The Thirsty Celt profile picture

The Thirsty Celt

Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.

About Me

Thanks for giving my profile a look. If you are here you are either a friend, or someone who is visiting at my request. In no way am I trying to sell you something! I publish a lifestyle-dedicated website with an emphasis on beverages suitably named BeverageExperts.com . Please read my profile and a blog entry or two and if it's something of interest to you accept my friend request. I would also ask that you check out my website. Subscriptions are free and by doing so you have a resource for all of your wine, beer, and spirits questions. If not, have a great day and I am sorry to have taken your time.
I have been involved in the beverage industry most of my life. I have an eclectic resume including stints at restaurants around the globe, some of America’s top wine & spirit retailers, as a writer & reviewer, importer/distributor, and was once even lured to the South Pacific to help open a micro brewery. Yes, I drink for a living but don't try this at home.
I have been fortunate enough to have enjoyed some success in my chosen field, travel the world, and meet & befriend some tremendous people.
Now I continue to write, educate, and consult to beverage brands. I speak regularly on topics as diverse as Single Malts, Belgian Ales, Italian wines, and the vineyards of Bali (yep, I know...). I sit on various review panels around the globe including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Traveling is somewhat of an obsession visiting wineries, distilleries, and breweries on 6 continents and countless countries. In my little spare time I enjoy cooking, hiking, running, reading, listening to music, and always seeking the perfect pint. If you see me out, you can buy me one!
In the Personal Philosophy Department I would say:
Big on self-reliance and personal responsibility. Down on culture of victimology. Nobody owes you a thing and life isn't always fair. Spend a little more time being grateful and less time bitching and you just might find a smile replacing that scowl. Being miserable doesn't make you "deep;” it makes you insufferable.
I encourage you to go to BeverageExperts.com to look around and get my free newsletter. If you are interested in my profile you will really like the website.
The Cover of Our Latest "e-zine" Free to Subscribers a.redlink:a

My Interests

I'm interested in seeking, consuming, and studying Beverages. Food and cooking are all great compliments to Beverages. Travel is a must. Exercise is both spiritually and physically restorative. Watching sports is a great escape as well. Rugby and American Football with a dose of NCAA basketball fits the bill. Baseball is taken in when I can watch the Cubs without bringing on an aneurysm!

As always, you can go to
BeverageExperts.com Please give it a look and if you like what you see get my free E-Zine.

I'd like to meet:

Most everyone I'd like to meet is dead.

In the MySpace context I would say that I am here to meet friends. I would also like to meet anyone passionate for or curious about wine, beer, and spirits.

I don’t want to meet strippers and web wannabe pin-up girls. I don’t want to see your web cam, not interested in your “naughty” friends.

Music:

Listening to music is vital.
Del Amitri, The Beatles, Supergrass, The Cure, Van Morrison, Buddy Holly, Oasis - especially the live gigs, Eileen Rose, Wolfgang Press, Stone Roses, The Redwalls, Elvis (baby) and others too numerous to mention

Movies:

Animal House, Caddyshack, Highlander (the original), Defending Your Life, The Meaning of Life, Bull Durham, Godfather I and II, Goodfellas, Sixth Sense, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums

Television:

What's Television?
Primarily Sport (thank you Setanta for GAA and Rugby), History Channel, and the nerd side loves Stargate SG-1
To give you an idea of the depths of my pop culture ignorance: I have never seen an entire single episode of Friends, Will & Grace, American Idol, Lost, CSI, and loads of others I’m sure.
Absolutely loathe “reality” TV. Nothing makes a bunch of dim-witted wanna-be actors “real” quite like putting cameras around them all the day and night.

Books:

The Fifth Column, Ben Franklin - Autobiography, The Fountainhead, Parliament of Whores, All the Trouble in the World, Eat the Rich, and anything by P.J. O'Rourke

Heroes:

Ben Franklin, Michael Collins, Winston Churchill

My Blog

Cinco de Mayo - The Margarita!

Yes, it's Cinco de Mayo. Yip, yip, yippee&Today, like any other day/holiday that has been kidnapped by the marketing suits, I will be avoiding the crowds opting to celebrate with friends and some tast...
Posted by The Thirsty Celt on Fri, 04 May 2007 10:13:00 PST

Lagers - Summer is Fast Approaching!

With the temperatures becoming friendlier the mind wanders towards drinking Beer. At least mine does. If you don't get the urge for a cold one once and a while we need to talk!We have re-tooled the La...
Posted by The Thirsty Celt on Tue, 01 May 2007 11:46:00 PST

Italian Wines

What is Italian wine? Only the brave or foolish would cheerfully tackle this question. Italy's reputation both good and bad stems from the fact that she is the world's most prolific producer and expor...
Posted by The Thirsty Celt on Fri, 20 Apr 2007 07:42:00 PST

The World's Best Spirits

As many subscribers to my website/newsletter know I am annually a judge in one of the world's most distinguished spirits competitions, The San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The competition take...
Posted by The Thirsty Celt on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 12:14:00 PST

In Search of Beer in Brussels

One of the greatest things about traveling is that at times you find yourself in a place that in an instant inspires pause. Not a pause of reflection or of anticipation, but rather a pause of securing...
Posted by The Thirsty Celt on Fri, 02 Mar 2007 05:51:00 PST

Vodka: As Neutral as Switzerland and as Lucrative as Movie Popcorn

I'm not exactly sure what it says about our culture when Vodka is not only the country's largest selling spirit but also it's most fashionable. Undoubtedly, Vodka is terrifically versatile as well as ...
Posted by The Thirsty Celt on Sat, 17 Feb 2007 07:41:00 PST

A Sherry Primer

I thought that I would include a Sherry primer in order to possibly generate some interest in this great, unique creation that is scandalously underappreciated in this country. I often get questions a...
Posted by The Thirsty Celt on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:38:00 PST

What Are Spirits???

I get a lot of questions and believe it or not, most of them are good ones! A common question and misunderstanding surrounds Spirits. In an effort to get out ahead of questions to be asked, or questio...
Posted by The Thirsty Celt on Tue, 06 Feb 2007 08:20:00 PST

Wine 101 for the Modern Age

I thought it was a good time for a modern wine primer as I have been getting loads of good beginner to intermediary questions lately. Brevity being the soul of wit I have kept my answer brief.Know wha...
Posted by The Thirsty Celt on Sun, 04 Feb 2007 09:38:00 PST

Enough Already!

Under normal circumstances I would never step out of my Beverage Expert shoes to comment on other matters but I have just had enough. We have a problem in this country and I think you know what I'm ta...
Posted by The Thirsty Celt on Wed, 31 Jan 2007 11:06:00 PST