In Money, by Martin Amis, c. 1981, the character John Self has become nauseated in an aircraft over the Atlantic. "Three bolted B & Fs on a scoured stomach." Google is not helping me. Who can tell me what beverage, presumably alcoholic, is intended by "B & F" perhaps taking the 1981-ish context into account?
B & F [drink]
- Thread starter autnagrag
- Start date
Because I read the book, I know the character is more fond of unalloyed spirits, especially whisky. I appreciate the suggestion, though. I was thinking of bourbon or Benedictine for the B, not at all sure I'm on the right track, but Fanto seems too sweet for the F.
ewie
Senior Member
English English
The F might represent fizz, i.e. soda water.
velisarius
Senior Member
British English (Sussex)
It's obviously a nod to G&T (gin and tonic).
I don't remember whether it's ever explained in the novel, or we're just left to wonder. I always thought it was a play on BF (bloody fool), which John Self certainly was.
I don't remember whether it's ever explained in the novel, or we're just left to wonder. I always thought it was a play on BF (bloody fool), which John Self certainly was.
I suspect that "B & F" refers to a brand name: some brand of alcoholic beverage. I am not familiar with the many brand names of all the alcoholic beverages (whiskies, bourbons, beers, vodkas, ryes, scotches, etc.) that are commonly drunk, but "B&F" sounds like the brand name for one of them. Black & Finch? Bradley & Fletcher?
Or it could mean "whiskey":
B&F Whiskey Society
Loob
Senior Member
English UK
This may be relevant:
But there are authors who chose to be creative in the field of brand dropping. British author Martin Amis has used fictional brands in his novel Money: A Suicide Note. Money tells the story of, and is narrated by, John Self, a successful director of commercials who is invited to New York by a film producer, in order to shoot his first film. The novel includes several made-up brand names – for restaurants (Burger Den, Burger Hutch, Burger Shack, Pizza Pit, Furter Hut, Doner Den) and cars (Farragoes, Boomerangs, Fiascos).
J&B is a fairly well-known brand of scotch whisky so it could be an invented name based on this brand.
Excellent! I should have been tipped off by the names of the fast-food restaurants and models of cars. No wonder people I asked who haven't read the book, some of whom in my circle are a bit swollen with what they take to be their thoroughgoing knowledge of bar drinks all over the world, drew a blank. He made it up. (He might have also made up the name of a Champagne producer or two.)
It makes me want to go into a bar, a thing I rarely do, and order "B & F, up, shaken not stirred, with only one cocktail onion, please."
It makes me want to go into a bar, a thing I rarely do, and order "B & F, up, shaken not stirred, with only one cocktail onion, please."
Last edited: