Of course, the best way to start is with a request! What follows is a great novelty cocktail for Christmas. Note that “great” here applies to novelty and not to the quality of the cocktail itself. The cocktail is too sweet to drink especially with the large amount produced by the original recipe I picked up. As such, I halved those measurements and the smaller version is what you’ll see here. While I can’t imagine wanting two in a row, it really does taste remarkably like an oatmeal cookie, which is reason enough to add them to the list of things to serve over the holiday season.

Happy Holidays, everyone! Especially to the many loyal readers who still reads this blog. The two of you are much appreciated.

Looking for a way to celebrate this fine month? Personally, I recommend drinking some fine bourbon straight up. I prefer to reach for Four Roses Single Barrel or the George T. Stagg, but there are many wonderful options.

Of course, mixing bourbon in a cocktail is also a fine, patriotic maneuver. The default is a manhattan, although I tend to prefer them with rye. Try adding a dash of the maraschino juice for something a bit different! If you want a slew of cocktail options, perhaps start at last February’s Mixology Monday XII: Whisk[e]y. Sure it’s not just bourbon, but there are a number in there. Finally, there’s Straight Bourbon’s list of Bourbon drinks.

On the off chance you are operating under the misunderstanding that you don’t enjoy bourbon, but still want to celebrate all that’s right with America, it’s worth giving bourbon buttered pecan ice cream a shot. It just might make a believer out of you!

I’m off to celebrate some of America’s finest accomplishments! U-S-A! U-S-A!

update the next day – while I stand by the above statement, and am fully convinced that this semester is exactly two weeks too long, even if you’re not completely zoned out, Winterbells is a really neat game. Orisinal is a pretty site, and hosts a lot of small, simple games with beautiful graphics in soft, pastel colors. Most of the games don’t do a lot for me, but I love that they’re taking video games in a different direction, and all the games show the results of being lovingly crafted with wonderful attention to quality. Winterbells is the first game I find really entrancing. Guiding the bunny as he hops from bell to bell can feel a bit like flying at times, as the snow flakes turn to stars and the music continues to drift in the background. I am reminded of a friend of mine describing how she sometimes had lucid dreams where she would be able to guide herself as she flew through whatever dream city or scape she encountered that evening. I love that image.

Anyhow, a game is fairly quick, with a decently long one running less than two minutes. Give it a try, I think you’ll like it. If you’re the competitive type, my high score is 33,283,440 (because what experience can’t be codified by numbers these days?).

As has been said before, sometimes there’s a man… I won’t say a hero, ’cause, what’s a hero? Sometimes, there’s a man. And I’m talkin’ about Jeffrey Morgenthaler here – the man who realized that prohibition was repealed on December 5th, 1933 and decided it was an event worth drinking to.

Here’s to you, 21st amendment.

PS: Why I miss living in London.