An online speakeasy of potent potables and other pabulam.

Lifestyle drinks of the coughing and congested

I’d had ideas for a variety of posts.

For instance, I got an iSi Gourmet Whip Pro for Christmas, and I’m very excited about doing tons of stuff with it!

But…holidays…and then, like everyone else in DC, I got sick.

Blech.

So while watching the end of the football games today I decided what I really needed was a hot toddy.  It’s kind of just something I threw together so what the heck.

Hot Toddy
One cup decaffeinated Earl Grey tea
Honey
Half a lemon, squeezed
2 ounces Chairman’s Reserve rum

Mix in a cup.

Well, heck, it’s making me feel better.  Might need some more.

Once I figure out my Tumblr issues, and feel a bit better, we’ll get ya some more substantive posting.  Promise!

Well, we’re in it again.  Today started the beginning of a huge snow storm blowing over DC and the surrounding areas.  As of 10pm, we are under a blizzard warning until 10pm tomorrow Feb. 6 and they are saying we could get up to 30 inches of snow or more.

Snowfall as of 9pm

Now I love snow.  And truthfully, I’m excited to be in my first blizzard warning.  Of course I want everyone to be safe and warm all that jazz, but this is just cool.  And obviously, this kind of weather calls for more warm beverages . . . preferably those of the alcoholic variety.  In my last post, I gave you the Celestial Warmer.

Non-Union
5.0 oz African Roobios Tea, hot
1.5 oz Mezcal, I used Ilegal Mezcal
0.5 oz agave syrup
1 very long strip of grapefruit peel

Pour syrup and mezcal into a glass or mug and stir to combine.  Brew the tea and pour into your container of choice, stirring to combine.  Cut a long strip of grapefruit peel over the glass and throw it in.  Enjoy.

Finally, I’ve had some folks ask me about how much snow we’ve had so far in DC.  I decided to take a little video and share it with everyone.  This video was taken on my balcony around 11pm Friday, Feb. 5 2010. The noise you hear in the video is the wind.

Tomorrow I’ll post another video that shows the overnight accumulation. And, of course, another warm drink!

Cheers!

This weekend, DC got another blanket of snow.  They say we’re supposed to get 4-6 inches, but we’ll just have to see what the total is tomorrow morning.  As I sit on my couch and watch the wind swirl the snow about and the slow growing pile of the white stuff growing on the balcony, the urge to have a warm beverage strikes.

Now, I know I missed this past Mixology Monday which was hosted by Fred and Andrea of Cocktail Virgin Slut.  Their chosen theme was tea and that sounded like the perfect way to begin my warm beverage.

I didn’t do any research before throwing this recipe together, so it is quite possible it’s already been done.  Whatever, it’s warm, tasty, sweet, and funky.  And it contains one of my favorite teas and one of my favorite spirits.

Celestial Warmer
5oz Mandarin Orange Spiced Herbal Tea
1oz Yellow Chartreuse
.5oz Batavia Arrack
2 tsp wildflower honey
Garnish with orange peel.

And wow, this hit the spot!  The orange and spice from the tea mixes with the yellow chartreuse to create layers of herbal citrus flavor bombs.  The honey adds an extra complexity of flavor and helps to heighten the flavors of the other ingredients.  Finally, the batavia arrack provides a little backbone and a heady aroma that wafts up with the steam.

One thing I love about warm drinks such as this is the almost infinite ways you can modify it.  Afraid it’s going to be too sweet?  Leave out the honey.  Don’t have batavia arrack?  Use rum (Smith and Cross Jamaican rum would be fantastic!), brandy, or even whisky!  Think yellow chartreuse is for pu . . . wimps?  Use green!  As a matter of fact, my next drink is going to be black tea, green chartreuse, Smith & Cross, and honey.  Or maybe a little vanilla sugar.  Or a splash of Trader Tiki Vanilla Syrup!

So what’s your favorite winter warmer?