Friday, August 04, 2006

collection collective: cocktails!


i am a lover
of the cocktail.
i picture
myself
as that
1950s husband
coming home
from a long day
at the office
and
making myself
a drink
before i settle into
the couch and
a newspaper.

as
the daughter
of a chemist
and the sister
of 2 acclaimed
seattle bartenders
i can make
a pretty
damn good
cocktail
(although
grub is
the true
master)...

i learned
to mix drinks
after school
when i was a kid
with my brothers,
my dad's
well-stocked
liquor cabinet,
and the
handy dandy
bar aid.
a perfect device
from the
50s or 60s
that gives
you the
ingredients
and
measurements
for all
your favorite
1950s/60s
cocktails.

and,
to this day,
i like
to have
all the proper
vintage accessories
when i plan
to mix up
a sidecar,
a manhattan,
or
a lemon drop.
so on these
warm days
my cocktail accessory
collection
comes in
handy.

here's
my cocktail
collection:

from top to bottom:
1. 50s lustroware ice bucket
2. 50s-60s cocktail shakers
3. swing-a-way
ice crusher-
crushed ice
for margarita,
mojito,
and mint julep
4. cocktail shaker
with dial
that lists
ingredients
for 5 classic cocktails
5. the bar aid.
my dad had
a black one...
i found this one
in white...
the ingredients
fo over
50 cocktails
(haven't
tried them all).

it's
also nice
to have
a variety of
glassware:


this evening
my dear friend,
rebecca,
and i
had a pedicure

and then
chatted
over
pomegranite
and
blueberry
martinis.
a welcome
break
on these
sultry
evenings
in d.c.

grub made
me
an original
grub cocktail
this evening
called:

the limey pope
start by muddling
10 mint leaves
3 honey dew melon balls
then add
1.5 oz. lime juice
1 oz. benedictine
0.5 oz. elderflower cordial
1 oz. simple syrup
3 oz. rum; white preferred
by the sacred college of cardinals
shake.
strain onto ice cubes.
serve with mint garnish
:


until next...
xo

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Damn -- Ya'll ARE serious about your cocktails. You can fit all those accessories and glassware and liquor varieties into your tiny apartment? No wonder you have to have the Great Monday Giveaway! Ha!

I'm just jealous. I open a bottle or beer or wine and I'm done. David finally perfected his margaritas this summer though so at least we have that.

I keep thinking of more little collections I want to feature but then keep forgetting to set up the photo shoot. My life is a little chaotic at the moment. Have a good weekend!

Lisa said...

You have one bar accessory that is missing, an antique perfume atomizer. My grandmother taught me that trick when I was a wee child. Filled with vermouth, it sprays the finest mist that you "gently" lift your martini glass through. It was always my trademark when I bartended through early adulthood. Give it a try, you'll love it!

Anonymous said...

"pomegranite
and
blueberry
martinis."

Wow! That sounds super yummy. I always wanted to have a wonderful collection of vintage bar ware and make drinks for people - but then my body stopped processing alcohol and well, there wasn't any point anymore. Now I cultivate a knowledge of tea and since I live in a small apartment it saves on space that would have otherwise been taken up with large bottles.

Anonymous said...

My own personal heaven would include martinis and pedicures. And a newspaper for sure. That sounds divine. There is a place in town that does pedicures and martinis, but it seems a little pricey. If I start getting cool stuff like this, I could just do it at home!

Anonymous said...

The Limey Pope likes 3oz of Rum in his fruit juice cocktail. It makes all that chanting in his head go away.

Anonymous said...

Now that we've closed the bar we're going to have one hell of a bar at home when we move house! Kev would love to play with all your vintage cocktail making stuff. Maybe we should have an international cocktail party!

Funky Finds said...

Sounds fabulous! And I love your fabulous barware. Sweet!

lisa solomon said...

that's it - you are too perfect!

i wish you lived around the corner so i could take advantage of your cocktail skills!!
xo

bugheart said...

thanks
for all your
sweet comments!
i would love
to have
you all over
for cocktails
like nichola
suggests-
let's have
an international
blogger
cocktail party
...
Melbourne to DC
and beyond!
well,
at least i
can make
you a drink
if you are
ever in
the
neighbor
hood!

Tracykins said...

Yes, let's have a cocktail knitting night again soon!