George Wendt

2009-10-26T16:11:00.002-04:00

• Actor George Wendt, who gained TV fame as Norm the beer drinker on the sit-com "Cheers," has a new book out called “Drinking with George: A Barstool Professional’s Guide to Beer." He's been making the rounds of TV and radio talk shows as well as print outlets. Here's one of his stock quips.

“Beer has been very good to me.

“I wanted to give something back, so this is for the children. You don’t want them to learn how to shotgun from their peers. You want them to learn it from a responsible adult in a book.”

James Bond / Sean Connery

2009-09-22T14:18:00.001-04:00

• Author Ian Fleming's fictitious spy James Bond has uttered many a lasting quote in print and on film. Here's one from the film version of "Goldfinger," as spoken by Sean Connery.

"My dear girl, there are some things that just aren't done, such as drinking Dom Perignon '53 above the temperature of 38 degrees Fahrenheit.

"That's just as bad as listening to the Beatles without earmuffs!"

Matt Damon

2009-09-19T18:37:00.003-04:00

• Matt Damon packed on more than 30 pounds for his latest movie role, in "The Informant." How did he do it? asked OK Magazine.

"I think people have a natural range of weight that they’re in, and I probably went outside mine so it was probably easier to lose the weight

"The gaining weight was alarmingly easy. That was just drinking beer and eating pizza.”

Ricky Gervais

2009-09-08T17:06:00.006-04:00

• British actor/comedian/producer Ricky Gervais ("The Office," "Extras") was interviewed by Bon Appétit magazine about alcohol, food and other things in his life.

Q: Any favorite indulgences?

A: Here's the bottom line. Cheese, wine and Champagne are amazing. Salt and chocolate are amazing. It's not rocket science. We're mammals -- we like fat, salt and alcohol. Mammals love alcohol.

You know, drunkenness occurs the same in animals as in adults, from mammals down to insects. Antelopes eat fermented apples and go down to the watering hole the next day and they're hung over.

Dmitri Medvedev

2009-08-23T20:01:00.003-04:00

• It has been nearly a quarter-century since the Russian government's last major effort to slow the population's legendary and self-destructive consumption of alcohol. Now, President Dmitri Medvedev is taking up the crusade. His comments were reported in Time magazine.

At a government meeting earlier this month, President Medvedev said alcoholism has become a "national calamity," with every man, woman and child consuming the equivalent of 4.8 gallons of pure rubbing alcohol per year, according to the National Institute of Health.

"Imagine how many bottles of vodka that comes to," he said. "It takes your breath away."

Oscar Goodman

2009-08-01T15:25:00.004-04:00

• Oscar Goodman, who styles himself "the happiest mayor in the world," is the bombastic mayor of Las Vegas, frequently seen out promoting his city and its wonders. He just celebrated his 70th birthday with his favorite drink at Gold Diggers bar in the Golden Nugget casino.

Q: What is the recipe for the "Good-man Martini," the official drink of Las Vegas?

A: Two parts chilled Bombay Sapphire Gin, one part chilled Bombay Sapphire Gin, a quick glance over at the dry vermouth and two stuffed blue cheese olives -— preferably on the side, so as not to take up too much space in the glass.

Emma Shulman

2009-07-07T14:30:00.005-04:00

• Emma Shulman, 96, is a world-famous gerontologist at the NYU Langone Medical Center. From 1981 to 2005 she was a senior social worker and research associate at the Center for Excellence on Brain Aging and Dementia. She did some of the first research on how to care for Alzheimer’s patients and lectures widely on memory retention. She was interviewed by the New York Times, and this subject came up.

Q: What are your vices?

A: I smoked. Seventy-something years. I just quit three months ago. Cold turkey. I quit because I got a bronchial infection.

I like red wine, a glass with dinner.

And, I used to drink Scotch. I was a Scotch maniac.

Henry Allingham

2009-06-22T15:51:00.004-04:00

• England's Henry Allingham, 113, became the world's oldest man, according to the Guinness World Records folks, on June 19. The World War I veteran lives in the St. Dunstan's care home for blind ex–service personnel in Ovingdea, England, near the resort city of Brighton. He is the last surving founding member of the Royal Air Force. The oldest person in the world is Gertrude Baines, 115, of the U.S., according to Guinness.

Q: Several years ago, a reporter asked Allingham to what he attributed his great age.

A: Cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women.

His spokesman, Dennis Goodwin, said: "It's staggering. Henry is philosophical. He will take it in his stride, like he does everything else. ... He's getting a little bit frail now; his taste is non-existent so he can't enjoy eating or drinking. He doesn't have as much strength as before, but he is still willing. He still wants to go out."

[Note: Henry Allingham died July 18, 2009.]

Danny Wegman

2009-06-14T15:25:00.002-04:00

• Danny Wegman, 62, is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and head of the Wegmans supermarket chain, which owns 72 stores in five states as well as an emerging restaurant concept connected with some of the market sites. Wegmans will open three stores this year -- two in Virginia and one in Pennsylvania -- and has plans for new locations in Maryland and Massachusetts as well. He was interviewed by his hometown Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.

Q: What's your take on the issue of wine in supermarkets? Why didn't it get approved in New York State this year?

A: Well, when seven out of 10 people want something and it doesn't go through ... there are obviously some special interests in there somewhere.

The whole wine and liquor industry is a very strange subset of America that plays by totally different rules. Competition is synonymous with every other part of America except for wine and liquor.

We happen to think that wine is part of food, so we'll probably keep working to try and see if we can't make that happen.

[Go here for the full interview with Wegman and his daughter, Colleen, the company president.

Luke Goss

2009-05-22T12:57:00.002-04:00

• Playing the role of the evil Prince Nuada Silverlance in the film "Hellboy II" took a lot of hard work for ex-singer Luke Goss, 40. He reveals his regimen in an interview with Gloucestershire.co.uk.

Q: You're up for an MTV movie award for 'Best Fight.' What was your daily workout?

A: 'Hellboy II' was nine weeks -- four hours a day fighting and learning to use the weapons, and an hour in the gym at night before dinner. Then vodka. It all seemed to work out!

Miley Cyrus

2009-04-18T17:23:00.006-04:00

• Teen singer/actress Miley Cyrus ("Hannah Montana") takes Hollywood to task for its role in the increase in underage drinking. The now-16-year-old made this comment in an interview with Glamour magazine.

"At one of my very first awards shows I ever did, there was a bottle of vodka in my gift bag. ... No one cared that they were giving this to a 12-year-old."

Irina Voronina

2009-03-30T16:57:00.006-04:00

• Russian model and spokesperson Irina Voronina has been a Playboy Playmate, worked in ad campaigns for Skyy Vodka, Miller Lite, and Michelob Ultra. She most recently was on a year-long public relations tour across the U.S. as the 2008 St. Pauli Girl. She also has had small roles in the films "Reno 911: Miami," "Balls of Fury" and "Epic Movie." This is excerpted from an interview by Jaeki Cho for Complex.com.

A: I used to drink, but not anymore. But this is what Russian people do. Since there’s no Vitamin Water in Russia we drink a lot of pickle marinade to put electrolytes back in the body. But a cure for hangover in the morning is to just have a shot of vodka or a beer.

A lot of people do beer, but if you need to get well to compose yourself, you just need to have a shot of vodka and you’ll be fine.

It’s kind of like when you poison your body, it’s not going to recover unless it’s just a little bit more. Like seriously, I tell that to a lot of people here in America, and they don’t listen to me most of the time. Like you’re not going to get out your house today, unless you do what I’m telling you to do. If you’re going to stay around the house, just have a beer, or a couple beers. That’ll give you a tranquil feeling. If you need to get going, just have a shot of vodka, and you’ll be fine.

Q: What's the most effective aphrodisiac for you?

A: It can be food. It can be visual. It can be alcohol [laughs]. As far as food though, I think sushi maybe? Anything nicely served. Any clean food. Or even just strawberries and champagne.

William Elliott Whitmore

2009-02-19T16:14:00.007-05:00

• William Elliott Whitmore is a rising young singer/musician from Iowa who specializes in Mississippi Delta-style blues. He was interviewed during a campus stop to promote his new CD, "Animals."

Q: Anyone who listens to even a tiny bit of your music knows your love for whiskey. What do you prefer to drink?

A: Hell, I don’t know any of the really nice brands. I’d have to say my favorite is Templeton Rye. It’s made right here in Iowa, which is how I got turned on to it. It’s the only distillery — well, the only legal distillery — in Iowa.

The word is that it was one of Al Capone’s favorites, and he would drive to Iowa just to bootleg it back to Chicago. But I don’t discriminate. I’ll drink any kind.

Alyson Hannigan

2009-01-29T12:44:00.003-05:00

• Alyson Hannigan, part of the ensemble cast of the TV series "How I Met Your Mother," and actor husband Alexis Denisof are expecting their first child this spring. She made this comment about her current eating and drinking choices in an interview with US Weekly:

On food: "I basically went from being a vegan to ... well, now it's meat and cheese -- and ginger ale!. ... I didn't eat any meat or cheese before. Now, I have to."

On drink: She says she craves ginger ale. "Ginger ale, I love. Apparently, my mom craved ginger ale when she was pregnant with me. Maybe it's a hereditary thing."

Alex Kapranos

2009-01-14T12:29:00.004-05:00

• Alex Kapranos is the frontman for the rock group Franz Ferdinand, whose new album, "Tonight," is set for a January 26 release. In an interview with the Scottish newspaper The Daily Record, he discussed his new attitude toward drinking.

"I drink one night on and one night off now. Otherwise I'll lose my voice. I've got to watch it if I drink too much whiskey, which I'm kind of prone to do on tour, especially when I come off stage. You've got so much adrenaline and you're like, 'What are we going to do now?'

"We have a bottle of whiskey on our [contract] rider which maybe we should get taken off because I just tear into it every night."

Peggy Alpaugh

2009-01-03T18:58:00.003-05:00

• OK, this time it isn't a direct quote, but give me a break. Peggy turned 103 on New Year's Eve and prefers that her son, Chappy, speak for her about her imbibing habits. Here's what he told News Channel 7 in Panama City, FL, about his mom after a family night out with friends at a local restaurant.

"She has a drink of scotch about twice a year. We'll have one when we get home tonight.

"She's just hard working. She still works in the yard four or five hours a day and she irons all the clothes in the house."

Daniel Craig

2008-12-29T18:45:00.003-05:00

• He's most familiar to the public for being the latest incarnation of super-spy James Bond, but English actor Daniel Craig is far more than that. His newest film is “Defiance,” set during World War II as the Jews of Eastern Europe are being massacred by the thousands. He was interviewed by MoviesOnline.

Q: I know the grandchildren came on the set of this film. Did talking to people who actually knew (your character) help inform your role in this film?

A: Very much. It's sort of difficult because your mind is full of expectations when meeting a family member, a son, a daughter, because you sort of feel that there will be an immediate connection to what you're doing and that's not the reality of it though. What did strike me about them very much and what was really very pleasant is that you're kind of awkward when you meet someone like that. You're like, “Hi. It's lovely to see you in Lithuania. It's very nice over here.” [laughs] There's no sort of starting point for the conversation and so they all sat down.

I kind of sat them all down and I'm in uniform and working and it's like, “It's great to see you.” I went, “Vodka? Vodka? Vodka?” I kind of wandered off and found the caterer and I said, “Have you got any vodka?” And, of course they did because we were in Lithuania, for breakfast over the cornflakes.

They cracked it and I sort of slowly passed this around and we all sort of toasted and they kind of came out of their shells and got very loaded and had to be told to leave because they were making so much noise. We connected and they're full of life. They're full of energy. They're a big family. They're a strong New York family. You kind of go, “Good. That's what this is about.”

The heart of this movie is my relationship with Liev [Schreiber] and Jamie [Bell] and the fact that we're a family unit and how we then make that into a bigger family unit. So, I kind of felt good about it.

Oprah Winfrey

2008-12-13T12:38:00.004-05:00

• Anything Oprah says makes news. Thus, this revealing comment -- quoted by "Extra!" -- at the recent Alvin Ailey Dance Theater's 50th anniversary celebration conjures up all sorts of images.

"In my wildest, wildest, crazy, crazy dreams, I am a dancer. ... When I've like had too many tequila shots and I go to sleep, I dream of being a dancer."

Bruce Campbell

2008-11-26T13:33:00.003-05:00

• Bruce Campbell currently co-stars in the USA Network hit series "Burn Notice," but for most of his career he has made a living as a B-movie actor and in commercials. In fact, he's written a book on the topic and relishes the role. Last Friday was the premiere of his new flick, "My Name is Bruce," which took place in his hometown, Royal Oak, MI. Here's a comment he made in an interview with the Michigan Journal.

"The only difference between the Bruce in the movie and myself is that he drinks cheap whiskey out of a dog bowl; I drink good whiskey out of a dog bowl."

Lydia Hearst

2008-10-30T17:19:00.002-04:00

• Lydia Hearst, an heir of the famous Hearst Corp. communications empire and a noted model and New York socialite, has been outed as the non-writer of her own Page Six Magazine column. Turns out she was interviewed by a reporter, who put her thoughts into printable form. Here's a comment that appeared under her byline in the column before she was found out.

“I sit down and I write what I’m thinking and what I feel — it happens all at once, I never stop writing.

"Probably when I go home tonight, I’m going to open my computer and just start typing … I always envision myself being a Hemingway type — sitting in a dark corner with my glass of, I guess it would be, my glass of tequila and lime juice — that’s how I do it.”

Halle Berry

2008-10-15T17:18:00.001-04:00

• She's 42, a new mom and just named Esquire magazine's "Sexiest Woman In the World." Halle Berry, actress and philanthropist, wrote her own first-person essay to go with the photo spread. Here's a bit of what she had to say.

"Sexiness is also about knowing what's sexy to you. To me, spaghetti is sexy, especially when it's served off the tips of a man's fingers. I like that.

"And I think wine is sexy, just before sex. It relaxes me. But if I want to get a serious groove on -- if I want an out-of-body experience -- I'm all about the sloe gin fizz.

Dave Peacock

2008-10-04T17:12:00.003-04:00

• Dave Peacock is vice president for marketing of Anheuser-Busch, recently purchased by Belgian brewing giant InBev in a controversial deal. He has to market American products from Budweiser but also has to oversee the company's wine and spirits marketing efforts. Advertising Age thinks there's a problem there, and asked Peacock about it specifically.

Q: You have been dabbling more in spirits, picking up a number of boutique brands. But in (a recent) speech ... you called wine and liquor "the enemy." You said specifically that you could not be "outromanced by wine" or "outfunned by liquor." Those didn't sound like the words of someone who wants to play in that space.

A: We started looking at liquor and wine a long time ago because of the emerging macro trends [of wine and liquor gaining share from beer]. And we really did believe we owed it to our shareholders to do this [because of consumer trends increasingly favoring spirits].

We tested some things in liquor. But we started making the decision back in the first quarter of this year that we were probably going to disentangle that. It didn't work really well at the wholesale level. Those brands are marketed very differently than beer. The category is much more fragmented. And, frankly, we see upside in beer. We've seen beer have a little bit of a resurgence.

Kenny Chesney

2008-10-01T17:18:00.001-04:00

• Country music star Kenny Chesney is joining the run of celebrities putting their names, and sometimes their images, on adult beverages. He's teaming up with Constellation Brands to ready a premium rum for market launch in 2010.

"As an entertainer, my goal is to create an enjoyable experience for people. I'm going to take that same approach in developing a high-quality rum product ... .

"We're looking to create a fun-in-the-sun, vacation-in-a-bottle type experience that people everywhere can enjoy when they kick back and relax."

Thomas Jefferson

2008-09-28T17:22:00.001-04:00

• Thomas Jefferson, regarded as America's first true wine expert, had specific thoughts about buying wine. This one comes from one of his letters, a copy of which was found by historians working at his Virginia home at Monticello:

"Don't go to the middleman. Go straight to the manufacturer. He will always give you the right product.

"The middleman is going to take advantage of you."

Kyle MacLachlan

2008-09-17T17:21:00.001-04:00

• Actor Kyle MacLachlan (TV's "Twin Peaks," "Sex and the City" and "Desperate Housewives"; moviedom's "Blue Velvet," "Dune" and "Justice League") is part of the celebrity winemaker fraternity. He and Washington vintner Eric Dunham produce wine under the label Pursued by Bear. He was interviewed by Wine Spectator magazine.

"My first vintage (2005), Pursued by Bear, is a blend of cabernet, syrah and a bit of merlot, with a blackberry jam and a cherry cola component … a mineral element and minimal oak."

And the name? While dining with Steve Martin, MacLachlan settled on a "wonderful Shakespearean stage direction that I’ve always loved: 'Exit, pursued by a bear,' from 'The Winter’s Tale'."

Audrey Sanders

2008-09-16T17:17:00.001-04:00

• Audrey Sanders, owner of the Pegu Club, one of New York City's leading cocktail spots, speaking at her workshop on "Gin, the Other White Meat" on the attributes of gin vs. vodka:

"Everyone is pooh-pooing vodka, but it’s not a bad spirit. It’s a great distillate. It pairs really well with caviar. Vodka enhances and fortifies flavors, but it doesn’t bring anything new to the table. It doesn’t offer any dimension to your drinks. ... I look at gin as a liquid spice rack.”

Bridget Albert

2008-09-11T17:17:00.001-04:00

• Bartending star Bridget Albert, director of mixology for Southern Wine and Spirits, head of the Academy of Spirits and Fine Service and author of the new book "Market-Fresh Mixology, Cocktails for Every Season" (Agate Publishing, $17.95), commenting on the increasing popularity of pairing fresh cocktails with fresh food:

"It's the same thing chefs have been doing in the kitchen forever. It's no different. Just taking that time and care and pride. ... You never want [the cocktails] to be super sweet or super sour. There has to be a happy medium. It's a lot like being a chef, just knowing balance. ... Think about what you love to eat. It's really no different."

Michael Veseth

2008-08-31T17:21:00.002-04:00

• Several weeks ago, at a conference of the American Association of Wine Economists, Robin Goldstein revealed that he had created a fictional Italian restaurant and entered its wine list in the annual Wine Spectator magazine running for awards of excellence -- and got one. Michael Veseth, noted author and director of the International Political Economy program at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA, chaired the session at which the sting was described. Now that he has thought about the scandal for a while, Veseth makes his thoughts known. Here's an excerpt.

" ... It’s too bad that Wine Spectator got caught in the restaurant award scam because they seem to be pretty careful to avoid paid-placement problems in the wine ratings section.

"So where is the outrage? I’m not sure outrage is called for here. But I do think that we all need to be critical consumers of wine reviews publications and ratings (just as we are with advertising and media in general). And I’d encourage wine publications to try to be especially transparent in drawing the line between editorial content and paid commercial features."

Peggy Fleming

2008-08-08T17:20:00.001-04:00

• Figure skating star Peggy Fleming was interviewed by sfgate.com on her fight with breast cancer and on the winemaking business, Fleming Jenkins Vineyards & Winery, she runs with husband Dr. Greg Jenkins.

Q: You've been very public about your fight (with breast cancer). How has it affected your drinking habits?

A: My life before breast cancer is pretty much the same as after. I was in such good health. I found the lump on my breast myself, five months after having a mammogram. I followed my instincts and got it checked very quickly. Now, I keep exercising and watch my diet.

Part of a healthy lifestyle is doing things in moderation -- having balance. Life is too short to drink bad wine, so we drink really good stuff in moderation. We don't drink the whole bottle. We cork it back up and save it for the next time or cook with it.

The Queen Mum

2008-07-09T17:16:00.001-04:00

• The late William "Backstairs Billy" Tallon was the favorite page of England's late Queen Mother, and served the royal family for 51 years. He died last November. His collection of royal memorabilia was auctioned off yesterday as part of the disposal of his estate. In it was a handwritten note to him from the Queen Mum with instructions for an alfresco lunch in the sunshine, an item which was bundled with other notes that brought $32,000.

Instruction No. 1: "'I think that I will take 2 small bottles of Dubonnet and gin with me this morning, in case it is needed. It is a beautiful day. Could we have lunch under the tree. One could have 14 at the table and four at a small table."

Instruction No. 2: "Make mine a stiff one." (The Queen Mum was known for her 9-to-1 proportioned cocktails.)

William Shatner

2008-07-01T17:16:00.001-04:00

• Millions know William Shatner as Captain Kirk of "Star Trek," but millions are getting to know him as Denny Crane, the hard-drinking, bombastic lawyer on "Boston Legal." Each episode ends with Shatner (at left in photo) and co-star James Spader sharing whisky and cigars and trading philosophic observations. In a BBC interview with questions submitted by viewers, Shatner had these remarks.

Q: Womanizing, whisky drinking, and cigar smoking ... How much of William Shatner is Denny Crane?

A: All of William Shatner is there. Plus, there's much more untapped.

Q: Is that really malt whisky in the glasses at the end of every episode of "Boston Legal," and, if so, how many takes do those scenes usually take?

A: The malt whiskey isn't real, but the cigars are.

Alan Cumming

2008-06-24T17:15:00.004-04:00

• Tony Award-winning actor Alan Cumming, who also is a writer, model and now host of PBS' "Masterpiece Mystery!," made this comment in an interview with PopMatters.com.

Q: Your ideal brain food?

A: Almonds, or any kind of nut or seed. I always keep some in my bag for those lulls in the day.

When I have to do something like sing or go along a red carpet or something scary and potentially humiliating I find a vodka martini takes the edge off in a very pleasing way. So, a martini and nuts would be my brain food of choice.

Michelle Branch

2008-06-24T17:15:00.003-04:00

• Pop/country singer-songwriter Michelle Branch, 24, plans to mix baking and drinking. In an interview with the Celebrity News Service, she spoke about her plans to open a bakery with a liquor license in Nashville named The Sugar Bar.

"It will be an old-fashioned bakeshop and bar where you can go grab a drink after dinner and a slice of Bourbon Chocolate Cake or Summer Berry Pie."

Prince Charles

2008-05-24T17:14:00.001-04:00

• Prince Charles, upon visiting the Bushmills distillery in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, as part of the whiskey maker's 400th anniversary celebration (it was granted a license to distill by King James I in 1608):

"It's a great joy to be able to visit. Having visited a few distilleries in my time I am fascinated to see what you do here.

"I'm glad that an ancestor of mine had the good sense to grant a license!"

Jessica Alba

2008-05-02T17:20:00.001-04:00

• Actress and mother-to-be Jessica Alba commenting to Gossip Girls.com on how pregnancy has changed her beverage choices.

"Sometimes I want a few glasses of wine. I get half a glass maybe once a week and I don’t even like it. It tastes different. My taste buds are different.

"I miss Scotch, too.”

[You can get information on the affects of alcohol on pregnancy at the American Pregnancy Association Web site.]

Sarah Brightman

2008-05-02T17:13:00.001-04:00

• Singer Sarah Brightman has sold more than 26 million albums since her 1978 debut. Her newest is the operatic album "Symphony." Here's one comment she made during an interview with the London Telegraph.

"I had my first-ever Bellini in the Hotel Splendido in Portofino. It has remained my all-time favourite drink ever since. It's often hard to get fresh peach juice, though, because it's seasonal and I'm not nearly as keen on it if it's made with tinned peach pulp.

"If I can't have a proper Bellini, then I'll have a Kir Royale, which I find almost, but not quite, as uplifting."

Emmy Rossum

2008-04-01T11:27:00.000-04:00

• From Emmy Rossum, the angel-voiced actress-singer who co-starred with Gerard Butler in "Phantom of the Opera" and who has a pop album called "Inside Out" about to debut:

Q: You just turned 21 on September 12. Do you have a favorite cocktail yet?

A: I love a whiskey sour, and I know most people can't believe a small-framed girl like me can drink a whiskey sour, but I can. And, I like Bellinis.