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Beer Tasting: San Diego

Chis Peters inhales the bouquet on Green Flash Brewery's West Coast IPA, just one of the many beers we sampled on a day long trip to San Diego. Come Along>>

Old Oak Cocktail

Rum, Sherry, and a Dash of Orange Bitters, mixed at Angel's Share in NYC.

 

Lemon Party

Here's a drink I invented with the now peaking Meyer Lemons:

3/4 oz Meyer Lemon Juice (1.5 cc)
1 oz Cointreau (2 cc)
1 1/2 oz Del Maguey Mezcal, chilled (3 cc)
Salt

Put your mezcal in the fridge or freezer a few hours before you make one of these. You can use any mezcal you like, but the Cointreau is a must - and so is the order of operations: Pack the glass half of a boston shaker with ice. Add the meyer lemon juice. Add the cointreau, and then the Mezcal. Shake vigorously for at least a minute, then strain over ice into a salted highball glass. I call it... The Lemon Party. Enjoy.

Science Speaks

Who knew?

A recent study at the University of Glasgow found that alcohol makes the opposite sex appear more facially attractive, at least in the eyes of the drinker. Compared to abstainers, drinkers were more likely to rate someone of the opposite sex as attractive. Alcohol had no effect on the rating of same-sex attractiveness. This may explain why drinking in bars and at parties often leads to sex.

Late Update: Astute readers will note that the study was produced by the University of Glasgow, which causes my lady friend to wonder: if you drink enough, are even British people attractive? I doubt it, but judge for yourself (fair warning: ever-so-mildly NSFW): Download Sweden-vs-UK.ppt

Sardinian Iced Tea

Neither Iced Tea nor verifiably Sardinian; this drink aims to please and rarely misses. Behold the Sardinian Iced Tea.

Genuine Mint Julep

There is no more genteel way to get smashed than with a proper mint julep.

Whisky Smash

This cocktail is a favorite of my friend Ginny. It was created by Dale Degroff; here's my adaptation: 3 lemon pieces (a piece is 1/8th of a whole), 3-6 mint leaves, 3/4 oz simple syrup, 1 1/2 - 2 oz burbon (or corn whiskey), sprig of mint and lemon wheel, for garnish Put crushed ice into an old fashioned glass and stick it in the freezer to chill. Muddle the mint, lemon, and simple syrup in the glass half of your Boston shaker. Add the hooch and a good amount of ice, assemble the shaker and, shake. No limp shakes, please. Strain into your glass and add the garnishes. Drink quickly.

Mojito Soul

Swerving along the parched asphalt of Los Angeles this summer, I'm surrounded by mojitos.  Billboards promise this season’s perfect libation, but the conservative mojito spectacle they present are like glasses of 7-up -- bubbly and clear, two matching mint leaves and a lime wedge floating symmetrically inside.  The mojito is IN---it's the margarita this season.  Now we gotta give it back some soul damnit.  CLICK HERE for the mix.