Dick Knows Good Bourbon

Gawker has a nice collection of classic booze ads. They're great, check 'em out!

Bachelor Hall of Fame: Marcello Mastroianni

Do yourself a favour, rent "La Dolce Vita" and start imitating him...

Chin Chin!

At the risk of looking like a drunk by writing two alcohol centric posts in one week, I would like to direct you to GQ's handy dandy list of the 20 Best Cocktails. Enjoy Responsibly, of course.

Absinthe: Overrated?

I was recently at an absinthe party and I must say that the myth surrounding the "Green Fairy" is largely undeserved. Apparently, for years, the drink's hallucinogenic properties have been exaggerated. It's not hallucinogenic just really alcoholic (70%). Furthermore, it tastes like licorice or some kind of antibiotic you might have been forced to ingest as a child. Certainly, there is a certain cache associated with the drink. Still, unless you're a Parisian artist from the nineteenth century, why should you care? I say, skip it.

If you insist on drinking absinthe, here's how to prepare it properly:

Little White Lies

My previous post about The Foggy Monocle got me thinking about the art of embellishing stories. How much creative license should the modern gentlemen use when regaling his entourage with a good yarn? I've always subscribed that if something didn't happen but should have, then it's fair game. Some stories I've been telling for so long that I've forgotten if they're entirely true or not. It doesn't bother me if they're not wholly factual because they are such a part of me now that they may as well be fact. However, exaggeration should not be confused with fabrication. Exaggeration makes your stories livelier while fabrication is transparent and problematic. Just ask James Frey. So, I would encourage you, if you're an embellisher, not to be hoisted by your own petard and stick to your story. In general, people don't really like honesty as much as they claim. Honesty is the weapon of choice for wet blankets.

Men Behaving Badly

May I recommend the website The Foggy Monocle. The Monocle re-imagines the best stories submitted by readers as IM conversations. It's reassuring to this bachelor that men are still raising mischievous hell in the city. The Foggy Monocle allows one to live vicariously through other urban bachelors and stands as an inspiration to wreak some havoc of your own.

Best of luck.

A Close Shave

The straight razor still provides the closest shave you can get. It is also the most badass. There is no better feeling than finishing a shave with a straight razor and realizing that you haven't sliced your jugular. That is a sense of accomplishment you can't get with a mach3. This gentleman kindly explains the essentials:

The Equipment:

The Shave:

Don't Get Burned

There may come a time when you'll have to drink a flaming shot. Don't be scared, here's how to do it properly:

A Personal Touch

How do we feel about monogrammed polos? Sure, they can be debonaire and add a little flash to an otherwise boring ensemble but they seem a bit fey and narcissistic. A number of upscale brands are offering personalization services including Fred Perry. You can get your initials stitched on your polo by the Bespoke Shirt Service. You can also pick the colour, cuff, and laurel making your shirt one of kind. Unfortunately, this process is expensive and only available at Bergdorf Goodman. All of this brings me back to the initial question, is such extravagance Bachelor approved? Well, I've always believed that if it's good enough for JFK it's good enough for me. However, I think you need a certain sprezzatura to pull it off.

Fleming, Ian Fleming

Between the release of the Sebastian Faulks update of 007 and the teaser for the upcoming "Quantum of Solace" hitting the interweb (watch it below), Bond mania seems to have taken hold. While I love Bond as much if not more than the next bachelor, the man I truly aspire to be like is his creator Ian Fleming. Apparently, the former spy's daily schedule went something like this:
1) Wake up, write 1000 words
2) Break for lunch, drink two martinis
3) Write another 1000 words
4) Two more martinis
5) Snorkeling, did I mention he lived most of his life in Jamaica?
6) Drinks with glamorous women

Not a bad little lifestyle, eh? Bond's life doesn't seem so cool now.

Suit Up! It's Going to be Legendary!

Who would've thought that an openly gay actor would be so good at playing a hetero-bachelor? Neil Patrick Harris (or NPH, as I like to call him), between his virtuosic performance in the Harold & Kumar movies and his brilliant portrayal of Barney Stinson on the underrated "How I Met Your Mother" has really carved out a niche for himself as an insensitive, amoral, and narcissistic cad. In other words, my type of guy. From his refusal to wear anything but suits and rigid adherence to his own "bro code" makes NPH's Barney Stinson a role model for all who bask in the glory of the bachelor life. To learn more about the Barnacle's philosophy, check out his blog. How does he find time to do it:

Dandies, when first-rate, are generally very agreeable men

"Oh! save me, ye powers, from these pinks of the nation,
These tea-table heroes! these lords of creation." - Salmagundi

It really is strange how the internet has changed the world of the dandy; dandyland if you will. These well dressed charlatans are going through a bit of a renaissance thanks to the digital camera and the blogosphere. Dandyism is a popular site for men of discerning and wannabes alike. The scribes of that site recently got an article published in "L'uomo Vogue" about these so called digital dandies. Chief among them is Winston Chesterfield, a 24 year old Londoner who presents his sartorial creations on his blog. Now, This Bachelor always warns against getting too caught up in clothes because it takes away from more noble pursuits like drinking, eating, and chasing skirts. However, I like the cut of Mr. Chesterfield's gib. It's important to present yourself well and we can all learn a thing from this digital dandy. After all, this is the company he keeps.