Fear. That is what keeps most of us from greatness. Being scared of the consequences, what people will think, the possibility of failure, keeps us on the sidelines instead of getting out there and speaking or living our truth. It’s a shame we can’t just start in the middle sometimes, but the journey begins with that scary first step. It is like Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Still, even knowing that eternal truth, how often do we let opportunities pass us by, because, unlike Lin-Manuel, we throw away our shot? I know that I am guilty of this, in so many ways and on so many levels. You could fill the pages of many books with lists of the things I have not done, the chances I let slip by because I was too afraid to seize the moment and carpe that diem. But I am trying to do better, to be more free and to embrace the possibility that a “yes” can bring. So in the spirit of fewer regrets and swallowing some bitter pills, won’t you join me now as we stand and make The Doctor.

This drink originates in Hugo Ensslin’s 1916 “Recipes for Mixed Drinks” in a much simpler form than the modern classic we are making today, which was memorialized in the 1947 edition of Trader Vic’s Bartenders Guide. Originally, it was just a jigger of Swedish Punsch and the juice of a lime shaken and served up in a coupe. Over the years this recipe has evolved into something a little more complex, in keeping with modern palates, but it is still inspired by that “punch” base. I can see how this one ended up at Trader Vic’s, while it is not a classic tiki presentation, it is definitely in that tropical vein.

The key to this one is a sort of unusual ingredient, Swedish Punsch. It is exactly what it says, a kind of rum punch made from Batavia Arrack, which is an early Indonesian rum made by fermenting molasses with Javanese red rice before aging in open wood teak vats. The recipe for Swedish Punsch dates back to 1733 when Swedish East India Company sailors added Batavia Arrack to a traditional rum punch on their way home from the far east. They enjoyed this recipe so much onboard, that they continued mixing it in their home port of Gothenburg where it became so popular that they began bottling the concoction and selling it to the populace. It’s got a wonderful funky flavor and goes down smooth, sort of a sweet dark rum base with an interesting astringent top note. I can’t wait to see how those flavors lengthen in a cocktail.

Grab your tins and toss in 1 ounce of Jamaican rum, I went with Appleton Estate Signature; 1 1/2 ounces of Swedish Punsch liqueur I chose Kronan, 1/4 ounce each of freshly squeezed lemon and orange juices, 4-5 drops of 18-21 Havana and Hide Bitters and 2 drops of saline solution. Toss in some artisanal ice and give it a good shake to the beat of the theme from Doctor Who, because why not? When your tins are good and cold, double strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a dehydrated lime wheel.

That is lovely, perfectly lovely. The funk from the punsch comes through right up front, but it is tempered by the juices before that Appleton rum swoops in for a crisp finish. I am curious what this one would be like with a stronger, nay, funkier rum, like a Smith + Cross, but there is nothing in the world wrong with this recipe as it stands. Don’t skip out on the saline either, it makes a difference holding the acidity from the fruit in check.

This is another drink that has languished too long without words and it is all my fault. Making the drink was easy, in fact I looked forward to it. There was a new ingredient to experiment with in a tried and true format; but the name, oh the name. Writing about “The Doctor” just held too many possibilities. I did not know where to start. This was the chance to tie in to sci-fi and wonderful themes of inclusion and understanding, to weigh the heavy burdens we have seen when those lessons go unlearned or when the division is just too wide a gulf to span and violence inevitably rears its head. Alternately, I could’ve talked about this one as a medicine, prescribed by the good doctor. A couple of paragraphs about the wonders of modern science and the brave new world it will make possible, if we let it, would have been a lot of fun.

Instead, I let this one sit. There were just too many good options, so rather than actually doing anything, I whiled away the days thinking about what I might do. Sometimes possibility gets me that way. It makes sense, I have been a pleasure delayer since way before I even knew what that was. Sometimes, as Spock said, “Having is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as wanting.” But, gratification delayed can become gratification denied if you aren’t careful. Sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind and overcome that paralysis of choice by making that first step.

My grandpa used to say that “the only ones who don’t make mistakes are those who don’t do anything.” He was right, it is better to take action and fail than to sit comfortably on the sidelines suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. At least that has been the case in my life so far. The most interesting times and opportunities have come when I have ignored fears and doubt and simply said, “yes.” In life, “Yes” makes change possible. Just like in improv saying “yes, and” moves the story along and keeps things interesting. I guess, in the end, that was the lesson that The Doctor had to teach me. That it is far better to take a chance and get started , even if you don’t know where you will end up. Having lots of choices is great, but you have to make one to move on and I am all about finding out what happens in the next chapter. I hope to see you there, till then, stay safe, stay sane and stay hydrated, my friends.