The January issue of Esquire does its readers a grave disservice in the innocent guise of giving advice about getting one’s ladyfriends liquored up. In its typical smarmy, overly-verbose style, the magazine’s “Man At His Best” section offers a primer on cognac, capped with the following: “The January Dilemma No. 1: Your Date, Though Curious, Doesn’t Want to Sip Cognac Neat.” It goes on to suggest feeding the unsuspecting female an emetic concoction consisting of cognac and cr‚àö¬Æme de menthe. They don’t give it a name, but we think “The Ipecac” suits it perfectly. The mag also inexplicably counsels readers to use perfectly good Rémy Martin Louis XIII for the mixture, which at $1,500+ per bottle is a little pricey to be dumping a bunch of mouthwash into.

The Kempt solution »

While the rest of our accouterments are striding boldly into the future, the cocktail shaker has been looking the same for as long as we can remember. This helix-inspired twist on the classic cobbler shaker is a step in the right direction, sporting a cold-retaining metallic finish and the most tasteful use of the torpedo shape we’ve seen in quite some time.

And it goes well with those monolithic vodka bottles.

Nambe Twist Cocktail Shaker [via productdose]

With cocktail spots popping up left and right, it’s a good time to brush up on your drink-mixing. (You can never watch Cocktail too many times.) But while you’re working on your Sidecar, don’t forget the glassware.

This Angela Adams number calls itself a Martini glass, but its stemless simplicity is more suited to old-school cocktails like a Manhattan or a Dark & Stormy. And the frosted art-deco symbol makes it look like something out of the 20s, the last great cocktail renaissance.

It’ll go perfect with a little vermouth…

[2modern]

Jeff Koons via Gothamist

Shirt Shift: Artist/Bulldog dissector Damien Hirst has created a line of almost Threadless-quality shirts to go along with his collection of $80,000 jeans. The man has brass balls the size of Volkswagens. Wait. No. That’s Jeff Koons, who also has a line of “meh” tees. [Gawker]

In The Trenches: The men of Duckie Brown discuss their experimental “treated silk” jackets. [Washington Post]

Keef’s Closet: Self-described “minstrel” Keith Richards wears women’s shirts and, as we always believed, doesn’t “do underwear.” [Times UK]

Club Cuts: Soho House members can now add in-house tailors to their myriad benefits. [NY Sun]

Crease is the Word: Don’t have pleats in trousers? Evidently, you are not a man. [Telegraph UK]

Posh Pack Rat: Step into the eclectic home of designer Simon Carter. [Independent UK]

The Nau Strategy: Slick, ruggedwear Nau may supplement their internet retail with physical stores. Whoh, stores that sell clothes. What won’t they think of next? [WWD, subsription required you cheapos]

No Logo: The logo of every superbowl, including at six that have been won by the steelers…in case you’ve forgotten. [NotCot]

Ad-tion: Gawker’s top five superbowl ads of all time, sadly devoid of sassy CGI animals. [Gawker]

Fast Cars: Kanye goes to Paris…or should we say KANYE GOES TO PARIS!!!! [Kanye West]

This is the Story of the Murricane: Bill Murray gets a signature cocktail. [NYTimes]

As anyone familiar with New York’s recent cocktail revival can attest, drinks are subject to the same trends as tie width. Last year’s wine bar soon gives way to next year’s cocktail bar…which conveniently serves 1930s-style cocktails.

The Magnificent Bastard recently devoted a post to the question, “how good does a scotch have to be before you won’t use it in a Rob Roy?.” Understandably, it led us to pose the following counter-query: “Does anyone still drink Rob Roys?”

Of course, no one would be happier than us if the classic Rat Pack mixture made a revival, but at the moment it seems to be best known as the punchline of hilariously-outmoded-cocktail jokes. We may have to wait another decade before this is acceptable behavior again.