Voltron

I took up Shelly's bourbon Liberal challenge and made one with Eagle Rare 17, Germain-Robin, and Cocchi vermouth. Very nice but science still demands experimentation.

While I was mixing a cocktail after dinner in Mayberry tonight, a tweaker who lives just up the hill immediately behind my house who has had various problems with the police before started shouting from his balcony to everybody and nobody that he was rock and roll and the fucking Marinites in the neighborhood didn't understand. He kept this up for quite awhile even calling down to Sophie that he could see her and her little dog through the trees. He escalated his bullshit spewing and threats to kick eveeryone's ass and was telling somebody else at his place that he was going to use "mind bullets" against the fucking hypoctrits who wouldn't call the police on him after he formed his new band and some other BS. Then, he threw some stuff off his balcony down the hill and started shouting at various people who shouted back or told him to shut up and take it inside. Eventually, the asshole jumped down off his balcony and came crashing down the hill right behind our property (by the shed for those who have visited). The neighbor dude two houses to our right whose property intersects at the shed was screaming at him that he had better not come onto his property, and the guy was screaming back that he was going to kick his ass,etc. It was just getting dark and I couldn't see where he was so I grabbed my baseball bat and then called 911. They immediately asked if I was calling about the guy on Pine Street and I said yes, but told them he was now on Cascade and seemingly on my neighbor's property. They showed up right after that but the tweaker was still screaming and carrying on about his dignity and asking if they would just let him go home for at least another 30-45 minutes for who knows what reason. Mayberry on Bad Acid tonight. And congrat to Jack and to your tuition-free school next year!

Cane Flower Cocktail 1.5 oz cachaca .75 oz Aperol .50 oz St Germaine elderflower liqueur

The faucet issue, to be more specific and to alleviate concerns over my childrens' health, is that the company has not gone through the process of obtaining a lead-free certification for faucets sold in California. I don't think there is any concern that the faucet has any lead -- it is a high-end European design company that doesn't do a lot of business here from what I can tell. When I grow flippers you can all say I told you so.

I'm more afraid of unicorn death squads at this level

??

Lead or some such did not meet California criteria

Illegal faucet trans-shipped through Montana because it doesn't meet California standards. Hope I don't die. Shower head and stuff was street-legal, so that came direct.

Maybe it was to get your Canadian goat.

It's like a Nazi state down there!

Anyone have experience with Rimowa or Tumi polycarbonate luggage?

No, that is a shocker, Ric! Beautiful Liberals, Shelly. You should get some Amaro Ciaciaro because it is more orangey than the Torani Amer and I think it is better tasting. Here is a clip from David Wondrich's Picon-matching experiment that Underhill quoted this week: "After much nosing and not a little tasting, the closest match in aroma and taste proved to be the 60-proof Amaro Ciociaro. Now, it's not a perfect match (it's a little more herbal), and admittedly 60 proof isn’t the same as 78 proof, but it does a great job of evoking the clean orange notes of the old Picon without being nearly as watery as the new Picon. Plus it avoids the vegetal notes of the Torani, which are entirely absent in the old Picon."

Bawston rools!!

Just now watching the hockey game on DVR so don't screw it up for me!

Vetiver -- The Errant Charm

Glad the weather broke a bit. Thanks for the offer, but I am more curious than in need. I see lots of their bourbon but never see the rye except in bars.

Tyll, is that you?

It's set up to record since it starts at 5pm here. Should be fun and I have a good feeling for Boston!

Sounds like a great camera and it takes some great snaps, Gene. I am torn on the right camera to bring for the upcoming Germany/Czech Republic trip. Thanks to the kindness of the new Fuji convert, Sophie has a great old school Nikon FG to bring so she can practice for her class and Claire has a tiny Canon SD1400. I can either bring the 5DmkII or Sophie's lighter T2i with some of my lenses, or I can just skip it. What to do?

Jim's bottle reminds me that I have not seen any BMH 23 at stores for a long time. Anybody bought a bottle recently?

Smith & Cross old fashioned.

indeed! It's looking great Kerry!

Congrat Mexi-Biscuit!

Cheers Mike and the rest! Now playing: Romance Cocktail 1oz equal parts brandy and curacao 1oz Amer Picon (the new best substitute is supposed to be Amaro Cia Ciaro) 1oz french vermouth 1oz italian vermouth Previously at City Beer Store: Pint of Deschutes Dissident sour red ale from 2008 -- really nice Short glass of Dieu du Ciel Péché Mortel (Imperial Stout Au Cafe) -- WOW! Amazing stuff and I need to get back for another before it is gone. Again, WOW! Read the Alstrom Bros. take on it here: BA Review.