Let’s Get Boozy: literary edition

In honor of our new book club, this edition of Let’s Get Boozy will be focused on the favorite drinks of some of my favorite literary figures.

Hemingway is almost as famous for his drinking, as his is for his writing.  Which is why Papa has three favorite drinks to his name. All of which embody the tropical and carefree attitude of his beloved Cuba, as well as the local alcohols. “I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they’ve always worked for me.”

Mojito –

• 2 oz lime juice

• 2 oz light rum

• 2 oz club soda

• 1 tsp powdered sugar

• 4 mint leaves

Place mint leaves, lime juice, and powdered sugar in a colins glass.  Muddle.  Add ice and rum, then top with club soda.  Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Daiquiri

• 1.5 oz light rum

• 1 oz lime juice

• 1/2 simple syrup (or to taste)

Combine all ingredients in a shaker, shake, strain into cocktail glass.

Margarita

• 1.5 oz reposado or blanco tequila

• 1/2 oz triple sec

• 1 oz fresh lime juice

• agave nectar to taste

Shake all ingredients together. If you like a salt, moisten rim of cocktail glass with lime and dip into coarse salt mixed with lime rind. Garnish with lime wedge

Faulkner – “There is no such thing as bad whiskey. Some whiskeys just happen to be better than others.”

Mint julep

• 2 oz bourbon

• 1 tsp superfine sugar

• 1 tsp water

• 3-4 mint sprigs

Add mint, sugar, and water to a collins glass.  Muddle.  Fill glass with ice then add bourbon.

F. Scott Fitzgerald– “First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you.”

Gin Rickey

• 1.5 oz gin

• juice of 1/2 lime

• club soda

Fill Collins glass with ice.  Squeeze lime over the ice.  Pour gin over ice, then top with club soda.  Garnish with a lime wedge.

Raymond Chandler – “Alcohol is like love. The first kiss is magic, the second is intimate, the third is routine. After that you take the girl’s clothes off.”

Gimlet

• 2 oz gin

• 2 oz Rose’s lime juice

Pour ingredients into a mixing glass with ice.  Stir. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

Anthony Burgess – “It tastes very smooth, induces a somewhat metaphysical elation, and rarely leaves a hangover.”

Hangman’s Blood

• 1 1/4 oz gin

• 1 1/4 oz rum

• 1 1/4 oz whiskey

• 1 1/4 oz brandy

• 1 1/4 oz port

• 5 oz Guniess

• 4 oz Champagne

Chill all ingredients before hand.  Add first 5 ingredients to a pint glass, top with 5 oz of Guness, and fill the rest of the way up with Champagne.

Capote – “I’m an alcoholic. I’m a drug addict. I’m homosexual. I’m a genius.”

Martini (double)

• 5 oz gin

• 1/2 oz dry vermouth

Pour vermouth into mixing glass with ice. Shake for a few seconds until ice is coated with vermouth, pour out the excess.  Add in the gin, shake until chilled. Strain into martini glass