Cordial confusion
I got to thinking about Massachusetts’ peculiar “cordial license” recently after sitting down with Courtney Bissonnette to get a sneak peak at her cocktail menu for Coppa. The latest venture by prolific chef Ken Oringer is set to open in the South End any minute now and amp up the Italian enoteca concept the way Toro has done with Spanish tapas. Bissonnette will helm the bar program at both establishments, in which her husband, chef Jamie Bissonnette, is a partner.

Fernet at the Franklin 11/5
The eagle has … nearly landed. Boston imbibers, watch this space for more info about a joint drinkboston - Franklin Southie production: Fernet at the Franklin. In the meantime, save the date! What: A festive gathering for all who are curious or passionate about the pungent, dark and mysterious digestif Fernet Branca. A special

Rhum Cocktail Marilene
Scott Holliday (invented at Chez Henri) 2 oz Barbancourt 8-year 5-Star Reserve Rhum 1/2 lime cut into 4 pieces 1 1/2 tsp sugar (preferably turbinado) 3 strong dashes Angostura bitters Muddle lime and sugar in a double old-fashioned glass. Fill with ice and add rhum. Shake hard to blend ingredients. Add bitters and stir before serving. The cocktail is Holliday’s “homage to a Haitian painter and poet who introduced me to Rhum Barbancourt back in the day when it had to be hand carried back from Haiti. She made a very traditional daiquiri-like drink that jus

Boston bartender bonanza?
Shoot, y’all. Some mighty fancy folk are making their way to ol’ Beantown to open up swanky bars in a pair of purty new hotels. First, the W Boston in the theater district. Come October 29, its “decadent indulgences await your exploration, immersion, savoring, lingering, mingling, socializing, canoodling and celebrating.” Ling

Does this mean we’re legit?
Bloggers have arrived. It’s true, because the Federal Trade Commission recently decided to impose rules on us. All together now: Wooo … hey, wait a minute! Starting December 1, bloggers, and even users of Twitter and Facebook, “who review products must disclose any connection with advertisers, including, in most cases, the receipt of free products and whether or not they were paid in any way by advertisers, as occurs frequently,”