What Would Jesus Drink?

I remember fondly one Easter spent with my Dad when we lived in the West Village. We were thinking after spending 3 days in a tomb, he might be a touch peckish. So what would Jesus eat? Well some hummus, or course! So we headed to a Middle Eastern restaurant on the corner of Carmine and Bedford and had ourselves a feast. That space later became the 2nd round of Shopins and is now Market Table. I could be a restaurant anthropologist. I love charting the resurrections

Tonight, waiting for a dear friend in another beautiful historic neighborhood, Brooklyn Heights, I strolled around and looked in on some new and old restaurants. Nice to see Noodle Pudding still packed on a Saturday night. I have some fond memories there.

As I peeked in at Jack the Horse (not as busy tonight) I was drawn into the warm glow of the roman Catholic Church having its Easter Mass. The Priest greeted me with a lovely smile and wished me a happy Easter. I went inside to admire the Romanesque style church and enjoy the swelling beautiful music of the organist.

I got to take home a bottle of Holy Water too. I wonder if it would be OK if I used a drop or two in a cocktail tonight? That can't be too bad. After all, Jesus was fond of the wine. All of his followers were too..."Look Jesus! A puddle! Look!"

While we prefer to more Pagan symbols of this very heathen holiday, (Fertility! Lets do it like Bunnies!) the glorious joy at the Resurrection in this church reminded me that the ideal Easter Cocktail is probably the Corpse Reviver.

The Corpse reviver is actually a whole category of drinks that were considered morning "eye-openers" after a rough night out. They usually involve a spirit, bitters and juice, perfect for the morning, no? I even crerated on myself back in 2007 called the Corpse Reviver No 33. Harry Craddock the master mixologist said Corpse Revivers are “to be taken before 11 a.m., or whenever steam and energy are needed." Jesus needed some steam, no doubt.

The most famous is most certainly the Corpse Reviver No. 2. But The Corpse Reviver No 1 is tasty too. Especially the version cooked up by Belfast-born Joe Gilmore, the legendary barman at the Savoy Hotel from 1955-1976. Something to try, you Fernet Junkies.

Savoy Corpse Reviver

1 oz Brandy
1 oz Fernet Branca
1 oz White Creme de menthe

Combine in a shaker with cracked ice; shake and strain.

Corpse Reviver No 2

3/4 ounce gin.
3/4 ounce Cointreau.
3/4 ounce Lillet blanc.
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice.
2 dashes Absinthe

Combine in a shaker with cracked ice; shake and strain.
Garnish with a stemless cherry.

The Corpse Reviver no 33
3/4 oz Irish whiskey
3/4 oz Irish Mist
3/4 oz Cointreau
Dash Orange bitters

Combine in a shaker with cracked ice; shake and strain.
Flamed orange peel garnish

Happy Halloween!

Last night at the beautiful Louis 649, Hendrick's brand ambassador Jim Ryan whipped up some tasting drinks for the holidaze.

First he stared out with a tasty punch. According to my brother-in-cocktail's site Punch in the Mouth, a punch is "One of Sour, Two of Sweet, Three of Strong, Four of Weak." Mr. Ryan's was a tart and dry combination of tea, gin and soda. My instructions were to muddle honey and dried cranberries and then added lemon juice to break it up. Then into the bowl goes chamomile tea, Old-Fashioned bitters, Hendricks Gin, and pomegranate soda. Garnish with thinly sliced cucumber and orange wheels with clove studs. It was a very tasty punch that will go on my Holidaze table for sure. He christened this punch, Persephone's Punch so it looks like my Christmas party this year will have a Greek theme! Good thing since I have no room this year and was hoping my Greek neighbor would host in his apartment. Besides..I love feta.

Next he had some delicious Halloween drinks. There is blood vodka, dyed corn syrup etc... but I prefer the classic drinks that have creepy names. And if they are equal part drinks, they are even easier to make when you are blinded by your false eyelashes and sexy costume (sexy balloon boy?)

So while we had Satan's Bloody Whiskers and Corpse Reviver no 2 last night, but I'll throw in a favorite, The Obituary Cocktail in there too.

Mr. Ryan explained that Corpse Reviver's are a whole category of "wake me up" drinks. They usually have some citrus, so think of it as your morning orange juice...with Blood! MoaHa ha ha ha ha!

Satan's Bloody Whiskers
3/4 part Lillet Blanc
3/4 part Lillet Rouge
3/4 part Orange Juice
3/4 part Hendricks Gin
1/2 part Solerno Blood orange liqueur
Dash orange bitters

Corpse Reviver no 2
Equal parts blood orange liqueur, lemon, Hendricks Gin and a dash of absinthe

Obituary Cocktail
2 oz gin
1/4 oz dry vermouth
1/4 oz absinthe

Happy New Year!

2009 Heights Party Punch aka, Tomas Collins
Gin
White Wine
Lillet
Tonic
Grapefruit bitters

Toss in the fishbowl with some ice and stumble downstairs to party with the boys and ring in the New Year!
Lemon sorbet

Another Way to Die

"A dry martini," he said. "One. In a deep champagne goblet."

"Oui, monsieur."

"Just a moment. Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large, thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?"

"Certainly, monsieur." The barman seemed pleased with the idea.

"Gosh, that's certainly a drink," said Leiter.

Bond laughed. "When I'm . . . er . . . concentrating," he explained, "I never have more than one drink before dinner. But I do like that one to be large and very strong and very cold and very well-made. I hate small portions of anything, particularly when they taste bad. This drink's my own invention. I'm going to patent it when I can think of a good name."

-Ian Fleming, Casino Royale

That, my dears, is a Vesper. And this, my darlings is the new James Bond song from Jack White and Alicia Keys. It inspired me to make another version of the Vesper, one that should be sipped while taking in sounds of this awesome new song. I use Millers Gin instead because the idea of Iceland and the UK working together to create a clean fresh Gin is ripe for an international incident. I tend to prefer Ketel One Vodka, but the Russians always made the best baddies on film (Recent Indy movie is a horrific exception) so I am gonna have to go with Stolichnaya here.

There is a reason why the Raconteurs are one of my favorite bands. Mr. White has the dirty sound I love to have in my ears. Daniel Craig is sure easy on the eyes. Lets hope you enjoy this Vesper in your mouth.

Another Way To Vesper

3 Parts Millers

1 Part Stolichnaya

½ Part Lillet Blanc (Kina is no more)

Dash of Bitter Truth Lemon Bitters (Sometimes the Truth IS Bitter)

Go on and shake it to the music while you do a sexy silhouetted dance.

Life in Provence

So I have finally gotten around to reading the works of Peter Mayle. I started with A Year in Provence and it brought up so many great memories, hopes and dreams. And a pretty good cocktail.

The days were warm enough for swimming, the nights cool enough for fires, Indian Summer weather.

I can see myself ...learning French (or Spanish, Greek...or Italian) and working on our pastoral home, building it to our needs and wants. Take in the local cuisine and culture. Become natives in a new land. I could be happy adjusting to life that is ruled by the passing seasons. Watching our dogs play while we host our friends and loved ones. My parents are doing it now, part-time, but I know they want to do it full time as soon as it allows. I have less responsibility (no mortgage, kids, etc..) but I don't want to do it alone. I am a social girl and I need that one true lover, companion, friend, partner to be in it with me. In it till the sweet end. So in hopes of finding the sweet pastoral ending to my life, I fixed myself a sweet fragrant cocktail tonight. It has the fresh citrus of the country, the herbs of Provence (lavender) and the secret ingredient is the homemade calvados from the French countryside.

Provincial Countrytime
Gin
Lillet
Lavender simple syrup
Fresh squeezed lime or lemon
Lemon & Orange bitters
Calvados