Since Sunday, I've made all kinds of discoveries about cocktails. Here are a few for your reading pleasure:
Discovery Number 1: As you all know, I have zero tolerance for cocktails served in the early 20th century. No seriously, I don't remember the last time so few alcohol units knocked me out that fast.
Discover Number 2: Time is just as much an ingredient as the liquor you are using. Whether Father Time has changed cocktails for better or for worse is subjective. Good or bad, there's no denying, the slash of his scythe brands the cocktail timeline.
Discovery Number 3: I have an insufficient liquor cabinet. This must be rectified. Therefore, in an effort, no matter how feeble it may be, to bolster my liquor cabinet, this weekend I will add the following to my skeleton crew:
- Dry Vermouth
- Sweet Vermouth
- Curacao
- Grand Marnier
- Orange Bitters
I've got a feeling this is going to be a good weekend.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Mailbox
It came today! Jammed into our tiny mailbox was my very first book of vintage cocktails. Almost 100 pages of cocktail history and recipes...what a great end to a rather uneventful day. Thank you Mr. Postman, perhaps you should join us for a drink!
Monday, March 15, 2010
About Last Night
Last week I got the greatest news. Vintage Life Magazine offered me my very own column in their "Food and Drink" section of their online magazine! So, of course, my thoughts were anywhere but my day-job. But who cares? I have my very own column!!
It has become my quest to research and report on all food and drink vintage. Where to start? Well, cocktails are the perfect way to start out the evening...so I decided that there was no better place to start my research. (I'm sure that most of you would agree.) Off I went...to the Internet to out-of-print booksellers. Yes folks, I wasted no time in researching cocktails from yesterday and planning a night with my husband to test out each one. Well, last night (more like yesterday afternoon), we did just that.
"Take notes," I told myself, as I took out the cutting board and the shaker. My little shot glass was poised for action...ice was grinding out of the freezer, gin, bourbon, cut lemons, brandy and a splash of heavy cream...it all became a blur. A really BIG blur. My husband let out a few short, but loud, "Wooo's" after each sip of what might have been some sort of battery cable cleaner once all of the ingredients combined. I believe he called that one "White Lightenin'." I remember saying, "this one tastes like winter" and "this one tastes like summer." The winter cocktail stung my tongue, but warmed my cheeks differently than my usual glass(es) of wine. The summer cocktail was cool. It didn't have the same bite. It was smooth and could be dangerous once a couple creeped up on you. The other drinks were, let's say, strong...but after a couple of sips, I started to grow fond of them. That was no real surprise. Let's face it, I was hammered. Fortunately, I'm a happy drunk...I laughed at my husband's honest, yet humorous, reactions until I was doubled over in front of the stove...saying "Stop it! I've gotta pee!!" I think it was about 5pm in The Rockies at that point.
Last night was the first time I went to bed with a hangover, but woke up feeling just fine this morning. Except, this morning I did find my notes stuck to the counter, inscribed with hierogliphic evidence of an afternoon spent with vintage cocktails.
It has become my quest to research and report on all food and drink vintage. Where to start? Well, cocktails are the perfect way to start out the evening...so I decided that there was no better place to start my research. (I'm sure that most of you would agree.) Off I went...to the Internet to out-of-print booksellers. Yes folks, I wasted no time in researching cocktails from yesterday and planning a night with my husband to test out each one. Well, last night (more like yesterday afternoon), we did just that.
"Take notes," I told myself, as I took out the cutting board and the shaker. My little shot glass was poised for action...ice was grinding out of the freezer, gin, bourbon, cut lemons, brandy and a splash of heavy cream...it all became a blur. A really BIG blur. My husband let out a few short, but loud, "Wooo's" after each sip of what might have been some sort of battery cable cleaner once all of the ingredients combined. I believe he called that one "White Lightenin'." I remember saying, "this one tastes like winter" and "this one tastes like summer." The winter cocktail stung my tongue, but warmed my cheeks differently than my usual glass(es) of wine. The summer cocktail was cool. It didn't have the same bite. It was smooth and could be dangerous once a couple creeped up on you. The other drinks were, let's say, strong...but after a couple of sips, I started to grow fond of them. That was no real surprise. Let's face it, I was hammered. Fortunately, I'm a happy drunk...I laughed at my husband's honest, yet humorous, reactions until I was doubled over in front of the stove...saying "Stop it! I've gotta pee!!" I think it was about 5pm in The Rockies at that point.
Last night was the first time I went to bed with a hangover, but woke up feeling just fine this morning. Except, this morning I did find my notes stuck to the counter, inscribed with hierogliphic evidence of an afternoon spent with vintage cocktails.
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