We first encountered Malort on Jack Miller’s yacht as his traditional birthday toast. It was almost a dare to drink it. Here’s how VinePair describes the flavor.
“When describing the taste of Jeppson’s Malört, Chicago’s infamous wormwood-based liqueur, people tend to get creative. A cursory glance of various Reddit subs like r/bartenders and r/Chicago reveal some solid attempts: Notes of Fresca, paint thinner, and sadness; Week-old grapefruit rinds soaked in floodwater and shame; Gasoline filtered through a week-old garbage bag; Imagine if your parents’ divorce had a flavor. The spirit is famously gnarly, and has been “enjoyed” almost exclusively in the domain of the Chicago bar scene, where it’s existed as a rite of passage for dive bar denizens and as a reliable and irreverent bartender’s handshake. But in recent years, Malört has slowly crept out of the Chicagoland area, emerging on back bars nationwide as an “IYKYK” novelty item and even appearing in bona fide cocktails.”
Who doesn’t want more energy? There’s the shortcuts (and their drawbacks) and then there is the healthy way. We asked WebMD.
“Each balanced meal should have a mix of lean protein, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. This combination can help keep you full while giving your body the vitamins and minerals that it needs.”
Did that say carbs and fat!? So getting healthy energy doesn’t sound too horrible. Read the Web MD article here for the details.
Gin drinkers! Tired of the same old Martini or Gin & Tonic? Food and Wine has thirteen additional gin cocktailsto throw into the mix. They are the Gimlet, French 75, Ramos Gin Fiz, Aviation, Bicycle Thief (pictured above), French Blonde, Course Reviver No. 2, Negroni, Red Snapper, Singapore Sling, The Bee’s Knees, Tom Collins and Gibson Martini. Click above for the recipes.
We sometimes get a bit lazy and just stir up a cup of instant coffee. No coffee snobs here. Plus it saves cleaning the French press or tossing a thousand k-cups every year into the landfill. But is instant as healthy for us as regular coffee? Coffee offers some real health benefits, both mental and physical. Health.com sat down with several pots of coffee and some scientists and did a comparison. Short answer? Both are good but regular coffee is better for you. When drinking instant, go with freeze-dried. So mostly good news. And maybe it’s time for us to buy a Mr. Coffee drip coffee maker since we gave our ancient percolator away.
Thinking about owning that muscle car that you may or may not have been able to afford when younger but now is in the wheelhouse? Google AI has some suggestions and a leading consideration is comfort. We know that just getting in and out of the driver seat should be a consideration. You may want to do some stretching beforehand.
“Muscle cars were developed in the 1960s and are known for their performance and good looks. When considering a muscle car for a senior, you can look at things like comfort, visibility, and affordability:
Comfort: Make sure the seats are comfortable and adjustable, and that you have lumbar support if you have back problems.
Visibility: Check the exterior mirrors to make sure you have good visibility.
Affordability: Classic muscle cars can be expensive, with some models selling for millions of dollars. A 2025 Ford Mustang starts at just over $30,000, while a 1965 Mustang GT coupe might cost around $50,000.
Here are some classic muscle cars to consider:
Mercury Cougar: A successful launch for Mercury, with 150,000 built in 1967.
Dodge Coronet Super Bee A12: A mid-sized muscle car with a 390 hp V-8 engine.
Chevelle SS: A popular muscle car that was available with a 454ci big-block Chevy engine in 1970.
AMC Javelin: A pony car with a 360 cubic inch engine that produces about 350 horsepower.”
If you have to ask about fuel economy, these aren’t the cars for you!
When your team scores a touchdown… Shot of tequila! And when the team misses that last second field goal to tie the game… Shot of something else. Spoon University suggests several beverages to soften the loss. Chamomile tea if no suitable tranquilizer is available. A Starbucks Double Chocolate Moga because why not? A Dark ‘n Stormy rum and ginger beer cocktail might feel right. Then there’s always lukewarm leftover beer. Until next week…. Cheers!
We were curious as to what the Interweb would offer up for an October cocktail we found several Black Old Fashioned’s. We picked the Black Barrel Old Fashioned from Cleveland Whiskey that tied in cold brew, tailgates, high-end cherries. Can’t go wrong with that.
Not the bad ones. Good luck, Florida. You may need to swill a good Hurricane on higher ground to calm the nerves.
Located in the heart of the New Orleans French Quarter, Pat O’Brien’s is a prime destination for tourists who may not know its past as a popular speakeasy. That’s according to New Orleans Historical. Pat O’Brien’s signature drink, the Hurricane, was invented in the 1940’s during World War II when manufacturing replaced distilleries, making whiskey scarce. To obtain a single case of whiskey, bar owners would have to order 50 cases of rum. The abundance of rum inspired employees at Pat O’s to create a new cocktail, and the Hurricane, a rum-based drink, was born.
Although the Pat O’Brien’s recipe remains a secret, here’s a close match:
A traditional hurricane includes: -2 oz. light rum -2 oz. dark rum -2 oz. passion fruit juice -1 oz. orange juice -1/2 oz. fresh lime juice -1 tbsp. simple syrup -1 tbsp. grenadine – an orange slice and cherry to garnish.
Made from scratch, your Hurricane will likely surpass most of the touristy pre-mix versions in the French Quarter.
Our informants tell us the the Margarita, Martini, and Old Fashioned are the most popular cocktails in many of the 50 states. Nothing wrong with sticking to a few classics.
What we meant was… eat your way to younger. Men’s Health has a nice summary of what to eat and how much of it to boost your health. It’s worth reading. Click here.
Peet’s Coffee is helping us celebrate National Coffee Day on September 29th by introducing concentrated coffee. While we weren’t sure we needed anything more concentrated than espresso, the bit below about an “indulgent espresso martini” did catch our eye.
“Ultra Coffee is crafted from Peet’s boldest and most versatile blend, Espresso Forte, and is the perfect addition to any beverage — whether it’s hot, iced, or even sparkling. For those feeling adventurous, add a splash of Ultra Coffee to craft an indulgent espresso martini, whip up a java-forward crumbly coffee cake, or spruce up an everyday latte.”
This may be just what we need for Monday mornings.
This goes out to local musician The Savage. And not because it’s from AARP. Well, that’s part of it as he is no longer a spring chicken. Anyway, AARP has an article about music’s impact on brain health. In their report, “listening to and making music… can enhance a sense of well-being, reduce stress, facilitate interpersonal connections, modulate the cardiovascular system, improve balance and boost the immune system.” Seems like a good start.