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On Wednesday, October 30th, I’ll be in conversation with Brad Thomas Parsons for his brand new book, Last Call: Bartenders and Their Final Drink and the Wisdom and Rituals of Closing Time. Brad is the James Beard award-winning author of Bitter and Amaro, and we’ll be talking about his spirited writing, cocktail culture, as well as taking questions. And yes…there will be Negronis* for all!

Our talk will take place at the Strand bookstore in New York at 7:30pm. The event is ticketed and attendance requires either a book or gift certificate purchase. For additional information, or to sign up, click here. For those who live elsewhere, Brad will be on tour this fall in several U.S. cities and you can catch him at one of his other stops.

To celebrate the release of the book, I’ll be giving away a copy of Last Call. To enter, leave a comment with the name of your favorite cocktail or other drink, which you would want as your last and final drink – ever.

UPDATE: Contest now closed. The winner is Robin, who wants a Martinez for her final drink. And I can’t say blame her. I like them, too.

[Contest winner will be chosen at random. Books can only be sent to U.S., Canada, or addresses in the European Union. One entry per person; multiple entries will be disqualified. Comments/entries will be closed on this post on Saturday, October 26th at Noon EDT.]

Last Call: Bartenders and Their Final Drink and the Wisdom and Rituals of Closing Time is now available at your local independent bookstore, as well as online at IndieBound, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.


*Courtesy of Fords Gin.

 

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164 comments

    • Cindy Williamson

    A margarita made with Don Julio 70, Grand Marnier and fresh lime juice!

      • Olga

      French 75. Must have some bubbles on the way out

    • latenac

    I would want a Manhattan made with Old Overholt.

    • Michelle

    I would want a glass of crisp bubbly champagne.

    • Carol

    That is a hard choice but I think I would want a gin martini

    • Elena

    I think I’ll go with a white russian, light on the cream.

      • Elena

      Please! :)

      • Ritu

      Cognac!

      • Joyce Chan

      For me it’ll have to be a really, really nice bottle of cabernet sauvignon.

        • Julia

        A glass of montepulciano :)

    • Aviva I

    Amaretto sour.

    • Susan

    French 75

    • gwyn ganjeau

    gosh, i think it would have to be a Last Word!

    • Chris Rocco

    Negroni sbagliato !

    • Lucie Levesque

    A Moscou mule made with artisanal ginger beer!
    Une mule de Moscou pour moi, fait avec une bière de gingembre artisanale!

      • Annette Messenger

      A pear martini straight up and super cold made with juice from the puny, misshapen pears from my little tree. It would be made by my friend Margie who makes the best ones. Don’t know what vodka but I bet she uses a cheap one!

    • Julie

    Tough choice, but I have to go with a Manhattan.

    • Sherri Lynn

    A Pisco sour sitting on a Peru beach at sunset.

    • Andrew Smith

    White Russian!

    • Kathi Ann

    A French 75 would be my last and favorite drink on this earth.

    • Kelly Rodriguez

    Hendricks martini with a twist. Timeless…classic…yesterday, today, tomorrow…

    • Jennie

    Whiskey Sour!

    • k8

    Jeppson’s Malort – a very unique Chicago drink. Not necessarily the best tasting, but as a “last” drink, I’d take one final bitter shot to celebrate all the ups and downs of life!

    • Kristin Konsterlie

    oh boy… this is a very tough choice but I’d say a Perfect Manhattan.

    • Deb

    a mojito, of course

    • AJPeabody

    I would want a Kir Royale, of course.
    And your sending an email on Oct. 22 with an Oct. 16 cutoff date makes me want one right now!

      • Bonnie

      I’ll join you on that – ha ha

        • Tracy

        Nothing fancy, just a really good Frozen Lime marguerita please!

      • Maggie

      Make mine a gin gimlet!

    • Bonnie

    A huge glass of Krug Champagne

      • Alicia

      Un Ti’Punch, bien sûr—made with Clément Canne Bleue. While usually an apéritif, it encourages sipping and a great loosening of most tongues in the room—and almost always induces dancing. No better way to wrap it up!

      David in New York! Ouais!

    • Katie Stuber

    A beautiful Kir Royale.

    • Liza

    The post states that “Comments/entries will be closed on this post on Saturday, October 16th at Noon EDT”, however the post went up on the 22nd. Regardless, if it were my last drink ever I would like a glass of 2016 Clos Saint-Jean Châteauneuf-Du-Pape Deus Ex Machina.

    • Dora Popova

    Vanilla, honey and smoked Old Fashioned!

    • Sandi Ekholm

    I would like as my last drink: an Austrian wine called “Gelber Muskateller from Steirmark, Austria.

    • Michelle

    Last drink? The Bitter End!

    • Jeanne

    Last and final drink—forever—oh my. Maybe a lovely French Growers Champagne, but maybe…

    • Liisi

    Boulevardier

    • Sandra H

    A delicious Gin and Tonic with the lime slice swished around the glass rim before placed in the glass.

      • Julie B

      Margarita!

    • Bonnie Simmons

    It would have to be a Manhattan.

    • Jamie Samons

    Sazerac!

    • Sara R.

    I love a Moscow Mule!

    • Barbara

    Bombay Sapphire Gibson – with craft Vermouth and 2 onions

    • Heather

    Amaretto Sour!

    • Michelle Mallett

    A great quality margarita.

      • Liz

      White Russian with some great solid ice cubes to keep it nice and cold!

    • Elsa

    Boulevardier!

    • Payal

    For my last drink, it would have to be an elderflower martini.

    • jenniferc

    A glass of Domaine Tempier rose wine

    • Shanna

    The Monaco always reminds me of studying abroad in Paris! Brings back such sweet memories.

    • Barbara H

    A cucumber gin spritzer…

    • Cynthia

    A Negroni, of course! (With St. George Terroir or Botanivore – and no Campari “similars/substitutes”!)

    • E2

    A 50/50: ice cold, three olives and a slaty snack.

    • Susan Feltus

    A Negroni always with a garnish of orange

    • B. Thompson

    Grave Digger, of course.

    • Gracie

    Old Fashioned!

    • Meg

    Champagne!

    • Deborah Hall

    A Manhattan with a good rye (never burbon) garnished with one of my candied cherries!

    • anna w

    a mojito that I get to enjoy making :)

    • Carol

    Corpse Reviver #2!

    • Jeannine Jensen

    A perfect Manhattan with 2 Luxardo cherries (I’m greedy).

    • Sj Dc

    Bloody mary

    • Lynn

    I’d love a Caipirinha as my last drink!

    • Annie

    My ultimate Boulevardier! With Lagavulin 16, Antica Formula vermouth, and Asterley Bros Dispense Amaro (a British artisan version of Campari)

      • Tom

      Absinthe and then frolic with the green fairy…

    • Lynn

    Either Champagne or a very cold dry martini with lots of olives.

    • Martha Burzynski

    A perfect rye Manhattan

    • Margaret

    A perfect Mai Tai sitting on the beach in Salema, Portugal or north shore of Oahu.

    • Deanna

    I’d have to go for a Blood and Sand, but made with bourbon.

    • Cynthia L.

    Hudson Rye Manhattan- old school!

    • RL McGruder

    My last-drink-EVER choices are seasonal:

    Spring – champagne
    Summer – Mezcal
    Fall – Vesper
    Winter – Manhattan

    • Rose

    A perfectly balanced Manhattan, especially in the fall.

    • Mandy

    This is tough! Today my choice would be a Black Manhattan made with Rittenhouse and Averna.

    • Steven

    a Margarita

    • Beth T.

    Non-drinker here, I’d choose a Mexican hot chocolate.

    • David

    Gin and tonic

    • Alexandra Holbrook

    A delicious, simple glass of sangria
    (with brandy, por favor).

    • Robin Zaleski

    This is a tough choice but I would go with a Martinez, made by my beloved, with Ransom Old Tom gin, Carpano Antica, and just a touch of Luxardo. Preferably sipped on a deck overlooking some body of water.

    • Elizabeth

    My dad’s Margarita!

    • Mike

    A last drink? Well, I’m sticking with the classics (Pindar in this case): a cool tall glass of spring water. It’s best.

    • niknak

    My perfect drink would be a dram of Ledaig 19 oloroso sherry casked whisky, with a drop of water from the Isle of Mull.

    • Jen RS

    Manhattan all the way.

    • Deborah B.

    Margarita with top shelf ingredients over crushed ice.

    • Chuck McVey

    Campari and soda

    • Marlee Stevenson

    A classic old fashioned! Can’t go wrong

    • Jeffrey Willcox

    A really cold pickletini with a blue cheese-stuffed olive garnish.

    • Marla

    Pink grapefruit frozen margarita, please.

    • Nancy McC

    A Negroni of course – made with
    Carpano Antica Vermouth,
    Anchor Junipero Gin, and Campari. Finish with an orange slice and large cube of ice. Best accompanied with a view of the Piazza della Signoria in Florence.

    • Tracy

    Nothing too fancy, just a really good frozen lime marguerita please!

    • Victoria

    White Russian, dude :)

    • Kara

    Aviation

    • mg shepherd

    Hard one. Maybe a fuzzy navel or a superb gin fizz.

    • Mary Osborne

    Harvey Wallbanger- the first drink I had when I was 21… the last drink.
    Yep.

    • Olga Marcasciano

    French 75. Must have some bubbles on the way out.

    • AR

    Spritz al Aperol

    • Shelley

    I’d like the perfect Negroni made with Monkey 47 gin, Dolin vermouth, and vintage Campari.

    • Sarah

    Definitely a Sidecar!

    • Lei Kaniumoe

    Sake!

    • Alexis

    Sidecar perhaps or a watermelon margarita….whichever would last longer! Hard to think “last” of anything!

    • Tim Giordano

    G’vine Nouaison martini straight up.

    • Anne

    A sky-blue Aviation.

    • Virginia

    Pimm’s Cup

    • jbgeorge

    a Paper Plane…on the rocks (cause why not!)

    • Alice

    White Russian or gin & tonic

    • Stephen Johnson

    Gin martini, dirty, 2 olives, straight up.

    • Dora

    An Old Fashioned for me!

    • SE

    White russians!

    • Valerie

    The Last Word (perfect, right?)

    • Chris

    Sangria. It was the first drink I ever had in a bar with my brother as my drinking buddy and it would be a fitting last drink.

    • Keyan Kaplan

    I’d like a glass of champagne. Side of strawberries. Blue sky and 70 degrees. That’s it.

    • pam white

    Negroni for me – it was the first drink I had on my first trip to Europe – Rome – in a café near the Trivi Fountain. I will always remember that drink and continue to drink at home and when out. Reminds me of my love of travel and good times!!

    • Michelle W.

    A Manhattan, with bourbon and a few extra brandied cherries!

    • Leslie

    Tito’s lemon drop martini

    • es

    champagne!!

    • Katherine

    I’d love nothing more than a negroni, and I might even share a few sips with my wife! ;)

    • Lorna Smedman

    Tanqueray martini, dry, twist of lime.

    • Steph Galinson

    I’m in love with the sour category – citrus and spirits. If I HAD to choose one it would be a tequila heavy margarita- with a little agave and GM to balance the lime (and meyer lemon from my urban SF tree). And then I’d pour a little more blanco over the sweetened ice, with a squeeze of citrus for round two.

    • Paul Edward Montador

    Veuve Clicquot ’61
    WAs one of the best years for a Vintage Champagne, also the year I was Born.
    If I’m on my way out, why not celebrate with a drink the same age as me, plus what better than Champagne!

    • Carin Sappelli

    Sweet vermouth with a couple rocks

    • Danita Day

    Sazerac

    • Richard Berger

    A real mai tai, with a Maui sunset.

    • Domenica

    A Bloody Caesar!

      • Linda W.

      My favorite autumn bourbon apple cider concoction with Bowman Brothers bourbon.

    • Blaine Walker

    Bulleit Rye Old Fashion (w Demrears simple syrup).

    [love BITTERS & AMARO – both]

    • Nathalie

    A good Negroni will do.

    • Lillian Barnes

    A rich apple cider made from the apples grown in my home province of Nova Scotia.

    • Joyce Chan

    For me it’ll have to be a really, really nice bottle of cabernet sauvignon.

    • Leaf

    Hi, thank you for this giveaway.

    I am afraid I am going to be very dull but I think I would drink a mojito as my final drink. But a VERY good one :)

    • Huyen

    If I had to pick one, it would be a French 57.

    • Judy H.

    Anything made Gulch Distillers in Helena, Montana. Every time I go in, I come out with a new favorite. And their ‘classes’ are fantastic.

    • Kiera

    a perfectly executed hendricks gin and tonic, with lime

    • Rachele

    Vieux Carre!

    • Karen Rosell-Keith

    A Hendricks Gin Martini with olives.

    • Paul

    Great to see that Brad will be coming to Memphis. The Gray Canary is wonderful.

    Any chance that your book tour will bring you to Memphis when it comes out? There is a strong francophile community here.

    • Allison

    Margarita on the rocks with salt!

    • Keri

    A boozy chocolate milk shake!

    • Lee

    Although I am a die-hard bourbon drinker, I think if it were my last drink ever, I would want something to remind me of happy times. Therefore, I’d have a perfectly made mojito with lots of fresh mint and lime. Preferably served with a view of turquoise water!

    • Lisa Woods

    A fruity, strong Jamaican rum punch!

    • Pierre

    Dirty Martini with gin.

    • James

    whiskey, turf smoked gooseberries , brown sugar cube slice of lemon. over ice.

    • DRTVrMoi

    Last drink: a vodka gimlet with Ketel One, very chilled!

    • patty

    Kuhlua with half and half, on the rocks shaken not stirred. Just keep them coming!

    • Georgia

    A good glass of icy cold sangria on the beach

    • Linda L.

    Amaretto with milk, hold the ice.

    • Carol

    a simple gin and tonic

    • Shana

    Last Word!

    • Sheryl T

    Bellini made with fresh ripe peaches.

    • Erin

    Either champagne or homemade Irish Cream.

    • Mike

    Ketel One martini up with a twist

    • Will Calhoun

    An Old Fashioned, with Whistle Pig 12 year rye.

    • Dylan

    Dark and Stormy

    • Tatyana Dimitrova

    A glass of white wine :)

    • Simmy

    Moscow Mule!

    • Ed

    A perfect Glenlivet Rob Roy, straight up with a twist!

    • Kim Cobban

    I was introduced to an Avaiation at the Journeyman distillery in Michigan, and absolutely LOVE them made with Field Gin, by Journeyman!!! Complete with Luxardo cherries, please.

    • Bobbe

    Just back from Paris and I was turned on to Kir (Cassis and sparkling wine or Champagne even better)

    • Nicole

    Ramo’s Gin Fizz for sure!

    • Daniela Pesce

    A very bitter and very strong negroni!

    • Ruby Homawala

    My last drink would be a glass of Ruinart Champagne

    • Myrra

    A whisky old fashioned sweet with luxardo cherries, bitter cube bitters (any of them!), and Woodford. Oranges and cherries muddled. Yum.

    • Nikole

    Hendrick’s gin and Fever Tree tonic with 2 limes made by my husbands hands!

    • HSB

    Wet Martini!

    • Xmoki

    Bielle Vieux Ti’Punch

A

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