Words On Wednesday

I picked up some pineapple bourbon during a recent Costco run, but I was left with more questions than answers once I tried it. Name: Jim Beam Pineapple Source: Jim Beam Style: Pineapple Liqueur infused with Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey ABV: 32.5% Price: $8.99 (normally $16.99) Volume: 750ml Price per oz: $0.35 (normally $0.67) Every time I visit the Costco liquor store, I make a pass around to see the new wares even if I'm there for a specific item. It's how I stumbled across the Bottled-In-Bond and Small Batch Bourbon. Sometimes it's a way to find a new favorite, and other times it's a product I know and love for cheaper than I can find it elsewhere. In either case, it pays to window shop. I stopped by in early June and I discovered an absurd discount on Jim Beam Pineapple. I like Jim Beam, and pineapple goes in a lot of things. At $8.99 for a fifth, that was cheaper than basically anything else in the store. I figured I had to pick some up. I got home a...

It's been a minute since I bought a bottle of gin, but when I saw that Costco carried a new Kirkland Signature branded gin, I had to try it. Name: London Dry Gin Source: Kirkland Signature Style: Gin ABV: 44% Price: $17.99 Volume: 1.75L Price per oz: $0.30 In the early days after I could legally buy alcohol, I bought a lot of things that were new to me. I was raised in a teetotaling household, so I didn't get to try a lot of alcohol through my youth. Some things stuck, but others (like Southern Comfort ) were quickly abandoned. When I discovered that I liked Long Island Iced Tea, I decided to pick up the constituent ingredients (including gin) and make one at home. It would be cheaper per drink than buying them at a bar. I figured out the hard way that Long Islands are pretty tough to make well, so I bounced off that idea after the first one. I bought that bottle of Beefeater on May 24, 2014. That one handle of gin stuck with me for several years. By November 2016, it a...

After discovering that Costco's Tequila Reposado was almost identical in price per volume to their Tequila Blanco , I had to compare the two. Name: Tequila Reposado Source: Kirkland Signature Style: Tequila ABV: 40% Price: $14.49 Volume: 1L Price per oz: $0.43 I uncorked the new bottle and poured a shot of each side by side. Fortunately, I had a single shot left from the Blanco for the comparison. This would equip me with the information to decide if I would buy another bottle of Blanco or just start keeping Reposado on hand. Most obviously, the color of the Reposado was pretty visibly darker. Not quite bourbon or black rum dark, but something like a watered down cola. The Blanco is indistinguishable from water at a glance. Although I am frequently advised against it, I always have to smell a new alcohol before I drink it. The Reposado didn't really have much of a smell. I'm not sure if it's because of less volatile esters or if something about the process remov...

If there is a drink better associated with late April and early May than the Mint Julep, I couldn't find one. Whether you watch the Kentucky Derby or not, this time of year is dominated by the event, and the Mint Julep is the official drink. When planning out posts for the year, not only had I never watched the Kentucky Derby, I had never tried a Mint Julep. Some time around then, I picked up a mint plant to grow in my bathroom windowsill. It was mostly intended to make a Mojito, but hey, mint is mint. Plus, the Mint Julep is classic enough, I felt obligated to try one. Recipe ( Original ) Ingredients 2 oz. Woodford Reserve® 1/2 oz. Simple Syrup 3 Fresh Mint Leaves Crushed Ice Preparation Express the essential oils in the mint and rub them inside the glass.  To the same glass, add simple syrup, bourbon and crushed ice.  Stir. Garnish with more ice and fresh mint. Easy enough. Other recipes I read suggested muddling the mint directly into the glass, which is the route ...

Want to order an old favorite, but sound fancy doing it? Get a Cuba Libre! It's just a rum and cola with lime, but it sounds cultured. Plus, it's fun to say: Cuba Libre. As the Lima One Capital annual company party was approaching, I was discussing it in the office with the data engineering team. You know, before I got laid off? I really felt like if there were no hard feelings, they should've let us still attend the party to go out with a bang. Alas, I digress. At that point, I still had every intention of attending the celebration. One of the data engineers said she planned on getting a Cuba Libre. I was intrigued, a Cuba Libre? I hadn't heard of that. "Oh, it's just rum and Coke with lime." How droll. I love a rum and cola, and I frequently throw lime in it because lime is amazing. Turns out, I had been drinking Cuba Libre for years and didn't even know it. Beyond being simple and delicious, it's also cheap. When you don't have a job, you...

I expected February's Thirsty Thursday Eve to be another cocktail, probably a Cuba Libre. However, much like getting laid off from work, sometimes unexpected things happen. Beer Cart was a Lima staple. When we were in office, it was the highlight of the week. After we went remote, I still went in occasionally on Thursdays when it lined up with manager training or an important meeting with the IT department. Over the past few months, I started trying to go into the office at least once per week for visibility and collaboration. If it wasn't on Coffee Monday, it was typically Beer Cart Thursday. As I left the office on Thursday, January 8, I had no clue it would be my last Beer Cart. Earlier that afternoon, I sent a picture of the beer fridge to some friends to gauge what I should get. I wanted a Ranch Water, but the officially branded ones weren't available. Instead, the Senior Director of Operations and official beer stocker recommended the High Noon Tequila Seltzer. Good ...

The first "Thirsty Thursday Eve" of the new year, but certainly not the first in this series. I arrived at a somewhat unexpected drink for January. The AI recommendation went in some fairly standard directions for January: either low-calorie drinks to appeal to resolutions about health and weight loss, quintessential winter drinks, or "classics" for some reason. January Theme 1: New Year, New You.  Focus on lighter, low-sugar cocktails or drinks made with invigorating, fresh ingredients like citrus or herbs. Theme 2: Winter Warmers.  Explore boozy hot drinks like a Spiked Hot Chocolate, a Hot Buttered Rum, or a Chai Toddy. Theme 3: The Classics.  A great time to revisit foundational cocktails like the Old Fashioned, a Martini, or a Manhattan, as people are often cozying up indoors. I already did  spiced buttered rum , so that's off the table. I make hot chocolate with Bailey's or eggnog for my wife frequently, so that was an option. However, the most attract...

This month, I'm discussing a cocktail that isn't so much wintery in and of itself, but one that adopts a winter-themed variation. The peppermint White Russian is basically the cocktail interpretation of those little miniature candy canes you get from the mall Santa Claus. Recipe: 2 ounces vodka 1 ounce coffee-flavored liqueur 1 ounce heavy cream 1/2 ounce peppermint syrup The Gemini suggestion for December was critical: December Theme 1: Holiday Indulgence. The month for eggnog . Other options include rich, creamy drinks or cocktails with festive notes of gingerbread or peppermint. A Peppermint White Russian. Theme 2: Sparkling Celebrations. Bubbly drinks for New Year's Eve. A Cranberry Champagne Cocktail or a simple Prosecco with a twist. I've done a spin on eggnog before. I like gingerbread, but I wasn't sure what kind of cocktail would feature it. And the traditional bubbly drinks served at New Year's Eve parties are just not for me. I don...

The cocktail series continues! This month, I wanted to go heavy on the fall-into-winter flavors that are frequently associated with Thanksgiving. Google Gemini's suggestion for this month wasn't surprising: Theme 1: Thanksgiving & Harvest.  Feature autumnal flavors like cranberry, pear, or maple syrup. A Cranberry Bourbon Sour or a Maple Pecan Old Fashioned. Theme 2: Comfort & Spice.  Use warming spices like nutmeg, clove, and allspice. A Spiced Pear Cocktail or a Mulled Wine. I don't love pear, so that's off the table. Cranberry is alright, but a vodka-cran seemed a little low effort. Maple, though? I love some maple syrup. On pancakes, in a latte, maple syrup and maple flavor in general is a welcome addition anywhere. Hence, the maple pecan old fashioned: Recipe 2.5oz pecan/cinnamon infused bourbon 0.25oz pure maple syrup 3 dashes pecan bitters When Gemini suggested a maple pecan old fashioned, I was intrigued. It seemed like a logical, if somewhat niche, riff...