Think I’m writing about a drink you can’t even buy? Think again: last year, the U.S. government reauthorized the production and sale of absinthe. International brands, like Kübler Absinthe ($53.99 a liter at Northside Wine and Spirits), and some American brands immediately went on sale.

Absinthe became popular among in the late 19th and early 20th century in France, but was banned in the U.S. and most European countries by 1915. Then thought to contain an addictive hallucenogenic drug (it was commonly referred to as “La Fée Verte” or “the green fairy”), people now question its psychoactive properties.

Ever heard someone walk up to a bar and order a Hot Titty? Me either. I do hope to someday, though, so I’m going to perpetuate a drink recipe that I think cocktail.com might have made up (I found it while reading through lists of drinks on another site).

¾ ounce cinnamon
schnapps
¾ ounce peach schnapps
grenadine
1 optional egg (presum
ably cooked)
Layer into a shot glass, placing the grenadine on top. Crush the egg into your mouth and take the shot.

There are, of course, plenty of actual drinks with names that might make you refrain from ordering them in front of your grandmother. The most well known is probably a Sex on the Beach, but there are always more to be found...

Sex on the Beach
1 ½ ounces vodka
½ ounce peach schnapps
2 ounces cranberry juice

There’s really no bad reason to celebrate. The Sun is about to celebrate — and mourn — the yearly passing of control of the paper from one editorial board to the next. (Not to fear, your trusty mixology columnist will be sticking around.) Since the weather has been above freezing almost every day this week, which is an accomplishment for Ithaca in February, I think we should celebrate warmth. What better way to celebrate warmth than to make yourself cold with some delicious frozen drinks? It’s also a fun activity to do with some friends as you attempt to pad your bodies with alcohol warmth before leaving for the bars or a party. All you need is a blender and ice. Oh wait, liquor and mixers are necessary, too.

Frozen Margarita

1 1/2 oz. tequila

1/2 oz. triple sec

Ever wonder why every bottle of water you pick up has to say it has no calories, no fat, no sodium, no carbohydrates, no protein, etc. and yet alcohol, beer and wine — which clearly would not fill in those categories with all zeros — don’t have to tell you what you’re consuming?

According to the National Consumers League, which has petitioned the government to add such information to alcoholic beverages, a jurisdictional gap between the Food and Drug Administration and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has lead to inconsistent labeling. Wine and hard liquor have to list alcohol content, but beer does not; “light” beer and low-alcohol wines have to list calories, but regular beer and wine, as well as hard liquor, do not.

It’s been a great time of year for political drinking. Monday saw Bush’s last State of the Union and all of its associated drinking games — there are at least as many as years he was in office. If you missed that, each party held a debate this week: Republicans on Wednesday; Democrats yesterday.

Super Tuesday — the day that primary elections are held in 22 states, including New York — is coming up this week, on Feb. 5. The ideas for drinking games while watching those results are endless.

But who am I kidding? This very weekend one of the greatest drinking days of the year occurs: Super Bowl Sunday.

The summer after my senior year of high school I went to the Dominican Republic for a friend’s sister’s wedding. I spent the whole week drinking Singapore Slings, one of the first drinks I really enjoyed the taste of. Problem is, almost four years later, I still don’t know what’s in a Singapore Sling and I never order a drink unless I know what’s in it.

According to the International Bartenders Association, which is how most drinks are listed in Wikipedia, this is how you make a Singapore Sling.

8 parts gin

4 parts cherry brandy

1 part Cointreau

1 part DOM Benedictine

2 parts grenadine

16 parts pineapple juice

6 parts lemon juice

1 dash bitters

I’m trying to plan a party for 20 people. Wanting to please as many of the guests as possible, I asked them all what their favorite drinks are. Unfortunately I came up with a list of 17 drinks: Jack Daniels and Coke, hard lemonade, cosmopolitan (she said: people always laugh at me, but they’re really good), dirty martini with Ketel One, Baileys on the rocks, mint julep, tequila tonic, lemonade (no alcohol), Bud Light, vodka cranberry, Stella Artois, Corona with a lime, Genesse Light, Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat (he said: I have a soft spot in my heart for it), vodka tonic, Bacardi Grand Melon, tequila (two people like it straight), gin and tonic.

I decided to throw out their suggestions and pick the best drinks of this semester’s columns for the party instead.

Continuing from last week, I’m hoping to promote warmth. One good way to keep the heating bill down and stay warm is to have a drink or two. Why do you think drunk stereotypes tend to apply to people from cold countries? I’ve already been through spiked coffee last week and spiked cider a few weeks ago, but here are some more yummy drinks to help you stay warm this Thanksgiving break…

Chocolate Kiev

4 ounces hot milk

Hot cocoa mix

1 ounce vanilla vodka

3/4 ounce Amaretto

Combine in a mug and stir.

Simply Deliciousity

5 ounces hot milk

Chocolate syrup

2 ounces rum

Add syrup as desired to milk. Mix in rum.

Green Tea Tokyo

6 ounces hot green tea

2 ounces white rum

1 tablespoon honey

Walking to class Wednesday morning, I overheard a guy tell his girlfriend that he had “just drank enough last night to stay warm.” Amused by his statement, but sympathetic as I pulled my scarf tighter, I thought about drinks that warm you immediately and in the long run. As a caffeine addict, I thought I’d start with coffee drinks and move to other warm drinks (hot chocolate, tea, etc.) next week. Let’s start with the simple and move to the more complicated…

All drinks are whipped cream optional.

Irish Coffee

1 1/2 oz Irish Whiskey

Hot Coffee

Pour whiskey and coffee into mug with sugar on the rim. Stir.

Boston Caribbean Coffee

1 oz Dark Rum

1 oz Brown Creme de Cacao

Hot Coffee

I’m planning a party this weekend — two actually. One’s early Saturday night for work friends, and one’s later Saturday night. A few friends and I brainstormed some ideas for punch bowls. Most people said lots of liquor, lots of vodka, vodka and fruit punch, etc. One suggested roofies, vodka and something sweet. (I do not recommend this.)

I’ve presented some of the better ones here:

Everything But The… Punch

Whatever beer you have in the fridge (6 pack)

One bottle vodka, everclear, etc.

One galloon fruit punch

One large can pineapple juice

Dump all into bowl or cooler and serve.

Rebecca Punch (i.e. Sparkling Sherbet Surprise)

½ gallon sherbet

Two bottles cheap ‘champagne’

One bottle vodka

33 ounces pineapple juice