Speaking of amontillado...
I first tasted this as a teenager in Jerez, Spain, but I had to grow up to appreciate the flavor of sherry ... I didn't even care for it all that much during years of college English department functions. Just recently I finally discovered an inexpensive brand of amontillado (around $8) at a supermarket and bought three bottles! It does have a taste distinctive from a regular dry sherry, as is mentioned in the Poe story.
Now that I have my own computer which I've just learned to use, I've also been able to listen for the first time to Jonathan Frid's dramatic readings on his website, and particularly enjoy his rendition of "The Cask of Amontillado."
I also recommend (how many times have I mentioned this?!) Vincent Price's "An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe", available on a dual-sided DVD with Roger Corman's film of "The Tomb of Ligeia" (my favorite of the Poe adaptations). Very inexpensive DVD, too! (Which I've been able to watch now with my new laptop's DVD drive!) Price's presentation of "The Cask of Amontillado" is excellent.
Thanks for the link to the recipe for claret cup ... I hadn't paid much attention to the reference on DS (wasn't this in HODS?) and didn't realize it was a recipe I could have looked up (guess I just thought it was claret in a punch cup with ice). It sounds delicious ... my parents always had liquours and apertifs, Cointreau, Drambouie (sp), etc., but I am unable to afford them ... so don't think I'll be able to make the recipe any time soon.