Did you ever decide you just wanted something different to drink?

[Moondog]

Last edited Mon Mar 25, 2013, 05:37 PM - Edit history (1)

I thought I'd try a Tanqueray Gimlet for a change of pace. Built one, and just had my first sip.

It was a mistake. Too early in the year. This, like gin and tonic, requires warmer weather. I may be in Florida, but it is not warm enough yet for gin.

Back to the drawing board. Hmmm. Out of town guests drank all my scotch over the weekend. Well. Be right back anyway.

[cliffordu]

1. Well.....

I think any out of town guests who drank all your scotch and didn't replace it need to stay out of town forever.

[Moondog]

2. It was pretty uncaring of them wasn't it?

It's the curse of living in FL, within striking distance of The Rat and the other big amusement parks. You end up running a hostelry for out of town friends and relatives.

Turns out I had some Irish whiskey left in the back of the liquor stash. Close enough, I guess.

[trof]

16. I travel with my own booze.

I appreciate it when hosts offer a drink, but I don't expect them to underwrite my 'habit'.
In fact, some of my friends don't drink alcohol.
I don't understand that but they sure don't object to me bringing my bar with me.

[talkingmime]

35. We do that too, even if we're staying in a hotel with a bar (cheaper).

We'll prime up a little and then go down to the bar for a couple of beer and stay even longer if they've got pool, darts, or airhockey. Then it's back to the room for some more priminnd other things if we both don't completely pass out (a much more frequent ocassion as we age).

But even at friends houses we'll bring our own if we're spending the night. Otherwise only as gifts because we don't tend to because we still have to make it home. Neighborohood parties are another matter - drag along a bottle or a case of beer and indulge until it is clear that EVERYONE has had way too much. On a rare ocassion we'll hang out by the firepit with a couple or too well after the party has broken up.

Oh, and I learned early in life that it is REALLY not a good idea to offer a beer to the cop responding to a noise complaint. Fortunately all I got was a seroius chewing out, but it was enough.

[trof]

42. My motel room requirements at age 71:

In order of importance...

1. First floor, if no elevator
2. ashtrays
3. king-size bed, but 2 queens will do
4. close proximity to ice machine
5. coffemaker
6. fridge
7. microwave

By the end of 8-10 hours of driving, us old folks are tuckered out. We usually either pack our own picnic or get take-out and bring it back to the room.
As soon as I hit the ice machine and make us a drink, we shuck off and get into something comfortable. then just veg in front of the tube.

A few tips:
Since we stay in a 'smoking' room, I bring Lysol deodorizing spray and a lightly scented candle. Neither of us like the smell of stale tobacco smoke, ESPECIALLY cigars.

I carry a baggie of instant coffee with a small plastic spoon in it. One cup of coffee from the room coffeemaker is never enough to get me cranking in the a.m. You can heat water in the coffeemaker, although most motel hot water is hot enough.

I bring a small cooler (about a cubic foot) for fetching ice from the machine.
It will keep it a lot longer than the standard motel ice bucket.

We both like 2 pillows and used to bring extras, but many motels have extras on the bed or stored in the room now.

My uncle used to travel with spare light bulbs, but I haven't gotten to be quite that anal yet.

Happy Trails.

[sharp_stick]

3. I hope it was cheap scotch

nothing pisses me off more than guests that don't resupply the liquor cabinet.

I had a couple (old friends of my wife) come over for a weekend. They developed a taste for my Manhattans and were very nice in buying me a replacement bottle for the one we drank. Unfortunately not being bourbon drinkers they didn't realize, or maybe pretended not to realize that replacing a bottle of Woodford Reserve with Wild Turkey wasn't quite the same thing.

Of course I drank the Turkey anyway, it wasn't Jim Beam after all.

[Moondog]

4. No, sadly.

I don't do a lot of entertaining any more, so I keep what I drink on hand. These folks were a short notice visitation, and the last time I saw them they were wine drinkers. Surprise!

[In_The_Wind]

5. I agree. Gin and tonic is a warm weather drink.

[bluesbassman]

10. I'm a tequila drinker by trade...

Añejo primarily, but a good Reposado's nice and will do in a pinch. However if a cocktail is called for, a Bombay Saphire G&T does me right just about any time of the year.

[In_The_Wind]

17. I drink tequila year round. Have you tried Asom Broso La Rosa?

[bluesbassman]

18. No...

The bottle makes me... nervous.

[In_The_Wind]

20. Precisely my point. I bought it while visiting a DUer.

[Moondog]

39. That it is. Hot day. Sweaty glass.

In that time and place, it's pretty good.

[In_The_Wind]

41. One Salty Dog is my limit.

No problem with everything else.
So you can have my share of the gin.

[trof]

43. Haven't had a Salty Dog in ages. As soon as it warms up.

Thanks for the memory.

[In_The_Wind]

48. It was at a very good party when I was 17.

Yep. The memories.

There comes a day for everything.
Celebrate about the upcoming Spring, new friends.
Forget about some of the old things. Like the cold of Winter.

Salud

[trof]

50. I made a Salty Dog for an Australian friend.

The next time she came by and I offered her a drink she said "Could I have another one of your Salty Pigs?"
She'll never live that down.

[In_The_Wind]

52. Oh my!

I had no less than 20 card playing friends drinking with me that night.
It was a trip! A very good one. No one had to drive home.
Everyone looked out for each other. Those were very cool days.

[elleng]

6. VODKA gimlet was my summer drink!

(Don't like gin.)
Thanks for reminder. May have Black Russian tonight!

[Moondog]

7. I like the vodka version too. But Tanqueray is very citrus-y, and I figured

well, hell, I'd have a spring citrus explosion. Like I said upthread, too early for that.

Actually, a black or white Russian sounds pretty tasty too.

Note to self - pick up some Kahlua when I pick up scotch!

[elleng]

8. Must say I've never distinguished among gins.

Just don't like it. Must be something about juniper berries.

[Moondog]

9. Ah, well. I'm not pushing it, but the primary taste of Tanqueray is citrus, not juniper.

I keep some Bombay Sapphire around for when I or, more accurately, somebody in my home likes juniper. Anyway, and strictly fwiw, Tanqueray may have juniper in it, but I really don't notice it if it does. And it is different than, say, a lemon flavored vodka. More complex. Beyond that, I'd just suggest you pick up a miniature sometime and try it.

[elleng]

12. Thanks. Maybe I will.

Do like citrus.

[HipChick]

11. Fell in love with Mojito's

Had no idea cheap rum gave me heartburn though...

[Moondog]

13. They're very nice. A lot of lime in them, though.

Pretty acidic. Add that to liquor and, if you're not used to it, it could do a number on your stomach lining and result in a bad case of heartburn. FWIW.

[Taverner]

14. Gin/Whiskey/Vodka on the rocks

I have learned to love the tastes

[a la izquierda]

15. Hendricks gin martini...

Slice of cucumber instead of olives.
Wowza, good stuff. Floral and lovely.

[Moondog]

22. Interesting. I have not yet tried Hendricks.

Cucumber, you say. Hmmmm. Thanks for the tip.

[trof]

19. I live in coastal Alabama. I buy my Scotch in FL.

It's MUCH cheaper than in Alabama (at state liquor stores) AND I get a 10% case discount.
Win-Win

[Moondog]

23. Yeah, liquor is pretty cheap here, in relative terms.

The liquor stores are not state owned, and not only do they compete on price, they do offer case discounts on wine and spirits.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

21. something different for a cold wintery night

cognac
Grand Mariner
Captain Jack Spiced Rum
peach brandy
good moonshine

some of these are harder to locate than others ...

[Moondog]

24. Well. The last three on your list

are things I have not sampled.

I did not know that the last one even existed. So, yes, I can understand the hard to locate part.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

27. it is very rare and harder and harder to find the good stuff ... cost can be prohibitive.

[pinboy3niner]

26. In what proportions?

And what do you call that drink?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

28. good lord. if they can call a drink a Long Island Iced Tea then

I guess this one should be called Southern Revenge

[trof]

44. Does anybody drink Hot Buttered Rum any more? Or Irish Coffee?

Used to have those in front of the fireplace when we lived in NH.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

45. I do, trof - on occasion ... I also make a

mulled spiced apple cider that is really nice on a cold winter day. It is my own recipe. The family likes it so, I guess it is a hit.

This Christmas season was my first time to make it. I think it will become a standard at our table for future winter holidays.

[trof]

51. We made glug and mulled spiced wine.

Skating parties on the pond.
It was like a Currier & Ives etching.

Used a hot poker to mull the wine.
I always maintained that the 'mulling' whupped the alcohol out of the wine.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

53. yes, I understand but, this seem to pack just a little punch so, I don't think all of

alcohol had been whupped out

it is a fairly easy recipe:

apple cider - about a gallon
spiced rum - about a fifth
lemon juice, a real one if you have it. just half, depending on how much you are making
teaspoon sugar
dash salt
dash cinnamon
dash nutmeg

put in big pot on stove. served in coffee cups. garnish with a cinnamon stick, dollop of whipped cream and dash of nutmeg.

I sipped on it all night and maintained a nice warm buzz. it was lovely.

[trof]

54. The Warm and Fuzzies.

Yeah!

[Tuesday Afternoon]

55. let me know if ever you try it. hope you enjoy it ... please see edit. forgot that I did

put in a teaspoon of sugar. Actually, glad you asked about this because I had not written it down. so, thanks for asking, trof

[trof]

56. In coastal Alabama we rarely (never) have hot drinks.

It just doesn't get cold enough to enjoy them.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

57. ah, yes. pity there. but, you have so much else to enjoy that you will not miss it.

Last edited Tue Mar 26, 2013, 07:42 PM - Edit history (1)

really do love Redneck Riveria. It is where I summered as a child. Many good memories of that area.

[trof]

59. Summers on the Redneck Riveria...me too.

But my childhood summers were considerably before yours, I betcha'.
40s and 50s.
Tourist courts.
No 'motels'.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

60. we always rented a house on the beach. it was a bunch of us ...

mom, dad, granpa and granma, my two uncles (auburn grads, btw) and me and my two brothers, also, sometimes my aunt and her family. this was in the mid-late 60's. I remember one time my uncle caught a squid using my mom's bathing cap. lol

[baldguy]

25. It takes a real man to order a fruity drink with an unbrella in it.

I've been known to do that on occasion.

[Moondog]

29. Four parts gin, one part Rose's Lime Juice?

OK, since I generally drink my stuff straight up, or on the rocks, I'll agree. But I don't even own those little umbrella things.

[In_The_Wind]

31. I'll pass.

No umbrellas is good.
The gin is all yours.

[Moondog]

37. Meh. It's a once-in-a-while thing with me.

And apparently yesterday wasn't one of those times.

[In_The_Wind]

38. Ah. Lost my love for gin at 17. One too many.

Never again!

[Moondog]

40. I feel that way about Southern Comfort.

Same age. Same reason. Still don't even like looking at bottles of the stuff.

[astral]

30. Reed's Jamaican Ginger Ale

Highly addictive, without the high fructose corn syrup.

... might be good with a splash of gin or vodka ... I like it straight-up myself, with a straw.

[Moondog]

33. I've heard good things about this. I'll look for some.

[talkingmime]

32. Warm ovaltine with spiced rum - great before bed.

[Moondog]

34. I haven't had Ovaltine since I was a kid. That is a combination

that would never have occurred to me. But it sounds great!

[talkingmime]

36. It's also simple - nuke both mugs 2/3 full of milk until warm, add rum, add ovaltine.

(It's also good with a touch of whipped cream on top)

[Moondog]

46. Saving this. Thanks.

[talkingmime]

58. Shit. I just checked. We're out of spiced rum AND Ovaltine.

[LiberalEsto]

47. Most of the time I drink Red Rose tea

Sometimes I go for English Breakfast tea for a change.

[Moondog]

49. One of the very few things I miss about the metro DC area is Red Rose tea.

It makes a truly excellent iced tea (important down here south of the Mason-Dixon line). Friends, still condemned to work inside the Beltway, bring me large quantities of it in return for putting them up when they wish to visit The Rat. Mrs Moondog favors Twinings English Breakfast tea for her morning quaff. I prefer the Keurig as a more efficient AM caffeine delivery system.