I stopped by Cask on Saturday to ask for advice about what cocktails to make for our pool party on Sunday. Here’s what the ever-helpful, always-cheerful, remarkably well-versed employees gave me, from the Rickhouse recipe book:
Summertime Sling
- 1.5oz Gin
- .5oz Leopold Sour Cherry
- .75oz Pineapple gum
- 1oz Orange juice
- .5oz Lemon juice
Shake, double strain into Collins glass and top with soda.
Garnish: orange slice and a cherry.
Note: I ended up halving the amount of pineapple gum. That stuff is seriously syrupy—even if you like sweet cocktails, the texture gets gummy really fast. Go light, test it out, add more sour cherry & orange juice first. Oh, and I should add, I forgot to get sparkling water. Also, I made a few rounds, and one time I couldn’t find the pineapple gum, so I substituted simple syrup—it was fine, but I wish I’d gotten some pineapple juice to add flavor.
Pisco Punch
- 2oz Pisco
- 1oz Lemon juice
- 1oz Pineapple gum
Top with sparkling water.
This stuff went so fast I barely got to taste it, so a+++ would drink again, I suppose. As with the sling, no sparkling water. I think I added a touch of simple syrup, in addition to the pineapple gum, to even out the flavor a bit.
—Timoni
Tonight I went to Healthy Spirits, my 100% absolute favorite place to get beer in the city. This is why:
Mmm. Rows and rows and rows of beautiful beers. I’m pretty excited about what I got tonight. Some of it was random of-the-shelf grabs, like J.W. Lee’s Harvest Ale, but Dave gave lots of great recommendations, and particularly pulled out the Black Albert Royal Stout & the Holiday Ale. (Thank you Dave! You’re awesome!)
(Click through to see the beers labeled on Flickr, if you like.) From left to right:
- Brooklyn’s Blue Apron Ale
Belgian-style dubbel especially created for the French Laundry. Ooo la la! (Beer Advocate)
- Mikkeller’s It’s Alright! Belgian Wild Ale
An ‘unbuffered’ Lambic. Mixed reviews, but hey, I’m game. (Beer Advocate)
- Brouwerij Het Anker Golden Carolus Hopsinjoor
Light Belgian IPA.
Already drunk by the time I posted this. It was pleasant, but not especially memorable. (Beer Advocate)
- Jolly Pumpkin, Nogne, & Stone Brewing Co’s Special Holiday Ale
Three-brewery Winter Warmer collaboration. The bottle design is gorgeous. Definitely looking forward to trying it—apparently this was a tricky beer to brew. (Beer Advocate)
- J.W. Lee’s Harvest Ale 1999
Exciting English Barleywine: “Literally this stuff smells like a cross between a gingerbread and chocolate chip cookie” says a Beer Advocate reviewer (Beer Advocate).
- De Struise Brouwers’ collaboration with Ebenezer Kezar’s Pub, the Black Albert Royal Stout
‘Blacker than black stout’, aged in bourbon barrels, and recently the #1 beer in the world (Beer Advocate, totally bizarre review* from De Struise Brouwers). Well. Thanks for pulling it out from under the counter, Dave!
- Port Brewing’s Old Viscosity
“Massive chewy and thick” dark ale. Drinking right now. It is definitely all of these things, plus a little buttery besides. (Beer Advocate)
*Quote: “Among the three giants, you slide into a vortex of delirium, captivated, and wrapped in satin-esque fire. No need to choose your master. The masters have conquered.”
—Timoni
