Petty Vices

Cheers! TGIF to all

Fabu sounding tipple from Seattle's one and only Tini Bigs, a former haunt of mine when I worked mere steps away from it many moons ago, obtained by way of Seattle Picks news:
Mind the Gap    
2 1/2 oz. Pimm's
1 1/2 oz. Absolut Citron
1/4 oz. Triple Sec
Pernod (just to wash)
Wash a martini glass with a thin layer of Pernod. Muddle a thick piece of cucumber and 2 orange slices. Add Pimm’s, Absolut Citron and Triple Sec, then strain into the glass. Garnish with a slice of cucumber.

Purist's may wish to point out that this isn't truly a martini. I say who cares? Bring it on!

The sun is shining here today and its such a nice change of pace. Perhaps it will stick around for the weekend. Fingers crossed.

Chic Glasses in a Tube

Brooklyn, NY store Hasker has really unique items, including some terrific little mod glasses by the Swedish BodaNova (sold in sets of four -- $34). I would like to collect them all!

Drink 2 Your Health

Seattle's Tini Bigs offers up the Zip-tini -- a cocktail that packs a handful of vitamins along with its liquor!

Cocktail Conundrum No More

Sometimes M and I want to make a cocktail, but we don't have any obvious mixers and basically don't know what to do. We hem, we haw, and often just say fogettaboutit. I liken it to getting dressed and opening a closet full of clothes only to walk away and claim "I have nothing to wear." Same thing, essentially. Anyway. We discovered an online tool called Drinksmixer.com that provides drop-down lists of liquor along with an amazing variety of mixer possibilities (including things like cocoa and jello, for heaven's sake).

We had no idea so many cocktails could be made using milk.

The Green Fairy

I can't remember what movie it was exactly -- something with Annette Bening in it playing a narcisstic actress -- but in it she shared a glass of Absinthe with her younger lover. I wasn't all that interested in either of them, frankly, but darn it! I wanted that Absinthe.

I recently dedicated myself to finding out how I could procure some without leaving the country, and it seems a U.K. company guarantees its import. It also looks to have quality bottles that have levels of wormwood (and the chemical thujone it contains) that countries such as France, Germany, the U.K. and Switzerland deem safe (and thus legal in their respective countries). Absinthe Online usually delivers to the U.S. within a week of placing the order -- great for instant gratification people like myself.

In my searches for a purchasing source I also came across some good information that makes me feel knowledgable enough to know what I'm ordering. The New York Times, Newsweek and NPR have all given recent coverage to the concoction.

I'll update once I receive a bottle and give it a trial run.