Cocktail Hour

Toronto writer, Linda Barnard, citing the collapse of the world markets has an excellent way of coping, happy hour cocktails. I couldn't agree more, and of course they push the prohibition era frame:

"Consumption rose considerably during the Depression," says Laura Panter of the Martini Club, who, with partner Michelle Hunt creates new cocktails, provides beverage research and puts together some of Toronto's hottest parties, including the annual Drinks Show.

Prohibition was in force from 1920 to 1933, encompassing the first four years of the Great Depression, which began in 1929. Officially, people weren't supposed to drink at all. Of course, they did and the era saw the birth of the cocktail movement in America, says Panter.

I enjoyed the Penny Pincher cockatail, indeed.