Trance Fusion and "Elements of Life"

Liquid of Life

"Water....
The element that comes from the West.  Water is the ebb and flow within us that moves in harmony with lunar cycles.  Water is the liquid of love... that flows from the veins of Earth... into our veins of life.  Water is like the blood that connects all life and flows through us all.
Water is the universal solvent that connects all of us...flows all through us... and dissolves all of us...all into one..."


Akvavit
Akvavit or aquavit (also akevitt in Norwegian) is a flavored spirit that is principally produced in Scandinavia, where it has been produced since the 15th century. Many countries have long since produced the spirit as well, including but not limited to, Denmark & Switzerland. Akvavit gets its distinctive flavor from spices and herbs, and the main spice should (according to the European Union) be caraway or dill.  It's typically 40%abv (80 proof). The word Akvavit is derived from Latin "aqua vitae", meaning "water of life".

Kombucha

Kombucha, the beverage the ancient Chinese called the "Immortal Health Elixir" has been around for more than 2,000 years and has a rich anecdotal history of health benefits like preventing and fighting cancer, arthritis and other degenerative diseases.  Made from sweetened tea that's been fermented by a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (a SCOBY aka "Mother" because of it's ability to reproduce or "mushroom" because of it's appearance), Kombucha didn't gain prominence in the West until recently.

http://www.foodrenegade.com/kombucha-health-benefits/

Buchi "Water" Kombucha

Cool and effortless, Buchi "Water" is part of our Elemental Series - flavors crafted to embody the elements of nature.  We mix our kombucha with coconut water, blueberry, watermelon and two revered medicinal berries, elderberry and shcizandra, bridging Eastern and Western folk traditions. The element of water is the universal essence, and the endless stream of experience.  May this blend put you back in the flow of life. 

"Buchi blends 2,000 years of kombucha craft brewing tradition with fair trade organic teas, fruits, spices and medicinal herbs.  We've created boldly flavored, refreshing and restorative probiotic tonics for the mind, body and spirit.  Rooted in the mountains of Asheville, NC, Buchi was woven together by two moms who share a passion for nutrient dense foods and a deep desire to co-create a nurturing and sustainable community.  From our humble beginnings at the farmer's market to becoming the first commercial kombucha brewery in the Southeast."

See more at: http://drinkbuchi.com

Coconut

Coconuts are one of the wonder foods on earth that amply provide for all human needs and have multiple health benefits such as stabilizing blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, healing and hydration.

Referred to as kalpa vriksha (Sanskrit for “the tree that supplies all that is needed to live”) in ancient India, the coconut palm has been recognized as a top immune booster, anti-fungal, antibiotic, antiviral and antibacterial remedy for thousands of years all over the world. Coconuts were also used extensively in the Pacific during World War II. Since blood plasma supplies were scarce, it was very common for medics to siphon pure coconut water from young coconuts to be used as emergency plasma transfusions for soldiers who were injured.  Coconut water is nearly identical to human blood, so it was suitable for people of all blood types.

Read more: http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/coconut-health-benefits/#ixzz3SokvMoBg

Trance Fusion

After surviving the thrashing hangover through last weeks mosh pit, we needed a life-giving luminary liquid to bring us back to par.  As coconut water contains anti-oxidants, potassium and magnesium, we decided it belonged in this weeks cocktail of life.   Kombucha also has many life-giving and saving properties, as listed above.  Akvavit, meaning "water of life" of course had to be our spirit of choice for this toothsome tonic to pick you up and get you back on the dance floor.  These ingredients cross fade together to create the ideal dance mix of a cocktail. With your spirit and health high in the sky, we believe this drink will give you the healthy, energetic buzz you're after when the lights go down and the party goes up. Like matching the beats in your headphones, we did our best to match the flavor combination within this turntable of ingredients. Initially, the effervescent quality of Kombucha puts you back on line, ready for whatever comes next. Then the Akvavit takes you by the hand, carrying you away with caraway and leading you to the middle of the dance floor where you're refreshingly introduced to coconut water and you all begin to dance the night away. 

Ingredients:

2oz akvavit

1/2oz lime juice

2 bar spoons sugar

1oz unpasteurized coconut water

1oz Buchi "Water" Kombucha

Method:

Place sugar, lime and akvavit in a shaker, add ice.  Shake.  Strain into an ice filled collins glass and add coconut water and kombucha on top.  Garnish with a blue Volkenfrieden Delphinium. 

Beat Match

If you want a more stiff and layered version of this cocktail check out the Trance Fusion's evil twin brother. 

Ingredients:

1oz akvavit 

1oz unpasteurized coconut water

1oz Buchi "water" Kombucha

2 bar spoons sugar

Method:

Place sugar, akvavit and coconut water in a mixing glass.   Fill with ice.  Stir.  Strain into martini glass or coupe.  Float kombucha. 

Elements of Life

The valley of sound the track opens up with as your consciousness awakens is the slow pouring of the cocktail into your glass.  You take in the fragrance and listen to the fizz as it morphs into a god-like voice inside telling you about all the mysteries the drink before you holds.   The effervescence revs you up as the synth leads you to the drop of the beat.  You feel the water of life pulse through your veins, driving in sync with your beating heart.  The peaks and valleys you feel in the track are foreshadowed by the layers of flavor you've imbibed as you sip 'till the end of your incumbent Trance Fusion.  

Tijs Michiel Verwest (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈtɛi̯s miˈxil vərˈʋɛst],^[3] born 17 January 1969^[4]), better known by his stage name Tiësto (/tiˈɛstoʊ/ tee-es-toh; Dutch pronunciation: [ˈcɛstoː]), is a Dutch DJ and record producer. Formerly known as DJ Tiësto, he is now known simply as "Tiësto", an artist name which is a twist of his childhood nickname.^[8]

The Athens Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games (ATHOC) asked Tiësto to perform at the Olympic Games, making him the first DJ to play live on stage at an Olympic Games at the 2004 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Athens, where he played for 90 minutes.

Whether you're wet or dry, be safe. Have fun. Stay out until the sun comes up. Nobody looks back on their life and remembers the nights they had plenty of sleep. 

Cheers!

Henry and Jehiah

T'n'T

Thrash Mary and "Raining Blood"

World Painted Blood

You wake up, eyes dry, head pounding, too much rye. Your phone is ringing, but you don't answer. Lost in slumber is where you'd rather.  You read the texts pouring in, beckoning you to another sin. 

Brunch. Better than breakfast, around lunch, you could use a meal that packs a punch.  So you roll over, sigh and suit up.  It's time to fill your cup.  You peruse the wine list through and through, a cocktail now sounds good to you. Mimosa, Screwdriver, how about a Corpse Reviver? You made it this far, you're a god damn survivor!

So let me see... 

What will it be?

Then you remember...

Ah the Bloody Mary, the liquid that pumps life back into you all the while taking you back to the night before.  It makes you feel better all along keeping you "trapped in purgatory."  When you awake, you "await the hour of reprisal" until you sip the savory tonic that turns "a lifeless object, alive."  If you sip them at a bottomless boozy brunch then sip is nay the action you'll be performing.  It will drive you to pound out glass after glass as Slayer's Dave Lombardo relentlessly pummels the double kick drums. 

Thrash Mary

Everybody has a favorite Bloody Mary and this one is definitely ours. With a plethora of ingredients providing a smorgasbord of flavors, this brunch favorite wakes you up. Tomato, spices, herbs, and citrus characteristics while attractive on their own, conjoin to give you this tastefully balanced hangover staple.  Like the charging guitar that shuts out the thunder in "Raining Blood" this cocktail will dust you off and have you ready to face the day head on. The cocktail umbrella will keep you out of the raining blood, the sun dried tomato you'll find stuffed in the Spanish olives will provide that much more flavor to this colorful drink and you'll be ready to head-bang in no time!

Ingredients:

2oz vodka

6oz Thrash Mix*

Garnish with blood orange, sun dried tomato stuffed olives and your favorite festive cocktail umbrella

*Thrash Mix:

2 1/2oz tomato juice

1oz lime juice

1oz blood orange juice

1oz homemade brine* 

1/2oz buckwheat honey

2 dashes Gringo Bandito Hot Sauce

*Homemade Brine:

3 cups water

1/2 cup salt

6 fresh bay leaves

2 sprigs fresh rosemary 

8 sprigs fresh thyme 

3 cloves lightly smashed garlic

20 cracked black peppercorns

20 whole allspice

3 dried guajillo chili peppers  

Let all the ingredients for the brine sit in an air tight container at room temperature for 1 week.  Strain and store in the fridge. 

Raining Blood

The crash of the thunder and the bellowing guitar represent the pain you feel as you are ripped from your cocoon of comfort. The floor toms are your headache pounding against your skull.  Distant, dissonant, squealing guitars bring you the reality of payback from the raging night before.  The beat kicks in, the powerful guitar riffs take charge and you're reminded of the comforting aspects of the savory, fat laden, protein and carb charged meal you could have.  Topped off with the blood red liquid that replenishes the life moving cells in your body.  The double bass madness energizes your motion to a gallop as you throw on your battle jacket and dash out the door to get your fix.  Slayer kicks it up to double time and your heart pounds as your steps become faster and faster trying to get to your oasis to ward off the sickness.  The beat drops out as you finally sit in your booth and try to focus on the menu.  The half time beat kicks back in the moment your first bloody hits the table and you begin pounding the drink down like a march in four four time.   You can visualize how you would be formulaically building the cocktail to the tribal beat... Ice, vodka, bloody, drink.. Ice, vodka, bloody, drink...  You become satiated as if the "lacerated sky" dripped down all the vital liquid you needed to reach full strength.  Madness ensues and you find yourself back to thrashing once again. 

The blood rain continues as you pay your check and sink down into another season in the abyss. 

Slayer is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California, formed in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with its 1986 release Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal bands, along with Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax, as well as a pioneer of the thrash metal sub-genre of heavy metal music. Between 1991 and 2004, the band sold more than 3.5 million albums in the United States.

Slayer's musical style involves fast tremolo picking, double bass drumming, riffs in irregular scales and shouted vocals. In the original line-up, King, Hanneman, and lead vocalist/bassist Tom Araya contributed to the band's lyrics, and most of the band's music was written by King and Hanneman, with additional help from Araya and drummer Dave Lombardo. The band's lyrics and album art, which cover topics such as serial killers, necrophilia, Satanism, religion, anti-religion, and warfare, have generated album bans, delays, lawsuits, and criticism from religious groups and the public. However, their music has been highly influential, often being cited by many bands as an influence musically, visually, and lyrically.*

*Bio taken from wikipedia.  *photo by Ross Halfin

While this weeks post encompassed binge drinking and chasing the dragon, we don't encourage nor condone the abuse of alcohol.  

Please drink and mosh responsibly.

Cheers!

Henry & Jehiah 

T'n'T

Pink Promise and "Dedicated to You"

                                                            One Armed Bandit

Love.  It's been the subject of book, song, film and countless other emotional outlets. Heartache is the thing we fear most, yet somehow we find ourselves blindly chasing that 'butterflies-in-your-stomach' feeling we get when someone tickles our fancy. It's been said "only fools rush in"... but what are we to do with such a paralyzing grip of feelings the heart bestows upon us? Love, as they say, is blind. So, we take that chance... we gamble... we reluctantly put all of our chips in the middle. Nobody ever knows what cards the other player holds. But sometimes, we can win. We can break even. But love isn't easy. It takes patience, hard work, trust, understanding and laughter.  The reward we receive from love is priceless... the ultimate pay-off... the jackpot!  Regardless of who/whatever it is you love most, let it be your Royal Flush. Nurture it... go all in... take the chance... gamble.  Because life is too short to play it safe.

As Valentine's Day rapidly approaches, we're wondering what you have planned.  Maybe a quiet, romantic, candle-lit dinner? ...that dress or blazer pressed, hung and ready to slip on? ...the box of chocolates wrapped up? ...freshly cut roses dropped in your favorite vase?  To drink, some will take the traditional yet classic red wine and/or champagne route... but let's make it interesting, shall we?


This year, we'd like to help you impress those dearest to you. Whether it be your spouse, lover, blind-date, that hottie you've been dying to show off to or even just yourself with this hand-crafted libation of liquid love. The heartfelt pizazz this cocktail demands is nothing short of a Clark Gable one-liner. You'll simply be swept away. Whether you're at home watching Casablanca, or painting the town red with that special someone, let this be the paintbrush. Colors, flavor and effervescence kiss your palate inside this tunnel of love known simply as the "Pink Promise".

                                                                      Love finds a way...

Pink Promise
As Johnny Hartman croons, "If I should find a twinkling star," the 'Pink Promise' delivers such a sparkling wonder.  As your honey softens the trials of each day, the honey in this cocktail promises to ease the tingle and bite of the spirit.  Infused with red rose petals, sipping this potion will turn your evening a shade of rouge that drips with ecstasy.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 oz Promise Punch*
3/4 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz warmed honey
3 oz sparkling rosé

Shake promise punch, lemon juice and honey in a tin with ice.
Strain into a martini glass.
Top with sparkling rosé. Garnish with a red rose petal.

*Promise Punch:

750ml call vodka
20 whole cloves
30 whole all spice
40 red rose petals





















Place all ingredients in a large mason jar.
Cover and let sit at room temperature between 24 and 72 hours.
Strain and place the potion back into the vodka bottle.





















Don't be scared!  This is what it's supposed to look like while infusing... it's okay.



"Dedicated to You"
This song inspired us above all else because of the way Johnny Hartman's delicate yet powerful voice mesmerizes you in the first few words he sings.  The sizzling brushes on the snare exude a certain comfort. The song allows you to float along your evening with a slight smile on your face knowing everything is falling into place.  To top it off John Coltrane's musical tooling of the melody draws you in closer and reminds you that "a lifetime could be just one heavenly day."  This day to share a 'Pink Promise' and metaphorically pledge your dedication to that special someone you're deeply in love with, the new flame you're still getting to know or the aloof passerby that shared affection some days, but others turned a cold shoulder. This song and cocktail are for you.


John Maurice Hartman (July 3, 1923 – September 15, 1983) was an American jazz singer who specialized in ballads and earned critical acclaim, though he was never widely known. He recorded a well-known collaboration with the saxophonist John Coltrane in 1963 called John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, was briefly a member of Dizzy Gillespie's group and recorded with Erroll Garner. Most of Hartman's career was spent recording solo albums.

John William Coltrane, also known as "Trane" (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967), was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and was later at the forefront of free jazz. He organized at least fifty recording sessions as a leader during his career, and appeared as a sideman on many other albums, notably with trumpeter Miles Davis and pianist Thelonious Monk.

As his career progressed, Coltrane and his music took on an increasingly spiritual dimension. His second wife was pianist Alice Coltrane and their son Ravi Coltrane is also a saxophonist. Coltrane influenced innumerable musicians, and remains one of the most significant saxophonists in music history. He received many posthumous awards and recognitions, including canonization by the African Orthodox Church as Saint John William Coltrane and a special Pulitzer Prize in 2007.

Feed Back

Did "Dedicated to You" inspire you to make this lovely cocktail for a special someone?  We want to hear from you!  So please indulge us with your favorite love song in the comment section below, let us know what you thought of the "Pink Promise", or what you decided to drink for this lovey-dovey holiday.

Happy Valentine's Day to you all far and wide

Be safe. Be happy. Be in love.

                                                               

                                                                 Cheers,

                                                                 Henry & Jehiah

                                                                         T'nT

Red Red Kroovy and "Never Gonna Stop"

Honey For The Bears

The Financial District of Lower Manhattan isn't necessarily known for it's bars, clubs or liquor stores, it does however have it's share of gems tucked away in the foundations of these sky scraping behemoths that make up the New York City skyline. While out and about on a gloomy, snowy, day we stopped in to our local spirit and wine emporium to peruse ingredients, when we saw a bright orange bottle on one of the higher shelves. "Clockwork Orange liqueur!??" There we were, 2 droogs thrilled that someone chose to put this into a bottle, when the polite baboochka merchant even offered to let us taste it before committing to a purchase... alcohol forward, but also with a lovely grove of flavor. As we're fans of both the book and film, we couldn't resist! But what about the tunes? What can we do with a novella-turned-film as far as music goes? We pondered. Beethoven was an obvious option. But we wanted to dig deeper. "Dig through the ditches" deep. What kind of song can we pair with something so out-there and shocking? 

"What's it going to be then, eh?"

Welly welly well...

A Clockwork Orange is a 1971 dystopian crime film adapted, produced, and directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on Anthony Burgess's 1962 novella A Clockwork Orange. It employs disturbing, violent images to comment on psychiatry, juvenile delinquency, youth gangs, and other social, political, and economic subjects in a dystopian near-future Britain.

                                                 Jehiah ready for a bit of the ultra-violence

Clockwork Orange Liqueur

This spice-infused spirit is 40% abv (80 proof) with a blend of orange peel, cinnamon and cardamom. Like the inner caliber of an old pocket watch, these flavors combine to bring you a citrus-driven gathering to politely remind you that it's 5 'o clock somewhere... 

Distilled by New Holland Brewing Company in Holland, Michigan

Red Red Kroovy
We don't have any Korova Milkbars in Lower Manhattan so we felt it was necessary to incorporate milk into this madhouse of a cocktail.  Much like an orange Creamsicle you devoured as a kid, the Red Red Kroovy will transport you back to the days of chasing the ice cream truck down the street, but then as it lingers on your palate you're plunged into an indulgent prison.  You find yourself absorbed into the cogs and wheels of fruit and spice and like a drencrom you can't put the libation down. 

Ingredients:

1 1/2oz Clockwork Orange liqueur 

3/4oz lemon juice

3/4oz grapefruit juice

3/4oz whole milk

3/4oz Kroovy Syrup*

Shake until frothy, serve on ice in a salted highball glass

*Kroovy Syrup:

2 cups water

1 cup sugar

2 tsp paprika

2 tsp whole coriander

1 tsp whole fennel

In a small saucepan, stir all ingredients and heat. Simmer until ingredients are reduced by half. Strain.

                                              Salt the rim of a highball glass with orange salt

"Never Gonna Stop"

For music, rather than take the Beethoven route, we decided to match the ultra-violent flavor in this choodessny firegold with a headbanging, Rob Zombie jam. This song was featured on 'The Sinister Urge' showcasing hand claps and acoustic guitars. The music video and lyrics are both heavily influenced by 'A Clockwork Orange'. Zombie can be seen in a Korova Milkbar similar to the one in the film wearing the classic "Droog" outfit and make-up. Sheri Moon Zombie can be heard singing "Red, Red Kroovy" behind the chorus. The song also references the book/film several times throughout with lyrics such as "my durango number 95", "horrorshow" & "skorry."

Rob Zombie (born Robert Bartleh Cummings January 12, 1965) is an American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He rose to prominence as a founding member of the band White Zombie which formed in the mid-1980s and rose to fame in the early 1990s. As a solo artist, he has released five studio albums, three compilation albums, two remix albums, a live album, a video album, and 15 singles. In 2003 he expanded his career and became a film director, and has directed a total of six films, the majority of which he also wrote or co-wrote. He has also released numerous brands of comic books, and appeared as an actor on numerous occasions.

Zombie began his solo career with the release of his 1998 debut album Hellbilly Deluxe. The album was both a critical and commercial success, spawning three hit singles, reaching the Top 5 of the Billboard 200, and selling over three million copies worldwide. Hellbilly is Zombie's highest selling album to date. He followed the success of the album with The Sinister Urge in 2001, which had similar success to that of its predecessor. Zombie's first greatest hits album, Past, Present & Future, was released in 2003, and reached Platinum status by the RIAA. His third studio album, Educated Horses, was released in 2006, and was his third Top 10 entry on the Billboard 200. In 2010, he released Hellbilly Deluxe 2, calling it a companion to his debut album. His fifth album, Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor, was released on April 23, 2013.

                                             

                                                       The bloodcurdling Zombie House!!

We hope you enjoy this pairing as much as we did! 2015 has been great for jamming and experimenting with cocktails, and we hope to continue to do so with you all! 

Always be safe and drink responsibly. 

Cheers!!