Month: July 2020 (Page 3 of 4)

Chin Up

July 11, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 0 Comments

There are lots of things in life you aren’t prepared for. Hell, I haven’t been ready for most of the things that have happened to me. One of the things I most admire in a person is the ability to pull things together and face whatever challenge comes to them, especially when they aren’t prepared or don’t feel up to it. It is a whole lot easier to beg off or ignore what needs to be done or just say no. Saying yes and deciding to do the thing, knowing the responsibility and that you can’t let people down, that is hard. Let’s raise a glass to the folks who turn their faces toward the wind and sail on, weather be damned. So, join me as we stand and make, the Chin Up.

Banana Boat

July 10, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 0 Comments

This drink is not for Ann. This drink is because I wanted to make a banana dolphin as a garnish. I mean she may be a big banana dolphin fan, I don’t know, but even if she is, it is not for her. So understand going in that the only reason I am making this drink is so we can play with the garnish. When I read the recipe, I knew it was going to suck. It calls for malibu rum and while I have enjoyed drinking it on many occasions, it generally does not play well with others. It is too sweet, has a vaguely chemical taste and honestly, the more I have learned about making drinks, the less I can stomach it. I am either going to have to find a better coconut rum, or just begin making my own. Malibu is the Midori of the rum scene, we used to be friends, but the fire is gone. How bad could this one be, let’s find out as you join me as we stand and make, the Banana Boat.

Vesper Martini

July 9, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 2 Comments

This one is a weird choice, for certain. First off, I don’t particularly care for this entire class of drinks and this version breaks the rules of bartending, so I feel a bit weird about it. It has been on my list for a while, a thing to try, but way down that list. I did not know what to make today till a random memory from eighth grade chose for me. So, join me as we stand and make, the Vesper Martini.

Enzoni

July 8, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 0 Comments

We stumbled upon this one a couple of weeks ago and it caught my attention. It comes from Sasha Petraske’s Milk & Honey bar in New York and is a cross between a Negroni and a Gin Sour. I don’t care for Negronis, but I love Gin Sours, so I thought that maybe this one was for me, plus it is said to be “the ideal drink to introduce a novice to Campari!” Since, I have struggled with Campari I figured I’d give it a shot, plus it has whole white grapes in it and when I got home I found that Laura had gotten fresh white grapes at the store today, I figured it was a sign. So, join me as we stand and make, the Enzoni.

The Lone Ranger

July 7, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 1 Comment

Don’t you hate it when you believe a thing to be true only to find again and again that you were wrong, have most likely been wrong your whole life and you have no one but yourself to blame? Yeah, me either. I have spent my whole life avoiding drinks topped with sparkling wines, but the more I make them the more I see that I was just buying into some hype. That I was hating on a whole class of drinks because I was told they weren’t any good, or not manly enough for a fella to drink. Well, they were wrong and I was wrong to listen and now that I know better, I am going to be better. So here we are, back with another sparkling wine cocktail, inspired by our success with the French 75 we decided to tempt fate, yet again, with a Southwestern riff on a champagne cocktail. So, join me as we stand and make the Lone Ranger.

Devil Went Down to Georgia

July 6, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 0 Comments

Well, this wasn’t the plan. I guess we are all saying that way too much this year. I had a craving for something refreshing this afternoon, probably with gin and chartreuse, but then things happened in the world and I felt like I should address them, with a drink, which is how I process things now, apparently. So, join me as we stand and make the Devil Went Down to Georgia.

Dr. Funk

July 5, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 0 Comments

I wanted to experiment today, so I am trying a refreshing “new to me” tiki drink. It has been on my list for a while, but I keep going with things I like rather than exploring new territory, but not today. Today we chase the horizon, so join me as we stand and make, the classic Dr. Funk.

Firecracker

July 4, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 0 Comments

Happy Independence Day! This celebration of the 4th of July when our founding fathers, joined together to sign their names to a document that insured their deaths as traitors, if they failed. They did not fail. They fought and they died to craft a new country, based on a democratic idea that had never been attempted before, the great experiment. That’s worth celebrating, so join me as we stand and make the Firecracker.

My Shot : An Alexander Hamilton Cocktail

July 3, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 0 Comments

You know what day it is! You know what time it is! You could’ve been anywhere in the world, but you are right here, on your couch watching the online premiere of the musical, Hamilton. In honor of this auspicious occasion I typed Hamilton cocktail into google and this is what they sent back. So join me as we stand and make My Shot: An Alexander Hamilton Cocktail.

Coffee, Tea or Me

July 2, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 0 Comments

A couple of weeks ago I made a thing of beauty, the Earl Grey, Not, inspired by the great folks at Dux in Barcelona. We have honestly made that drink several times since then. We already had the tea syrup, it was easy and oh so good, plus Laura insisted. This afternoon, she requested another and I decided to play with an ingredient I have had sitting around since the first of the year. Since, I made this one up, based on a drink I made up a name for in the first place, it falls to me to give it a name, which feels like a heavy responsibility. So join me as we stand and make, the never to be classic, Coffee, Tea or Me.