The Man Behind the Glass
About Al
Alfred C. O'Holic. Bon vivant. Opinionated drinker. Occasional writer. Self-described authority on the subject of civilized consumption.
The Particulars
Who, Exactly, Is Alfred C. O'Holic?
I am Alfred C. O'Holic. Al, to those who've earned it — which is a shorter list than you'd imagine, and no, you're probably not on it yet. I've been drinking with intention since before most of you knew what a coupe glass was, and I've made it my business — literally, as of this website — to share that expertise with a world that desperately needs it.
I come from money, have made more of it, and have spent a substantial portion of both on spirits, glassware, and the kind of education that doesn't happen in classrooms. I own forty-three coupe glasses. I use all of them. Regularly.
This is not a craft beer site. I have nothing against craft beer, in the same way I have nothing against anyone who went to community college — it's fine, I suppose, it just isn't me. We deal in whiskey, gin, amaro, Champagne, and the occasional rum when the mood strikes and the bottle warrants it.
The Philosophy
On the Subject of Drinking Well
Drinking well is not about spending more money, though I won't pretend money is irrelevant. It's about attention. The right glass. The right ice — and yes, I said ice, and yes, I have opinions about it, and no, you're not prepared for how many opinions I have about it. The right temperature. The right garnish, cut correctly, not hacked from a lime by someone who learned bartending from a video.
My philosophy is simple: if you're going to do it — and you are going to do it, because you're here — do it properly. Life is too short for well bourbon and too long for bad cocktails.
“Drinking well is the best revenge. Against what? Against whatever life has done to you today. Against mediocrity. Against the slow, grinding entropy of living among people who order rail gin.”
For the Record
What This Site Is, and What It Isn't
What It Is
- —Honest, opinionated reviews from someone who has actually tried the things
- —Curated product recommendations with affiliate links — yes, those are there, and no, I'm not ashamed
- —Guidance on technique, tools, and taste from someone who knows
- —Entertainment, if you find dry condescension entertaining. You should.
What It Isn't
- —A craft beer site. Please.
- —A wine influencer operation. I like wine. I'm not performing about it.
- —A place that takes reader requests. I drink what I drink.
- —Affiliated with any distillery. My opinions are my own. Unfortunately for them.
The Particulars, Continued
A Note on Ice
I have a 2-inch cube mold, a Kold-Draft-style tray, and a Lewis bag with a mallet that I use exclusively for the correct type of crushed ice. I do not use the ice-maker in the refrigerator. I did once. We don't discuss it.
The right ice is not decorative. It is structural. It determines dilution, temperature, and the rate at which your drink evolves. If you're not thinking about ice, you're not thinking about your drink. And if you're not thinking about your drink, frankly, I don't know why you're here.
I also own too many coupes. I am aware. They are all correct to have.