Found another "classic" deep in the tomes. It's not every day that we get to weave in some absinthe, so let's get started. Wolf BiteRECIPE 1/4 oz Absinthe 1/2 oz Midori 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice 1/4 oz Grenadine TASTING NOTES + Despite its name, the "bite" here is non-existent; this is a sweet, licorice vehicle. + Midori is a difficult flavor to mask, so if you're here for melon, you won't be disappointed. + The licorice of the Absinthe behaves much like my honey liqueurs; it comes through in pleasant intervals. + The pineapple, as expected, is mega strong. With the Midori here, you're getting quite the fruit bomb. It barely tastes alcoholic. Variation: LycanthropeRECIPE
1/4 oz Absinthe 1/2 oz Midori 1/2 oz Cranberry Juice 1/4 oz Grenadine Splash of Curacao 1 Draw of Blackstrap Bitters TASTING NOTES + In an effort to add new colors to this mixture, the Cranberry and Midori do so in visual and profile. I appreciate Cranberry because it cuts the blast of melon down to allow for other flavors to shine. + There are still great measures of sweet here, but the Blackstrap mingles well with Curacao to add darker notes. + Great vehicle for licorice. + In fact, the combo of Curacao's bitter orange + the smoky Blackstrap + the repeated pulses of Absinthe is really something interesting. + Highly recommend ice for this one. All in all, this was a transformative experiment and I highly recommend anything that's going to woof your howl. ...No, I don't know what that means. ;) -Adamus
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While out on the wine run (really, we should just buy a case - where's my sponsorship, Stella?), I passed by two opportunities. These bottles have been ones I've taken note of; one out of pure curiosity, the other out of academic experimentation. The former was Johnnie Walker's White Walker Scotch. Johnnie Walker is no stranger to Game Of Thrones, sporting an impressive array of custom scotches for the titular families and themes. But something about the fact that the White Walker is intended to be frozen first, then sipped as it thaws in order to activate and release its layered flavors, made me Hunter's Mark that bottle for the future. With its price more manageable today, I snagged it, along with a liqueur that has been popping up in my recipe books: 43 Licor. The latter here is something that tastes and smells strongly of amaretto, but with a citrus vibe and something very smooth. 43 is a Spanish liqueur of vanilla and citrus herbs, best enjoyed in coffee, milk, and chocolate. Despite its sweetness, it's no joke, clocking in at a whopping 62 proof - yet you could never tell with how smooth it is. Curious, I decided to take it for a spin 4 ways and see what I can learn. 43 CoffeeRECIPE 3/4 oz 43 Licor 3/4 oz Kamora TASTING NOTES + Gloriously sweet. + There is a citrus smokiness to this. + Definitely home for a cream addition, like milk or half and half. + I see why the classic Spanish rendition of this liqueur involves espresso, milk, and 43 licor. Because it's damn tasty. + ...but I need something with a bit more bite to cut through. A Lemon RoseRECIPE 1/2 oz Wild Moon Rose Liqueur 1/2 oz 43 Licor 1/2 oz Lemon Juice TASTING NOTES + The lemon juice and Rose liqueur are a beautiful match and I am here for it. + Oddly, the 43 pales in comparison to that pairing. + This is a great foundation to try something new...later. 43 CaptainsRECIPE 1/2 oz 43 Licor 1/2 oz Lemon Juice 1/2 oz Captain Morgan Spiced Rum TASTING NOTES + This might be another strange instance where the Captain murders someone. + ...and not in a good way. + I'm not joking. + The addition of the Captain kills the 43. Immediately. + I'm drinking muddled lemon juice. Tipsy Lemon Juice. + Glorified. Tipsy. Lemon. Juice. One More ExperimentWith the research of 43 Licor rattling around in my head, I recall many instances of Blueberry flavors, so I now endeavor to include this soul in the next batch. RECIPE 1/2 oz 43 Licor 1/2 oz Blueberry Liqueur 1/2 oz Stella Rosa Pink 1/2 oz Raspberry Liqueur TASTING NOTES + STELLA ROSA WORKS SO WELL WITH BLUEBERRY. Just sayin'. + The 43 again takes a backseat. + Hard to go wrong with Raspberry and the Pink wine. + Lovely, and almost TOO sweet. All in all, the 43 feels a lot like a fruity amaretto, both in profile and function. It's a decent stand in and a real banger in almost any soda. I'll definitely be using it in my coming recipes, stay tuned.
-Adamus His name was Ozzy. Perched on the cracked navy railing, his spike of a nose slick with mud, he flexed his dripping wings and rocked back and forth. Viscous tendrils of wet earth leaked from his shifting form, coiling down the bars of the crib and soaking into the edges of the sheets below. He tilted his head at the giggling creature swaddled in fine cloth, the deep motes of gold within his eye sockets darting along its details, like flecks of glowing sand drifting above a campfire in the night sky. There wasn't much time. Little Ozzy could feel the rumble in his body, an early warning of the coming quake. Bubbling gently, he extended his dripping arms around the half-elven babe and pulled her close to him. When the house shook he hardened his wings for flight - he only had a few seconds to honor this bargain. When the glass shattered, he soared out, his greedy tail snatching a necklace as he went, and disappeared into the sunlight. Its warmth would ensure the child's safety, at least until he could deliver her to his master. "You will persist, tiny elf," he bubbled in Terran, "Too important you will be..." Creatures Of Two PlanesMephits are imp-like creatures of mischief and chaos forged in the elemental planes. They prefer to dwell in places where their base elements are prevalent, so a Mud Mephit may reside in the plane of earth or water, while a Magma Mephit adores earth and fire. As pairings go, the Elemental Chaos has forged six slices of these little critters. DUST - composed of earth and air, Dust Mephits are drawn to death. Adventurers can encounter them in deep catacombs, deadly streets, or in the eye of a shredding sandstorm. ICE - a creature born of frigid air and water, an Ice Mephit is devoid of pity. Aloof and cold, they show little mercy or compassion to those around them. MAGMA - dangerous to the touch, a Magma Mephit is comprised of earth and fire. Considered the least intelligent, they are slow to understand commands and are often used as living walls of molten death by more cunning creatures. MUD - slow creatures of earth and water, Mud Mephits are full of complaints and seek endless attention and treasure, stuffing the little trinkets inside their warping bodies. SMOKE - crude and lazy, Smoke Mephits billow constantly. Though they are often gifted with superior speech, they like to use it to spin lies and lead creatures astray. STEAM - nearly ethereal in sight, Steam Mephits can be tracked by the trails of hot water they leave behind. Fire and water yield bossy and self-absorbed creatures, and each will tend to appoint themselves lord of all other mephits. By The NumbersFrom a technical side, a Mephit on its own doesn't pose much threat. They have a decent hit point load for their CR (around 20 HP), but a low AC (10-12). However, Mephits aren't usually alone, and those that are tend to have a powerful master nearby. Throw in that many carry the variant ability to summon extra Mephits when they get hurt, and tend to explode in a dangerous bubble when they die, and you have a serious situation on your hands for low-level adventurers. Each has their own breath weapon that can recharge (1/6 chance, but you know), some have nasty innate spell casting (Heat Metal, watch out!), and at least four of the six types can blend into their surroundings, waiting for a deadly ambush. Remember, especially in 5th Edition D&D, an army of squirrels is still an army. That's why they call it a "death of a thousand cuts." Mephits In IoThough a mephit will give off the air of a fiend, it is important to bear in mind their elemental origins. Though they are each born of the Elemental Chaos, they are, in fact, neutral beings. They can be reasoned with, summoned, employed, tricked, and otherwise used. Some are smarter than others, and hold specific traits built on their element, but a knowledgeable combatant can exploit these factors to their benefit, such is the case in the parallel planes of shadow and fey that flank our material world in Ionian Lore. In The Ionian ShadowfellDust and Smoke find great meaning in Ionian Shadowfell, as both can be easily satiated by the natural surroundings, but they are certainly not alone. Given a Mephit's ability to squeeze, melt, and morph, they are highly suited and trainable in acts of espionage, information, and theft. It is this practice that birthed the Smoke and Shard - a Mephit spy network created by a vampire lady in the Court Of Whispers. Even the Mud Mephit's greed can be entwined into valuable service. A Mud Mephits for treasure and reward gives it purpose in its employ, and it can promised boons and glittering prizes for tasks and services. Though slower than the cruelest among them, a Mud Mephit, given enough time, can be trained well to serve a single master, as long as that master has kept their promises of treasure. Given the immortal nature of a mephit, as steadfast as the element that creates them, a master with a similar lifespan and the correct resources could secure a loyal servant indefinitely. When considering the vampire Court that rules the Ionian Shadowfell, such service would be invaluable... In The Ionian FeywildMephits carry the mischief they love through the veil of the Fey, and it is amplified. They tend to join the ranks of sprytes, nymphs, and dryads that align with their elements, which pulls them toward the Fey Courts and Curtain Compendium. The Erlking and lords of the Wild Hunt have little need for their simple nature, but Steam and Ice Mephits find great service in Court of Winter, happy to punish those that would insult their Queen. Magma and Mud drift in packs to toward The Reach, auroras of light where the Elemental Chaos and the Astral Sea pierce the vibrant and endless sunset of the Feywild sky. Dust and Smoke find sanctuary in the Willowoods, surrounded by spirits and starlight. So when you see that precarious mound of magma just sitting there in your path, think twice about kicking it. You just might upset all of its brothers.
Tread carefully. -Adamus The Kamikaze ShotTHE RECIPE 1/2 oz Vodka 1/2 oz Cointreau 1/2 oz Lime Juice TASTING NOTES + This is a party shot. Simple and clean. + Fruity and covered. This goes down easy, and it's supposed to. Most settings that call for a Kamikaze call for a few over a period of an hour or two. You're working with Vodka; this is a no-brainer. Wanna' up the citrus? Use Citrus Vodka. Make it a little more interesting? Blueberry or Strawberry vodka. Easy peasy. The Scorpion ShotNormally I would see this in BOWL form.
An eldritch monstrosity ordered by college folk and grad students alike bent on poor choices and broken dreams, the Scorpion Bowl is a ridiculous fruity mixture served in a gaudy tiki bowl with a ritualistic column of fire roaring at its center. It is intended for AT LEAST two people, and it comes with straws. The full recipe is what you'd expect. SCORPION BOWL RECIPE 3 cups of Ice (told ya) 2 oz Gin 1 oz Dark Rum 2 oz 151 Rum 2 oz Light Rum 2 oz Vodka 2 oz Grenadine 8 oz Orange Juice 10 oz Pineapple Juice At least 2 pineapple chunks At least 6 Marachino Cherries With 3 oz of optional lemon juice Functional Strength: 28 Proof PAIRING IT DOWN This won't be a traditional shot. By volume alone, this is a shooter at best, and I aim to err on the side of greater strength rather than fruit juice. The physical cherries intrigue me as well, so I want to incorporate some of my classic cherry heering to up the strength a bit. The rest of its multitude of ingredients should be easy enough to shrink down. THE ELDER SCORPION 1/2 oz Gin 1/2 oz 151 Rum 1/4 oz Dark Rum 1/2 oz Light Rum 1/2 oz Vodka 1/2 oz Cherry Heering 1/2 oz Cherry Liqueur 1/2 oz Grenadine 1/2 oz Pineapple Juice 1/4 oz Whiskey Sour Mix SHAKE in a shaker with Ice, then strain into your favorite gentlemen's glass. Total Volume: 4.5 oz Total Strength: 31%. 62 Proof TASTING NOTES + HELLS YEAH. + This, in my honest opinion, elevates a Scorpion Bowl. The original is not drink of finesse, but of blunt force trauma and fruit. It's an excuse for a bar to burn a tremendous amount of cheap resources at high volume for high copper, and a low overall output. THIS achieves a tighter flavor profile, with lower volume, and higher buzz output. + Shaken with ice activates the Heering and the Gin in nuanced ways, coaxing out the flavor without sifting a straw through that ice. + I might even increase the Cherry Liqueur by 1/4 oz, and lower the pineapple by 1/4 oz just to explore the sweeter end of this cocktail. + It's still deceptively strong, but I'm not filling my belly with acidic juice, and I'lll achieve a big bad buzz with room for a fine burger. And really, isn't that the goal all along? Lol. Be safe out there, adventurers, and be careful what stinger you tempt. -Adamus Short and sweet this week. Mix this fruit punch up for a personal zest while you kick your feet back after a long day of fighting kraken and denying that you totally summoned an elder god. What? Those villagers had it coming! Zuma BumaTHE ORIGINAL RECIPE
1.5 oz Citrus Vodka 1/2 oz Black Raspberry Liqueur (Chambord will do just fine!) Fill with Orange Juice Splash of Cranberry Juice TASTING NOTES AND INFO + This is a punch drink, meant to cover the alcohol and bring out the sweet. + Citrus Vodka is highly complimentary to cranberry and orange juices, elevating their sweet strength, while hiding the alcohol. + If you're feeling spicy, add more cranberry and a splash of Yukon Jack to up the strength and add a little bite. After about 4 you'll be all set and won't even notice the impending tidal wave of daddy Dagon. Swim well! -Adamus Today I come to thee with three potions for your tasting pleasure; two from the books of old, and one from my strange brain. Let's get into it! The ZipperThe Zipper is a curious recipe that I took a double take on, mainly for its use of milk and tequila. Yeah, I know. THE RECIPE 1 oz Tequila 1 oz Cointreau 1/2 oz Milk, Almond Milk, or Cream (I highly recommend the cream) TASTING NOTES + Orange Milk + Almond milk is a bit too thin, but still smooth over ice + Definitely weird...but pleasantly surprising + I highly recommend the cream version... + ...Or if you're a savage like me, use IRISH CREAM instead ***I'm actually very curious what my readers think of this one. Good luck! The ZoomTHE RECIPE 1.5 oz Brandy 1/4 Honey 1/2 oz Cream Shake and serve. Still blanketing cream as a base layer, the Zoom seeks to pair Brandy and straight honey. New to Brandy, the pairing is quite delicious, which inspires me for the next exploration. The ZapThe Zap is a spin on the Zoom. The Zipper makes an appearance, but if you really want to zap your zoom with a zipper, you'll find yourself on the floor all zapped out. THE RECIPE 1/2 oz Brandy 1/4 oz Honey Liqueur 1 oz Irish Cream 1/4 oz Dry Curacao TASTING NOTES + Very creamy + Always subtle, the honey notes continue to ebb and flow through the experience long after you swallow. + The Curacao is a great compliment to the Brandy. Slight bitter orange spun into the fruity base of the Brandy. + Irish Cream provides that lovely, silky mouth feel, with a bite at back... + ...sweetened with more honey! + Just lovely. So whatever zap got your zipper stuck before your Zoom...make sure your camera's off. Have some decency, mortals!
-Adamus In the distant lore of the weary Barkeep, there is a classification of shots and shooters intended to bring the imbibed to an ascendant state. In the leyman, these are "wake up shots." Not necessarily pleasant, but certainly an experience, and one that you are intended to have ONCE, before journeying toward more palatable potions. At my most recent Drinking and Dragons, I was honored to draft two new shots targeted by this intention. I'd like to them with you, complete with their building blocks, iterations, and evolution to the final, startling product. The Volition ShotThere is a scenario type in my games called the Bar Of Fate. It is a custom character creation experience meant to be played over about 6 hours, and is split up into Acts, with a Prologue and an Epilogue. With each section, a themed shot is presented to both flavor the experience, and provide not only an interesting drink, but a feeling of progression. The prologue brings the players to the table, and opens the door to a particularly unique experience involving questions of morality, luck, and character, so I want to obliterate whatever pregaming those idiots have coated their palettes with. The Volition - an act of willpower to bring you to this voluntary character creation - will DEFINITELY help you transcend, no matter where you came from before. THE VOLITION SHOT 1/2 oz Gin 1/2 oz Bourbon 1/2 oz Lady Bligh Spiced Rum TASTING NOTES + Gin blasts you in the face. + Numb tongue, for a second or two + Bourbon keeps you warm and ready for the next step. + Oddly, it's such a shock to your system it was actually invigorating. + ...but no need to go back for more. One of my players shot this down and, with a yell, exclaimed: "Now THAT'S a wake up shot!" And thus my mind was opened. Makes sense, really, considering the broad spectrum of intention behind imbibement. There are so many experiences you can seek and flavors to explore, of course there would a whole category of drinks that blast your mind and cleanse your palette, preparing you for whatever comes next. Like a bucket of ice water to your senses. The VerenestraAlways a fan of odd pairings, I was seeking the viability of Gin and Scotch, and came across an old classic called the Silver Bullet.
It was: 3/4 oz Gin + 3/4 oz of Scotch. I tried it. It was...alarming. Turns out, there are MANY versions of the Silver Bullet, and NONE of them are the same. Let me just share a few for you. SILVER BULLET (what I found MOST of the time) 3/4 oz Gin 3/4 Scotch TASTING NOTES: + Back throat burn + Bite of scotch mingles with gin to create a new sensation + Sweeter than I thought + Oddly, the scotch mellows the gin + Still makes me cough, but just once. ;) + Notes of citrus spice at the back. + Lingering "gin-y" taste afterwards. There's potential here, but something's missing for me. SILVER BULLET? (shooter) 1.5 oz Gin 1 oz Herbal Liqueur (I'll use Jaegermeister) Splash of Lemon Juice TASTING NOTES: + Herbal notes immediately + Hard to avoid the tang of the lemon + Gin takes a backseat oddly + Burn is still present + Lingering sour (lemon) + Undoubtedly strong SILVER BULLET! 1.5 oz Tequila 1/2 oz White Creme de Menthe TASTING NOTES: + Initial paint thinner gives way too... + Liquid celery taste. + Tequila and mint isn't new, but there's something very jarring about this mixture. + ...and I desire no more. In case you can't tell, I'm not really a big fan of any of these. But I've grown to love Gin, and I've discovered I'm quite the Scotch man, AND, I'm not one to give up easily on alchemy. For all the iterations, I'm more intrigued by the "?" version, and it has to do with the herbal approach. I've procured a number of neat little "wood and flower" liqueurs over the many months, and I enjoy muddling drinks that normally punch you in the face with a sweet oak or birch as a finish. Like a surprising spring breeze with warm sun at your back. If we stick with our usual fantasy themes, then I can think of no other warm yet surprisingly playful fey as the Summer Lady - Verenestra. It is this idea and its formative fancy that informs this next recipe. THE VERENESTRA 1/4 oz Gin 1/2 oz Scotch 1/2 oz Wild Moon Birch Liqueur 1/4 oz Wild Moon Rose Liqueur TASTING NOTES + Birch is sweet and smooth + Birch elevates the Scotch bite + Find the Gin on the back end after a touch of Rose + Flowery + Sweeter than expected + Less punchy + Goes down smooth, with a slight bite of licorice (the birch does that) In game, our Prologue began with the Volition, to prepare the players for the transformative experience. The Verenestra was the gatekeeper to a capstone ability - try this transcendent shot to unlock your superpower, the earlier the better (both for buzz and ability). We'll just say that the players didn't waste any time. They were ALERT. ...for about ten minutes, then the gin hit them. Good times had by all, always. Imbibe responsibly and safely, for the Fates are watching. -Adamus For anyone that can have a simple shot one night and feel nothing, and a similar shot another and fall prone to life, the universe, and everything...knows my pain. True, there are many factors at play during absorption. This is why you don't drink on an empty stomach; you need carbs and content to both absorb and slow down the effects of putting alcohol in your system. But as I mix more drinks - some touted as "strong", only to experience them as disappointingly as weak, with others spoken simply only to knock me sideways - I have developed a dread fascination with the math and science of Proof. The Basic FormulaTo quantify the strength of a beverage, the circulated formula is: Alcohol content (in percentage) x liquor volume / total drink volume then multiply that mess by 100 What they fail to mention here, for those of us that really need to do this right, is that that first part - Content x Volume - needs to be completed for EACH liquor in the drink, THEN add them together and divide by the drink volume. Now, a discerning individual can probably infer that idea, but with so many mixed drinks and variations, I want to be as clear as possible how I'm getting these numbers. If I use, say, a Scotch and Soda as an example. I've got 1 oz of Scotch, and 3 oz of Coca-Cola. The Dewer's Scotch clocks in at 40% alcohol, so we factor it all into the formula: (.4 x 1) / 4 oz = .1 x 100 = 10%. Which makes sense - a Scotch and Soda is WEAK. But if we take a more complicated drink, like the Singapore Sling (again, two weeks back), which was touted as "strong", but I felt nothing (I blame the juice), I wonder how that measures up. First off, we have a lot to work with. 7.5 oz of liquid with a dash of bitters. I'll factor out each liquor component, then add them together before I divide. Singapore Sling Breakdown Gin: .47 x 1.5 = .705 Cherry Heering: .5 x .5 = .25 Grand Marnier: .4 x .25 = .1 Benedictine: .4 x .25 = .1 Add that together: 1.155 Then: 1.155 / 7.5 = .154, or 15.4% Alcohol, or around 30 Proof. So. Hot Take. The fabled Singapore Sling is WEAK SAUCE. I Made A Yummy ThingWhile messing around with a B-52 shot, I decided to omit the Grand Marnier in the layering process for Amaretto...and fell head first into a new favorite.
To mix this lovely thing, just pour equal parts into a shot glass in this order: Kahlua, Irish Cream, and Amaretto. So, if you're mathing right, that's 1/2 oz each. ... After six shots of this delicious mess, I'm finally feeling something, and I want to know WHY. So we're using my "Zeppelin" concoction for our measurements today. Let's get to know our components. Amaretto - 21% alcohol content = 42 Proof Irish Cream - 17% alcohol = 34 Proof Kahlua - 20% = 40 Proof Amaretto: .21 x .5 = 0.105 Irish Cream: .17 x .5 = 0.085 Kahlua: .2 x .5 = 0.1 0.29 / 1.5 = about .19, or 19%, or 38 Proof. Okay. So what is "strong" in comparison to most cocktails? Because everyone's tolerance is different, so I'm sure there's a gradient of some kind... I guess I'll use one of "strongest" drinks we know, The Long Island Iced Tea, as a gauge? 1/2 oz each of the following, and they're all the same strength: Vodka = .4 x .5 = 0.2, Rum, Gin, Tequila, Cointreau = 1 in total 1/2 oz Lime Juice 2 oz Cola 1 / 5 = 20% or 40 Proof Huh. And here I was expecting more like a 50, but I guess that makes sense. Maybe it's more like this: Weak: 0-10% Medium: 11-19% Strong: 20 - 30% Heroic: 31-40% Stupid: 50% or more I'll go with that rating system for now, until I learn more. :) See you at the Bar. -Adamus For more Behind-The-Scenes of my painting process, exclusive deals, and my full catalogue of finished works, visit my Patreon.
I've been experimenting with reasons to drink Irish Whiskey. To be honest, though my palette is refining and I tend to lean hard toward whiskey nowadays, some versions lack a certain sense of depth. Now, a lot of that comes down to the overall quality of a mash. The process through which a liquor is cultivated DOES make a difference; something I am beginning to alight myself with. Whereas before I would just pull a spiced something from the rack and pair it with soda, my inner alchemist has been seeking to fill in the gaps of knowledge left barren by years of self-imposed sobriety; a strict avoidance of the ever-expanding world of imbibement. To be clear, I was never a drinking snob. Anyone that has been reading this for awhile understands my plight; I lack a gall bladder and I have GERD. Controlled by medication and mitigated by consistent exercise and weight training, I have to be careful about what I put in my body. So beer? That's six hours of pain and discomfort for a pretty low payoff. For a long time, I would avoid all alcohol, believing that to be my life, and the few instances where I was pushed toward (what I now understood to be) Bourbon, didn't help. The burn became everything I associated hard liquor with, which was also wrong. So, when I hit up Irish Whiskey, there is a strange memory lapse. First, there's a short circuit in my brain. It smells like a weaker bourbon. Second, the taste hits like water with a numbing agent. The spice is light; not what I expected. Third, and this might just be me, ...there isn't a lot of flavor. It takes like water and burning. And it is this process that I think reveals the quality of the mash. There MUST be subtle nuances barrel to barrel and bottle to bottle, otherwise, why would anyone drink this dirty water? This is about the time when the comment section explodes, so I'll give you a little more context to my thought process. A Shot In The Dark With A SextonI don't have a lot of experience. For all of my skill in pairing and mixing, I'm still pretty green. And factoring in my above statements of avoiding liquor like the plague, this is all COMPLETELY new to me...and wholly fascinating. My questions and thoughts here come from a place of genuine curiosity as I stumble into literally NEW experiences. So. As I curate the necessary ingredients for an authentic Singapore Sling (see the previous week), I am always struck dumb in awe at the stacked shelves of beautiful bottles and shades of amber. Liquor is quite a business, and tons of people pour their lives into its creation and sale. It is a study of love and care and flavor, and I am so thankful for the past two years that have ignited my passion for it. There is so much more to learn. And I learn best through experimentation! I have made it a habit during my supply runs to pick up something curious for myself. Might be a long-neglected, dusty bottle or that coveted 100-proof monstrosity, but this time my eye was drawn to a small, dapper glass barrel. Aha! Who is this dapper skeleton man in fine gentlemen's wear and a prestigious top hat? Some dread carriage driver from beyond, summoned by the necromancy of necessity, to serve the shadow lords and ladies resting at the edges of civilization? Or am I the poor seduced schmuck lulled into thine carriage by nifty bronze lettering and a stellar presentation? Spoiler alert. It's the latter. This is the barrel that prompted the questions above. A quarter shot and a sip was...not pleasant. Now, I don't tend to drink any liquor straight. Maybe I should start, a la Skyrim, to gain the working knowledge of the subtleties elevated in the malt alone. But it's hard to escape the disconnect of smelling rubbing alcohol, and then drinking it without dilution. The first thing that hits is a burn on my tongue. The spice is IMMEDIATE, and unfortunately, there isn't much else happening. I've had Irish Mist before, and even that has a bit more earth to it after the burn. Maybe this is why I prefer a honey additive to this kind of whiskey, at least for now. Still, I am thankful for the information; it's all feedback. A Whiskey For MixingNow. I paid for this bottle, and I'm not some savage that'll dump it out. If I can't enjoy it straight, it goes in the "for mixing" pile.
So what goes well with Irish Whiskey? Short answer: most things that go well with any whiskey. If you are mixing whiskey, you are seeking to both elevate and muddle the gentle bite and varying levels of burning associated with the striated liquor. This will bring me to a recipe I had earlier abandoned because of my distaste for Bourbon early on in this career. SEXTON OLD-FASHIONED 1.5 oz Sexton Single Malt Irish Whiskey 1/2 oz Orgeat 4 Dashes Angostura Bitters 3 oz Ginger Ale Pour into a glass with ice and swirl with a bar spoon. Old Fashioneds tend toward using sugar cubes, and variations swing with club soda. Wanting to swing toward sweet and interesting pulls me toward the Orgeat and Ginger to do both. TASTING NOTES + Earthy with a sweet finish. + Tingle pulses through. + Burn at the front, but muddled + Sweetness at the end prepares another sip. It's that last note that sells this for me. When I uncork the Sexton and smell it, there's an earthiness to it that got lost when I drank it straight. Even agitating it with ice begins to coax those notes out, and this mix, though sweeter than what others will be used to, continues to cultivate that overall idea. Enjoy. -Adamus |
Adam SummererProfessional Game Master musician, music teacher, game designer, amateur bartender, and aspiring fiction author. Honestly, I write what I want when I want. Often monster lore, sometimes miniature showcases, and the occasional movie/show review.
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