June 2021

Jack’s Ghost

Food and Drink, Travel / By

Buzzed Boomer is always on the lookout for signature cocktails. We’re going to say Jack’s Ghost fits the bill at Sun Mountain Lodge in Winthrop, Washington even though they have some other interesting speciality cocktails. Jack’s Ghost is named for Jack Barron the visionary who originally built the Lodge in 1968. The location is a 3,000 foot high mountain top with 360 degree vies of mountains and valleys. The Lodge has since been sold and updated since Jack passed away in 1985 and is now a world-class resort known for it’s excellent food, wine, hiking, biking and winter-skiing trails.

Jack’s Ghost is a blend of Hedgetrimmer gin, lime juice and Boomsma clooserbitters. Can’t get that at home!

Hunter S. and my parents came to Jack’s original Sunny M dude ranch before we were born since Jack was our uncle’s brother. We’ve been fortunate to visit many times over the years. In fact, Hunter S. and his wife were married there.  

It’s nice to see a plaque honoring Jack out front and a delicious cocktail named after his ghost.

  • Hunter S. and Jet Cannon

A Fine Place to Rest

Travel / By

We took a little time off to visit the memorial bench of a lost loved one. It’s a fine place to rest after hiking around Sun Mountain Resort near Winthrop, Washington.

Remember to wear a mask!

  • Hunter S. and Jet Cannon

Coffee the hard Way

Caffeine, Food and Drink / By

Many Baby Boomers are familiar with Irish coffee and espresso martini’s.  Adding a kick to coffee is a time-honored tradition.  So Boomers will not be surprised to find spiked coffee in a can. Ask for a PBR and you could be handed a Pabst Blue Ribbon Hard Cold Brew.  Packing a caffeine and low alcohol-by-volume Buzz, it might just be the ticket for an early-morning tailgate this coming season!

– Jet Cannon

MTV Turns 40

Good Clean Fun, Music / By

 

AARP Magazine ran a fun article noting that MTV turned 40.  “MTV forced established acts to think visually or risk disappearing; a song was no longer just a song, to be interpreted by a listener’s imagination, but the basis of a micro-movie in which performers would be judged by their hair, dancing, clothes, and shooting locale.  No surprise that MTV helped popularize a new wave of image-conscious artists who eagerly embraced this star-making medium.”  Let’s review a few.  Michael Jackson, of course.  Cyndi Lauper, Culture Club, Robert Palmer, The Police, Madonna, Bruce, Bowie, The Bangles, Devo, A-ha, Wham!, Big Country, Whitney, Salt-N-Pepa, Billy Idol, Van Halen, Eurythmics, Billy Joel, Prince, Pat Benatar, ZZ Top, Huey Lewis, and Janet Jackson.

I would argue that the music suffered a bit compared to music from the 70’s but I’d also have to admit that the visual art created was really quite amazing.

– Jet Cannon

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Sort of a Healthier Buzz

Food and Drink / By

Hard seltzers are growing in popularity in part due to their offering a lower calorie and lower alcohol-by-volume alternative to other alcohol beverages.  Earlier this year, Michelob marketed the first national USDA-certified organic seltzer with zero sugar, zero carbs, 80 calories and is filtered six times to remove impurities.  A race to healthier is a good thing and beverage makers are pitching real fruit juice, gluten-free, and seltzers with less ingredients.  The calorie content of spiked seltzers are comparable to light beer as well as liquor mixed with no-calorie beverages.  All good…. Unless you drink too many of them.

– Jet Cannon

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The Grape Ape

Food and Drink, Recipes / By

Awhile back, Seattle Times food writer Bethany Jean Clement crafted some cocktails from what was in her cupboard because going to the store during the height of Covid was a daunting undertaking. One of the recipes stood out to me because it used grape juice. Purple grape juice.  Something I’ve never had in a cocktail, for sure.  Also, she says one can use vodka or gin.  Really, gin?  I like gin. But with grape juice?  Anyway, I never got around to trying it at the time but I kept her recipe. A quick trip to the store.  Masks no longer required but I’m wearing one so no one recognizes me while I’m buying only a bottle of grape juice. Here’s the recipe:

1 part grape juice

1 part tonic or bubbly water

“Glug” of vodka or gin

Lime wedge

Combine in a tall glass with lots of ice then squeeze the lime over the top then drop it in. Using gin?  Add a sprig of rosemary.

What do I think?  I tried with gin first.  That’s as far as I got.  Delicious!  I did the tall glass then made another shaker-full for a martini glass.  So I’m done experimenting and I’ll make it again.  Very refreshing, colorful summertime, or anytime, drink.  

Prefer vodka? Vodka goes with anything so if you like grape juice, you’re golden. 

– Jet Cannon

Photo courtesy of Pinterest.com

Audio Endorphins

Endorphins, Music / By

Your favorite music via state-of-the-art headphones is tough to beat.  Combine audio excellence with iconic design and you have Jimi Hendrix V-MODA headphones.

“V-MODA is proud to present the first collaboration in our Artist Series, which features guitar icon Jimi Hendrix.

Hailing from the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, Jimi Hendrix rose from humble beginnings to become oneof the most influential and respected musicians of all time. Often called an “electric alchemist,” he launched guitar playing into a new era with his innovative musical style and pioneering use of tone-altering effects like fuzz, wah, phasing, and more. 

Featuring powerful 50mm dual‑diaphragm drivers with CCAW voice coils engineered in Japan, Crossfade 2 Wireless produces audio that can please even the most discerning sound engineer, with a clean, deep bass, vivid mids and a wide 3D soundstage. Experience your music as if you were really there for 14 wireless hours on a single charge, and in certified Hi‑Res Audio when wired. 

Check them out at v-moda.com

– Jet Cannon

Call Me Old Fashioned

Food and Drink / By

And proud of it!  I met John Selby while helping to bottle Nota Bene wines one beautiful morning in Seattle.  John was one of many friendly volunteers helping out with bottling 800 cases of excellent Nota Bene wines.  At one point, John mentioned that he made the world’s best Old Fashioned.  Quite a claim.  I was intrigued.  Better yet, he was willing to share his recipe which has evolved to perfection over the years.  His father gave him a head start years ago as his parents enjoyed having a Happy Hour Old Fashioned before dinner but John continued to tweak and improve his signature cocktail until it was the “world’s best”.  His “Call Me Old Fashioned” button is evidence of his achievement.  

I wanted to try his recipe as soon as I got home but I had to substitute the cherries and syrup so I still have not tried the world’s best.  John assured me that the proper Luxardo cherry was essential.  My attempt was delicious and it’s just going to get better when I get my Luxardo’s.   Here is his recipe for which I am grateful:

One teaspoon of Luxardo syrup with two Marishino cherries

One half jigger of simple syrup

One jigger of Maker’s Mark whisky

One jigger of cold water

One two-inch long slice of orange peel

Two ice cubes

Five drops of Angostura bitters (more or less to taste)

Enjoy the best Old Fashioned in the world.  Thank you John!  Cheers!

– Jet Cannon

Whole Fruit Margarita

Food and Drink, Recipes / By

Perusing the Vitamix blender recipe book, we found this Margarita recipe that uses whole limes, lemons and oranges, rather than just the squeezed juice.  Peeled, of course.  But the blender chops it all up and you end up with a small-party-suitable quantity.  You can buy dedicated (and pricey) margarita blenders but a regular good quality blender will do.

Ingredients

1/4 cup water 

6 oz tequila

2 oz orange liqueur like triple sec or Grand Marnier

1 medium orange peeled and halved

1 lime peeled and halved

1 lemon peeled and halved

6 tablespoons of sugar

6 cups of ice cubes

Blend on high for about 45 seconds and serve in salt or sugar-rimmed Margarita glasses with a slice of lime for garnish.

– Jet Cannon

Photo courtesy of bigoven.com

 

 

Proper Paper Plane Cocktail

Food and Drink, Recipes / By

My apologies to Farmer Earl.  Awhile back in an earlier post, I complained about not having ingredients for many of the cocktails I read about and would like to make.  The Paper Plane was one.  I didn’t have amaro.  Farmer Earl read me the riot act and told me to quit being so cheap and buy ingredients that, yes, I might not use too often but for the most part they will keep.  Now I do have the ingredients.  Farmer Earl made me a proper Paper Plane recently and they are delicious.  Here’s a recipe courtesy of Bon Appetit: 

Ingredients

MAKES 2 SERVINGS

1½ ounces amaro (preferably Nonino)

1½ ounces Aperol

1½ ounces bourbon

1½ ounces fresh lemon juice, strained

Preparation

Step 1

Combine amaro, Aperol, bourbon, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously until outside of shaker is frosty, about 20 seconds. Strain into 2 coupe glasses.

Then make a tiny paper airplane and skewer it to properly present the Paper Plane.

– Jet Cannon

 

Photo courtesy of masterclass.com

 

World Gin Day

Food and Drink / By

Once again the Buzzed Boomer Research Department missed an important day.  Apparently the team thinks that Saturdays are holidays and for leisure rather than work.  Sad.  

Anyway, Saturday, June 12th was World Gin Day.  One company took this world-thing to heart.  If you go to Worldgin.com https://worldginday.com/world-gin-day-gin/ you can procure gin with ingredients from all seven continents!  I’m not sure my gin needs those ingredients but the concept is fairly intriguing.  Here they are:

  1. Juniper from Europe
  2. Liqourice Root from Africa
  3. Cinnamon from Asia
  4. Coriander from Australia
  5. Angelica Root from North America
  6. Lime from South America
  7. Sea salt from Antarctic water

Order now and enjoy your internationally-sourced gin on World Gin Day 2022.

– Jet Cannon

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Dehydration And Me…. and You

Fitness, Travel / By

Older adults naturally have a lower volume of water in their bodies, and may have conditions or take medications that increase the risk of dehydration.  Dehydration occurs daily in three out of four people.  So when I saw a promotion in Costco’s magazine for Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier, I bit.  For performance, heat/sun, travel and wellness, yes, that’s me!  We’re told that an optimal ratio of nutrients like sodium, potassium, glucose, and water will result in 2-3 times more hydration than water alone.  Liquid I.V. has 3 times the electrolytes in typical sport drinks.

Signs of dehydration can include dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness, headaches, confusion, muscle cramps, increased heart rate, thirst, bad breath, muscle fatigue, dark urine, brain fog, and dry skin.  I have all except one of those.  GIVE ME SOME LIQUID I.V.   STAT!  

I’m always skeptical about this kind of stuff but I’m giving it a whirl.  It tastes okay.  Only 45 calories. Now just waiting for those symptoms to fade away.  

– Jet Cannon

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National Bourbon Day – June 14th

Food and Drink / By

Nationaltoday.com provides some history.  In the mid-1700s, Scots-Irish settlers in the area that is now Virginia and Kentucky began distilling corn — the only grain native to the area, but one which made for excellent whiskey owing to its sweetness. Another geographical factor was also beneficial to the birth of bourbon.The Limestone Shelf region, where all major American whiskeys are still made today, imbued the local water with calcium while filtering out iron. Turns out that high-calcium, low-iron water is excellent when it comes to makin’ moonshine. We have a clergyman-cum-distiller named Elijah Craig to thank for the third major piece of the bourbon puzzle. In the late 1780s, Craig was using old fish barrels to store his spirits.Not surprisingly, fish-flavored wood did not enhance the whiskey’s taste, so Craig started purifying the white-oak barrels by charring the inside. Then he stamped the barrels with their county of origin (Bourbon County, in his case) and sent them on a 90-day trip down to New Orleans. The charred oak and three-month travel time combined to mellow the whiskey and give it a smooth, smoky, oaky flavor. WhenNew Orleanians requested more of “that whiskey from Bourbon,” the name and the spirit were born.

– Jet Cannon

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