Getting Wet: Recipe #5

Tough times call for tough drinks.

When life gives you lemons...

That's right. You make cocktails.

Or rather, you make candied lemon peel to be used in cocktails.

A delicacy this delicious can only be enjoyed one way. You guessed it: with alcohol. If you have the candied lemon peel, you need just a few other ingredients (and if you don't have the candied lemon peel, what are you waiting for? It's easy).

Laura's Lemon-Gin Fizz

In a shaker, combine...

1 jigger Gin (any, but I prefer Hendricks)
1 tsp Candied lemon peel (with syrup)
3 jiggers Tonic water
1 dash Blood orange bitters
ice

Shake vigorously until cold.

Strain into your snootiest glass.

Sip or slug, depending on how long a week it's been.

Getting Wet: Recipe #4

Tough times call for tough drinks.

http://cocktailtimes.com/whiskey/top_primehouse_sazerac.jpg

Wow, it's been a while since we've shared a drink, hasn't it? All I can say is, cut me a break. I've been writing.

That said, the Sazerac is just too good to keep to myself. I admit, my personal recipe is a tad different from the classic, but it's still pretty damn good on a cold autumn night.

In any case, let he who has never improvised a cocktail cast the first stone.

Laura's Sassy Sazerac

splash some absinthe into an old-fashioned glass

swirl to coat, then dispose of the leftover absinthe (either down the sink or down your gullet)

to a shaker with ice, add 1-2 jiggers good whiskey (I usually use Bulleit bourbon, but a purist would use rye)

shake until cold, then strain into the old-fashioned glass

add 1-2 dashes blood orange bitters (or regular bitters)

stir in 1tsp granulated sugar (I like extra-fine, but regular is fine too); mix well

shave in a long strip of fresh lemon peel (minus the white pith- just use the yellow zest part)

Drink like a boss.

Getting Wet: Recipe #3

Tough times call for tough drinks.

Winston's Gin Martini

To a shaker with ice, add 1-2 jiggers of gin (my favorites are Hendricks or Tanqueray 10).

Look at a bottle of dry vermouth.

Shake gin for 10-15 seconds, until good and cold.

Pour into a martini glass. Garnish with olive or lemon twist, if desired.

Enjoy.

Getting Wet: Recipe #2

Tough people deserve tough drinks.

http://tinyurl.com/npbllrw

The Green Faerie

The writer's drink from way back. Preferred by the likes of Oscar Wilde and Van Gogh. Now simplified for your enjoyment.

But do yourself a favor: do it right or don't do it at all...

Step 1: Pour an absinthe dose (1/2-1 oz.)

Step 2: Place the absinthe spoon and a sugar cube (or a half) on the glass

Step 3: Pour iced water very slowly on the sugar till the desired dilution (3-5 parts water for 1 part absinthe)

Step 4: Slightly stir with the spoon. Your drink is ready!

(Thanks to The Absinthe Spoon for laying out the steps)

Getting Wet, Recipe #1: Whiskey, Neat

Tough people deserve tough drinks.

Whiskey, Neat

Because the best way to drink good whiskey is un-mucked-up by anything else.

Procure a glass (not to be confused with a "cup").

Pick your poison:

bourbon= oaky and smoky

rye= smooth and slow

scotch= salty, peaty, nutty, even mildly sweet (depending on where in Scotland it was made)

Or whatever else you prefer.

Pour whiskey.  Eyeball it or use the finger method (pour to 1 finger for a quick taste, 2 fingers to relax, 3 fingers or more if it's been a really bad day)

Savor.