Save this Suggested Servings for evenings that dictate a toast to a friend who's deserving enough, but not the sort to draw a crowd on his or her own. No matter what interesting chatter or one-upmanship might be going on, the Blue Blazer will redirect the limelight to wherever you want it. Flaming drinks, after all, are like fireworks: They inspire people to just stop and stare.

But before we go any further, we must give more than a few words of warning. The pyrotechnics of the bar are not to be taken lightly or without practice and the proper precautions. The Blue Blazer tastes as good when mixed without a flame, so there's absolutely no reason besides show to put a match to it. Unlike other flaming drinks, such as the Zombie, the Blazer is far more difficult to flame safely. With those drinks, you either pour a blazing spirit into a glass or merely light the spirit as it rests atop the drink. The Blazer, however, requires that you light the spirit in a deep container and then throw the flaming liquid back and forth, ideally in a high arch. Never ones for ideals, we insist you drop all intentions of creating a fiery arch. It admittedly looks fabulous in the classic woodcuts, but we suspect there's a very good reason why the "high arc" of the Blue Blazer has yet to be captured on film - and trust us, we tried [347 Kbytes .mov]. Be content to merely pour the flaming ingredients from one container to another - only fools will pass judgment.

A key to making this drink is having the proper equipment, foremost of which should be asbestos gloves. They rarely suit cocktail attire, but certainly look better than singed fingers covered in bandages. The mitts also could come in handy for squelching runaway flames [347 Kbytes .mov]. The next item is not for dramatics and, indeed, best kept out of your guests' sight. But a fire extinguisher should be nearby. Ten to one you won't need it, but it could be awkward explaining to fire officials why there wasn't one on hand.

Jerry Thomas, the Dr. Frankenstein of the Blue Blazer, used large mixing tins when making this drink. Metal containers work well enough, but - as common sense will tell you - they are very good heat conductors. classic bar guides suggest using a silver platter to catch spills - a fine enough idea as long as the plate covers a large area. Harry Craddock, author of the Savoy Drink Book, sagely points out that "to become proficient in throwing the liquid from one mug to the other it will be necessary to practice for some time with cold water." His advice will also give you an idea of how far the flames could fall. For obvious reasons, do not flame Blue Blazers over such areas as glass tabletops or tablecloths.

The serving size of a Blue Blazer is 4 ounces, but the drink's easiest to flame when mixed as a batch. To start, mix 2 whiskey are ready, pour each into one of the mixing containers. Have someone else ignite the whiskey with a long fireplace match. Dim the lights, and begin "mixing" the Blazer by pouring each container into the other until the flame burns out. Then, portion each drink into two thick cut-glass tumblers that are certain not to crack from the Blazer's heat. Drop a sugar cube into the drink, followed by a lemon zest, and serve with the warning that the drink should be allowed to cool slightly. The Blue Blazer will stun its audience just long enough for the honored guest to make his or her speech, but it'll do little to keep a dull talk short - that's the task of a good host.

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