Our Lady of Perpetual Inebriation

Handicap Match: Puerto Rico v. Cuba and France

Puerto Rico-based Bacardi gains a victory over French company Pernod Ricard, who, along with the Cuban government, is challenging a Bacardi trademark.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) determined on August 3 that Cuba's registration of the HAVANA CLUB trademark is "cancelled/expired." The decision means that the Cuban government can no longer claim any rights to the mark in the United States. Bacardi - which owns the rights to the brand based on use and as a successor to the original owners - has a pending application to register the mark in its own name.

Suck it, commies!

From the Cutting-Room Floor of the Dept. of Mixology

I went to a friend's birthday party recently, and she'd promoted a mixed concoction I had to try. Her suggestion was Cherry Pucker and Smirnoff Ice, which she claimed tasted like church punch. Interesting.

I mixed Strawberry Pucker with Smirnoff Ice, and it was surprisingly tasty. A cool, refreshing summertime drink - more childish than a Manhattan or a Mojito, say, but no less refreshing. The Grape Pucker didn't fare so well; we shall speak no more on't.

I'm not promoting a revival of mixed drinks, but I think it's good to step back and revisit the basics now and again. The last three times I've gone out, my standard and reflexive drink has been a double-shot of Jameson (the best deal in town is two-for-ones at Ground Zero, Friday night before 11pm - you win some, you lose some), and I'm to the point where it's just a smooth trip down. There's no period of adjustment, I'm just always ready for it. While that's cool and all, it also suggests to me I might branch out a little and see how the other halves live.