Borgias-Inspired Libations: Machiavelli Manhattan?

Is anyone else obsessed with The Borgias?

For cocktail fans like us, we fully realize it's all about Mad Men in terms of drinks slammed per prime-time episode. But frankly, people were throwing them back in Pope Alexander VI's time, too.

Now it's obvious Manhattans were not all the rage during the Renaissance, but we could totally see our hero (Machiavelli, duh!) drinking this variation of our favorite Bourbon-based cocktail: The Prince.

The Prince

3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
2 1/2 ounces Bourbon
Dash Angostura Bitters
1 orange twist, for garnish
Pinch of edible gold dust, add for dramatic effect

Elaborate velvet puffy sleeves are not a requirement to consume.

Wine Horoscope

Palm readers. Frightening fortune tellers (like the one pictured here). The bizarre machine in that weird Tom Hanks movie, BIG.

There's no need to resort to extremes, people. You can figure out what the stars have in store for you--especially if it relates to drinking.

I wrote a highly controversial "Wine By Sign" article for WineMag.com. Sheesh...I really got a lot of crap for that one. But I have to say, it was surprisingly accurate for readers.

Click here to read your wine horoscope.

Does it resonate for you? Or does it drive you to the drink?