Mixology Monday... almost wrapped

I'm just about finished with the wrap-up for MxMo XXX, and am getting a little sentimental about what has truly become a journey into the thoughts of a group of great writers, mixologists, and artists. And, without typing more than you care to read, I'm reminded of the time when I stumbled upon Mixology Monday. I was entering a logo design contest initiated by Paul Clarke, and although my submission for the contest did not ultimately win, it got me involved and I began reading through the archives of everyone's work. I found so many great thoughts and questions and began to understand a small piece of what was really fueling the forward-motion of the craft drink movement. When I had a turn to host MxMo, I never truly thought that the topic of locality would inspire such hard work from so many bloggers. My point with the theme, and I could have articulated a bit more clearly, (although everyone came through beautifully despite,) was to address the subject of mixology as both a culinary craft and one of cultural expression. A cultural, culinary art. Although several decades have passed us by and left us drowning in giant liquor company, energy drink insanity, cocktail-making is truly a culinary tradition. Food itself is an expression of our culture, and hopefully we are thinking about what we put into our bodies when we make dinner or prepare drinks for ourselves or anyone around us. Getting into each of our respective cultural surroundings and manifesting a drink with a historical or current timestamp should be an artistic expression and make us think, like any art form might. I'd like to take the chance, while this site is actually getting some traffic, to say thank you to everyone who makes that expression happen for their own city, in their own time. Thanks to every artist in the medium of liquor for showing us your reflection of your place. 

Now, on to the roundup, which should be posted below by this afternoon, after I sleep a bit and return to my normal, more sarcastic self.