Vision
Soaring high in a world of clouds
Every direction a vast endless blue
Floating through pillows cascading through your hair
Your world filled with tranquil air
Gushes of wind flow past
A cool floral scent kisses your nose
The enigmatic waft a puzzle of ages
Now a dreamy descent to school even a sage
Through monumental palisades of cumulus and cirrus
A glimmer of gold flickers in the distance
Closer views reveal the sliver of time where sun meets the seashore
There waltzes a brunette beauty adorned in white clutching her spirited tea
Mother's Bouquet
The potion an ode to all the beauty within the world. From the depths of the blue ocean and all it's exotic creatures to the grand heights of the vast blue above. In the middle the passion, give and take, the inspiration and generosity of all who possess it. The mother who oversees all... watcher and giver of life... omnipotent power within and around. So mighty and unrestricted yet vast, enveloping all, that it's almost hidden from the imperceptive passerby. Watch the rich unadulterated colors from top to bottom slowly meld together as the gallant beat of the waltz captures the mind. Just as every human on this tiny rock flying through the universe with their individual personalities and customs meld together to create a magenta masterpiece of oneness. Sip and learn as the bouquet of color and flavor dance upon your tastebuds until you reach enlightenment. Ingredients:
1 oz white rum
1 oz gold rum
1 oz Mother's Bouquet tea*
1 oz pineapple juice
.75 oz key lime juice
.75 oz Blue Raspberry Jolly Rancher syrup*
3 dashes Orinoco bitters
Method:
Fill your favorite tiki glass with pellet ice. Layer all ingredients into the glass as follows:
Blue Raspberry Jolly Rancher syrup, key lime juice, white rum, pineapple juice, gold rum, Mother's Bouquet tea, Orinoco bitters.
*Mother's Bouquet Tea:
1 cup water
4 Tbs Mother's Bouquet tea leaves
8 whole all spice
3 whole cloves
Add spice and cloves to water. Bring to a boil. Take off heat, add tea leaves and steep for 20 minutes.
*Blue Raspberry Jolly Rancher Syrup:
8 Blue Raspberry Jolly Ranchers
1/2 cup water
Simmer water on low heat with Jolly Ranchers, stirring frequently until completely dissolved.
Caribbean Blue
This is a dreamy waltz that makes one flow to and fro just as Boreas, Afer Ventus, Eurus and Zephyrus, the ancient Greek wind gods mentioned in the song. The whirling tone that the music sets is perfect to swizzle down this colorful libation. Watch the colors swirl together in one hand as you take your loved one in the other and pirouette through your living room transforming it into your own private sandy ballroom with an ocean breeze.
Enya
Enya began her musical career in 1980, when she briefly joined her family band Clannad before leaving to perform solo. She gained wider recognition for her music in the 1986 BBC series The Celts. Shortly afterwards, her 1988 album Watermark propelled her to further international fame and she became known for her distinctive sound, characterized by voice-layering, folk melodies, synthesized backdrops and ethereal reverberations. She has performed in 10 languages.
At such an alluring time of year where mother nature is brimming with color, dance through the outdoors with this cocktail and help bring all your fantasies and dreams to reality.
Fight For Your Right To Party
How many of you have had the chance to make it to the 'coolest' house party on the block? You know, the one that all the hippest kids in school go to? The one full of the jocks and the cheerleaders. Popularity is key, unspoken dress code and the chicks are all up ons. Always wondering what's been going on in that castle down the street, but never had the 'in' or felt you rolled with the right crew that was hip enough to get the invite. You've fought for this time and time again, but to no avail. But then, after so many stories you've heard, the great times had in that pad, you got the request. Incredibly jazzed to go, you show up and it's nothing like you thought. It's a drag. The girls ain't all that, the tunes are stale, tonic is flat, even that dude's shirt is wack! Girlies ain't wantin' none, the Aqua Di Gio clouds the fun. The shindig was mild to medium on the scale and you felt like you needed to do something to turn that party out! Wouldn't it have been nice to have had something up your sleeve to make that party rock? Something so fresh and new that it flips that vibe like a flapjack. Well we've got just the trick. Something easy breezy that'll turn up the bass and kick it into cyberspace. Just a couple seconds and you'll be ready to rock the block party till your hair turns gray. Mix Master Mike, what cha gots to say?...
Cheeky Chimp
Just like the three MC's and one DJ, you'll be sippin' this with no delay. With a brassy color and house party spirit, this Cheeky Chimp will have you spittin' game with expert wit. Bring this tonic and you'll be cool as a cucumber in a bowl of hot sauce. The second you fill the punch bowl with this cheeky delight, the girlies get down and the suckas hit the road. You grab your back street friend and get loud. Bust open the freezer and grab the only thing that's cooler than this party... iiiicccceeee. At this point, everybody's awesome ape is chillin' like Bob Dylan and the dj starts spinnin' that sax on wax. The place is jumpin', the beat is bumpin' and you decide to step up the cocktail in yo' Grandma's punchbowl. You grab a flask full of Spanish Fly from your track jacket and spike the Monkey. Before you know it, you're waxin' and milkin'. There'll be no sleepin' until you're back in Brooklyn. You're offered Möet, you don't mind whiskey, but this fly monkey's got the ladies so frisky.
Cheeky Chimp Ingredients:
1 bottle (750 ml) Brooklyn Republic vodka
1 bottle (750 ml) Kraken Black spiced rum
1 qt orange juice
1 pint lemon juice
As much Spanish fly as you think your party goers can handle
Method:
Throw it all in a bowl. If you want it to taste def... pour it on ice. When it's time to get ill, pour it on your face.
Spanish Fly
The Spanish Fly is an emerald-green beetle in the family Meloidae, Lytta vesicatoria. It contains a powerful blister-inducing substance called Cantharidin. This substance is claimed to have aphrodisiac properties, as a result of its irritant effects upon the body's genitourinary tract, and can result in poisoning if ingested. As it passes through the body, Cantharidin irritates the genitals resulting in increased blood flow that can mimic the engorgement that occurs with sexual excitement. The ease of toxic overdose makes this highly dangerous, so the sale of such products as Spanish fly has been made illegal in most countries. Nevertheless, there are many historical examples of it's use:
In Roman times, Livia, the scheming wife of Augustus Casesar slipped it into food, hoping to inspire her guests to some indiscretion with which she could later blackmail them
Henry IV is known to have consumed Spanish fly
It was slipped into the food of Louis XIV to secure the king's lust for Madame de Montespan.
It is claimed the Marquis de Sade gave aniseed-flavored pastilles that were laced with Spanish fly to prostitutes at an orgy in 1772. He was sentenced to death for poisoning and sodomy, but later reprieved on appeal
"Spanish Fly" is an instrumental solo played on a nylon string acoustic guitar by Eddie Van Halen. It was featured on the 1979 album 'Van Halen II'. The track is viewed by many as a follow up to the electric guitar instrumental "Eruption." Guitarist Steve Vai has said that "Spanish Fly" is his favorite Van Halen song
The compound was mentioned in the 1986 Beastie Boys song, "Brass Monkey", as being mixed in the title drink as an aphrodisiac between the narrator (Ad-Rock, Mike D, MCA) and a girl at a party
Here at TnT we don't like to mess with anything that can kill us any quicker than alcohol so we found a different recipe for this alluring, funky-fresh aphrodisiac. The herb Damiana also has historical use as an aphrodisiac. Damiana has a strong spice-like odor somewhat like chamomile, due to the essential oils present in the plant.
Spanish fly Ingredients:
750 ml brandy
4 ounces Damiana herb
2 ounces lemongrass
4 cinnamon sticks, broken
4 whole cloves
1 cup honey
Method:
3 days before a rager, put all ingredients in a large mason jar. Shake it up to incorporate everything. Let it sit for a few days. Strain out with cheesecloth or if you're after that "treeeee whiiiifffff" then find a shitty white t-shirt you have lying around the house and strain it through that. Insta-hippie.
Brooklyn Republic Vodka
First, the finest grains from the American Midwest are selected to undergo an initial 6-column spirit distillation right near where they're harvested. Each still is designed to remove a specific impurity. They chose 6-column distillation over traditional still processing because of its highly refined ability to make exceptional raw spirit. It's in Brooklyn where the magic of small batch vodka making begins. The vodka is blended from several grain spirits, including organic wheat and sweet corn, with purified local Brooklyn water, which is known for it's distinct sweetness.
Kraken Black Spiced Rum
Kraken is a 94 proof black rum. Named after the mythical giant squid-like sea monster, it was introduced in 2010. The base rum used in the spirit is from Trinidad and Tobago, distilled from naturally sweet molasses made from locally-grown sugar cane. The rum is aged 1-2 years and then blended with a mix of 11 spices, including cinnamon, ginger and clove. The liquid is black, revealing hints of brown when held up to the light. The bottle is styled after a Victorian rum bottle, with two hoop handles based on the tradition of hanging a bottle to prevent breakage.
Brass Monkey Once a pre-bottled mixed drink sold in stores by the Heublein company throughout the 70's, 80's and 90's, this now defunct libation has found life after death through pop culture sources such as this Beastie Boys song. The drink had a The bass, sax and scratch grab your attention like a good lookin' babe at a party. Then comes the beat and the rhymin' scheme. Drink your Brass Monkey, here's how you feel... you put your left leg down, your right leg up, tilt your head back and finish the cup. The Beastie Boys take turns on the mic with rhymes so fresh you feel like there's no other place to be than right here dancin' and drinkin'. They keep rappin', get hammered and have their manager pay for the bill. Now we just need girlies!! This brass-colored elixir will get you right where you want to be. The sweet rum and fresh orange juice greet you first, the vodka then delivers a warming sensation to which the fresh lemon juice answers with a squeeze of the tongue. The herbal notes finish it off nicely. Delicious, refreshing and simple!
"We got the bottle, you got the cup, c'mon everybody let's get ffffffffff"...
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys were an American hip hop band from New York City, formed in 1981. For the majority of their career, the group consisted of Michael "Mike D" Diamond (vocals, drums), Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass) and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (vocals, guitar). Originally formed as a four-piece hardcore punk band, the Your Aborigines, in 1981 by Diamond (vocals), John Berry (guitar), Yauch (bass) and Kate Schellenbach (drums), the band appeared on the compilation cassette New York Thrash, before recording their first EP, Polly Wog Stew, in 1982. Berry left shortly thereafter, and was replaced by Horovitz. After achieving moderate local success with the 1983 experimental hip hop 12-inch "Cooky Puss", Schellenbach dropped out and the group made a full transition to hip hop, releasing a string of successful singles. The Beastie Boys toured with Madonna in 1985 and a year later released their debut album Licensed to Ill.
With seven platinum or better albums from 1986-2004, the Beastie Boys were one of the longest-lived hip hop acts world wide. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2012; the third rap group to enter the Hall after Run-D.M.C. and Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. The following month, MCA died of cancer of the parotid salivary gland. In June 2014, Mike D stated that the Beastie Boys would not continue their careers as a group, as a promise to Adam Yauch.
Here's to 31 years of rappin' and a rhymin, schemin' and a climbin', up to the top of that wall known as Rock n Roll. Mix up a Cheeky Chimp, put your left leg down, your right leg up. Tilt your head back, let's finish the cup.
"So he found the heart in barren land, it was beating still alive... he held it gently in his hand and looked up to the sky..." A Battle Cry Heard
Trudging through the highlands in search of the ultimate secret weapon to make this victory your own, you notice something glimmering in the distance. As you approach, the gleam fades in and out. You ponder what this thing in the distance could be. Just a piece of a shattered helmet, remnants of a previous battle?... A gem that possesses the powerful magic you've been searching for?... Maybe it's your mind playing tricks on you... You can't overlook the possibilities that lay ahead! To the next mountain peak you dash, assailing any obstacle in your path as your heart beats faster and faster, triumphant images racing through your mind. Your army's morale is dwindling. The numbers stagger. You need something powerful to fend off the foes ahead. Something they'll never suspect. As you scurry up the last bit of the peak and look over the majestic land before you, you can't focus on anything in the vast distance, for before you lies something curiously radiant. At first glance, it merely looks like an old drinking horn. After looking closer, however, you can see what was shimmering in the light from afar. The drinking horn is covered in dirt and blood, but on one end a protruding jewel has nothing to camouflage it's brilliant shine. As you begin to wipe it with your pelt, you notice how ornate it is. The engravings on the kantsi read an ancient language you haven't seen in many moons... a language reserved for the uttering of spells. Your eyes widen when you realize what you've stumbled upon...
Viking Blod poured for the Father of The Baby Wolf
Beowulf
I† glistens in the Nordic sun. Your spirits lift. You crouch to pick up this gift from the Gods. You bring the kantsi to your lips for an un-knowing taste. As it flows through the bristles of your unkempt, element-battered mustache you realize this is Beowulf, the forgotten ancient mead potion. With a recipe lost centuries ago, you begin to wonder how this made its way here. This desolate peak upon these towering cliffs is the last place you'd expect to find something this rare and magical. You remember your father drinking Beowulf with his closest compatriots. They would laugh of tales from previous battles and ambiguously practice sword techniques. You must somehow unlock the recipe of this rare elixir. You wish to bring it back to life, like the witch you saw die in flames all those years ago. Your calvary deserves to toast to battles won with a horn full of the mighty...BEOWULF!!
Ingredients:
1 1/2oz Montelobos mezcal joven
1oz Viking Blod mead
3/4oz sweet vermouth
1/2oz lemon juice
5oz Skull Splitter Orcadian Ale Method:
Place mezcal, mead, sweet vermouth and lemon juice in a shaker tin. Add Ice. Give it a short vigorous shake. Pour Skull Splitter Ale into the shaker with the rest of the liquid. Strain into a pilsner glass or your favorite Kantsi. Garnish with hammer of Thor.
5,000 years in the making
Skull Splitter
Skull Splitter is an 8.5%abv wee heavy beer. Skull Splitter won the award of Supreme Champion Winter beer of Britain 2001 at CAMRA's national winter celebration of beer. Skull Splitter takes it's name after Torfinn Hausakljuv who was nicknamed "Skullsplitter". Hausakljuv was the 7th Viking Earl of Orkney circa 950 AD.
Skull Splitter was in the center of some controversy over it's name with The Portman Group. Dubbed "the alcohol watchdog group", Portman carried out an investigation based on complaints that the ale had an "aggressive theme". The Portman Group decided on December 23rd 2008 (Henry's 22nd birthday) not to uphold the complaint after the brewery launched a strong campaign to save this 20-year-old beer, informing the group of the beer's namesake.
"the first blow makes the helmet crack, the axe cut to the teeth"
"the last with Pagan blood"
Viking Blod Mead (Roughly translated Danish)
To create this mead they have combined the traditional brew with different spices and dried hibiscus. In addition to the color adds this mead one kryderet, aromatic and floral aftertaste, as a good Madeira. Based on a recipe that dates back to the year 1700.
Nordic honey wine with added hibiscus and hops
19%abv
"seek the wolf in thyself"
Montelobos is an artisanal mezcal made in Santiago Matalán Oaxaca produced with 100% organically certified agave espadín. This mezcal is meticulously crafted by world renowned agave expert Iván Saldaña. It is made according to his vision and passion for agave and artisanal mezcal with respect for traditional production methods, sustainability, and the quality of life in the communities and families who have produced mezcal for generations. Montelobos achieves extraordinary balance and complexity through a bold integration between agave, fermentation notes and smoke. Montelobos Mezcal is proudly produced by Casa Montelobos, a Mexican company based in Oaxaca and Mexico City.
Of Wolf and Man
Father of the Wolf
Complete with HD mini-movie, this battle-hymn has you ready to charge into enemy shields. In the past, alcohol has been dubbed "liquid courage" and we feel this tune will fill your kantsi with a similar fortitude. When paired with the mead and mezcal-laden Beowulf, this song will transform you into a goliath of viking strength and valor. The syncopated opening guitar riff kicks your heart into gear much like the hiss that can be heard when opening a "Skull Splitter." Johan Hegg begins to growl, as your revered Herse would, just before a battle making you thirst for blood. The face-melting guitar solos fill you with a pre-mature feeling of victory, though this crusade with Loki has not yet begun. You then find yourself stampeding down the mountainside to the relentless Thor-hammering pace of the double kick drums. With Oden on your side, ready to split skulls, you grip your sword and charge into the chorus...
"Serpent's kin, born of sin, dark within, FATHER OF THE WOLF!!"
"twenty ships with Norsemen"
Amon Amarth is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Tumba, founded in 1992. The band takes it's name from the Sindarin name of Mount Doom, a volcano in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth. Their lyrics mostly deal with Vikings, their mythology and their history, leading to the band often being labeled as Viking metal. The band comprises of vocalist Johan Hegg, guitarists Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg and bassist Ted Lundström. Amon Amarth has released nine studio albums, one compilation album, one EP, one video album and eight music videos.
A Kantsi is a traditional Georgian drinking horn. In drinking culture, typically made from ram or goat horns, sometimes also from bull horns. \,,/
We hope you crush this tonic with your favorite Vikings.
Casa De Amore
When you're in love with someone, all you want is for them to love you back. We do outlandish, foolish things when in love. And it hurts when the other person simply doesn't feel the same way as you. We start to question ourselves. What did I do wrong? Why doesn't this person like me the way I like them? It can become extremely vexing, driving us to the point of losing sleep. But maybe, just maybe, love picks us. Love decides who winds up together. Love decides who we marry & have children with. Who we build a house with. Who we play in the sand with. Love can be wrong. But what if it's right?
Havana Skyline
Photograph by Kahlilah Nelson
You finish the lovely meal of fresh sea bass you caught that day, some greens from your tiny backyard garden and a lovely bottle of Cuban Tempranillo. You clear away the dishes and as you're standing at the kitchen sink, the misty sea breeze drifts through the open window to remind you that you're home. You've earned this moment. You both work hard to make this place your home. Your shoulders are sunburned from fishing, her knees are sore from gardening. But now you can relax. You turn around only to find... she's gone. She's headed to the beach. You know this because her favorite thing to do after dinner is to watch the stars fall out of the Caribbean sky. So you decide to join her. But first, cocktails. Normally, you just whip up a cold pitcher of Kalimotxo, but tonight is special. What is something delicious I can bring down to the beach? You open the creaky cabinet above the fridge. (You've had to WD-40 the cabinet hinges once a month because of the humidity) In it, you find a dusty bottle of Bacardi Gran Reserva Maestro de Ron...
Son Cubano Daiquiri
To conduct the mass amounts of sound, rhythms and tone in life, or in a symphony, one must be a master, a maestro. To bring about such beautiful refrain with just a flick of a baton, or to create a delicate and refined spirit to be sipped by everyone from the common consumer to those with the most refined of palates, requires a long scrupulous process of tweaking, dissecting and reflecting. It takes years of practice to achieve mastery, ten thousand hours to be a bit more precise. To pay homage to the rich history of Cuba, it's eclectic cultural mix of music, people and spirit, we thought it necessary to use a product that pays tribute to the Master Blenders of rum making in the Caribbean and fuse it with liquors and aperitifs from around the world. Just as the culture today in Cuba has been influenced by travelers from far and wide, this cocktail, the Son Cubano Daiquiri, (which is a style of music that originated in Cuba) epitomizes the monumental changes and arduous evolution in this small yet resilient Caribbean island.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Bacardi Gran Reserva Maestro de Ron
1/2 oz Vya sweet vermouth
1/2 oz Alvear amontillado
3 bar spoons raw sugar
3 large lime wedges
1 dash orinoco bitters
Method:
Place sugar and limes into a shaker tin. Muddle until sugar has dissolved. Add all other ingredients. Add ice. Shake to the rhythm of the clave and double strain into a coupe.
Chan Chan
"This song wasn't just composed, it was dreamt", states composer Compay Segundo. Sometimes he woke up with a melody in his head. He heard instruments, all very clear. He'd look over the balcony and see nobody, but still hear it as if it was being played right there on the street. The foundation of the song revolves around 4 sensitive notes that grab you in an instant when heard, like a powerful sermon spoken in a voice of a distinguished Cardinal. The lyric is inspired by a children's tale of Juanica and Chan Chan who are building a house and go to the beach to get some sand. Chan Chan collects the sand and puts it on the jibe (a sieve for sand). Juanica shakes it, and to do so she shakes herself, making Chan Chan aroused. The song also speaks of travels through towns near each other in the Holguín Province on the east side of Cuba. A common occurrence in Son to mention Cuban toponyms. From Alto Cedro to Marcané and Cueto to Mayarí the repeated chorus sounds on like an ancient march making you feel like you've seen all the history of the world in four minutes and seventeen seconds. Drinking a "Son Cubano" with the Californian sweet vermouth, Spanish amontillado, Puerto Rican Rum, Orinoco bitters that flow from the Venezuelan river, Cuban sugar and lime, is sure to teleport you through time as you enter into the Chan Chan.
This wonderful bottle was given to
Tunes and Tonic
by Alyssa Dupre of Bacardi
Thank you!
Bacardi Gran Reserva Maestro de Ron
This is a super-premium mixing rum launched in the spring of 2015. Bacardi Gran Reserva Maestro de Ron is a tribute to the Master Blenders that have protected the secrets of the family's rum-making process for more than one hundred and fifty years. Inspired by the pursuit of creating the ultimate white mixing rum, Bacardi Gran Reserva Maestro de Ron is expertly crafted using a double-aging process, where rums that are aged for at least one year are blended together and returned to white oak barrels for an additional three months. The result is an expertly blended white rum ideal for elevating simple cocktails. Bacardi has an interesting history. Their symbol, the bat, was decided by Doña Amalia Bacardi to be used when she spotted fruit bats in the family's distillery. The bat had always been a symbol of good fortune. In 1919, the U.S. banned the manufacture and sale of alcohol. The Bacardi's had some ideas of their own; they invited Americans to Cuba for legendary weekend long parties. Their business was still booming despite prohibition for years until 1960 when the revolutionary regime in Cuba illegally confiscated all the Bacardi Company's Cuban assets. They were given no compensation and were forced out of the country. The Bacardi's lost their business and their home, but as history has proven, not their spirit. They simply just started over in a new location.
Vya
The recipe behind Vya Vermouth is a secret. Only natural ingredients are used: whole herbs, wine and grape spirit. The exact 15 to 20 varieties of herbs, proportions and infusions are all stored away in winemaker Michael Blaylock's notes. This secret recipe is tweaked from year to year as, for example, the character of the cinnamon from Mexico brings in a needed dimension. The harvest quality of the grapes also fluctuates each year, but in spite of changing conditions, the quality and flavor of the Vya remain consistent. Through his own nose, as well as meticulous math equations and careful oversight, Blaylock manages the production of Vya and assures consumers that when they buy a bottle of Vya, their expectations will be met. A little anecdote about this product; as Andrew Quady, the founder of Quady winery and maker of the first Vya Vermouth, in the year 2000, gave a taste of his creation to one of the worlds leading wine critics, the man sipped, then with amazement and utter curiosity asked, "What is this?" Quady then exclaimed, "It's Vermouth, You Ass!" Then named it accordingly.
Amontillado
From the Alvear winery in Jerez, Spain, this non-vintage Amontillado Carlos VII is far superior to the regular bottling. From a 25-year old Solera system, it's medium to dark amber color is accompanied by a medium to full-bodied sherry revealing loads of pungent, earthy, nutty notes, a slightly oxidized character, and a long, persistent finish.
Son Cubano (music)
Son Cubano is a style of music and dance that originated in Cuba and gained worldwide popularity in the 1930's. Son combines the structure and elements of Spanish canción and the Spanish guitar with African rhythms and percussion instruments of Bantu origin. The Cuban Son is one of the most influential and widespread forms of Latin American music. The word "son" translated from Spanish to English means "rhythm".
Buena Vista Social Club
As Cuban revolutions go, it was an entirely peaceable uprising- but it's impact could not have been more profound. On the release of the Buena Vista Social Club album in 1997, few outside the specialist world music audience initially took much notice of the record's elegantly sculpted tunes and warm, acoustic rhythms. Then something extraordinary occurred. The album was spectacularly reviewed by a few discerning critics, but although their words of praise did Buena Vista's cause no harm, they cannot explain what subsequently happened. Good reviews create an early surge in sales, but unless it's a big pop release sustained by an expensive tv ad campaign, the established pattern is that interest then slowly tails off. Instead, Buena Vista's sales figures kept rising week by week, building almost entirely by word-of-mouth until it achieved critical mass: all who heard the record not only fell in love with Buena Vista's irresistible magic, but were then inspired to play or recommend the album to everyone they knew. Once you heard it, you had to have a heart of stone not to be swept away by the music's romantic impulses and uninhibited exuberance.
Compay Segundo
Compay Segundo (November 18, 1907- July 13, 2003) was a Cuban trova guitarist, singer and composer. He was also the inventor of thearmónico, a seven-stringed guitar-like instrument, created to eliminate a harmonic jump in the Spanish guitar and the tres. In the 1950's, he became well known as the second voice and tres player in Los Compadres, a duo he formed with Lorenzo Hierrezuelo in 1947. Los Compadres were one of the most successful Cuban duos of their time. Greater international fame came later, in 1997, with the release of The Buena Vista Social Club album, a hugely successful recording which won several grammy awards. Segundo's most famous composition is "Chan Chan", the opening track on the album, whose four opening chords are instantly recognizable all over the world. "Chan Chan" was recorded by Segundo himself various times as well as by countless other Latin artists. At a fiesta, he sang to President Fidel Castro, who took his pulse and joked about his vitality despite his 90-plus years. "Who could have imagined that?" he asked, when he found himself at the Vatican City, performing "Chan Chan" before Pope John Paul II. He explained his longevity simply: mutton consommé and a drink of rum. He predicted he would live to be 115, but died of kidney failure in Havana, 20 years short of his ambition.
We greatly enjoyed experimenting with this weeks featured spirit. It was a delight to pair it with such a significant song in the history of music that proves it's still possible in this day and age to create truly quality music and achieve great acclaim without millions of dollars and a giant record label backing the project.
Drink up this wondrous concoction with all the mastery and valiance it represents, burning brightly in your mind.
Countdown
The air is thick. The smell of hay and the warm hum of the crowd is stimulating. Peering over the stands, seeing all the people dressed in their bright boisterous spring best is like the breathtaking view of the sea of flowers stretching as far as the eye can see in the Washington Tulip Festival. As the start time gets closer the energy continues to rise, like watching technicolored molecules bump and shake faster and faster under a microscope as heat rises. Sticky-sweet is the feel at this affair. The type that keeps you hunkered down craving more even though each taste comes and goes so quickly. Something cold and refreshing yet boozy enough to keep your conscience at bay is needed as the bets fly in and you clutch your ticket even harder. The bell rings, and they're off!...
American Pharoah (the horse)
American Pharoah
In celebration of the recent Kentucky Derby, a twist on the long time classic cocktail of this historic race needed to be made. The Mint Julep is still the cocktail that comes to the mind of every mixologist, horse race buff and historian when they think of the Kentucky Derby. In honor of the winning horse, "American Pharoah", we decided to bring together the deep soul of America and Kentucky with the herbs and spices known to be used throughout the centuries in Egypt. When the subtle sweetness of honey and Kentucky bourbon swizzle together with the aromatic, bitter and medicinal properties of the spice trio we used, an almost transcendental experience ensues. Many countries throughout the world in history have created their own version of this elixir combining honey, alcohol and a slew of different spices that became the hallmark drink of their culture. This week's cocktail belongs to American Pharoah.
American Pharoah (the cocktail)
Ingredients:
2 oz Blanton's Bourbon
1/2 oz spice trio honey syrup*
6 leaves of fresh mint
6 leaves of fresh basil
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Method:
Put syrup, mint and basil into a silver or pewter mug. Muddle. Fill mug with pellet ice. Add bourbon.
Spice trio honey syrup:
1 tbsp whole caraway seeds
1 tsp whole fennel seeds
5 whole star anise
1 cup of water
1/2 cup honey
Method:
Place spices and water in a small sauce pan. Simmer on low until water is reduced to half. Take off the heat and add honey. Stir and let sit until cool. Strain out spices.
Stephen Foster
Camptown Races
What better song to accompany a 141 year old tradition along with a classic drink than a song that shares just as much history and spirit as the game itself? Written in 1850 by Stephen Foster, sung by everyone from the Camptown ladies, to Johnny Cash, to Looney Tune's Foghorn Leghorn, this song embodies the true grit that was the illegal pastime of the era. Listening to the song you can imagine a 5 mile long treacherous muddy road in an old time north eastern United States town with all the peril and woe. The horses falling into pot holes, cows wandering onto the road, yet like the engine of a speeding train, the horses just mow them down. You can almost see the ol' boys coming down to try to make some quick cash, from arriving "with my hat caved in" to leaving "with a pocket full of tin." It's a light hearted romp that'll be best listened to while sipping from the stainless steel straw in a rich, ice cold, American Pharoah, with all it's depth and wealth of history brought together in one cup.
1700s horse race
Horse Racing
Horse Racing has a rich history reaching back to the early colonists who viewed these four-legged contests as a practical test of their horses' power and fitness. Early Quakers morally opposed the wagering that tended to run along with the challenge races, but they offered no objections to racing itself. Throughout the 1700s and early 1800s, racing was a spectacle open to all. Though the races were also problematic if you happened to be walking in front of a couple of thundering steeds. In 1817, for safety's sake, the state legislature in Pennsylvania forbid racing on public roads. To discourage gambling, the same law also banned racing in front of groups of fifteen or more. Still, as long as there were horses to race, men found ways to race them. Eventually the legislature finally conceded the obvious - racing was too popular to outlaw - and modified the old law to allow racing for prize money at fairs and driving parks.
Modern horse race
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is an annual horse race held in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is known in the United States as "The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports" for its approximate duration, and is also called "The Run for the Roses" for the blanket of roses draped over the winner. It is the first leg of the American Triple Crown and is followed by the Preakness Stakes, then the Belmont Stakes. Unlike the Preakness and Belmonth Stalkes, which took a hiatus in 1891-1893 and 1911-1912, respectively, the Kentucky Derby has been run every consecutive year since 1875. A horse must win all three races to win the Triple Crown.
Mint Julep
This delectable cocktail first appeared in print in 1803 described as a "dram of spirituous liquor that has mint in it, taken by Virginians in the morning." Some historians say Mint Julep was born in the early 1700s somewhere in the east coast. According to the Derby Museum, Mint Julep became Churchill Down's (the land where the Kentucky Derby is held) signature drink in 1938 when they started to serve the drink in sourvenir glasses for 75 cents a drink. Today, Kentucky Derby serves more than 80,000 juleps over the two-day event. The first Mint Juleps weren't perhaps mixed with Bourbon, some historians say, rather with rye whiskey or rum or other available spirits. Mint Julep's popularity came to rest in the agricultural regions of the east and southeast, where farmers awakened at dawn. Chris Morris from Woodford Reserve Bourbon says "the julep was originally a morning drink as the spirited equivalent of coffee in today's society. One sip and Pow! The farmers were ready to face the long day." Blanton's
Blanton's Bourbon is a nearly century old product that was made to be the worlds first single barrel bourbon. Colonel Albert B. Blanton believed the "center-cut" or middle sections of warehouse H were the best for aging his bourbon. Personally tasting and choosing each barrel, these barrels were reserved and bottled for ambassadors, dignitaries, family and friends. The bottle so felicitously adorns the horse and jockey which are now a recognized trademark of Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon. The rich heritage and tradition of horses in Kentucky, parallel that of bourbon. The set features a horse and jockey in different strides and poses resembling the stages of a horse race. Each stopper is marked with a single letter that spells Blanton's when the set has been completed.
Saddle up and enjoy this one for the next two legs of the Triple Crown!
Drink Responsibly and don't bet everything you have.
The Ballad of an Outlaw Torn
The west Texas desert is desolate and dreary. Days out in the sandy winds searching for something to quench your thirst has gotten you weary. As you saddle up for one more ride that might be your last, you think to yourself what the perfect drink might entail. You're so close to Mexico, and being in the vast desert that is the Lone Star State, you think something that embodies the two would be more than fitting for this extensive journey. The tumbleweeds and cacti taunt you as you gallop at a steady pace. "What's a cowboy gotta do to get a drink 'round these parts?" Your legs can feel your horse's every breath as his hooves pound the desert floor. You come over the hill, looking down through the valley and notice a quaint little town with a cantina that grabs your attention as if it had cast a spell. Your mouth begins to water for the taste of something spicy and smuggled in...
The Smoking Barrel
The hiss of the bottle being opened gets your heart racing. The ice cold liquid comes to life with effervescence and you stir to see the tapper reach for a bottle of something tall and alluring that you've never seen before. Could this be? ...the forbidden Oaxacan fruit you've been craving? Mezcal... the smokey cousin of tequila... like the barrel of a smoking gun it's aroma can not be mistaken. The barkeep splashes some into your footed pilsner before he pours in the golden frothy brew. The two liquids whirl together as a Mexican maiden and outlaw would at the local honky tonk. To complete this Texas Tango and embody the Texas Tragedy playing on the dusty juke box in the corner, the man throws in a few dashes of fiery, blood-red hot sauce. As you bring the potion up to your nose, you notice the glass has so felicitously been rimmed with a gray, smoked salt. The aroma reminds you of the smell permeating your surroundings after you've fired your revolver into the wild young cowboy wooing the maiden you desire as your own.
Ingredientes:
12oz can or bottle of Lone Star beer
1 1/2 oz Ilegal Mezcal Joven
1/2 oz lime juice
3/4 oz grapefruit juice
5 dashes Gringo Bandito
Method:
Rub a sliced lime on the outside rim of a beer glass of your choice. Dip the rim in smoked salt. Put Ilegal Mezcal Joven, lime juice, grapefruit juice, Gringo Bandito and 2 oz of Lone Star beer in the glass. Stir with the barrel of your gun just to incorporate the ingredients. Fill glass with half ice and top off with the rest of the beer.
"El Paso"
The Spanish guitar plucks optimistically to greet you into this tale of heartache and the love of an outlaw. He falls for a Mexican girl and immediately finds himself frequenting Rosa's Cantina just to see her dance. The same way we fell for this cocktail of Western and south-of-the-border influence, the song has you rooting for the story teller and his love for the girl. Though his heart is soon broken as he sees her sharing a drink with another gun-toting gaucho. Shooting the seducing buckaroo to the ground, the story teller then skips town on horse back bound for New Mexico. Over time, the pain and desire in his heart are too much to bare and he soon finds himself headed back to El Paso. Despite his awareness of the bleak fate that lies ahead, he must see Felina one last time. He charges toward Rosa's Cantina and is soon surrounded by rifle carrying cowboys on horseback, shooting and shouting at him as he races on in hopes of reaching the saloon's back door. He catches a bullet and finds himself on the ground with all hope gone. From out of nowhere, Felina kneels and kisses his cheek and he dies knowing she always loved him so. With a final kiss, she bids him farewell...
Ilegal Mezcal
For nearly a decade, a small group of artists, musicians, writers and travelers has been drinking Ilegal Mezcal, a handcrafted brand of Mexican artisanal liquor with a notorious history that includes smuggling and weeklong parties in a clandestine bar in Guatemala.
Ilegal was born out of John Rexer's bar, Café No Sé, an eclectic international watering hole in colonial Antigua, Guatemala. "Ilegal has texture and is not diluted and polluted by an industrial process," says Rexer. "It's like old hand-tooled leather versus cheap pleather. It's seductive. People from all walks of life understand the difference. It's a way of thinking and wanting to live as much as it is fine liquor."
Gringo Bandito was started over ten years ago by Dexter Holland, singer for the multi-platinum punk rock band The Offspring, more as a hobby than a business.
Sales were modest at first, and the hot sauce was distributed only in Holland's native Southern California. "It has always been a DIY operation for sure," Holland says. "It started small but it has just kept on growing."
After several years and almost a million bottles later, Gringo Bandito hot sauce has garnered a worldwide audience and a loyal following. "We're not the most well-known hot sauce out there," says Holland, "but once people try it, they're hooked." Gringo Bandito is now sold in Australia, Japan, Canada, Finland, Germany, Belgium, Hungary and coast to coast in the US and can be found in the top 10 on Amazon.com's highest customer rated hot sauces amongst 5000+ other products.
Lone Star Beer The Lone Star Brewery, built in 1884, was the first large mechanized brewery in Texas. Adolphus Busch, of Anheuser-Busch, founded it along with a group of San Antonio businessmen. The castle-like building now houses the San Antonio Museum of Art. Lone Star beer was the company's main brand. It was marketed as "The National Beer of Texas."
Sombrero (Spanish for "Hat") in English refers to a type of wide-brimmed hat in Mexico. It usually has a high pointed crown, an extra-wide brim (broad enough to cast a shadow over the head, neck and shoulders of the wearer, and slightly upturned at the edge), and a chin string to hold it in place.Cowboys generalized the word to mean just about any wide broad-brimmed hat.
Martin David Robinson (September 26, 1925 – December 8, 1982), known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and racing driver. One of the most popular and successful country and western singers of all time for most of his near four-decade career. Robbins often topped the country music charts, and several of his songs also had crossover success as pop hits. Among his warmer memories of his childhood, Robbins recalled having listened to stories of the American West told by his maternal grandfather, Texas Bob Heckle. The city of El Paso, Texas, later honored Robbins by naming a park and a recreational center after him.Robbins' 1957 recording of "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation"[4]sold over one million copies, and was awarded agold record.[8]His musical accomplishments include theGrammy Awardfor his 1959 hit and signature song "El Paso", taken from his albumGunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs. "El Paso" was the first song to hit No. 1 on the pop chart in the 1960s. It was followed up, successfully, by "Don't Worry", which reached No. 3 on the pop chart in 1961, becoming his third, and last, Top 10 pop hit. "El Paso" was followed by one prequel and one sequel: "Feleena" and "El Paso City". Also in 1961, Robbins wrote the words and music and recorded "I Told The Brook," a ballad later recorded byBilly Thorpe.
He won the Grammy Award for the Best Country & Western Recording 1961, for his follow-up album More Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, and was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1970, for "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife". Robbins was named Artist of the Decade (1960–1969) by the Academy of Country Music, was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1982, and was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1998 for his song "El Paso".
Robbins has been honored by many bands, including the Grateful Dead who covered "El Paso". The Who's 2006 album Endless Wire includes the song "God Speaks of Marty Robbins". The song's composer, Pete Townshend, explained that the song is about God deciding to create the universe just so he can hear some music, "and most of all, one of his best creations, Marty Robbins."[9] The Beasts of Bourbon released a song called "The Day Marty Robbins Died" on their 1984 debut album The Axeman's Jazz. Johnny Cash recorded a version of "Big Iron" as part of his American Recordings series, which is included in the Cash Unearthed box set. Both Frankie Laine and Elvis Presley, among others, recorded versions of Robbins' song "You Gave Me a Mountain", with Laine's recording reaching the pop and adult contemporary charts in 1969.
Smoked saltis an aromatic salt smoked with any number of select bark free woods for up to 14 days. Depending on which kind of wood is used for smoking impacts the flavor, whether it be subtle, bold or even sweet. The most common choices are alder wood, apple wood, hickory, mesquite, and oak. Infused smoked salts like smoked bacon chipotle sea salt are very popular because of the dynamic flavor profiles.
Smoked salt is used to enhance the inherent flavors of a dish while also imparting a smoky taste. It is suitable for vegetarians, often acting as a replacement for bacon crumble. Smoked salt differs from smoke-flavored salt as the latter contains a smoke flavored additive and is not classified as a natural salt product.
All you rootin' tootin' gun shootin' cowboys out there give this little lady a spin!
Salud, ya'll!
Henry & Jehiah
Thank you very much to Elena Aleks for posing as Felina!!
