Enjoying a Bella Bella tonight.

[Aristus]

Gin, Campari, limoncello, orange liqueur, and orange juice. I don’t have Campari, so I substituted Aperol. Yummy! Very citrusy.

I like it when I can drink and prevent scurvy at the same time; like sailors of old…

Hope everyone is having a relaxing weekend. I keep looking at pics of the Artemis astronauts, smiling and hugging each other. We need more joy like that in our lives right now.

[biophile]

1. That does sound good

Which orange liqueur did you use? I have Cointreau (and all the other things) so I guess that would work!

[Aristus]

2. I have Cointreau. But I used Grand Marnier.

[biophile]

11. I also have Grand Marnier but I don't like it very much

I can’t get past the underlying wine taste. I like wine but it doesn’t like me back and when I do drink it, it’s better for me to keep it as a stand alone drink.

But to each their own! It’s like my grandpa used to say “If everyone liked the same thing, we would all be chasing Grandma!”

[niyad]

3. Sounds interesting. And so good that you can prevent scurvy at the same time!

I had a Garden Party (without Rick Nelson!), : Chambord, vodka, lemon juice, grenadine, club soda. It was very pretty, and was very refreshing.

[Aristus]

6. I have all of those ingredients!

I’ll have to try that. But next weekend. I’m dry until next Friday.

[niyad]

9. Understood. You will have to tell me what you think of it.

[Aristus]

12. Is it shaken, stirred, or built in the glass?

I want to make sure I’m doing it right.

[niyad]

14. Shaken, poured over ice. Slice of lemon on edge of glass.

It was done as a large batch drink.

I went looking to see if I could find an exact recipe, but it must have been created for the lecture. On the other hand, I saw a recipe for something called a Wildgarden Cup Cocktail witth Hendrick's Gin on their website that might interest you.

[Aristus]

15. Wow. All these cocktail recipes. Are you trying to get me drunk?

[niyad]

16. Not at all. I know your book has some 1,000 recipes, but when I find

iinteresting things, I still like to share. One never knows what might have been overlooked! On the other hand, I just spent some 20 minutes down a rabbit hole with some strange cocktail recipes, and I would not consider inflicting them on anyone! One person commented after one of the weird recipes (even though one of the ingredients was Hendrick's. . no way!) that where he tended bar, no cocktail could be over 4 ounces. I had never heard of such a thing, and I have been in bars all over the country. No 16 oz Margarita???

[Aristus]

17. Yeah. I get that bartenders have a right to set limits.

But that should extend to a patron’s relative level of intoxication, and not the size of the drink.

I’m always open to new cocktail ideas. There are cocktails in my bar book that I’m not interested in trying; the ones that call for grapefruit juice or -blecch!- clam juice; that kind of thing.

So outside recipes are always welcome.

[niyad]

18. No grapefruit juice? No Palomas? No Greyhounds? No Salty Dogs?

The clam juice I can absolutely understand. And some of the weird new cocktails that are popping up. I love smoked salmon, for example, but not in my drink!

[Aristus]

19. There's a family entertainment center in Gig Harbor, not far from where I live.

They have a high-end bar there (21 and older, of course). They mix a killer Old Fashioned that’s garnished with a strip of smoked bacon! It’s incredible.

[niyad]

20. That sounds wonderful. Garnish is one thing. Actually in the drink

for some of what I have seen is quite another! And I am not a fan of the current fad for smoking all the ingredients in drinks either, but to each their own.

I did see a potentially interesting one I will have to think about. A kind of hot toddy made with reposado Tequila and nutmeg.

[Aristus]

21. I don't think I could do a Tequila hot toddy.

A hot toddy is supposed to warm your heart, not shoot you in the head. But the nutmeg sounds nice.

[niyad]

22. I will have to give it some more thought. But not the weather for it.

[AverageOldGuy]

4. Jack and Coke

Here's the long version.

Wife is a retired high school English teacher; retired in 2004.

Years ago she taught to her 11th graders Dumas' "The Count of Monte Cristo." Don't ask why, I don't know, but for some reason the kids loved it.

So. From time to time she waxes reminiscent and tells me, in fact, the "Count" was FIVE VOLUMES -- not the wimpy 625-page paperback you find in bookstores. Something about how it was serialized in French newspapers of the 10th Century BC and how Jesus made it required reading for his disciples.

Our library has a source of ebooks -- no, not Kindle. Last week -- under the influence of Hendricks and tonic -- I downloaded all goddam five volumes to my iPad and announced to Madam English Teacher I was going to readthewholedamnthing. She looked up from her latest Baldacci waste of time and declared "You'll love it!"

Big mistake.

But in for a penny, in for a pound.

And now -- between the hours of 11:00 PM Eastern (after Lawrence) and 1:30 AM Eastern, I am plowing my way through all five volumes. Vol I is down. Dr. Jack helps me get through it.

Do not try this.

[Aristus]

7. I tried The Count Of Monte Cristo and loved it.

I just poured my last ounce of Hendricks Gin for my Bella Bella above. Excellent! Need to get another bottle.

I also tried Jack Daniels, and will not drink hillbilly rotgut again. It’s the Highlands for me when it comes to the water of life.

[PJMcK]

5. Negronis over here

Equal portions of Hendrick’s gin, Campari and sweet Vermouth served very cold with a slice of orange. Delicious.

[Aristus]

8. Another aficionado of Hendricks!

It’s sublime, which I didn’t think any gin could be.

[CTyankee]

10. Good that you are preventing scurvy. You wouldn't want that!

Cheers!

[Aristus]

13. And to you!