It's a Bright and Beautiful Day!
So why am I having a drink called a Dark and Stormy? Hmmmmmm... Because it's Yummy, maybe? One of my favorites from way back, this one is sweet and tart and rich at the same time and not a bit too much of either, in my humble opinion. Why don't you try making one and see what you think?

Dark & Stormy
Ingredients:
2 oz. Goslings Black Burmuda Rum
1/2 oz. simple syrup
1 or 2 slices fresh ginger
2 to 3 oz. Jamaican Ginger Beer
2 lime wedges

Method: Add rum, fresh ginger and simple syrup to a 10 oz. double old fashioned glass filled with ice cubes. Stir to combine. Top with Ginger Beer, squeeze lime wedges into glass and serve.

Make sure you use Ginger Beer in this one. You might have to get it from an "ethnic" section of the grocery. I know that, around here, the Goya brand is usually in the Mexican Food section. Ginger Ale is simply too weak and wimpy to do it right.

I also make a special "Ginger Infused" simple syrup to use in this drink and a few others. Simply add a couple teaspoons of grated, fresh ginger to your syrup during the simmering process and strain it before letting it cool. It adds even a bit more of a bite.

What's That I'm Listening To? "Jungle Drums" by Earl Bostic. This classic Ernesto Lecuona composition was recorded by just about every Exotica or Easy Listening act that existed back in the 50s. Earl, though, was a bit more jumpy and swingin' than most of the others. It's almost Rock 'n' Roll, as a matter of fact! Check it out here...
http://rapidshare.de/files/17793622/06_Jungle_Drums.mp3.html

It's Magically Delicious!!!

Ah, Saint Patrick's Day! For those of us with a fair amount of Irish blood there's no other like it. As an excuse to get FUBAR for an entire 24 hours, you can't beat it with a stick.

What's That I'm Drinking? Leprechaun's Libation

Ingredients:
1 oz. green crème de menthe
2.5 oz. Old Bushmills Irish Whiskey

Method:
Blend crème de menthe and Irish Whiskey with 3.5 oz. of cracked ice. Serve in goblet or large wine glass.

What's That I'm Listening To? Puking in the Heather

The Irish are, of course, famous for their Drinking Songs. This song is about drinking. These guys, a band called Boiled in Lead, were a really kick-ass Irish band (and there are more of a few of those, of course), and recorded what I regard as the perfect Saint Patrick's Day Anthem and here it is.

http://rapidshare.de/files/15755504/18_Puking_in_the_Heather.mp3.html

Erin go Braugh

Happy Mardi Gras!!!

Congratulations to the City of New Orleans for pullin' this one off, boy howdy! I know that there are plenty of folks who think very little of the folks who are down there enjoying themselves despite the devastation that surrounds them but, hey... If you can't throw a good party you really have given up, haven't you? I believe that this is a huge step in the right direction for a town that still has a lot of huge steps ahead of it.

And, so, tonight I celebrate New Orleans.

What's That I'm Drinking? The Hurricane

Sadly... Tonight's cocktail is the product of a mix I purchased at the local grocery and, though it's pretty darn tasty, it does taste like a cocktail made from a mix. In case you can't find it at your grocer you can find Hurricane Mix here: http://www.francoscocktailmixes.com/. Better yet... Make your Hurricane from scratch.

Ingredients:
2 oz. Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
2 oz. Passion Fruit Syrup
4 oz. Dark Jamaican (Myers) Rum

Method:
Shake all ingredients and pour into 20 oz. Hurricane glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with Orange Slice and Maraschino Cherry. Have Fun!

Note: The "Have Fun!" at the end of the recipe is an actual requirement. It appears at the end of the instructions on the back of the mix package as well as on the backs of the 20 oz. Hurricane Glasses (like the one in the photo) that you get at Pat O'Brien's restaurant in NOLA, where the drink was created.

What's That I'm Listening To? Mama Roux

"Mama Roux" from Doctor John's first album, Gris-Gris (1968). To this day, Mac Rebennack is the one New Orleans artist (out of, probably, thousands in just the Music category) who most perfectly sums up the feel and the vibe of the city in just about every single thing he does. Click here and you can listen to it too... http://rapidshare.de/files/14151662/03_Mama_Roux.mp3.html.

Note that downloading the file may require a few clicks. Hey! It's a FREE SONG, for Pete's sake!

You can purchase the entire album at your Local Record Store or, if necessary, here... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004SW9R/ref=m_art_li_6/104-9221759-0333504?s=music&v=glance&n=5174.

What's That I'm Lookin' At? Since we can't be in New Orleans (or since we aren't, at least) we can go to http://www.nola.com/bourbocam/ for a glimpse of what we're missing.

What's That I'm Thinking!?! Hmmmmmmmmmmmm... I dunno. Just gonna use this as a place to sit and think and drink and share. If you wanna hang out with me you are cordially invited.