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libations

When it comes to non-alcoholic drinks, I am a water woman. I have the occasional orange or tangerine juice. A couple times a year I have a lemonade. If it's cold I'll have some Earl Grey tea with honey or some vegan hot chocolate.

My preference for hot chocolate is always Mexican hot chocolate made with vanilla soy milk. This libation has become a recent addiction.

In April 1995 I went cold turkey on drinking soda and I haven't had one since. For the most part, it's water for me, especially when eating out.

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alcoholic libations

When it comes to alcohol, I'm still in the process of discovery. I love the color of red wine, and though I tried to be a wine drinker it just didn't happen. My best friend, boy friend, and mom all love dry red wines. Matthew's favorite wines are Meritage or the more commonly available Cabernet Sauvignon. I, on the other hand, like sweet wines like Riesling and Gewürztraminer.

According to the Epicurious wine dictionary, "Riesling is considered to be one of the world's great white-wine grapes and produces some of the very best white wines." It is a native of Germany and the true varieties are Johannisberg, Rhine, and Weisser.

Because I look so young, I never had a fake id, and I really didn't begin drinking until I was 21. I have hated beer from my first sip, so I had a bit of a quest to find an alcoholic libation I enjoyed. I had my first glass of alcohol [red wine] the summer before I went to college.

On 7 November 1997 I went to a jazz club with a two drink minimum. Upon the urging of my companions, I tried a "Slow Screw" which they told me tasted a bit like rancid orange juice. I found the first drink I could order at bars and enjoy, and you won't ever catch me calling it a Sloedriver.

A Sloe Screw [pronounced, and often spelled, Slow Screw] is made from Sloe Gin and orange juice. It often has vodka. If it also has Southern Comfort it is called a Sloe Comfortable Screw. When that drink is topped with Galliano [i.e. Harvey wallbanger] it is know as a [Long] Sloe Comfortable Screw [Up] Against the Wall. Other varieties include a Sloe Hard Screw, the "Hard" coming from the addition of whiskey, and the Sloe Comfortable Screw Against the Wall With Satin Pillows the Hard Way (or the Sloe Comfortable Screw Against a Hard Wall With Satin Pillows), in which the "Satin Pillows" involve the addition of Frangelico. If you include triple sec, you can have a Slow Comfortable Screw In Between the Sheets.

Sloe Gin isn't gin at all, but is a liqueur made from Sloe berries [and is used in a wide variety of drinks]. Southern Comfort is a peach flavored bourbon liqueur, produced in St. Louis, Missouri, which is available as both 100 proof (50% alcohol) and 76 proof (38% alcohol). Galliano, also known as Liquore Galliano, is a sweet, yellow Italian herbal liqueur. Frangelico's flavor is achieved by infusing toasted hazelnuts in alcohol and water, though it does contain other ingredients. Triple Sec is a strong, clear orange-flavored liqueur. In addition to the generic brand Triple Sec, Curaçao, Cointreau, and Grand Marnier are also triple secs (meaning "triple distilled").

A Sloe Comfortable, Fuzzy Screw includes Sloe gin, Southern Comfort, vodka, and Peach Schnapps (i.e. Fuzzy Navel). A Sloe Comfortable Screw Up Against a Fuzzy Wall (aka a Sloe Comfortable, Fuzzy Screw Up Against the Wall) apparently includes Sloe gin, Southern Comfort, vodka, Galliano, and Peach Schnapps. A Sloe Comfortable Screw Against the Wall with a Kiss apparently contains orange juice, Sloe gin, vodka, Southern Comfort, Galliano, Amaretto [which would really achieve the same effect as Frangelica], an orange slice and a cherry. A Sloe Comfortable Screw Against the Wall with a French Kiss Mexican style apparently includes orange juice, Sloe gin, Southern Comfort, Galliano, tequila, and Grenadine. A Sloe Screw Against the Wall In The Dark Side Of Mexico City apparently contains orange juice, Sloe gin, Southern Comfort, Galliano, tequila, and brown rum, and is topped with cola. A Sloe Screw with the Devil apparently contains orange juice, Sloe gin, vodka, Southern Comfort, and Red Devil. A Sloe Comfortable Screw on a Dogbox apparently contains orange juice, Sloe gin, Southern Comfort, Jack Daniels, and a splash of Grenadine (and is cited as being from the Backwoods of Florida).

As a child, I had enjoyed virgin daiquiris, so it was an easy transition to real strawberry daiquiris and margaritas. Matthew introduced me to margaritas on the rocks. I call them titas, and I get them with no salt.

Once, at dinner at Greens in San Francisco, I tried a sip of tawny port. It was yummy, and Matthew has since introduced me to several varieties. Together, we also discovered the similar tasting Lustau East India Solera Sherry. It is delish.

Only since meeting Charles in 2000 have I discovered my true alcoholic love. Saké is the one alcoholic beverage I can drink like a fish. I love the various flavors and I love the ritual of pouring for others. I've had chilled premium (Ginjo and Daiginjo) and unfiltered (Nigori) saké, which is scrumptious, but I also have quite a penchant for hot saké. For my 23rd birthday, Matthew gave me two gorgeous sets of ceramic bottles (tokkuri) and cups (ochoko). Now I am exploring which brands I like best.

[ Sake Pure + Simple ] I picked up Saké Pure + Simple on a whim, but was very impressed with the elegant design and extensively researched information. This book is an excellent buying/drinking companion, including information on where and how to buy and taste. I highly recommend it for any current or potential saké enthusiast.

I am now planning on acquiring The Saké Handbook and The Insider's Guide to Saké to see if they are equally good. Both have been added to my wish list.

In 2001, Matthew introduced me to the Lemon Drop, not the shot, but beverage served in a martini glass with a sugared rim. Many bars still haven't heard of it and all make it slightly different.

The Lemon Drop is an enigma.

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libation entries

 

[ * ] images created by Rachel [© 2000] and
inspired by the label on Sho Chiku Bai saké
page created Sunday, 17 December 2000
page updated Tuesday, 2 January 2001
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