Shake Shake Shake
It took about six weeks, but I've come to a decision. No, I didn't decide to actually write in this blog on a regular basis. I decided that I need to make more cocktails. The result of this decision, obviously, is that we will be drinking more cocktails. Summer 2006, our first full summer on Lake Waukomis, will be the summer of the cocktail. Cheers.
This monumental decision got it's spark last summer, during an afternoon on the 9.9 hp destroyer of neighbor Mikey D. Drinks of the day included whiskey sours, martinis, and something that looked like Windex in a martini glass. Delicious Windex. So when Sara and I bought our clipper, the Molly Malone I knew she'd be loaded up with drinks this coming summer. She being Molly Malone, not Sara Jane. Although...
Anyway, prep has begun. A big new cooler on wheels, an unbreakable shaker and cocktail glasses, a skipper hat and a proper round life preserver are ready, and today, I bought bitters.
I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that I'm bitter enough for any drink, and probably sour enough to make the whiskey yummy, too. Yes, you're very funny. I bought the bitters because while watching the Super Bowl last week (you know the game - the Seahawks sucked, but in true no-one-notices-us-since-Cobain-ate-it, why's-it-always-cloudy, Seattle form, their fans whined and blamed the refs), and discussing the impending cocktail summer. Al and I noticed that all the cool cocktails in the cool cocktail book called for bitters. So, I got bitters.
I had a nice whiskey Collins. Very nice. Very cocktaily. Cold and sweet, yet whiskey-warming. That might have been too much Wild Turkey, but there ya go. And, now that I think about it, that'd be a bourbon Collins, not whiskey. Never mind. No, wait, don't never mind. The drink - it felt good in my hand. The game called for beer (Iron City or Rainer, in fact), but a Collins - a lovely cocktail - it was very nice. Then I went back to beer.
I planned on having a Manhattan today.
Manhattan
1 or 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
2 parts whiskey
1 part sweet vermouth
Stir over ice in a mixing glass, strain and serve.
su-poib. But, there's racing on from Daytona (wow - must be several hundred people there! Why, that must be the racing capital of the universe!) and the club soda is warm. Racing calls for beer. So I have Point. And I do have a point: this summer, we're drinking cocktails. Be ready. The bitters are ready, the shaker is ready, and Sara's going to learn to be the coxswain (look it up) of the Molly Malone (look it up). All we need now is a boat repair guy (look one up). Ms. Malone ain't leaving the dock until I find one.
Comments
The Collins made with Bourbon is called a John Collins. And you are right, it is very tasty. Someday I'll make a Nebraska Stump Lifter for you. You start with a bucket and it goes downhill from there.
I for one am glad to see you are back blogging a bit. The NSA is too!
Doc
Posted by: Doc | February 14, 2006 3:39 PM
Mmm...bucket...
No one at the NSA has any appreciation for a nice cocktail. There were some who liked drinks and fun, but they were kind of like Sgt. Schultz at Stalag 13. Didn't fit with the co-workers. So Cheney shot them.
Posted by: Paddy | February 14, 2006 7:09 PM
To make a proper Manhattan you must also add a splash of cherry juice and a cherry with stem. Try it you will love it! Virg and other executive types drink this hoity toity drink.
Posted by: Da Mailman | February 19, 2006 1:45 PM