Newsdesk: you'd be amazed at what we can do

When it first came to prominence, whisky was thought to be the water of life. It's been a while since then, but it's still proving to be transformative.

• It can be arty, if you're willing to face a little price rise and a bit of criticism. It can be misspelt and as easily misunderstood. According to some Australians, it can even be hangover-free.
• In binge drinking news, new research suggests that it's a coping mechanism adopted back in Viking times and officially not our fault. Other research estimates 1,500 Scots will gain no comfort from the news, having died from alcohol abuse.
• Time for a success story in tough times: Britain's microbreweries get some love from the Guardian. They're not the only sector in growth, either - there's Hong Kong's roaring wine trade, too.
• If you're anything like me, you'd have spent the Oscars asleep. If you're not, you could have tried Gourmet's themed cocktails, or maybe spent a little more than you'd planned.

Newsdesk: ring-a-ding-ding

This week, Newsdesk is wondering what it has to do to get some get a lucrative vodka endorsement.

• There may be an economic crisis on, but it looks like the fear is yet to affect at least two areas of life: hip-hop and ultra-premium vodka. After all, if you were shy of cash you'd get towards thinking that Diddy doesn't need 50% of your US profits, which suggests that the folk at Ciroc are pretty flush right now.
• Which is more than can be said for, say, Utah given that the Beehive State are looking towards alcohol sales to give the local economy a shot in the arm.
• Which is more than cab be said for the residents of Niger State, given that selling alcohol may well get you arrested.

• There are - in the UK, at least - fairly specific guidelines about how you can sell booze in TV commercials. The Guardian takes a look at Guinness' foray into new, sexier territory in their latest ads.

  (The video above isn't the one they're talking about.)

• Fears are being raised about a new product that can tell new mothers if they've taken in too much alcohol to breastfeed safely. If the kids are getting started drinking early, we're going to need more livers.
• From Gary Regan's Ardent Spirits Newsletter: theBarkeeper.com - devoted to the on-premise drink industry.

Newsdesk: Back to basics

(Alphabet blocks by dklimke, licensed under Creative Commons.) This week's news links are brought to by the Martini - alleviating middle-class stress through gin and vermouth since 1867!

• The release of Revolutionary Road and the return of Mad Men for a second season has reminded the world of the  official cocktail of business lunches and the 1950's. You can't knock its place in popular culture or its heritage (or can you?), but the important question remains: how much vermouth?
• Stocking your home bar? No need to go crazy.
• The global economic downturn claims its first casualty in the spirit world, with the news that beer has replaced raki as Turkey's drink of choice.
• The minds at eGullet turn their attention to the difficult task of naming drinks.
• Also at eGullet: taking his cue from Underhill-Lounge's trip through the Savoy Cocktail Book, forum user evo-lution is planning to work his way through Jerry Thomas' The Bar Tender's Guide.
• Topical this one, given the recent focus on responsible drinking among adults and children, Paul Clarke's latest contribution to Proof looks at why he drinks the way he does.
• From California, the nascent trend in beer cocktails - no margaveza?
• From NYC, an interview with Belvedere brand ambassador Claire Smith.
• If you live in Britain, you'll be familiar with the Government asking you to drink responsibly. It seems they might even try asking nicely.

Newsdesk: nanny state

This week's Newsdesk is sponsored by Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer for Her Majesty's Government - helping you raise your kids since 1998.

• The CMO's advice that children under 15 should not be given alcohol has sparked a fairly predictable. Mark Lawson decries the nanny state as definitely not rock'n'roll, while the Times looks at things a little more philosophically.
• A visit to Drink in Boston leads Wayne Curtis to ponder the classic cocktail revival.
• The iPhone's march into ubiquity spreads to another front as the WSJ looks at the spread of cocktail recipes apps.
• Sasha Petraske is interviewed ahead of expanding into Atlanta.

Newsdesk: what is best in life?

There is - or should be - a list of things you should never type into Google Image Search and right near the top of it are the words "erectile dysfunction". There's probably also a good way to tie this into the following compilation of drink related links but God, my mind is scarred.

• This week, alcohol puts its good hat on with the news that moderate drinking can help prevent erectile dysfunction, and then puts on its bad hat because, guys, there goes that excuse.
• Technology = good, mainly because you can make cheap wine taste much better by passing an electric field through it.
• Epicurious brings us the five sexiest cocktails while the Guardian wheels out Simon Difford to pass on 48 cocktails you can make at home with no comment as to their sexiness. Shame. Coincidentally, recipe-publishing behemoth Difford also has an iPhone app out, have you heard?
• To mark the passing of Burns Night on Sunday, The Independent selects its top ten Scotch whiskies (fancy Javascript pop-up window) none of which are particularly surprising or indeed in this ice-filled glass beside me, while the Telegraph visits three island distilleries to learn the secrets of good single malt.
• Bonus old-school link: Wired on Ted Breaux's quest to rediscover real absinthe.