Smoking a Tatuaje Gran Cojonu cigar and sipping the Dragon's Milk Origin Small Batch bourbon from New Holland Brewing. This 5 year old, 95 proof bourbon is an easy drinker with a silky mouth-feel and notes of chocolate, stone fruit jam, and baking spices. ..... Putting some smoke in the air to remember the Cocoanut Grove Fire on this day, November 28, 1942, 80 years ago. This remains the deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history and the 2nd deadliest building fire in U.S. history. 492 people lost their lives and 130 were injured that night. The Grove was packed that night with servicemen, Buck Jones' party, and locals watching Goody Goodelle and Arthur Blake when a fire broke out at 10:15 pm. Despite attempts to douse it, the flames quickly spread across the decorations, false ceiling, and fabric covered walls. Within five minutes the entire, multi-level club was in flames. Many patrons tried to escape through the main doors but were trapped by the single revolving door. Other escape routes were blocked, locked, or boarded up. The doors that did work opened inward trapping more. Military personnel from nearby bars raced to help, while those that had escaped, like Coast Guardsmen Clifford Johnson, went back inside to rescue as many as they could. Johnson went back in no fewer than four times to rescue people while looking for his date who, unknown to him, had safely escaped. USCG shore patrol sent two companies of men, stretchers and trucks. 39 servicemen died and 27 were injured. Johnson suffered 3rd degree burns across 55% of his body but survived after 21 months in the hospital. The fire led to changes in building codes and advancements in treatments for burn victims. .... "The Grove was diabolically designed to lure people into blind alleys, blocked passageways, with doors locked... just so that the click of the cash register could be heard." - Attorney General Robert Bushnell .... #otd #thisdayinhistory #cocoanutgrovefire #cigar #whiskey #whiskeyandhistory (at Coastal San Pedro) https://www.instagram.com/p/Clh-exSLJBq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
