Food and Drink

Drink Bombs

Food and Drink / By

Nobody ever accused us of going the extra mile to create elaborate cocktails.  Even more troubling, we’ve resisted the cocktail machines that virtually automate cocktail concocting.  But now it looks like there’s a simple solution.  Drink Bombs.  Drop a little ball into sparkling water and add alcohol.  Presto.  There’s fun options like mimosas, margaritas, mojitos, piña coladas, peach bellinis, and strawberry margaritas.  Have we tried them?  Of course not!  But if you were searching for a gift idea for us, well, here you go.  Available from Uncommon Goods.

– Jet Cannon

Show Your Colors

Food and Drink / By

It’s nice to have food and drink to compliment your favorite sports teams.  To celebrate the Pac-12 Championship game and the University of Washington Huskies, whose colors are purple and gold, here’s a Purple and Gold cocktail from Seattle’s Heritage Distillery.  

(That said, we sometimes keep things simple come game time by serving Empress Gin martinis.  The gin is purple so it’s really easy to chill and pour.  Touchdown!)

Here’s the Purple and Gold from Heritage:

Cheer on the UW Huskies with this powerfully purple cocktail! The Purple & Gold 2 oz HDC Lavender Vodka 1/2 oz Raft Vanilla Simple Syrup 3 Lemon Wedges In a shaker, muddle 3 lemon wedges and Raft vanilla syrup. Add HDC Lavender Vodka and ice and shake for 10 seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass and enjoy!

Meanwhile, Oregon Duck fans will enjoy the Duck Daiquiri.  Simply roast the duck, blend, and combine with…..

– Jet Cannon

We Will Never Make This

Food and Drink / By

It’s probably the butterscotch schnapps.  Fresh out.  But it sure looks mighty tasty!!  Read all about it here in Eclectic Recipes.

INGREDIENTS:

4 oz strong coffee
1 1/2 oz amaretto liqueur
1 1/2 oz coffee liqueur
1 oz butterscotch schnapps
1 oz creme de cocoa
fresh whipped cream
grated chocolate, for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

Combine strong coffee and liqueurs in a glass. Stir to combine and top with fresh whipped cream. Garnish with grated chocolate.

Serve warm or over ice.

– Jet Coffee Cannon

Damn The Torpedoes!

Food and Drink / By

Vine Pair reports that, “during the first half of World War II, the U.S. utilized steam-powered torpedo engines on its Pacific theater-based submarines, each of which was fueled by 180-proof grain alcohol. Without other alcohol aboard the subs to indulge in, the sailors quickly turned to the high-proof torpedo fuel, combining it with pineapple juice to smooth its burn. And thus, Torpedo Juice was born.”

That’s not the end of the story by any means.  Read it here.  Meanwhile, to honor Torpedo Juice, how about a simple rum and pineapple?!

– Jet Torpedo Cannon

 

Photo: National Maritime Museum

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Tip Fatigue

Food and Drink / By

Seems every business asks for a tip these days or their card reader does.  We’ve seen a 30% option!  To Insure Promptness?  At a fast-food restaurant??  Vine Pair notes that “there’s an increasing belief that social approval is a bigger driver for tipping than gauging the level of service.”

Most of Europe just builds a 15 percent tip into the price.  So, here, someday, maybe.

– Jet Cannon

Live Classical Rock

Food and Drink, Music / By

We’ve written about vinyl parties where you invite friends over, select a classic album to play beginning-to-end, and serve a cocktail that fits the mood.  There’s even a book called Booze and Vinyl which makes suggestions for the album, accompanying beverage for both sides A and B, plus appetizer ideas to go with.  For example, the Eagles Hotel California calls for a Beachcomber Cocktail for side A and a Mojito for side B.  Now take that concept to a live show.  The Black Jacket Symphony has spent the last 15 years performing 40-some classic albums, note-for-note.  We just saw them perform Hotel California before adding Eagles hits following intermission.  The cast included four excellent guitarists nailing guitar harmonies while the vocal harmonies were spot-on.  Several songs included a violinist and a viola. They take their covers seriously. The venue was a perfect 700-seat acoustically-excellent setting complete with cocktail bars in the lobby.  Next year Black Jacket will take on Dark Side of the Moon and we would expect it will be note-for-note stunning.  Here’s their website.  If you have the opportunity and enjoy live classic album rock as we used to consume it, check out their tour schedule. 

– Jet Cannon 

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Beer And Baseball

Food and Drink / By

Beer made its way into the ballpark in the 1890’s, in plenty of time for the first World Series in 1903. That year the Boston Americans played the Pittsburgh Pirates in a nine-game series. Boston won it in eight. General admission could be had at many games for a quarter. Today, beer and baseball go together like…. well… beer, baseball and hot dogs!

  • Jet Cannon

Alien Secretion

Food and Drink / By

Your team not in the World Series?  Neither is ours.  Here’s some cocktails to fit the mood but, based on the ingredients, we’re not sure they’d help.  Depends on preferences, we suppose.

Loser – Pepsi, whiskey, beef broth, espresso liqueur 

Sore Loser –  bourbon, peach liqueur, sherry, pernod and bitters

Suffering Bastard – Ginger beer, bourbon, mint, lime juice, angostura bitters

The Suffering Bastard is also known as an Alien Secretion.  Might have to try that one.

– Jet Cannon

Photo: Tipsy Bartender

Hiatus Tequila Brand Ambassador To The Rescue

Food and Drink / By

“To me, hiatus is about taking a step back from all the clutter that surrounds us in our daily lives, slowing down and reflecting on what’s most important for our mind, body, and spirit.”  – Kristopher DeSoto — Founder and CEO, Hiatus Tequila.  And thankfully, Hiatus Brand Ambassador Garrett found us at a Penn Station bar in New York amid the rush hour mass of humanity scurrying about.  He had us sample their delicious double-gold winner Reposado which let us escape the Gotham clutter while toasting all the fine folks at Hiatus Tequila!  Check out their web site here.

– Jet Cannon

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Yo Ho Ho!

Food and Drink / By

Costco Connection magazine suggested we try some aged rum.  Typically aged for three to 12 years in oak barrels, rum becomes softer as it ages.  It’s suggested that aged rum can replace bourbon and whiskey in many standard cocktails.  Why would one do that?  Because a 20 year old rum can be had for around $80 while a similarly-aged bourbon or scotch will run into the hundreds or even thousands.  Not sure?  Bars like Rumba in Seattle feature over 200 variations of rum.  Try before you buy.

Yo Ho Ho.

– Jet Cannon

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Army/Navy/Gin To Win!

Food and Drink / By

We like football, gin, traditions, tiki bars, and clever blog names.  Let’s blend them right here, right now. There’s nothing traditional about college football anymore except maybe for some long-time rivalries like the Army/Navy game.  Meanwhile, we didn’t know there is a gin cocktail called the Army/Navy but, of course, there is.  So we tried making one to get in shape for the annual game which won’t happen until December… but we want to be prepared.  Our search of the InterWeb turned up several recipes but we thought we should give the Moody Mixologist a try.  Click here for their site and recipe but we’re talking 2 ounces of gin, ¾ ounce lemon juice, ½ ounce of orgeat (almond syrup), and one dash of Angostura bitters. It provides a hint of that tiki bar cocktail flavor and it looks good, too.  Rah-Rah!

– Jet Cannon