Tag: vermouth (Page 3 of 4)

Twentieth Century

November 10, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 0 Comments

In his immortal “Still Life with Woodpecker”, Tom Robbins wrote, “If you’re honest, you sooner or later have to confront your values. Then you’re forced to separate what is right, from what is merely legal.” That can be tricky. There are a ton of things that are or were legal that were definitely not right. I know a bunch of you want to argue today, you are just itching for a fight, but I’ve still got that headache, so I’m not here for that. Slavery was the law of the land, that didn’t make it right, so concede the point and let’s move on. Old Tom has been on my mind lately. I am a child of the time that book was created for “the last quarter of the 20th century”, but I am living closer to the end of the first quarter of the 21st. I’m an Aries born under Nixon ascendent, so I am charismatic, clever and perpetually wary of all earnestness. A lot of things have changed since I joined the planet, but it looks like this century is working extra hard to repeat the lessons of the last, for those who weren’t listening to Santayana. So, let’s take a look back as we stand and make the Twentieth Century.

Boulevardier

November 6, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 1 Comment

I’m keeping it booze forward this week. Sure, I broke you in with a nice tiki thing for election day but from there on out it has been in your face, stirred drinks with a hefty alcohol component. Anyone have any problems with this? Seriously, if you don’t feel like you need a drink this week give me some tips on your stress management policies. Hopefully things will settle out in the next few days and we can get some closure. For me, a gentle buzz before bed is a welcome relief from the onslaught of misinformation and ugliness. Passions are running high, but that is no reason to be unpleasant in front of company. So, in honor of decorum and a certain savior-faire, won’t you join me now as we stand and make the classic, Boulevardier.

Hanky Panky

November 5, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 0 Comments

As we enter day three of the 2020 election, patience is running thin with some folks. All day we have watched as races get closer for both candidates. Tempers are rising as the tension of not knowing begins to weigh on us all. I have watched as people, on both sides, have lashed out at others, giving voice to their frustrations. There is a lot of stuff floating around today, including a higher than average dose of misinformation. I don’t blame folks, well, I sort of do, it is pretty easy to look up info and confirm your sources before sharing, but I get it. However this goes, the waiting is hard and it is easy to want to cling to shrinking hopes and share things which confirm your biases. It happens to everyone. Both sides are concerned that there could be something nefarious going on and I understand wanting to approach things with a healthy skepticism. Well, skepticism and Occam’s Razor. Just in case, won’t you join me now as we stand and make some Hanky Panky.

El Presidente

November 4, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 0 Comments

It is all anyone can think about today. When will we know who won the election for president? Naturally, I am as curious as the next person. I have a keen interest in politics and people and this season has certainly provided any number of distractions. But, I am not sweating it tonight. As I told a friend earlier, this die has been cast, we just haven’t looked under the cup yet. In time, we will know the outcome of Schroedinger’s vote, who got the most in the places where it matters to get those votes. They may monkey with them and argue afterwards, but before too long, we will know what the votes said. Till then, you might as well kick back, enjoy a drink and do your best Alfred E. Neuman. In the interest of keeping things topical, won’t you please join me now, as we stand and make the El Presidente.

Morning Dew

November 1, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 0 Comments

Somewhere in the distance Daveed Diggs asks, “Can we get back to proper drinks?” and I am with him, wholeheartedly. But, I’m tired. The time changed last night and even though it’s only early evening, it feels like midnight. So let’s make something with a little pep to get us through till bedtime. Won’t you please join me now as we stand and make the Morning Dew.

The Bijou

October 17, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 0 Comments

It’s fall y’all, at least that is what the hand painted sign at the farmer’s market said. Of course, it had decorative candy corn on it, so I’m not sure it can be trusted. Still, it was chilly enough that I slipped a cardigan on over my traditional black t-shirt this morning. I like those orange, red and yellow, leaves though. That breeze pushing them along the way, yeah, I’m fond of that too. Since it will rhyme and make this poetic, please you join me now as we stand and make The Bijou.

The Mean Fiddler

October 15, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 0 Comments

I was thinking about the devil tonight and his gambling habit. Seemed like the right thing to do, don’t ask me why. I recalled the lyric “Now, you play a pretty mean fiddle boy…” and thought to myself, what constitutes a “mean fiddle”? Does it bite? Refuse the rosin? Whisper insults in your ear while you play? It would make more sense for the devil to be the one playing the mean fiddle, then I would understand it better. A mean fiddle is one that refuses to sound like a violin and goes with a funky bass thing. You’d be surprised just how long I went down this path, before I came up for air. It was definitely long enough to get a thirst, so won’t you join me now as we stand and make The Mean Fiddler.

Upside-Down Martini

October 12, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 1 Comment

Julia Child once said, “The more you know, the more you can create. There’s no end to imagination in the kitchen.” Later, Morgan Freeman said, “She’s right, you know.” He was not responding to her, but that doesn’t make his answer any less valid. The point is we need knowledge. Whether you are making crepes, art or public policy, the only way to do it well is with knowledge and, hopefully, a bit of wisdom. So, in the spirit of learning more, please, join me now as we stand and make the Upside-Down Martini.

Bitter Giuseppe

October 11, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 1 Comment

It was a Sunday morning like any other. One of those overcast October mornings we know so well, perhaps even a trifle warm for the season. We have had two days straight of light rain, as the remnants of Hurricane Delta slowly passed over. I was, minding my own business, drinking coffee, with YouTube providing random jazz as I contemplated the crossword. It was at that precise moment that an exuberant Australian fella popped into my feed and changed the course of my next few moments, forever. At his suggestion, I made a cocktail and now you can too, if you’ll join me now as we stand and make the Bitter Giuseppe.

The Racketeer

October 4, 2020 / Monkeybrad / 0 Comments

We all knew it was coming. Well, a couple of thousand of my closest friends did, anyway. I should be in Rome this weekend, laughing with friends, eating at Jamwich every other meal, setting new records in their escape rooms, grabbing drink at The Forge and generally having a great time. We couldn’t get together for our long weekend of foolishness and adventure this year, but we’ve still got our memories. So, in honor of the fun we’ve had and the fun yet to come, won’t you join me now as we stand and make The Racketeer.