Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Weekend Workout (week starting April 20, 2014)



Cheers!
(remember: larger versions of all visuals can be seen by clicking on them)

1. After the Battle of Little Bighorn, the deaths of General George Custer and his troops became the best-known episode in the history of America's 'Indian wars'. This  was due in part to this painting titled “Custer's Last Fight”, which was commissioned as part of an advertising campaign. A certain enterprising company ordered reprints of the dramatic work and had them framed and hung in many United States saloons, creating lasting impressions of the battle as well as the company’s products in the minds of many bar patrons. What company?

2. Contrary to legend and popular belief, the particular gent (say, X) associated with this product did not invent it. The oldest recorded version of it is Blanquette de Limoux, apparently invented by Benedictine Monks in the Abbey of Saint Hilaire near Carcassonne in 1531. Over a century later, in 1662, the English scientist and physician Christopher Merret presented the Royal Society in Britain with a paper in which he documented a process for producing it, well before X set foot in the Abbey of Hautvillers. What product, and who is X? [Half-points for each]

3. In 'Tintin in Tibet', the name of which Himalayan beer made from fermented barley, rice or millet grains creates confusion because of its similarity to the name of the focus on Tintin and Haddock's search?

4. Aldous Huxley called William Griffith Wilson "the greatest social architect of our century". In 1999, 'Time' magazine put him in the top 20 of the Time 100: Heroes and Icons who exemplified "courage, selflessness, exuberance, superhuman ability and amazing grace" in the 20th century. Within the organisation that he founded, Wilson is commonly known as "Bill W." or just "Bill." What organisation?

5. This syrup used in cocktail mixing is essntially thickened and sweetened pomegranate juice. Before tomatoes (a new-world fruit) arrived in the Middle East, a version of it was widely used in many Iranian foods, and is still found in traditional recipes such as fesenjân, a thick sauce made from pomegranate juice and ground walnuts, usually spooned over duck or other poultry and rice, and in ash-e anar (pomegranate soup). What's the cocktail syrup called?

6. In 1830, Edward Dyer set up the first brewery in India, in Kasauli (Himachal Pradesh), to manufacture which brand of beer that is still available in that region?

7. "After the first glass, you see things as you wish they were. After the second, you see things as they are not. Finally, you see things as they really are, which is the most horrible thing in the world."  That's an Oscar Wilde quotation about which drink, sometimes known  as 'la fée verte' ('the green fairy')?

8. The band in this video clip is called 'Spirited'. Who is the bassist (tall guy in the black hat)?

9. Under what brand name, derived from that of the company's founder, does Agave Industries India Ltd market its alcoholic beverages?

10.  This alcoholic concoction was 'created' in the first book (published in 1953) in a famous series, and named after the main female character in the novel. It differs from its fictional creator's usual cocktail of choice in that it uses both gin and vodka, Kina Lillet instead of the usual dry vermouth, and a lemon peel instead of an olive. Although there is a lot of discussion on it, it is only ordered once throughout the novels in which the title character appears. Which character, and what does he name this drink that he creates? [Half points for each]

Answers
1. The brewery Anheuser-Busch.
Half points for saying Budweiser.
2. Champagne (or sparkling wine) and Dom Perignon (X)
3. Chhang
4. Alcoholics Anonymous
5. Grenadine
6. Lion Beer
7. Absinthe
8. Curtley Ambrose
9. Desmondji
10. James Bond, and the Vesper Martini, named after Vesper Lynd. 

9 comments:

  1. 1. I'll go with Anheuser-Busch.
    2. Champagne; Dom Perignon
    3. You can buy it in Majnu ka Tila -- Chang
    4. Will shortly kick myself for not knowing this.
    5. Dunno. Sounds icky.
    6. Damn, which one is that? Sand Piper?
    7. Aha -- just bought a bottle (brand name: La Fée) at the Colombo Airport: Absinthe.
    8. WTF?
    9. I think I met the company founder once at Gunpowder in Assagao: Desmondji (or is it Desmond-ji?)
    10. James Bond. And the drink is the Vesper (after Vesper "the bitch is dead" Lynd). No points for Casino Royale.

    ReplyDelete
  2. 1. Jack Daniels
    2. (a) Champagne (b) ?
    3. Chang .....(something)...
    4. Beefeater
    5. Molasses
    6. Golden Eagle
    7. Absinthe
    8. Some west Indian Cricketer
    9. Desmondji
    10. James Bond / Vesper martini

    ReplyDelete
  3. 1. Anheuser-Busch
    2. Dom Perignon, Champagne
    3. Yeti
    4. Alcoholics Anonymous
    5. Grenadine
    6. Lion Beer or some such
    7. Absinthe
    8. Curtly Ambrose
    9. Desmondji's
    10. James Bond, and a Vesper Martini.

    ReplyDelete
  4. 1.
    2. Product: Champagne, X: Dom Perignom
    3. Chhang
    4. Alcoholics Anonymous?
    5. Grenadine?
    6. Lion('s?) Beer
    7. Absinthe
    8. Curtly Ambrose
    9.
    10. Vesper Lynd, not sure what he called it (or was it just a Vesper?)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Shit, this is tough. But then, I am a non-drinker, at least latterly.

    Anyway,

    1. Must be a liquor company. Budweiser?
    2. Champagne?
    3. Yeti?
    4. Alcoholics Anonymous
    7. Absinthe? From the colour...

    All guesses, except AA. Not even attempting the others.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Kiril

    1. The brewery that makes budweiser - Anush - busch?
    2.Martin Luther?
    3.
    4.
    5.
    6.
    7.Absinthe
    8.Curtley Ambrose
    9. Goan Distiller makes tequilla etc in Goa...Malcom or something like that
    10.

    ReplyDelete
  7. 1. Budweiser
    2.Champagne / sparkling wine
    5. Sherbat
    6. Lion
    8. Ambrose

    ReplyDelete
  8. Damn was just about to answer! Even knew a couple!
    Gouthami

    ReplyDelete