Champagne

Plenty of people like to toast a glass of sparkling wine to celebrate their birthday, but always finishing her bubbly may explain how one champagne-loving centenarian got there in the first place.

Back when I was of just-barely-legal drinking age, when the number-one quality I looked for in an alcoholic beverage was its cheapness and coldness, my go-to wine was André. In Alabama, where I grew up, a law had been on the books for years banning the sale of beer over a certain ABV. The law has since been eliminated, leading to a boom of excellent craft beer in the state, but in the days before it, the cheap alcohol choices were mass market beers, malt beverages, and a beloved sparkling wine called André. 

Look, sabering a bottle of champagne is clearly fun. You take a freakin’ sword and use it to pop the cork on a bottle synonymous with celebrations. The reason that’s enjoyable requires no further explanation.

It’s September 11, 2018, and I’m on a coach headed to Maison Mumm. Tomorrow, I’ll be joining about 32 other members of the media to be the first to try Mumm’s latest innovation: Mumm Grand Cordon Stellar—a bottle of champagne specifically designed to be consumed in space.

The pop of a Champagne bottle signifies a party has begun.

On Friday, the Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers solidly in the NBA finals. The 108-85 victory was the third championship win in four seasons for the Warriors and, many say, solidifies their reputation as one of the best basketball teams of all time.