Bob Tucker and Jim Beam

. . . . Wilson "Bob" Tucker used to be a perennial fixture at worldcons and regional cons, especially in the Midwest. He wasn't really a heavy drinker (I don't think his wife allowed alcohol in the house) but he had a shtik with Beam's Choice -- he would take a bottle by the neck and appear to hold it up and slug it down for about a count of three, his left hand in the air. Then he would sweep his hand down, intoning "Smoo-o-o-ooth," and pass the bottle to the next person, who would do the same.

I expect a lot of young fans got their first world-class hangovers trying to duplicate Tucker's prowess, which was largely sleight of tongue. He would tip the bottle up way above horizontal, while keeping it corked with his tongue, and then let a little booze slip through, which would make convincing bubbles.

Joe