It's Friday let's Shake, Rattle, and Stir!

[Attjack]

Happy Friday! A new cocktail bar opened up in my neighborhood, and I may walk down there after work to check it out. But I also made an upgrade to my own bar. I had this idea and bought the unit, but then it sat for weeks as I experienced some trepidation, knowing that once I cut a hole into my bartop, there's no going back. Finally, I decided I really wanted to proceed, and now I'm very happy that I did.



I have a little bar sink under the bar there, but it's kind of a hassle to crouch down and wash all the gear that goes into making a cocktail. There's always the question: Is this it, or will I make another cocktail? Invariably, if I washed everything, I would then decide I wanted another cocktail. Most of the time, the next day when I went back down to the bar, I would have dirty shakers, mixing glasses, and jiggers. Now, I can immediately rinse those things right after use, and they are ready to go for round 2, whether it's coming in 15 minutes or 24 hours. I love it.

Now for this weekend's cocktails.

Brooklyn

2 oz. rye whiskey
0.5 oz. dry vermouth
0.25 oz. Maraschino Liqueur
0.25 oz. Amaro Ramazotti
2 dashes orange bitters

I do not have Amaro Ramazotti, so I'm substituting another amaro—Cynar.

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Here's a core classic.

The Bee's Knees

2 oz. gin
0.75 oz. lemon juice
0.75 oz. honey syrup (to taste)

I've been meaning to make honey syrup for quite a while.

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Because I'm going to have honey syrup, and I'm already making a Brooklyn why not a Brooklynite?

Brooklynite

2 oz. Jamaican rum
0.75 oz. lime juice
0.75 oz. honey syrup
1 dash bitters

Cheers!

What will you be drinking?

[jfmorris]

I'm gonna be shaking, rattling and rolling, or just going bourbon on the rocks after I clock out this afternoon. Need to drown my sorrows...

Went to bed early last night, woke up sweating a little a couple of hours later, to find that the Nest was doing its best to blow... 74 degree air throughout the house! Yes, I used my grilling thermometers to check the vent temps. A trip outside with a flashlight, compressor and condenser fan not doing anything. Now I have given verbal approval to be in hock $10,500 for a new HVAC unit to be installed Tuesday. Not the highest SEER at 14, but to go higher was going to be a 4 to 8 week wait - and more $'s. I've got a weird "packaged" unit where the AC and gas heat are all in one unit on a pad at one end of the house, so this is 4 tons of cooling + 100K Btu's of heat. These packaged units have a limited efficiency selection anyway.

Thankfully, I had a 1 ton window AC in the garage that I had *JUST* listed on FB Marketplace 2 days ago. I almost sold it last night, but fell asleep instead of responding to the guy. Now it's in a window keeping the den and kitchen at tolerable levels as we look at 10 days in the 90's here in N. Alabama.

I expect to spend the weekend floating in the pool with a cold drink in my hand!

[Angryfish]

Sorry about the a/c unit.
Are you sure it’s just not the motor start capacitor?
Happens all the time. 16-20 bucks for the part.

[jfmorris]

Angryfish this morning we were hoping it was a capacitor, but unfortunately, the compressor had blown out all of the coolant and a lot of refrigeration oil around a fitting. And by around a fitting, I mean, around where the pipe went into the side of the compressor, not a threaded fitting. I think the scroll compressor gave up the ghost, and just blew out under high pressure. That unit has run thousands of hours keeping this house cool in hot Alabama for 20 years, without a leak or recharge.

[tstalafuse]

So, jfmorris, license smicence, the whole warranty claim is BS. They can't enforce it by saying it has to be installed by a licensed installer or an authorized installer. If it is installed correctly, they can't claim anything. Besides, what pitmaster like you would install it incorrectly?..

[Purc]

jfmorris My son just replaced his for abt $8500. In Texas they ask everyday for people to cut down on electrical usage and the local news show charts of the maximum power available on the grid vrs the total usage on a daily basis. Living with TVA power in Chattanooga TN for 30 years, I never had to worry about power usage or the grid. Makes me wonder how the Texas grid can support all of these new EVs when they have trouble supporting the electrical demands now.

Oh yeah, Margaritas on the rocks trying to cool off in this heat. I may try a Bee's Knees , Kentucky Mule or Gin and Tonic tomorrow Attjack.

[Richard Chrz]

Starting early.

[Richard Chrz]

Attjack can plain honey be used in place of honey syrup?

[Attjack]

I don't think you'll be able to get it to properly mix being that the drink is very cold when being mixed but I have never tried it.

[Attjack]

Honey Syrup

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup honey (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 cup water

Steps

1. Add the honey and water into a small saucepan over medium heat.
2. Stir until the honey is dissolved.
3. Allow to cool and transfer to an airtight container. The syrup will keep, refrigerated, for up to 1 month.

Richard Chrz

[CaptainMike]

Hey jfmorris did you look into a mini-split? We put one in last year and are very happy with it.

[jfmorris]

The problem I think with a mini split here is I would need 8 to 10 of the inside units, and the wall space to mount them, and with 8 foot ceilings there is little space above windows or doors. I know they are more efficient, but I think my wife would rather keep using the vents in the floor versus the mini split units on the wall.

[tstalafuse]

So, back to Attjack actual post, I am drinking Topo-Chico Ranch Water with a double shot of vodka. I firmly believe if you are going on a trip, you should get there as quickly as possible...

[Attjack]

I love Ranch Water but truth be told I don't think I've made it with Topo-Chico which is what you're supposed to use. I'm putting Topo-Chico on my shopping list. One question though, if you are subbing vodka for tequila, isn't that my wife's favorite drink a Vodka Soda Water and Lime rather than Ranch Water?

[tstalafuse]

Attjack, I don't know. I just pour it in a glass and add the Vodka. If that makes it something else, it does the trick..

[Attjack]

Ranch Water

1 1/2 ounces blanco tequila
1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
Topo Chico, chilled, to top (about 6 ounces)
Garnish: lime wedge

Add all ingredients into a collins or highball glass over ice and stir briefly and gently to combine.

Garnish with a lime wedge.

[jfmorris]

Ok Attjack ... Beer:30 here in Alabama at the home office, so a trip to the garage was in order...

"Golden IPA" on tap... Golden due to the use of Golden Promise as the base malt, and Lysle's Golden Syrup. Not sure I like the funky Galaxy hops though, but it's drinkable. My club had a beer ingredient draft in March. You had to brew with just the malts, hops and yeast you drafted, and bring it in June. I drafted mostly safe ingredients... some were not so lucky. Made for some interesting beers though!



Not the most scenic "bar", but it gets the job done...

[barelfly]

I didn’t realize it was a monitor! Thought it was very nicely done handwriting! Or printed out! That is even cooler to be able to do what you did!

[Attjack]

I wouldn't mind seeing more pics of the brew shack.

[Old Glory]

That is awesome!

[barelfly]

Attjack - that is a killer addition to the bar! Love it! Ha, I can imagine bellying up to your bar…asking make me bartenders choice and having great conversation on all things q, cocktails and life!

Thanks for sharing another great post on the tools/utensils of the trade!

and for me - being out of town for the week with my son, I’ll find a cocktail at the restaurant we decide to head out to.

Cheers all! Enjoy the beverages and weekend!

[Attjack]

When it comes to equipment, on the list in my head of subjects to cover, I still want to touch on glassware as Richard Chrz had suggested. I just haven't taken the time to do the photography yet. Sadly, I lost a nice cocktail glass last night. We got back home around 11 from a comedy show and I bumped it off the counter getting the compost ready to take out to the bin. Fortunately, I have many more glasses!

[Old Glory]

Pineapple Daiquiris on the menu here tonight.

Plantation Pineapple Rum
Lime Juice
Simple syrup

So good!

[Old Glory]

Oh, and Bees Knees is a favorite!

[shify]

Love the set up and jealous of it.

Made myself a Tom Collins earlier. Felt summer appropriate.

1/2 oz simple syrup
1 oz fresh lemon juice
2 oz Old Tom Gin
3 oz club soda.

[barelfly]

No cocktail…but I did visit Total Wine near the hotel and picked up this bottle to make a hotel bourbon cocktail

[Old Glory]

Sweet set up on your bar. Is that a rinse station as well?

I don't have space for a real bar. Just a cabinet to store the booze and I mix on my kitchen island. Making 2:1 simple syrup this morning. We killed the rum as well...lol.

[barelfly]

Time to go shopping!

[Attjack]

Yeah, it's a rinser that I use on shakers, mixing glasses, and jiggers.

DIBTSA Pitcher Rinser Countertop Sink with Side Spray,Drain and Drip Tray,Stainless Steel Glass Rinser Washer Cleaning Tool for Household Commercial,Extra Large Silver 25.59 x 8.5 x 0.86 inches https://a.co/d/fBwMdTV

[Attjack]

I need to do some rum shopping myself.