this post was submitted on 22 Jul 2026
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The other big life lesson from Moonraker was how to check Vodka for wood alcohol:
Drop some cracked black pepper in the glass, if it floats you may proceed with caution. If it sinks use it to clean engine components or something.
I was in a former SSR with my family shortly after '91. My father bought a bottle of vodka off the street. I told him about the Bond Test, applied it, and those grains sank like fishing weights.
I said "I'm not touching that shit", my dad said "it's just a book, whatever, it tastes ok"
He spent the night vomiting and saying that his eyes hurt.
Very useful book, Moonraker.
Oh, and Blades is a real place, it's a club on Mayfair about 2km from Buckingham palace. I walked past it more than once after dark and it sure sounded like people were getting drunk and gambling in there.
For future reference, the treatment for methanol poisoning is to drink ethanol.
https://bookshop.org/p/books/thrilling-cities-fourteen-cities-seen-through-the-eyes-of-ian-fleming-the-creator-of-james-bond-ian-fleming/eb59f6f21c70b821
We had this book at home when I was in grade school. I remember thumbing through it once or twice, but I was too young and knew I'd never get to those places on my milk money.
Probably incredibly dated, but sounds like you might enjoy it.
Ooh cool thanks!