tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26784373128073103632024-02-19T09:45:55.542-06:00Dim Age DiaryThe life, times & experiences of a midwestern suburbanite during the advent of the Dim Age of Mankind. With cocktails. Plenty of cocktails.The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-76905070384030578252010-11-28T10:05:00.008-06:002010-11-28T10:37:42.307-06:00Cocktail of the week #53: Pousse Café<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIWNvGtAWtGj0L7XjJyi3DasII0M_pqn6PvHezO_jLRPJq3uFlq4LNRAtse-kUB_ZnfBWKI1CUkqzfxX7p3oG5Ye5brHqARx3iosAXXqz-ghE0V1bQm1KSxEm6OpwsSOyvPWpOGSA_zmN/s1600/52-PousseCafe.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIWNvGtAWtGj0L7XjJyi3DasII0M_pqn6PvHezO_jLRPJq3uFlq4LNRAtse-kUB_ZnfBWKI1CUkqzfxX7p3oG5Ye5brHqARx3iosAXXqz-ghE0V1bQm1KSxEm6OpwsSOyvPWpOGSA_zmN/s320/52-PousseCafe.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544640299677347490" /></a><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background-color: transparent; "><span id="internal-source-marker_0.28548794076777995" style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">At long last (too long, I am sure many of you are thinking) we come to the final card of the deck that started it all. Ladies & Gentlemen, the Pousse Café.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Like a black and tan, the key to this drink is delicately pouring a liquid of lesser density over one of greater density. I was more than a little unsure about making this concoction, as I have never succeeded in making a black and tan.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Fortunately, liqueur is far more forgiving than beer in these sorts of operations. I created a flawless drink on my second try.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">And what did we think?</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">It looks far better than it tastes.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">A Pousse Café is gorgeous to look at, without a doubt, but the damn thing tastes utterly disgusting. This combination of liqueurs should be the basis of a science fiction horror movie:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Things were quite in the sleepy midwest town of Centersburg, until a busload of Spring Break-bound raving partying nuclear physics PhD candidates shattered a canister of radioactive Root Beer Schnapps isotopes in the cordial isle of the local LiquorMart... and thus was born the Limoncello Leviathan, and life would </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">never be the same again</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">. (dun-dun-DUNNNNN!)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Another down side: the two bottles of Chartreuse were quite expensive. So much so I balked at buying them... but I did, for you, Gentle Reader, and I’m sure they will outlast me (the stuff is </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">harsh - </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">imagine celery macerated in Everclear with a stiff dose of sulphur thrown in, for good measure</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">).</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">And so, we make this a “miss.” Great for presentation value, but not so hot for your Friendly Neighborhood Tastebuds.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "></span></span></span><br /></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; ">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 40<br />Misses: 19</span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background-color: transparent; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">[Regular cocktail tasting to resume shortly. (Along with entries explaining what the Hell has been going on with me.)]</span></div>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-58309934517267187252010-08-26T07:19:00.001-05:002010-08-26T07:20:26.102-05:00Yeah, I realize that was back in January...I'll chronicle my absence soon enough.<div><br /></div><div>Thank you for your patience my (mostly) non-existant readers.</div>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-38442754368810841712010-01-26T20:04:00.003-06:002010-01-26T20:11:37.333-06:00Cocktail of the week #52: Boxcar<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz54GiAZDMYbj_3lFXpcwwL26q_7ZenIwWEHrDARWZwdvwNI35d-x122q3LM7pFJLPRxcl8qY8-UgJffBKorx7J0uTkaNS81344K1bgk7EGkTymUV3HkGScAql3CpDzdh_Vl_-e2aUu8V/s1600-h/52-Boxcar.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz54GiAZDMYbj_3lFXpcwwL26q_7ZenIwWEHrDARWZwdvwNI35d-x122q3LM7pFJLPRxcl8qY8-UgJffBKorx7J0uTkaNS81344K1bgk7EGkTymUV3HkGScAql3CpDzdh_Vl_-e2aUu8V/s320/52-Boxcar.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431236376493307554" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After an overly long hiatus (self-imposed, and I promise to explain, later), I am back. Here's Cocktail of the Week!<br /><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"You're taking it back up?" Mrs. WIt asked.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Yeah." I replied, "It's time."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Only two cards remain in the deck my father gave me some time back. So I held a card in each hand, hid them behind my back, and asked my wife to chose a hand.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And so, we find ourselves with the Boxcar. A drink we worried was for pirates, but turned out only slightly tart, fairly creamy (thanks to the egg white) and - unlike the picture on the card - quite pink, thanks to the grenadine. While we're sure the 1/2 ounce of lime juice will help with your scurvy, we highly recommend this drink. Particularly for hot days by the pool....</span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 40<br />Misses: 18</span></span></span></div></div>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-68239722632970875242010-01-19T10:24:00.001-06:002010-01-19T10:24:55.749-06:00Yes, I'm coming back.I'll explain why, later...The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-30799378605731388562008-09-01T09:06:00.000-05:002008-09-01T09:18:20.809-05:00Cocktail of the Week #51: Cuba Libre<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-S_dbX41NG9eIKPHkmgtRavsUv-Mj11XEhbFXOR4qbgmvVpq7jFlbPgWWmTncmofKR8xVLaNV_zP-UXAj2fDRAc6aXmgl_WhiRbivUA05rTiCKO-JGYwOUvkzKKh2Z5nfl1_9wIl7M_V/s1600-h/51-CubaLibre.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-S_dbX41NG9eIKPHkmgtRavsUv-Mj11XEhbFXOR4qbgmvVpq7jFlbPgWWmTncmofKR8xVLaNV_zP-UXAj2fDRAc6aXmgl_WhiRbivUA05rTiCKO-JGYwOUvkzKKh2Z5nfl1_9wIl7M_V/s320/51-CubaLibre.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240798239763939826" border="0" /></a>When we drew this one from the deck, a faint nostalgic smile played on my lips.<br /><br />Rum, without question, is my older sister's liquor of choice. Has been since she was in high school a few decades back. Rum and Coke (another appellation for this venerable cocktail) was her drink of choice until she discovered other applications for rum. In fact, she was no enamored of cuba libres she had "Rum'N'Coke" emblazoned on her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powder_Puff">powder puff</a> jersey when she was a high school senior (I'm surprised to this day the school let her do that, actually).<br /><br />Mrs. Wit and I had no small amount of trepidation when we saw the amount of lime juice called for in this recipe. Were we in for another pirate drink?<br /><br />No. Surprisingly, the lime juice really offsets the sweetness of the rum and cola. It is an improvement!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 39<br />Misses: 18<br /></span>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-32546290669166613072008-08-31T12:26:00.001-05:002008-08-31T12:28:16.298-05:00Balloon Art for BelieversWow.<br /><br />Just... <a href="http://www.apostropher.com/blog/archives/004237.html">Wow...</a>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-49090667863602452292008-08-25T05:40:00.002-05:002008-08-31T11:41:10.887-05:00Cocktail of the Week #50: White Russian<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmmVA13eRbsi1HI0RLA0MeZKBzXDGMoThmjmi4o4efik7eF9RrW7AR_-Kviu3qoL8zZA2d2_GjUbesnAqhMW4wYm3nEF5AqPtWiyU6dbi9wjOYqyWaP2H-uPIbEntJ9l0g0YirTCcRZkh/s1600-h/50-WhiteRussian.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmmVA13eRbsi1HI0RLA0MeZKBzXDGMoThmjmi4o4efik7eF9RrW7AR_-Kviu3qoL8zZA2d2_GjUbesnAqhMW4wYm3nEF5AqPtWiyU6dbi9wjOYqyWaP2H-uPIbEntJ9l0g0YirTCcRZkh/s320/50-WhiteRussian.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239145942494500930" border="0" /></a>(To the tune of <a href="http://chordie.com/chord.pere/www.beavertabs.com/index.phpreplaceqmarkident=9007965">Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit"</a>)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Oh, Brezhnev liked his vodka<br />And Andropov, single malts<br />While Chernenko liked martinis<br />With a lemon twist really small<br />But at drinking games<br />Khrushchev could bury them all<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span>Sorry. Couldn't help myself. [Smirk!]<br /><br />It's funny, but I had always heard of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Russia">White Russian</a> cocktails growing up, but it seemed to me that a vodka drink containing a coffee liqueur such as Kahlua would be a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Russian">Black Russian</a>, but what do I know...<br /><br />A lovely after dinner drink on a cool weekend evening. A bit heavy for the warmer weather we have been experiencing of late, however.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 38<br />Misses: 18<br /></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-72127058201990696272008-08-18T15:04:00.000-05:002008-08-24T15:10:29.175-05:00Cocktail of the Week #49: Zombie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7i4QGE6w1HNWk45vVt-hPxrRsZOJdIQcpysMpDdeTlE9E9Ueo1X_99XmpEQ5-TqjWXEfxWcCGdm7dEvmYWY7ZkMuN9QHcCdnnXoajv3AZh5xEY5cLny3N6LY8tNeBN0kmQKSWeTamwIso/s1600-h/49-Zombie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7i4QGE6w1HNWk45vVt-hPxrRsZOJdIQcpysMpDdeTlE9E9Ueo1X_99XmpEQ5-TqjWXEfxWcCGdm7dEvmYWY7ZkMuN9QHcCdnnXoajv3AZh5xEY5cLny3N6LY8tNeBN0kmQKSWeTamwIso/s320/49-Zombie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238179015711059362" border="0" /></a><br />I'm of the opinion it's the 151 proof rum that makes this drink so dangerous. Why? Because you could, in theory, run an <a href="http://www.turbinecar.com/mags/R-T1972.htm">internal combustion engine on the stuff.</a><br /><br />Seriously: how many liquors are out there warning they are flammable?<br /><br />It's tasty and it will f---- you up. Just remember to keep away from open flame while preparing the thing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 37<br />Misses: 18<br /></span>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-7532301451262610982008-08-11T19:53:00.000-05:002008-08-24T14:40:01.275-05:00Cocktail of the Week #48: Whiskey Sour<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglk0jDcIQEZvMulXfulNgISk7Ax4DgZmqy7EeG1vdqwQ2tnpOD6D29w1X20RA-rWsVLLSpCohO77zJbuLEiguQerXr0uzeTMTm6XgQ6HQ5bzPbaEGUEbUUkuwLgbFUqVMh9BQh5j-FdvqQ/s1600-h/48-WhiskeySour.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglk0jDcIQEZvMulXfulNgISk7Ax4DgZmqy7EeG1vdqwQ2tnpOD6D29w1X20RA-rWsVLLSpCohO77zJbuLEiguQerXr0uzeTMTm6XgQ6HQ5bzPbaEGUEbUUkuwLgbFUqVMh9BQh5j-FdvqQ/s320/48-WhiskeySour.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233057071236195330" border="0" /></a>Arrrr, matey!<br /><br />If you be a scallywag pirate adrift at sea and suffering from the scurvy, this here be a drink fer you!<br /><br />Otherwise, stick to <a href="http://dimagediary.blogspot.com/2008/06/cocktail-of-25-seven-seven.html">mixing your whiskey with soda</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 36<br />Misses: 18<br /></span>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-20143671053995878222008-08-04T19:48:00.001-05:002008-08-24T14:35:53.623-05:00Cocktail of the Week #47: Rusty Nail<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyku7xoN6UKioCt8RTGZbXS2qZ9UkJCKSxS7_PMRurdtwmm7rXmaEA6HCT66PGBbgYR7qZY8TkpkPw1twk8mPefdciJrnFfLQKCTd2n07tUfxpzHJqykYZnV7OwRyUQ7UC-sb-ORai30Ux/s1600-h/47-RustyNail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyku7xoN6UKioCt8RTGZbXS2qZ9UkJCKSxS7_PMRurdtwmm7rXmaEA6HCT66PGBbgYR7qZY8TkpkPw1twk8mPefdciJrnFfLQKCTd2n07tUfxpzHJqykYZnV7OwRyUQ7UC-sb-ORai30Ux/s320/47-RustyNail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233055859290298066" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://dimagediary.blogspot.com/2008/01/cocktail-of-week-14-rob-roy.html">I've complained before about scotch-based cocktails</a>, but the Rusty Nail is something different. If you are fond of Drambuie (and people either love it or hate it, it seems) then you will certainly enjoy a Rusty Nail using a decent blended scotch like Dewar's or Johnnie Walker Red.<br /><br />If you have a good single malt, however, don't bother dusting off the liqueur bottle. Savor the liquor, instead.<br /><br />I'll make this a hit, regardless; because when it's good, it's really <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> good.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 36<br />Misses: 17<br /></span>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-12055484557596463002008-07-28T19:47:00.000-05:002008-08-17T13:04:39.065-05:00Cocktail of the Week #46: Brandy Alexander<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7D-LVNsJVB4B9ZXggjrJpwHKXNj5GR8jpQQ45zgAoVbALmWKTtC8OtvKpOBRiP5yEMspCsalz99EWxdMeAuaQeI_LqVo98F39qB-5JHfPP-ohBdq27k5JQVZQMOgFFFKvVZq8ITNa9VJo/s1600-h/46-BrandyAlexander.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233055461370204706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7D-LVNsJVB4B9ZXggjrJpwHKXNj5GR8jpQQ45zgAoVbALmWKTtC8OtvKpOBRiP5yEMspCsalz99EWxdMeAuaQeI_LqVo98F39qB-5JHfPP-ohBdq27k5JQVZQMOgFFFKvVZq8ITNa9VJo/s320/46-BrandyAlexander.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Growing up, I'd only been familiar with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandy_Alexander#Dessert_recipe">ice cream version</a> of this drink. That, and a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandy_Alexandre">now-retired porn star bearing the same name</a>.<br /><br /><br />I actually prefer this half and half-based version over the ice cream one. But don't drink it on a hot summer day... it'll make you feel a little funny in the tummy (if you know what I mean).<br /><br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Scoreboard.</strong><br /><strong>Hits: 35</strong><br /><strong>Misses: 17</strong>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-56121312066264253392008-07-21T21:58:00.003-05:002008-08-17T10:29:58.039-05:00Cocktail of the Week #45: Bellini<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_s9FS5qbBZd86ulYw24yVojonzs0bjroOk3drfrfg6nQ9b7QyhlKJKB0PhU79m7JiAiYcZkJYU4tndw_Vx4rMn8W1WFKyk3P1lHPyNaHNZgFv51zMIS57BgQwe9Xy5LH9fmEKWZKI83b8/s1600-h/45-Bellini.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_s9FS5qbBZd86ulYw24yVojonzs0bjroOk3drfrfg6nQ9b7QyhlKJKB0PhU79m7JiAiYcZkJYU4tndw_Vx4rMn8W1WFKyk3P1lHPyNaHNZgFv51zMIS57BgQwe9Xy5LH9fmEKWZKI83b8/s320/45-Bellini.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225667782379093378" border="0" /></a>Champagne drinks can be a fickle thing. If it's good champagne, it seems a waste to adulterate it with <a href="http://dimagediary.blogspot.com/2007/11/cocktail-of-week-3-mimosa.html">orange juice</a> or <a href="http://dimagediary.blogspot.com/2008/07/cocktail-of-week-31-kir-royale.html">liqueur</a>.<br /><br />Cheap champagne, on the other hand, is fertile ground for additives and mixers.<br /><br />We expected good things of the Billini, and were not disappointed. We recommend enjoying this over a good Sunday brunch.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 34<br />Misses: 17<br /></span>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-22340925313443082232008-07-14T06:51:00.002-05:002008-07-15T19:42:43.243-05:00Cocktail of the Week #44: Pimm's Cup<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwM0EOWEN8PaPxdyQiw2CfDSBsKi7LxxsBaS0aNRmgxIlby2PILFsOnKjkbUJZE4IPnmZAC9gm9Hrz-S2GKMJyAIx41MQmAoG43IItbGZO_H3HEcvEfLFE55gD7cNHX1wK3eMoGYpusqTw/s1600-h/44-PimmsCup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwM0EOWEN8PaPxdyQiw2CfDSBsKi7LxxsBaS0aNRmgxIlby2PILFsOnKjkbUJZE4IPnmZAC9gm9Hrz-S2GKMJyAIx41MQmAoG43IItbGZO_H3HEcvEfLFE55gD7cNHX1wK3eMoGYpusqTw/s320/44-PimmsCup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223403775738725138" border="0" /></a>I've already commented on my preferred cocktail, but after manhattans, Pimm's Cup is my favorite drink (third after beer, actually). Pimm's is a seasonal drink - while it's available year round, it tastes best on a hot summer day, especially if the weather is humid. This summer, with all the rain and flooding throughout the Midwest, the weather is more than perfect for Pimm's.<br /><br />Just not this recipe.<br /><br />A Pimm's Cup should only contain <a href="http://www2.anyoneforpimms.com/Gateway/?Lang=en-US&BrandId=SO&RefUrl=http%3a%2f%2fwww2.anyoneforpimms.com%2fTemplates%2fStandardContentTemplate.aspx%3fNRMODE%3dPublished%26NRNODEGUID%3d%257b8A0A0143-E18D-41BC-959D-144B50D6DBB2%257d%26NRORIGINALURL%3d%252f%26NRCACHEHINT%3dGuest">Pimm's No. 1</a>, lemon-lime soda and a lemon wedge... although there are many variations on what one may use for a garnish. (One friend of ours practically builds a fruit salad into the darn thing.) The flavor should be light, refreshing, and startlingly complex. As one writer whose name escapes me once put it, a Pimm's Cup tastes like an English garden on a fine sunny afternoon.<br /><br />But I ramble on.<br /><br />The recipe in this deck calls for adding gin and club soda to Pimm's No. 1 in place of the lemon-lime soda! We found this concept of adding more alcohol to an otherwise perfectly balanced drink distressing, but in the interest of exploration we sallied forth and made the drink per the recipe on the card.<br /><br />It sucked.<br /><br />We're rating this one a miss, but we must implore you: buy a bottle of Pimm's No. 1 and follow the recipe on the bottle on a hot - preferably humid - summer's day. You will <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> be disappointed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 33<br />Misses: 17</span>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-33912888977180764062008-07-11T22:19:00.000-05:002008-07-11T21:52:20.314-05:00Whew! We're finally caught up!We're all caught up, people.<br /><br />You won't be subjected to near-daily update with cocktail assessments. Cocktail of the Week will now go back to being a Monday-only feature.<br /><br />Enjoy, goodnight, and prepare for more infrequent posts.<br /><br />ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...........The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-82030726532127848742008-07-11T21:40:00.005-05:002008-07-15T19:39:35.017-05:00Cocktail of the Week #43: Mai Tai<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PHIpCDo-nlHlpW2qv3Be9GTm-yIEo0x9pJAlF15o5raTOIfSY0-DXh8kaJPzK858_wtjdK-qoECB66FREmX33sg9fUE9Le5WQFsNVh5rnZn-qH97LxbmWUq_DgzsLjrBvoXCZ0boA92q/s1600-h/43-MaiTai.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PHIpCDo-nlHlpW2qv3Be9GTm-yIEo0x9pJAlF15o5raTOIfSY0-DXh8kaJPzK858_wtjdK-qoECB66FREmX33sg9fUE9Le5WQFsNVh5rnZn-qH97LxbmWUq_DgzsLjrBvoXCZ0boA92q/s320/43-MaiTai.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221954808032138386" border="0" /></a>The classic South Seas-themed rum cocktail.<br /><br />We've had this several times already: as a cocktail on our honeymoon in Maui (eh) to several variations of the recipe we have found online and in various drink guides.<br /><br />Overall, we prefer the "tart" recipes for this drink over their "sweet" variations.<br /><br />This recipe took our notice, however, because is called for something called "orgeat," which I had the damnedest time finding. Three liquor stores and I only found the stuff... today!<br /><br />Anyway, we made it, and while it was tasty it was still too sweet for our liking. While we enjoy the venerable mai tai, this particular incarnation did not suit our fancy; and so we declare it a "miss."<br /><br />But Mrs. Wit and I are in agreement that we should certainly visit it again, one day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 33<br />Misses: 16</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-49931822868276091142008-07-10T20:22:00.003-05:002008-07-10T20:33:51.860-05:00Cocktail of the Week #42: Golden Cadillac<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKvnNUsJ-utrzCxY9J9Y_due8wotofnRU_PQ-iKZt88bVdq7MCDN2xRlBWIJsYLjs3IAdOzD-YCq1quc9FJTIgudk9-TraExlMfRp1OVO1s0yXjyhaRuz9ihSrSfTA5N5NxNjITV9olTm/s1600-h/42-GoldenCadillac.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKvnNUsJ-utrzCxY9J9Y_due8wotofnRU_PQ-iKZt88bVdq7MCDN2xRlBWIJsYLjs3IAdOzD-YCq1quc9FJTIgudk9-TraExlMfRp1OVO1s0yXjyhaRuz9ihSrSfTA5N5NxNjITV9olTm/s320/42-GoldenCadillac.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221563626476207170" border="0" /></a>I simply was not expecting to enjoy the Golden Cadillac.<br /><br />Think about it: cocoa and cream (good enough so far) and... <span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">licorice</span>?</span><br /><br />But it works! In spite of itself, it works remarkably well! As long as you like licorice.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 33<br />Misses: 15</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br /></span>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-64251042822209221142008-07-10T20:15:00.003-05:002008-07-10T20:17:50.475-05:00Cocktail of the Week #41: Gin and Tonic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtySJXx0_Oq6AzcrqIucAULPz2mp0-kvzezfC0RlhpqL0_aeWkDANj3vAakkPVNQAcjJi9t8W6SveiYql6MhH6vDm8W62MTGawV6mJE-rTnBTPSGvNBeX1e__M2VbNv55IrJZrYKW_YwvB/s1600-h/41-Gin&Tonic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtySJXx0_Oq6AzcrqIucAULPz2mp0-kvzezfC0RlhpqL0_aeWkDANj3vAakkPVNQAcjJi9t8W6SveiYql6MhH6vDm8W62MTGawV6mJE-rTnBTPSGvNBeX1e__M2VbNv55IrJZrYKW_YwvB/s320/41-Gin&Tonic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221559526888582034" border="0" /></a><br />Somebody. Please. Tell me. <span style="font-style: italic;">How can you go wrong with this one?</span><br /><br />Vodka and tonic is also in this category (which used to be my exclusive drink in my latter college years).<br /><br />But I won't count it as two hits...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 32<br />Misses: 15<br /></span>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-13939373644969484832008-07-10T19:56:00.003-05:002008-07-10T20:05:42.710-05:00Cocktail of the Week #40: Long Island Iced Tea<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KDCAN08TTez-TH3G2pe26w2r3S6o6R6mni4ZoBc-cBgJrstjepmi40anfgfXB3Xm4gNoUAN_s9BVuCsIDxMu3qb3cn6bkwJEzZpHObWX7jXwawsOJZeIJ0Cx47AkeU53dih2mhcOZkHC/s1600-h/40-LongIslandIcedTea.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KDCAN08TTez-TH3G2pe26w2r3S6o6R6mni4ZoBc-cBgJrstjepmi40anfgfXB3Xm4gNoUAN_s9BVuCsIDxMu3qb3cn6bkwJEzZpHObWX7jXwawsOJZeIJ0Cx47AkeU53dih2mhcOZkHC/s320/40-LongIslandIcedTea.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221556372411419074" border="0" /></a>I will forever associate this drink with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markie_Post">Markie Post</a> when she was in her prime on "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Court">Night Court</a>" (and I mean <a href="http://www.simplyhairstyles.com/1980s-hairstyles.html">bad Eighties hair</a> and everything).<br /><br />I've had them in my early twenties and was duly unimpressed. It seemed a needlessly complicated mix of liquors and... it didn't even taste like an iced tea! But it was deceptive in that it did not taste much of alchohol and could pack a punch. This is a another "get lucky" drink probably devised by frat boys desperate to get laid.<br /><br />It's a miss because it's... well.. IMHO... <span style="font-style: italic;">stupid.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 31<br />Misses: 15<br /></span>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-22668788256510740292008-07-10T19:35:00.003-05:002008-07-10T19:43:46.479-05:00Cocktail of the Week #39: Depth Charge<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkr5DYhd6LJFjsMxM1ggKOujhL4isrODUMpqoeAygQ5eV42uLKGrcDVCYphhOkonHsdy1Ez5E6HjZulBnBh4GRmBtFmNL6RpJ6twUdIiTTvS6i46jD8tgOa4lWCHXRMlnCWUWVVSjXsh4/s1600-h/39-DepthCharge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkr5DYhd6LJFjsMxM1ggKOujhL4isrODUMpqoeAygQ5eV42uLKGrcDVCYphhOkonHsdy1Ez5E6HjZulBnBh4GRmBtFmNL6RpJ6twUdIiTTvS6i46jD8tgOa4lWCHXRMlnCWUWVVSjXsh4/s320/39-DepthCharge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221550708995793986" border="0" /></a>Beer and whiskey! Whiskey and beer! A classic combination!<br /><br />Growing up this was a standard bar combo known by suburbanites as a "shot and a beer" and native Chicagoans as a "boilermaker." The term "depth charge" for this drink was born out of World War II for reasons that should be obvious.<br /><br />This drink can be drunk in two ways:<br /><ol><li>Downing the shot and then quaffing the entire beer as a chaser (the "shot & a beer" but also known as a "boilermaker" because guzzling the beer makes one burp tremendously afterwards).</li><li>Dropping the full shot - glass and all - into the beer before drinking it. The shot glass striking the bottom of the beer glass typically causes a great deal of carbonation to release, generating a huge head of foam... hence the names "boilermaker" and "depth charge."</li></ol>Not surprisingly, Mrs. Wit showed no interest in this drink due to its whiskey content. I just smiled and had two - one for each of us.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 31<br />Misses: 14<br /></span>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-52713212473513822442008-07-10T06:47:00.003-05:002008-07-10T06:50:45.766-05:00Cocktail of the Week #38: B and B<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbK7U4qCEWd0xbIknesAOJiLZlcdEjYbRr0raw4ErMBHm1TQwMKfNZy_lSKIOYJAx2kmQxYi0e5zLi1LPp4bggal7yVJbuNkKD2xhZN8D3rJhcH9QnB44NRowAcCuqXP0H150hNfWXVyrZ/s1600-h/38-B&B.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbK7U4qCEWd0xbIknesAOJiLZlcdEjYbRr0raw4ErMBHm1TQwMKfNZy_lSKIOYJAx2kmQxYi0e5zLi1LPp4bggal7yVJbuNkKD2xhZN8D3rJhcH9QnB44NRowAcCuqXP0H150hNfWXVyrZ/s320/38-B&B.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221351034727287874" border="0" /></a>I love Benedictine. It's like drinking a delicately herbed pastry, and it gives you a nice buzz to boot.<br /><br />When combined with brandy, you get nothing but good things.<br /><br />No need to wax eloquent or give anecdotes, this time. Just make one for yourself and enjoy.<br /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Hits: 30<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Misses: 14</span></div>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-71401373928210366952008-07-09T18:06:00.000-05:002008-07-10T06:20:50.032-05:00Cocktail of the Week #37: Sloe Gin Fizz<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkGnvsyxKSbzhlI_3npwHF4Mo2ySkDSMcB1RXikAl25VvSlkMyPfBjXXfo8yFAszw3oHAnaNYGDkCEub45vSQTyhxYlIGWGUmlzT5y7mSPKC7xxNQxSHAw7GScTPMn2CIAGOqy7NvuHYL/s1600-h/37-SloeGinFizz.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkGnvsyxKSbzhlI_3npwHF4Mo2ySkDSMcB1RXikAl25VvSlkMyPfBjXXfo8yFAszw3oHAnaNYGDkCEub45vSQTyhxYlIGWGUmlzT5y7mSPKC7xxNQxSHAw7GScTPMn2CIAGOqy7NvuHYL/s320/37-SloeGinFizz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221340898691178322" border="0" /></a>I remember the sloe gin fizz as one of the few alcoholic things my mother would drink. And even then on great rare occasion (my mother does not like the taste of alcohol, nor is she all that fond of the effects it has on people). I also remember it being referred to snidely as a "kiddie drink." It is sweet in character, but to some it taste like cough syrup. That would be because sloe gin is not a flavored gin so much as it is a liqueur made from buckthorn plums.<br /><div><br /></div><div>I bought a bottle of sloe gin, once to make a sloe gin fizz as well as a cocktail called the "shriner." Using the fizz recipe o the bottle, the drink did not taste as good as I remember. Mrs. Wit veritably gagged on it and claimed it tasted like Nyquil's black sheep cousin.</div><div><br /></div><div>As for the shriner cocktail? The less said the better. Maybe for snits and giggles I'll make on for Cocktail of the Week once we finish working through the deck (which won't be long now, actually).</div><div><br /></div><div>Mrs. Wit and I, scarred from our last bought with sloe gin, approached this drink with some trepidation. However, following the recipe on the card we found the drink this time around to be delicious! Mrs. Wit even had seconds!</div><div><br /></div><div>To our surprise, a hit!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Hits: 29</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Misses: 14</span></div>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-88203709875380741692008-07-08T20:28:00.003-05:002008-07-08T20:46:15.361-05:00Cocktail of the Week #36: Cape Codder<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdQ-0pspz4RhX7A_ukEIKX8z6BvckLxxhM9yi8ny2Pykb5UdW39oO3GXWzvM4vSIJqi7NxdbvZ5fXRzafEn3ExoaZp5bToBx6u-oPVQ_eKCq-iqoIgaeuaUCrYFXkHSGDWGE_-Fbv28hI/s1600-h/36-CapeCodder.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdQ-0pspz4RhX7A_ukEIKX8z6BvckLxxhM9yi8ny2Pykb5UdW39oO3GXWzvM4vSIJqi7NxdbvZ5fXRzafEn3ExoaZp5bToBx6u-oPVQ_eKCq-iqoIgaeuaUCrYFXkHSGDWGE_-Fbv28hI/s320/36-CapeCodder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220824664476227490" border="0" /></a><br />Mrs. Wit has been drinking cranberry juice cocktail laced with vodka for years, so we already knew this was going to be a hit. So there's nothing much to report here.<br /><br />Except for a quick anecdote! Mrs. Wit and I were always curious to try straight cranberry juice, just to see what it is like. Well, imagine our surprise when we found it was carried by Trader Joe's! We bought a bottle and anticipated opening it up when we got home.<br /><br />Oops.<br /><br />The stuff was so unbelievably tart we took to diluting it heavily with lemon-lime soda in order to be able to drink the stuff. It was that tart!<br /><br />A hit nonetheless.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 28<br />Misses: 14</span>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-71604969734129616112008-07-07T20:05:00.002-05:002008-07-07T20:29:06.746-05:00"Why Do You Hate God?"I have not been asked this question, yet, but I am sure sooner or later it will be. I will grant it’s a perfectly natural assumption for True Believers to think that I must <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> not believe in God, but instead have some personal grievance with Him/Her/It that causes me to deny. I’m sure they must picture the typical atheist to be somewhat like a small child hearing from his or her peers for the first time that Santa Claus does not exist, and the only reaction possible is to clamp the hands over the ears and scream: “No! No! No! It’s not true! I don’t believe you!”<br /><br />Sorry, folks: it’s just not that simple.<br /><br />The only answer I, or any other atheist who arrived to the same conclusion I did through reason and careful thinking, can give is: I cannot hate that which does not exist.<br /><br />I do not hate Santa Clause. Neither do I hate the Easter Bunny. I also harbor no ill will towards leprechauns, unicorns or <a href="http://educate-yourself.org/cn/laurencegardnershapeshifter.shtml">David Icke’s Illuminati-based shapeshifting reptile overlords</a>. I have no feelings of spite or anger for Zeus or Hercules. I do not plot any retribution towards Quetzalcoatl or the pantheon of Valhalla.<br /><br />Just so, I do not hate God because the burden of evidence shows, as it does with all the mythical beings and creatures I mention above, such a being is simply not there.<br /><br />Now, this is not to say I did not hate God at a certain point in my life. I did. Greatly. I had a rather difficult childhood (my wife would say I’m downplaying this a great deal), and while it was not safe for me while young to express my anger - and other feelings - towards those that made growing up such a traumatic experience for me and my sisters, there was one thing I could safely direct my ill feelings towards. Something my Catholic upbringing drummed into my head <span style="font-style: italic;">must</span> exist and was ultimately the cause of all things: God.<br /><br />But I was not an atheist then, either. Once I came to the realization that there is no Supreme Being, the anger and hatred left me. What it was replaced with was a burning desire to hold those who hurt me and my sisters accountable for their actions (and inactions).<br /><br />You see, when there is no God, suddenly everyone is responsible for their own actions and the consequences of those actions. It is, frankly, liberating and unsettling all at once. It frees one from fear of divine retribution, but it also makes one realize it’s harder to justify horrible acts against others when there is no Judge Supreme dictating who is deserving of reward or punishment. One can no longer sit back and “just accept” one’s lot in life. One must take control while considering others. Under those circumstances, 9/11 was performed by a bunch of delusional modern-day <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamikaze">kamikazes</a>, <a href="http://www.blank.org/addict/">Fred Phelps</a> is an emotionally stunted old man screaming for attention like a tantrum-throwing toddler, and <a href="http://www.barackobama.com/splash/">Barack Obama</a>’s sudden promise to <a href="http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/07/01/obama-expand-faith-prog/">dump more money into faith-based programs</a> is just an obvious ploy to get votes. (Don’t believe me on that one? Then watch this <a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4824085103245427405&q=obama+separation+of+church+and+state&ei=ncJySMTmC5fA4AKyyO2VDw">video of a speech he gave some years back</a>… he’s maturing into a true politician, which is sad.)<br /><br />So to any Christian reading this who is still wondering why I hate God, I’ll throw the same concept back at you: <span style="font-style: italic;">why do you hate Allah?</span><br /><br />Yeah. Thought so.The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-84664491852355547672008-07-07T19:47:00.004-05:002008-07-07T19:59:44.807-05:00Cocktail of the Week #35: Dry Martini<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DWUxsPzIrgnqkKjMQ3jd_N7bfuB9gXbbM1QdZalOG5qcPpXvt4dmM_g61617AWiRv7q0lmEvOHoSpf-qDFZTUJtl7fcpbuDrgve5swQ56uCl3qG90qJi5HbYUAeSt1spZDiIN8k7etHj/s1600-h/35-DryMartini.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2DWUxsPzIrgnqkKjMQ3jd_N7bfuB9gXbbM1QdZalOG5qcPpXvt4dmM_g61617AWiRv7q0lmEvOHoSpf-qDFZTUJtl7fcpbuDrgve5swQ56uCl3qG90qJi5HbYUAeSt1spZDiIN8k7etHj/s320/35-DryMartini.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220441537178566034" border="0" /></a>Hands down, this is my wife’s favorite cocktail. She’s particularly fond of stuffing blue cheese into the olives used to garnish this drink. It’s also a drink with more variations to it than any other - especially if you want to include “martinis” considered martinis only because they are served in the ubiquitous glass. I’m talking about the variations like the “<a href="http://www.webtender.com/db/drink/1667">lemon drop</a>” the “<a href="http://www.webtender.com/db/drink/1331">chocolate martini</a>” and even Mrs. Wit’s beloved “<a href="http://dimagediary.blogspot.com/search?q=cosmopolitan">cosmopolitan</a>.”<br /><br />A simple recipe: some gin, some dry vermouth, and a garnish - typically an olive, but a twist of lemon is preferred by some (or the “Oliver Twist” incorporating both). There is also my favorite recipe for this drink in terms of humor value: the World’s Driest Martini.<br /><ol><li>Add 1 & 2/3 oz. dry gin to shaker/glass.</li><li>Pick up the bottle of dry vermouth.</li><li>Put the bottle back down.</li><li>Shake or stir with ice, pour into glass and garnish.</li><li>Enjoy!</li></ol><br />The truth is, I’ve always had a tempestuous relationships with martinis. A lot of it, I always suspected, had to do with the use of olives. I’m not overly fond of the fruit. I love cooking with the olive oil. I even enjoy drizzling it on bread at Italian, Greek or Middle Eastern restaurants. But the fruit itself? Ugh! I know, call me strange… I’ve tried using a twist of lemon, instead, but I did not find it improved things all that much for me.<br /><br />Then we drew this card from the deck. It mentions adding a pickled onion as garnish in place of the olive makes this drink a “gibson” instead of a martini. Mrs. Wit tried the martini, I tried the gibson.<br /><br />Verdict?<br /><br />Much to my surprise, I loved it! The vinegar from the onion did something almost alchemical in nature to the gin and vermouth, for me. I even had another, that night, right after the first - not something I often do on our “Cocktail of the Week” night!<br /><br />We’re counting this as two drinks, because the olive versus the onion in this classic mix make all the difference in the world in terms of overall flavor and character. These are truly two different drinks.<br /><br />Two hits!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 27<br />Misses: 14</span>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678437312807310363.post-43320185067908663822008-07-06T07:01:00.000-05:002008-07-07T07:09:29.601-05:00Cocktail of the Week #34: Sea Breeze<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiocoARVA7duQXeQx_yem_mvFn-vF6BDO-Lc7KKup6ldw9hEQioR-LxSRd22Thnd1I6KJqvGwJn5fuffoNNWBycxfySwnJu4NB35Q9qlIo60wBcf5S62XCLDJpn2ir6UmAaPDvUjsG7OfB/s1600-h/34-SeaBreeze.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiocoARVA7duQXeQx_yem_mvFn-vF6BDO-Lc7KKup6ldw9hEQioR-LxSRd22Thnd1I6KJqvGwJn5fuffoNNWBycxfySwnJu4NB35Q9qlIo60wBcf5S62XCLDJpn2ir6UmAaPDvUjsG7OfB/s320/34-SeaBreeze.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220242659237849650" border="0" /></a>I did not look forward to drinking the Sea Breeze because of a stupid association I have with its name.<br /><br />“Sea Breeze” is also the name of this <a href="http://www.shopinprivate.com/dovagedefbod.html">nasty, high-alcohol astringent</a> my mother insisted I use during the Eighties to combat the Heartbreak of Teenage Acne. While it certainly seemed to help in the pimple department, it also made my face feel tighter than <a href="http://www.makemeheal.com/news/images/joan-rivers-plastic-surgery.jpg">Joan Rivers’ facelift. </a>It also made me smell like I had been caught in an explosion in a Lysol factory for about half an hour after applying it. I guess the only side benefit was its tendency to clear out my sinuses better than a pea-sized nodule of wasabi paste. But as side benefits go, it was kind of like someone saying chemotherapy really helped with their weight-loss issues.<br /><br />So you can understand, Dear Readers, why I approached this particular cocktail with apprehension. I was imagining it would taste the way the cleanser smelled (with light citrus overtones, that is).<br /><br />I’m glad to write that I enjoyed it. In fact, I enjoyed it a great deal. This is a rocking hot summer drink!<br /><br />Enjoy! And stick to alcohol-free face cleansers, if you can help it.<br /><br />I wonder if any cocktails and exfoliants share a name in common…<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Scoreboard.<br />Hits: 25<br />Misses: 14</span>The Dim Withttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14930574380418140017noreply@blogger.com0