Punch

LORELAI: So, how was Jess’ Employee of the Month thing? …
LUKE: There was punch.

The term punch refers to a wide assortment of drinks, both non-alcoholic and alcoholic, generally containing fruits or fruit juice. The drink was introduced from the Indian subcontinent to England in the 17th century. Punch is usually served at parties in large, wide bowls, known as punch bowls. Historically it was made with alcohol, such as rum, but punch for children is usually a mix of fruit juice and soda.

For reasons which escape me, commercially sold punch in the US cannot contain fruit or fruit juice, even if it is actually sold as “fruit punch”. It is a mystery to me what this “fruit punch” actually consists of.

1952 Chateau Petrus Bordeaux

SOOKIE: That’s it, get their names, they’re never eating here again … Wait, what wine was he drinking?
WAITER: 1952 Chateau Petrus Bordeaux.
SOOKIE: Hm. Okay, never mind.

Chateau Petrus is a vineyard in Bordeaux, France, producing red wine entirely from Merlot grapes. It is widely regarded as the outstanding wine of Bordeaux, and ranks among the world’s most expensive wines. An average bottle would be around $2000, and although 1952 was not one of the greatest vintages for Petrus, it is still highly regarded, and a bottle may cost as much as $8000.

Realising how much the customers have paid for their wine changes Sookie’s mind about banning them from the Independence Inn.

Town and Country

EMILY: Aunt Maureen would never hike up her skirt in public.
LORELAI: She would after half a gallon of eggnog.
EMILY: Richard, who was the one who got drunk at our Christmas party and hiked up her skirt in front of the Town & Country photographer?

Town & Country, formerly the Home Journal and The National Press, is a monthly lifestyle magazine. Founded in 1846, it is the oldest continually published general interest magazine in the US. Its current name dates to 1901, and it was about this date that its focus changed from poetry and literature to the social activities of the upper classes.

Aunt Maureen, another member of the sometimes eccentric Gilmore clan – unless she is Emily’s aunt. It seems that Richard and Emily’s Christmas parties were so notable that they were covered by Town & Country! Presumably this was in their heyday in the 1970s or 1980s, before Lorelai had Rory.

Eggnog, previously discussed.

Luke Asks Nicole on a Date

LUKE: No, no, no, uh, what I meant was – ah, what the hell? Would you like to have dinner with me sometime?
NICOLE: Yeah.

It’s pretty obvious that, besides being flattered by Nicole’s attention, Luke asks her on a date primarily because he knows Lorelai is dating Alex. Jess has already criticised Luke for waiting around for Lorelai like a faithful dog, and has nagged him to ask Nicole out. Finding out that Lorelai is out on a date with a coffee shop owner who’s outdoorsy and likes fishing (sounding suspiciously similar to Luke) is the final straw that pushes him towards Nicole.

In this scene we learn that a cup of coffee at Luke’s cost seventy-five cents. That sounds like a bargain for what every character seems to believe is the best coffee in the world.

Notice that in the background to this scene, someone walks behind Luke and Nicole wearing what appears to be a maroon and gold Gryffindor scarf from Harry Potter.

Peggy Lee

[Lane retrieves some makeup from under her floorboard]
LANE: Well, I’ve got the good stuff right here, right next to the Peggy Lee.

Norma Egstrom, known professionally as Peggy Lee (1920-2002), jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress, over a career spanning seven decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman’s big band, Lee created a sophisticated persona, writing music for films, acting, and recording conceptual record albums combining poetry and music. Called the “Queen of American pop music,” Lee recorded over 1,100 records and composed over 270 songs.

Peggy Lee has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has been cited as an inspiration for the cocktail called the Margarita, the Spanish version of Margaret, which Peggy is short for. She was also the inspiration for Miss Piggy from The Muppet Show – the muppet was originally called Miss Piggy Lee.

Peru and the Surgeon General

ALEX: Ready to try another? I hear there’s one from Peru that comes with a Surgeon’s General warning.

Peru, a country on the west coast of South America. Despite Alex’s warning, Peruvian coffee is said to be mild and light in flavour.

The surgeon general of the United States is the operational head of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and thus the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government of the United States. The US surgeon general is nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the Senate.

In 2003, the Surgeon General of the US was Richard Carmona (born 1949); he was in the post from 2002 to 2006. In 2014 he wrote a book called 30 Days to a Better Brain, where he actually promoted coffee as a healthy drink that could improve mood and memory.

Sumatra and Colombia

[Lorelai is sitting at a table as Alex walks over with two little coffee cups]
ALEX: Okay, now this is the Sumatra blend. It’s supposed to be a little sharper than the Colombian.

Sumatra, one of the Sunda Islands in Indonesia. Sumatran coffee is considered one of the world’s top speciality coffee, with an intense flavour.

Colombia, a country in South America which is one of the five biggest exporters of coffee in the world. Their coffee is said to have a mild, smooth flavour.

Amaretto

SOOKIE: Twelve courses, each paired with a specific wine, and for dessert, individual chocolate amaretto mousse cakes in the shape of a G.

Amaretto, sweet Italian liqueur that can be made from almonds, bitter almonds, apricot kernels, or peach stones. It can be drunk neat, added to cocktails or coffee, and is commonly used in cooking, especially desserts. Its name means “a little bitter” in Italian.

Eggnog

PARIS: Everything was red and silver and there was eggnog … It’s disgusting … But disgusting in a really great way.

Eggnog is a rich, sweet drink, traditionally made with milk, cream, sugar, egg yolks, and whipped egg whites (which gives it a frothy texture, and its name). Distilled spirits such as brandy, rum, whisky or bourbon are often a key ingredient. Throughout North America and some European countries, eggnog is traditionally consumed over the Christmas season.

The Five Stages of Grieving

SOOKIE: Well, you caught me at a good time, ladies. I’ve already gone through the five stages of grieving. Denial, anger . . . I don’t remember these two, but they were served on the rocks with salt! Now, I’m just happily enscotched in acceptance.

The five stages of grief are said to be denial, anger, bargaining, anger, and acceptance. The model was popularised by Swiss psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying. Despite being commonly referenced in popular culture, there is no evidence for these stages, and the model has been considered outdated and unhelpful. Kübler-Ross later stated that the stages are not linear or predictable, and she regretted writing them in a way which was misunderstood.

Sookie references the Margarita cocktail, previously discussed, which is served on the rocks with salt around the rim. In her drunkenness, she says she is “enscotched” rather than “ensconced”, as if she has been drinking Scotch whiskey as well.