#Ginger Whisky Smash

[rabbitcruiser]

National Bourbon Day 

Nobody really needs a good excuse to enjoy the odd tipple, but National Bourbon Day gives anyone the perfect reason to dust off a bottle of this fine whiskey and have a glass or two!

Those who are less steeped in the culture of alcoholic beverages may not know the difference between bourbon and whiskey, which is certainly okay! This is the perfect day to learn. National Bourbon Day has been set aside as a day to learn about and appreciate this fine liquor which some people refer to as the “Spirit of America”.

It’s time to celebrate this American ‘Native Spirit’!

History of National Bourbon Day

Legend has it that the date on which National Bourbon Day is celebrated is the anniversary of the very first time this famous drink was distilled, way back in the late 1700s. It may only be a legend but, whatever the truth of this is, National Bourbon Day is surely a day worth celebrating.

Bourbon is a specific category of American whiskey, which is made from a mash that is primarily corn based–at least 51% must be corn in order for it to be classified as bourbon. Other grains in the mash typically include malted barley, rye or wheat.

The mash is then distilled, then aged for at least two years in barrels that are new charred oak barrels, in order to be “straight bourbon whiskey”. Many bourbons are aged longer than 2 years. In fact, one labelling rule states that any bourbon aged for less than 4 years must state as much on the label.

This is a very strong liquor. The corn mash to make the bourbon starts out at 80% alcohol and, through the aging process as well as filtering and bottling processes, the final product can be no less than 40% alcohol by volume.

Bourbon definitely originated in the US state of Kentucky, sometime in the 1700s, before it even had acquired its official name. The name seems to be a nod to the French Bourbon Dynasty, and possibly was in honor of Bourbon County, an area of Kentucky that was known for its corn growing.

While some people think that bourbon must be made in Kentucky (like cognac must be made in a certain region of France) that’s not actually true. It simply needs to be distilled and aged in the state in order to be given the special name, “Kentucky Bourbon”.

Even so, most of this drink is still made in Kentucky and folks from that area would claim that it’s definitely the place where the best bourbon comes from. Some Kentuckians even claim that the limestone in the springwater from the area offers this bourbon a flavor distinguished from the rest.

In 1964, the US Congress recognized bourbon as a “distinctive product of the United States”. In fact, many trade agreements require that, to be called bourbon, a whiskey must be made in the USA.

As bourbon whiskey began to grow in popularity, the tourism around this drink began to increase in Kentucky. At one point, to keep up with demand, some companies were planning to reduce the alcohol content of their products, but backlash from customers forced them to reverse their decision. Some companies have limited their supplies overseas to keep up with demands in the US. That means that Kentucky still probably is the best place to get bourbon!

While it is true that all bourbons are whiskey, not all whiskeys are bourbon. And National Bourbon Day is certainly the best day to find out more about this tasty beverage and enjoy a glass as well.

How to Celebrate National Bourbon Day

Celebrating National Bourbon Day is filled with fun, enjoyment and, of course, access to different bourbons of the world! Try these celebratory ideas for enjoying the day:

Try a Different Kind of Bourbon

Those who are new on the scene, welcome! It’s time to try bourbon of any variety. For those who are enthusiasts and aficionados, National Bourbon Day is the perfect time to try a new brand, flavor or vintage of this special whiskey.

Knob’s Creek. Whether choosing the 9-year, or the more sought-after 15-year, this brand is well known for its small batch varieties that everyone seems to love.

Evan Williams Black Label. A great taste for a newcomer, this affordable brand brings 86 proof whiskey that is aged more than 5 years.

Jim Beam’s Old Grandad. Mid-range price and 114 proof is super spicy and appreciated by those who want to avoid the “hype” of fancier brands.

Join a National Bourbon Day Event

There are plenty of events and options for whiskey lovers and their friends (even those who don’t know much about whiskey) to get in the swing of things and enjoy this special day. Hotels and restaurants often enter into the spirit of the occasion by organizing a dinner in honor of Bourbon.

Hop on the National Bourbon Day website for more information and events.

Visit the Bourbon Capital of the World

Bardstown, Kentucky has been hailed by some to be the “Bourbon Capital of the World”. Because of this, it may just be the perfect place to visit for a National Bourbon Day celebration. With at least 10 different distilleries in the area, Bardstown offers an eclectic array of bourbon options, including: Bardstown Bourbon Company, Maker’s Mark Distillery, Jim Beam American Stillhouse ahd Heaven Hill Distillery.

National Bourbon Day events typically last over two or three days, hosting tastings, demonstrations, and expert discussions. While in town, don’t forget to stop by the Oscar Getz Museum of Whisky History, which is a special place for bourbon enthusiasts.

Those who can’t make it to Kentucky but want to join in from home can access the National Bourbon Day video library for recorded and virtual events.

Try Some New Bourbon Cocktail Recipes

A great idea for celebrating the day is to entertain family and friends by trying out some old or new Bourbon cocktail recipes.

Bourbon Old Fashioned. A classic, of course, but always amazing. This drink includes bourbon, bitters, water, sugar, and a garnish of orange peel.

Bourbon Mint Julep. Another Kentucky favorite known for its attachment to the horse race, the Kentucky Derby, this refreshing drink simply calls for simple syrup, mint sprigs, bourbon and crushed ice.

Bourbon Manhattan. Named after the city that never sleeps, this iconic American drink just begs to make with America’s Native Spirit! Mix bourbon whiskey, sweet vermouth and bitters. Garnish with a maraschino cherry and orange peel.

Bourbon Sidecar. Normally made with cognac, this American-ized version of the drink is just as tasty. Shake together bourbon, triple sec and lemon juice with ice. Garnish with an orange twist.

No matter what the plans are for the day, it’s easy to add a little splash of whiskey to an evening meal to make National Bourbon Day a night to remember!

Source

[rouletvilla]

OC Songs

thanks @mrs-mquve for the tag!

General songs that I think he'd like:

Izabella by Antônio Carlos Jobim

Samba Saravah - Pierre Barouh

If You Were Here Tonight - Alexander O'Neal

Rio - Duran Duran

Bossa per Alberto - Piero Piccioni

Señora Diana La - Eduardo Mateo

Out of Nowhere - Al Bowlly

Let's Face The Music And Dance - Roy Fox & His Band

La Vie en rose - Edith Piaf

Girl in a Sportscar - Alan Hawkshaw

Femme Fatale - The Velvet Underground

Some genres would be cocktail jazz, easy listening, new wave, r&b

Some songs with explanations:

Non, je ne regrette rien - Edith Piaf

I associate it especially with Nicolas and Love's relationship since when everything goes to shit (aka Anais finds out and leaves with the kids, Love can't cope with the fallout and goes back to Sweden) he doesn't really have any regrets because what he and Love had was probably the most important thing he's ever had, regardless of whether he lost it or not

Sulk - Radiohead

I associate this one with him because of the lyric "Just like your dad you'll never change". I sort of imagined it to be an insult Love would probably throw at him during an argument. Nicolas' coldness comes from Richard (his dad) but refuses to do anything to change that

Dogs - Pink Floyd

Not necessarily any meaning to this one other than I perfectly imagine it being a song he likes to unwind after work to with a glass of whisky

·.¸¸.·♩♪♫ nicolas' playlist ♫♪♩·.¸¸.·

General songs that I think he'd like:

Sunday by Sonic Youth

Tour de France '03 V2 by Kraftwerk

Protest Song '68 by Refused

Misery Business by Paramore

Tornado by MSI

A Box Full Of Sharp Objects by The Used

Noise and Kisses by The Used

Root by Deftones

DINNER! by femtanyl

General Release by Mike Klubnika

Missed the bus! by Vertigoaway

Ginger Claps by Machine Girl

New Pin by Oceansize

Genres are mainly depressive black metal, digital hardcore, grunge, nu metal and rap metal

Some songs with explanations:

Temptation - New Order

Not about the lyrics this time, but more the melody. Gives me coming of age movie vibes. And I picture him and Love running through the streets of their hometown just being teenagers with some cheap vodka without a care in the world XD

·.¸¸.·♩♪♫ eivor's playlist ♫♪♩·.¸¸.·

General songs that I think he'd like:

Teenager by Deftones

To Forgive by Smashing Pumpkins

Prove Yourself by Radiohead

You're Not The Only One I Know by The Sundays

Om jag dör i natt by Camouflage

Allt Är Sig Likt by Apati

Silk Hands Wrapped In A Masquerade by Calm

No More Like That by Eiafuawn

Star Roving by Slowdive

Regret by New Order

Untitled by The Cure

Waltzing Back by The Cranberries

Mayonaise by Smashing Pumpkins

Genres are slowcore, space rock, pop rock

Some songs with explanations:

The Boy - Smashing Pumpkins

'Every little part of me is a part of you I can't stop, I can't breathe, I can't think I'm in love again'

He loves way too much, to the point his whole personality and self can be consumed by just one person, and can almost be obsessive in a way

Married With Children - Oasis

Self explanatory if you're familiar with both Love and Nic's relationship XD ("yeah i dont have a wife and kids")

·.¸¸.·♩♪♫ love's playlist ♫♪♩·.¸¸.·

[askwhatsforlunch]

Autumn Cocktails

Here is a list of seasonal tipples, to celebrate the red and gold foliage, to warm up after a walk on crisp leaves in the woods, to cheer up a rainy afternoon! These cocktails are a toast to Autumnal harvest and fragrant with the season’s flavours. Enjoy!

Harvest Flip (Gin)

Sparkling Pear (Vodka)

Pine Gin Toddy  (Gin)

Applejack Rabbit (Apple Brandy)

Hot Buttered Rum (Rum)

Vampire Gin (Gin)

Cranberry Smash (Whisky)

Manhattan (Whisky)

Espresso Martini (Vodka)

Old Fashioned  (Whisky)

Rosemary, June and Gin (Gin)

Goldwyn Follies (Gin)

Sakura Gin (Gin)

Ginger and Lime Whiskey  (Whisky)

Maple Hot Toddy (Brandy)

Mapletini  (Whisky)

Heated Affair (Tequila)

The Frankie Drake (Gin)

Sidecar (Brandy)

Bourbon Mulled Cider (Bourbon)

[secret-engima]

I’ve had a bad day so... anything about any of your rwby aus you wanna share? ❤️

Awwww, I’m sorry to hear that Anon! Would a few snips help? I think I have a few snips around here somewhere *dives into doc* *reemerges* I come bearing snips! I apologize that most of them are angsty! But I have what I have ^^;

Always I Dreamed:

     “You don’t actually have a plan do you?” Raven hissed to Summer as they pressed their backs against the same piece of cover, trying to catch their breath.

     Summer leaned around the corner, snapped off a shot to keep the Grimm from punching Qrow off the cliff, “I do! It’s just a work in progress! And it would have been a lot easier if that pillar hadn’t crumbled the wrong way.”

     Raven knew what was likely to blame for that, but didn’t bother to say, “Pro tip? If you can think of some way for your plan to go really, stupidly wrong, assume it will and have a backup plan.”

     They rolled away from cover and dodged the rock fragments as the Grimm angrily shattered the stone they had been hiding behind, Summer snapped off another shot without looking through her scope and made a face, “Well I don’t see you coming up with any ideas!”

     “I’m not the one who insisted she had a plan.”

     Taiyang slammed his feet down onto the Grimm’s head from where he’d jumped off a high ruin, front flipped off its skull with another hard kick, and rolled under it’s answering fist, “Well you’re one of the people who might die without one, so maybe give it a shot?”

...

Wolfcury (in which Taiyang attempts to tame a smol child large wolfdog:

     “Well,” Taiyang managed once his ears had stopped ringing, “that could have gone a lot better.”

     “It could have gone a lot worse too,” Summer pointed out, “he retreated rather than attacked.” They both shared a solemn look. They knew that if Taiyang had kept pushing, had gotten too close, the wolfdog would have attacked him. Taiyang ran a hand through his hair, he didn’t know if he could fix something that broken. A trust that shattered.

     But the wolfdog had saved Ruby, and Ruby was still asking about him every time Summer went out to check on him. He owed it to the wolfdog to at least try to salvage whatever trust the animal’s previous owner had shattered into feral terror. And if he really, genuinely couldn’t … he wasn’t looking forward to explaining that to Ruby. Or dealing with the tears and fallout that would follow. They kept trying. Summer still checked on the bandages and brought water, but Taiyang was now in charge of the food. They hoped that associating him with food would help take the initial edge off, but while the howling and snapping didn’t make a reappearance after the first time, the wolfdog still strained to stay as far away as possible, and refused to eat while he was in the shed. Taiyang decided he needed to escalate just a bit, because it was quickly becoming clear that no amount of food bribery would help if the wolfdog was too terrified by his mere existence to eat around him and get the positive association.

     Taiyang brought home some supplies, sturdy wire fencing and wood to build a dog house, and soon Summer was gently leading the wolfdog out of the shed and into his new, fenced off area of the yard while Taiyang hid in the house to keep the wolfdog from panicking. Ruby was ecstatic to finally be able to see the wolfdog, even if she wasn’t allowed inside the fenced off area or to stick her fingers through the bars. Taiyang watched from a distance, letting Summer directly monitor the “visits” of their daughters to the wolfdog through the fencing. So long as the animal didn’t know Taiyang was nearby, the change in behavior was obvious. Still skittish and a touch wild, but shyer. Gentler. He even limped up and wagged his tail at Ruby through the fencing. It was just Taiyang that he was so mindlessly terrified of, and it made Taiyang feel angry in the pit of his stomach.

     This animal had been brave enough to try to fight off a Grimm to save Ruby, and while he seemed to have no idea what to do with affection, that shyly wagging tail and ginger acceptance of dog treats through the wire fencing proved the poor thing wasn’t naturally aggressive and hateful. Someone, some man, had beaten that fear into the wolfdog, that wild-eyed hate he could see in big grey eyes whenever Taiyang came too close. People like that could get eaten by Grimm in Taiyang’s opinion, and if he ever had the luck to run into the man who had hurt this dog… He shook that thought away —not for the first time and not for the last— and put the next stage of his plan into action.

     The first time he wandered out and sat down just on the other side of the wire fencing with a lap desk and a stack of school papers to grade, the wolfdog fled to the other side with a brief, swiftly cut off scream of fear. It stayed pressed into the farthest corner of fencing the three hours Taiyang sat with his back to the fence, grading the papers of his students at Signal and listening to his daughters play. Taiyang only looked at the animal to call a soft greeting when he got there, then to call a soft goodbye when he finally got up and went inside to cook dinner.

     He repeated the ritual three more times before the wolfdog finally dared to leave the corner and instead skirt furtively around the far side of his fenced in area, watching him with his grey tail tucked tight to his belly and hackles raised in something akin to anger. Taiyang just kept grading papers and writing up schedules and working on whatever other paperwork he could find. He’d thought about doing weapon maintenance out here, but chances were high the wolfdog would know what weapons were and be even more frightened of them, so he stuck to paper tasks, or just sitting with his back to the fence for three hours watching the girls play. He did his best to keep it to the same time each day, for the same amount of time.

     Day five and he heard it creeping closer before fleeing again several times. Day seven and he briefly felt hot breath against the back of his neck before it retreated. The wolfdog stopped fleeing to the far corner when Taiyang came outside, just hunkered down wherever it happened to already be and watched him with wary eyes. Day eight and he started bringing jerky with him, sliding a piece through the wire right where he usually sat before turning around and going back to his usual routine. It took until day ten before the wolfdog actually crept up close enough to snap up the jerky and flee to a “safe” distance again.

...

Dragon Yang:

     “Yang, wait! It’s me! It’s Qrow!”

     She hesitated. Stared at him, poised to go after him again, eyes flickering red, nostrils flared. She looked like she was on the edge of either a panic attack or trying to kill him again. Her fingers flexed, then her fists lowered. He wasn’t stupid enough to think she had relaxed. Her nostrils flared again, hair rippling almost like fire, which he hadn’t known it could do before now, “…Uncle Qrow?”

     Qrow nodded, tried to pitch his voice into something soothing, “It’s me, kiddo. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you like that. But- Brothers, Yang, we’ve been worried sick.”

     Yang’s jaw worked, her face was almost eerily blank —like Raven at that age and older, and he didn’t like that thought or what it implied—, “Prove it.” Qrow faltered and her lips twitched like she wanted to bare her teeth at him, “Prove it. Prove you’re- that you’re my uncle.” Something bleak flickered over her face, hollow and fractured, before it was gone again, “Prove it to me.”

     Qrow dared to let go of Harbinger’s hilt. Yang was … he had no idea what had happened to her, but she looked cold and hard, scraped raw and hiding it for her own safety. Someone had torn his niece apart and molded her into something that could smash right through an experienced Huntsman’s Aura in three strikes and he seethed just thinking about it. But he couldn’t afford to be angry right now, not with Yang sizing him up as a potential enemy. So he spread his hands placatingly and scrambled for decent proof. I need a drink for this-, oh. “When you were eight, you wanted to make me a ‘welcome home’ gift. You decided to make brownies. But the house was out of milk, so instead of using tap water, you got it into your head for some reason to use the bottle of whisky that you weren’t supposed to know was under the sink. Your dad just about skinned me when he got home to find you and Ruby passed out drunk on the floor from ‘testing out’ the brownies.”

     Yang stared at him. Her hands slowly relaxed out of fists, “I was sick for the whole night and most of the day after. I hated it. Ruby kept throwing up. She was afraid to eat brownies for years after that…”

     “Because she thought they were cursed,” Qrow finished gently. Yang kept staring, expression so blank it was almost a cry for help. Qrow dared to take a step forward, “It’s me, Yang. I promise.”

     The tiniest shudder ran through her frame, like she was holding back from some greater response. She inhaled, exhaled slowly as the last of the glow faded from her hair, “I believe you.” Her voice cracked for just a moment before he saw her visibly wrestle it back under control, “I believe you.”

     Qrow dared to take a few more steps toward her, picking his way around the furrow he’d left in the ground, making sure that each movement was slow and obvious. She let him approach, didn’t tense up or turn wary as he came to a stop just in arm’s reach. She stared up at him with a mask of porcelain, fragile and dangerous, and Qrow pushed down both his fury and the urge to get drunk until he wasn’t angry anymore. Instead, he tried to smile, “Hey there, kiddo. We missed you.”

     She closed her eyes, her breath shook before she opened them again, “Missed you too, Uncle Qrow.”

     Qrow held his hands up a little higher, from placation to the offer of a hug, “Can I hug you, kiddo?”

     She swallowed, he caught the glimmer of longing in her eyes, “…Just … don’t touch my shoulders.”

     Qrow nodded and made a point to move slowly. He wanted to pull her close and squeeze her as tightly as he could, but he didn’t need to be a wise, quasi-immortal wizard like Oz to tell that was a bad idea. So instead of that, he very slowly stepped in and rested a hand on the small of her back and the back of her head, tucking her against his chest, head under his chin, like she was something fragile. She tensed in his arms, but didn’t pull away, and when he tentatively ran his fingers through her tangled mane of hair, the tension in her frame unwound so that she was slumped against him. They stood there for a while, Yang trembling faintly in his arms but not crying like he thought she probably needed to, her skin under his hand almost fever hot and worrying as Qrow tried not to hug too tight and ignored the burning in his own eyes.

[lesbian-deadpool]

Roses In A Storm

Part One of Three: We’re Not Done Yet

Prelude | Part One | Part Two | Part Three

Natasha Romanoff x Reader

Words: 2,777

Warnings: Sadness, grief, blood, violence, excess drinking, anger, murder, talks of weed use, I think that may be it.

Request: By so many but mainly @missmonsters2​. Happy??

Summary: Unhinged and grieving. You get a very special guest.

A/N: This is the ending to “Soulmates”.

Ko-Fi

(Not my GIF)

***

To say you became unhinged after Tony's funeral, was an understatement.

Your entire being crumbled. And you became a shell of the person you used to be.

You cared about nothing and no one. Not even yourself.

You had told Fury he could, respectfully, shove your job up where the sun doesn't shine. And stormed out of his office, with him calling after you.

And that wizard dude.

What was his name?

Stanly?

Sherlock?

Samantha?

Fucking, Benadryl Copypaper?

You didn't know, you couldn't remember?

But that wasn't the point. What was the point, however, was how much Socriteis-Harry Potter bothered you- Stephen Strange!- That was wand-boys name!

Anyway!

He had been bugging the shit outa you ever since you left the lake house.

You could kill him.

Texts, emails, letters, calls, fucking popping out of nowhere. With all this "we're not done yet" bullshit. Yada, yada, yada. To be completely honest, you didn't listen to a single word he ever said, so you wouldn't know.

Luckily, he didn't randomly pop out from one of his orange portals, as much as the other things. So, you didn't have to actively try to dodge, escape, and punch him the fuck out evade him all that much.

But you could still fucking kill him.

Currently, you were stood, overlooking The Hudson River, staring at The Statue Of Liberty. The cold had just started to settle in, Autumn slowly turning into winter, frost visibly coating the ground.

Natasha loved this time of year.

It wasn't too hot that she would feel like she was melting, and it wasn't too cold for her to have to bundle up too much to step out. It was just perfect. She always liked it on the chilly side.

You remember once a few years ago before you had even met Penny and started this whole heart-breaking spiral. Natasha had dragged you out of the tower, her hand in yours as she literally dragged you. And towards the coffee shop she had recently found in the Soho area, what she was doing there in the first place, you didn't ask, out of fear of being threatened. Because you knew Natasha would never, actually, hurt you.

It was a fantastic day out.

One of the best times of your life.

The day had started off early, at around ten AM at that coffee shop, which you had to admit, was amazing. Followed by a store Natasha wanted to check out for Clints Christmas present. Then you had lunch, followed by more shopping.

You were pretty sure this was all one big day for Natasha to find out what gift to get you. But, none the less, you spent the entire day together. Even ending the day by staying over at Natasha's apartment, after walking her home. Because you were a gentleman like that. And also, there were way too many bags for her to carry.

Who knew that the Black Widow could shop like it was a sport?

At the end of the day, you came to the conclusion that she would win gold in the Olympics for it if she could. She could win gold in the Olympics on most of the sports if we're being truly honest.

It was a date.

Not your first one, by far.

But it was a date.

You realised that now.

Way too late.

That wasn't just Natasha's way of finding out what to get you for Christmas. She wanted to take you out on a date.

And you were way too fucking clueless to realise that.

You just wish you could make up for that now.

You wished you could hold her in your arms again.

The way you were always supposed too.

Not as friends. But as lovers.

But now, you had to live without her. So you did what you always did to get through the day.

You drank.

You found the closes bar that was open at the early hours of the morning, sat down on one of the dingy stools, and drank.

Little did you know, that sitting at that bar, would change your life forever.

***

The sound of glass smashing behind you caused your eyes to snap wide open, startled at the sudden noise. But you didn't care enough to turn around and check the commotion out, from your place leaning on the bar, with your glass of whisky pressed to your temple.

"This is bullshit!" Came a gruff voice.

"Hey," that same voice said. It's owner shoving against your shoulder harshly, "Avenger."

"That's not my job anymore," you replied coldly, to the scruffy man, with a long dirty blonde beard.

You had seen him around this bar, that you had quickly made your regular, but had never caught his name.

"No, but you were one," he spat out drunkenly.

"Well done," your tone was sarcastically chipper, "Would you like a sticker for being such a big, smart boy?" The sickly sweet smile that was on your face fell, as you turned back to take a hearty swig of your drink.

"You motherfucker."

Just as he was about to shove you off of your stool, the bartender spoke up.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Do you really want to go up against an ex-Avenger?"

"Shut up, Weasel!"

"Yeah," you told the bartender, smirking as you did, "He's a big boy, remember. He can make his own mistakes."

"'Mistake'?!" the bearded man barked out, "Ha! No. This is going to be the best thing I've ever done."

"I think you've drank too much there, dirtier Hagrid."

He slammed his fist down onto the bar, furious at your calm state.

"You see that up there?" He pointed up to the long chalkboard above the bar. "That's the Dead Pool, and you're the highest one to win-"

Without even sparing the board a glance you quipped, "Yes. I am able to read."

You didn't even flinch when the man flicked out a switchblade right by your cheek, just continued to drink your burning liquor.

"I want that money. And I'm gonna get it. But first, I'm gonna cut out your tongue so you can't say any more smart-ass remarks."

"Wow. 'remarks'. That the smartest word you have in your vocabulary?"

A laugh sounded from behind you. One, predictably, from your new-found friend, Wade. Just as the man to your lefts anger bubbled up, flowing from the brim.

"Oh, you motherfuck-"

He brought his blade back, intending to stab you in the back, as he spoke. That is before your almost empty glass smashed into the side of his face, glass flying everywhere, especially into his face and your palm. The man yelled out in pain. And before he could retaliate by trying to stab you again, you quickly disarmed him, fracturing his arm as you did so. Then plunging the switchblade into his right thigh, making him scream out in pain. Ad finally, you delivered a crushing blow to his chest, by kicking him down to the floor, along with a couple of barstools, breaking a few of his ribs in the process.

Most of the people in the -once nunnery- bar, sounded out their happiness at witnessing a fight, no matter how outmatched the people were to each other. While the man groaned on the floor, trying his hardest to stand up, while a few of his buddies helped him up.

"Told you so," Weasel said offhandedly, his face sporting a cringe.

"You sonofabitch!" he spat out -like, literally spat... gross-, as he tried his hardest to keep his tears at bay.

"You- You stabbed me," he stuttered, pointing at you.

"That's right, Einstein. I did."

"You'll pay for that. You'll fucking pay!" He hoppled closer to you so that you were now face to face. Leaving his buddies behind.

"I can't wait." You smiled.

"There's no fucking wonder the bitch you drank overthrew herself off of a fucking cliff." Your smile dropped. "Anything to get away from you. To never have to see your face again."

Bad idea.

Your sight turned into an intense hue of red, so much so that the man's beard turned ginger.

Rage boiled up within you. The only other time you had felt this angry was when you found out that Natasha was gone, and she was never coming back, and that it was all that purple Titan's fault.

You hit him.

Of course, you fucking hit him.

With all your might.

No one said that kind of shit about Natasha. And especially not to your face.

But you weren't fighting a titan this time.

You were fighting a drunken burly man.

A drunk burly man who could take a fucking punch.

But you chalked that up to his adrenaline and how intoxicated he was.

He was sure to feel it all in the morning.

He stumbled from your punch. The knife, still in his leg, tearing against his flesh, causing more blood to spill from the wound.

And for Weasel's skin to tingle green, when he saw it.

The bearded man's friends rushed up to him, as yours did the same to you, holding you back from the man. As you roared at him.

"You're one stupid motherfucker, you know that?! It's like you've got a fucking death wish!"

He spat blood at you while laughing, "You really think she loved you! Wouldn't she still be here if she did?!"

You exhaled hotly. Fury pouring from your every pore.

The familiar cold metal filled your hand as you pulled the trigger of your concealed gun, shooting the man between the eyes.

Okay... so, maybe he wouldn't feel everything in in the morning...

His friends were just as idiotic as he was. Them all moving to pull out their own guns, but you made quick work of them.

Two more head shots. And one shot to the neck.

Even drunk, your marksmanship was impeccable.

"Well..." Wade said slowly, as the whole bar grew silent. Patting you on your back, he continued, "You just won yourself ten grand."

"Awesome," you muttered, "I'm buying everyone their drinks for the rest of the day!"

That got the bar cheering again.

"What the fuck, Y/L/N?!"

You turned around at the new voice. Coming face to face with Nick Fury, who looked beyond angry.

"Nick!" you cheered, "Take a seat, have a drink.- I'm paying!"

"Yes. I heard."

The man watched you for a few moments, noting how intoxicating you were. But was still able to see the coldness behind your eyes, that wasn't there before.

But a lot of things had changed since then.

Fury sighed.

"We need to talk."

***

"Hey, Weasel! Can I get another drink over here, please?!" you called over to your friend and bartender, who nodded at you.

You sat at a small table in the back of the bar, with Fury to your right, and Wade to your left.

The bodies of the four men you had shot down, already cleared away, and the drinks you had promised the patrons, poured.

"You still shot down four men in cold blood, Y/L/N," Fury continued on with his rant, that had been going on since you first sat down with him, not even fifteen minutes ago. You rolled your eyes, just as Weasel cam over, placing a full bottle of whisky down in front of you.

"If it makes you feel any better," the bartender began, facing Fury, "Those guys were plotting to kidnap some kids for ransom."

Fury just starred at the fidgeting man, with a blank eye. No emotion showed on his hard face, which only made Weasel more anxious.

"Right. I'll just go then."

"It makes him feel better, Weasel!" you called to the retreating man.

Even after months of not seeing the man, you could still read his, almost always, blank face, like an open book. It was a skill you wore proudly like a badge of honour. You doubted if your skill would ever fade.

Fury 'humphed' at you. Knowing full well that you were right, as he watched you take a swig of whisky straight from the bottle.

"You've changed, Y/N."

"No shit," you said harshly, "Wouldn't you?"

Fury sighed, for the umpteenth time since you've been talking to him.

"Listen Y/L/N-"

"Sorry to interrupt," Weasel said, "Making you smile into your bottle of alcohol, "But not really- What happened yo your eye?"

"He won't tell you, trust me. I've been asking him about it for years."

Wade hummed, squinting his eyes at the scars coming from behind Fury's eye patch, from his half rolled up mask, while taking a sip from his pina colada.

"My eye is not the focus, right now," Fury barked.

"Oh, but can it be?"

"Yeah, I beg to differ," Wade carried on, waving his finger at the fore talked about eye, "It looks like you got scratched by an itty-bitty kitty-cat."

"Bold words from the man whose lips look like a gaping asshole," Fury fired back, causing you to laugh so hard that tears started seeping from your eyes.

You wiped at your eyes as you regained as much of your composure as possible at that moment. Muttering to yourself, "I'm so drunk."

"Okay, listen. I came here for a reason- Don't." Fury pointed at both you and Wade, glaring at you in warning as to not interrupt him, with your remarks, or just in a general. "Strange has been trying to contact you, Isn't that right, Y/L/N?"

"Yeah. He wants me to work for him, go back to work for you, or something. I don't know, I didn't listen to him. He can go fuck himself."

"Strange?" Wade asked

"Yeah." You nod. "The portal guy I told you about."

"Oh. Shitty Harry Potter?!"

"That's the bitch!"

"Okay, that's enough!" Fury yelled, slamming his hands down onto the table, causing the drinks upon it to shake.

"Okay, damn. What's up you dating him, or something?" you asked.

"No, I'm not dating him," Fury growled.

"It's okay if you're gay." You nodded at Wade's words. "We don't care. We're both gay as fuck."

"I'm not!" Fury stopped himself from fishing his sentence, taking a breath and then exhaling it before he started speaking again. "I'm not dating Strange. But you do need to talk to him."

"Yeah, not gonna happen."

"Just hear him out."

"There's no reason for me too! What? He's gonna ask me to help him out with some hero bullshit. Well, I don't do that anymore."

"Yeah, I've noticed with all of the vigilante work you've been doing with your new friend here." Fury nodded towards Wade, who placed a hand over his heart.

"Oh, you've heard of my work. You flatter me."

"I'm not a vigilante I'm a hitman," you spoke at the same time.

"You're a what?"

"A hitman. If I'm gonna do this shit, might as well get paid for it." You shrugged.

"Or you could not just do it."

You shrugged once again. "It's what I'm good at. And it's the only thing that seems to distract me from this unbearable pain- Well. That and drinking. Also, weed. So much weed."

Fury put his head in his hands, shaking it against his palms, because of your words.

"Good job, Y/N. You broke him!"

"Stop it, both of you," Fury muttered.

"I know, it's so easy. It's a skill really."

"Stop," Fury ordered.

"What's up, Nick?" you asked, "Someone bugging you? Need me to kill ew? I'll give you a friend's and family discount."

"Just listen to strange!"

"Okay."

"Wait. Really?" Fury asked.

"For the right amount."

You smirked as Fury groaned.

"I'm not paying you to listen to Strange."

"Then I guess I ain't listening to him then."

"He wants to talk about Natasha!" he yelled.

Slowly pulling the whisky bottle from your lips, you placed it back on the table.

"What about Natasha?" you asked blankly.

Fury sighed again, thankful that you were finally listening to him. "Listen to what he has to say."

"What does he have to say?"

"It's better coming from him. I don't know everything and I know you'll have a lot of questions. Most of them stupid."

Gritting your teeth, you exhaled deeply. "Fine... I'll talk to him."

"Thank, God."

"You gonna set up a meeting for us?"

"No need." Fury smiled."What do you-?" Suddenly you screamed, plummeting down the portal that just materialised on the seat of your chair.

"Now we're playing with portals!" Wade joked.

Fury shook his head, picking up his drink. "I hate you."

"So... what is the story with your eye?"

"Go fuck yourself, Wilson."

"Well, if you insist."

***

Permanent Tag List: 

@imnotasuperhero, @veteranwerewolf95, @natasha-danvers, @marvelfansince08love​

[stuckwith-harry]

(dad and jessie are sitting by the poolbar, waiting for their iced coffees.)

dad: so what should we toast to ginny’s birthday with tonight? jessie: oohhhh good question. wait, now i'm wondering what the core four's favourite drinks and drinking habits are ...

- flash forward to half an hour later back on the beach, where we have settled on this:

ron in his younger years would definitely be the guy to down a shot of whatever alcohol is standing closest then immediately follows it with something super sweet (read: any soft drink, soda, etc) bc let's be real alcohol is nasty. this is how jessie currently enjoys her alcohol.

hermione can't handle any amount of alcohol and is definitely the one who's smashed first. dad says she strikes him as the ginger ale type. jessie's never had ginger ale, can't comment, but remains firm on her headcanon that hermione can't handle shit.

jessie: "i feel like ginny would really develop a taste for whisky and stuff like that once she's a little bit older. could also totally outdrink the other three. actually, maybe she couldn't, she's tiny, but ... SHE'D TRY YOU KNOW SHE WOULD"

ron strikes us as the brandy type once he's a bit older. harry on the other hand really isn't - judging from my memory, it’s mostly the dursleys that drink brandy or something similar in the books, probably making it a pass for harry by sheer association.

dad: "ginny's a beer kind of gal, though, isn't she" jessie: "GODDAMNIT SHE IS. SHE REALLY IS. YES. HOW DID I MISS THIS."

ginny and ron both probably secretly enjoy something really ridiculous like pina coladas.

ginny’s the overly confident, oversharing drunk, ron’s smiley, pleased-with-himself-and-the-universe drunk, (this means drunk jessie is a combination of drunk ron and ginny), hermione’s the ridiculously giggly, then immediately sleepy drunk (jessie’s parents drunk), harry’s the reckless, can’t-estimate-risk-to-save-his-life drunk

we got nothing on harry’s favourite drinks. hit us with headcanons please.

[drinkmelbourne]

Chapel Street Pub Crawl

Chapel Street has evolved in recent years and is now the home to exciting restaurants and bars with an awesome atmosphere. This pub crawl will start you off on the Windsor End and walk you all the way up to South Yarra. 

Leonard’s House of Love is like finding the coolest house party at a ski resort, the bar offers a selection of beers on tap and the chef smashes out high-quality burgers and charcoal chicken.

Boston Sub’s Jungle Boy is the perfect cocktail bar where you can discover a new world of barrel-aged Manhattans, Negronis and eye-watering tiki drinks. Borsch, Vodka and Tears is the go-tp venue for vodka lovers, with a. Range of dumplings on offer to soak up the spirits. 

There is a lot that’s right with Two Wrongs, it mixes knockout cocktails and clever snacks which will leave you wanting more. Katuk is tucked away up a flight of stairs above Chapel Street, serving excellent happy hour specials and FIVE types of Espresso Martinis. It’s all about whisky at The Woods of Windsor, where you can go straight in for the hard stuff or try a 50/50 mix Scotch whisky and Stone’s ginger wine.

These are only a few of many pubs, bars and restaurants that you should definitely check out. Grab some mates and go for a pub crawl along the bustling Chapel Street and enjoy all the cool and quirky venues for yourself. 

[suzylwade]

The Grandtully Hotel ‘The Grandtully Hotel’ is an eight-room hotel in a quiet Highland village. An unexpected outpost of simple design-led chic serving the kind of food you’d happily queue for elsewhere. Grandtully, in deepest Perthshire, is the sort of village you might blink and drive through, which would be a pity - not least because award-winning Highland Chocolatier Iain Burnett’s shop is next door to the ‘The Grandtully Hotel’. Pitlochry and the nearest railway station is 10 miles away, while Aberfeldy - a proper market town with an Art Deco cinema, old-fashioned draper’s shop and terrific bookshop/café - is only five miles down the road. Whisky enthusiasts will delight in ‘Edradour’ - the smallest distillery in Scotland - about 8 miles away. The focus at ‘The Grandtully Hotel’ is on good food and good drink in relaxed surroundings. You’ll be tempted by the zinc tables and chairs outside - there’s a wood fire to keep you warm. Inside the busy bar serves a mean ‘Lovage Smash’ - absinthe, gin, lovage and lemon - and that’s a “yes please” from me or try nasturtium-infused rum, lime, ginger and soda number. A shop in reception sells a considered selection of good wine and foodie treats - things like quality local rapeseed oil, meritorious homemade muesli, local honey, and colourful tins of ‘Perello Gordo’ olives. The décor differs from room to room, each with its own particular features, whether a record player (with vinyl provided), modern four-poster bed, dressing room or private terrace. Comfort is well-covered in matters both large and small: super-king beds with thick mattress toppers, good drench showers, whisky-scented shower gel, cafetières with proper coffee and fresh milk, and even hot water bottles. ‘The Grandtully Hotel’ by ‘Ballintaggart’, Grandtully, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. #neonurchin #neonurchinblog #dedicatedtothethingswelove #suzyurchin #ollyurchin #art #music #photography #fashion #film #words #pictures #neon #urchin #scotland #grandtullyperthkinross #retreat #foodies #walkers #whiskey #edradour #andrewrowley #chrisrowley #rachelrowley #ballintaggartfarm #thegrandtullyhotel (at The Grandtully Hotel) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMCM-HNFxck/?igshid=tlz5qcedjwca

[rabbitcruiser]

World Whisky Day

Mix up a whisky sour, or pour your favorite whisky over some ice and enjoy. Gather some friends together to try out different brands and  cocktails.

If you’re friends with Jack and Jim and spend your weekends with Jameson and Johnnie, then World Whisky Day is going to hold a special  significance for you.

Whisky is one of the iconic drinks of true lovers of alcohol and is  the foundation of some of the most wonderful drinks known to man. But honestly, who needs an excuse to imbibe in these wonderful libations? If  you need one, World Whisky Day is it!

History of World Whisky Day

One of the most common forms of whisky that is sought after is Irish Whisky, and perhaps appropriately so. The origins of the word Whisky can  be found in the Gaelic Language.

Uisce Beatha was the original name of whiskey in classical Gaelic, which ultimately became Uisce Beatha in Ireland and Uisge Beatha in Scotland. Both of these names mean “Water of Life” and tells us just how  important and vital this particular distillation was to the Gaels.

It was later shortened to just Uisce/Uisge, and then anglicized to Whisky. So now you know, when someone is concerned about your whisky  consumption, you can just tell them you’re drinking the water of life!

So what, exactly, is whisky? Whisky is what happens when you create take rich flavorful grains and ferment them into a mash, and then take  that mash and distil it down into a pure delicious spirit.

Distillation takes place in a still, a device whose whole purpose is  the purification of the alcohol from the fermented mash. One of the most important secrets of distillation is that it must take place in a  copper (Or copper lined) still, as the copper removes the sulfur from  the drink that would make this otherwise diving beverage decidedly unpleasant to drink.

Astonishing facts about whisky

You may enjoy a delicious glass of whisky, but did you know the following…?

Let’s start with a worrying fact, which is that whisky could  have been banned. If it was not because of a medical loophole in the  Prohibition period, this drink would have been banned altogether.  However, because there was a law that enabled doctors to prescribe  whisky as medicine, it survived.

The word whisky actually means ‘water of life.’ this is because it comes from a Gaelic word that reads ‘uisge beathe.’

There  are some expensive bottles of whisky around the world. However, the  most expensive is the Macallan ‘M’ whisky. This Lalique decanter of  whisky was auctioned in Hong Kong for £393,109. The luxury decanter  features six liters of whisky, which was drawn from casks made of  Spanish oak sherry, dating from the ‘40s until the ‘90s.

The  oldest whisky is more than 150-years-old. The Guinness World Record for  the World’s Oldest Whisky currently goes to a bottle of 400ml Glenavon  Special Liqueur Whisky. It was owned by a family from Ireland. However,  it fetched an incredible £14,850 at auction when it was sold to Bonhams  in London. It is believed to have been packaged sometime between the  years of 1851 and 1858.

The spelling of whisky is interesting.  You may have seen it written as whiskey. The version without the ‘e’ is used for Canadian and Scottish whisky. However, for other types of the  drink, you opt for the whiskey spelling.

Last but not least,  whisky starts life as a beer! This is because it is made with wort,  which is a form of beer that gets distilled. In fact, the wort is  created using all of the ingredients that yare enjoyed in a pint of  delicious beer, i.e. malts, yeast, and water.

How To Celebrate World Whisky Day

World Whisky Day reminds us that there is an incredibly broad range of whisky out there to try, and its unlikely that we’ve managed to try all of it. Whisky can be made from barley, corn, rye, and wheat, just to  name a few, and those grains are often mixed in different proportions  before fermenting and distilling.

The results are then aged in casks, with both the cask and the time inside changing the flavor. Needless to say, you may need more than one  day to sample every kind available to you! World Whisky Day is a great  opportunity for you to expand your palette, and share your experiences  with your friends.

Source

[prairiescotch]

Day 9 of the Scotch Whisky Advent Calendar started out with a bit of mystery -- offering number 19 was filed in the improper place! After dipping my hand behind the cardboard barricade and checking on slot 19, I discovered the true ninth bottle: a batch strength version of Wemyss Malts’ The HIve!

Batch strength, so far as I can tell, is a term interchangeable with cask strength or barrel strength/proof. It indicates simply that, unlike most commercially-released whiskies, it is not watered down to the standard 40% and is allowed to remain at the ABV (alcohol by volume) level that it was inside the barrel. See, water evaporates faster than alcohol, so as whisky sits in the barrel the water leeches off over time, leaving more and more alcohol behind and making for stronger product. 

Like anything in whisky, there are wangs who will insist that cask strength whisky is the only whisky there is, that anything less is an unmitigated and adulterated disappointment. Anyone who insists any one thing is the only true version of that thing is an idiot, and probably supports a single political party and insists that either the Beatles or The Rolling Stones are better than the other. That’s nonsense; there are no absolutes in this world, no blacks and whites, only delicious and beguiling greys. I do happen to love cask strength whiskies, if only because you can water them down to 40% yourself for the ‘standard’ experience and get more drinks out of your bottle, increasing the value for dollar. 

The Hive is a very good whisky, as I discovered in my first whisky advent calendar experience a few years ago. The 12 year old version of The Hive was pretty splendid, with lots of honey and fruit and a hint of leather. It was not nearly as one-note as the name might suggest, and well worth trying. I think it may have also been one of the first blended malts I had tried, a type that seems to be getting more and more common. As noted earlier this year and in the original Hive post, a blended malt consists of a bunch of single malts smashed together; different from a blended scotch, it does not have any neutral grain spirits mixed in. It makes for a much more complex and rich product!

So here we have a cask strength version of The Hive, which trades an age statement for a smashing 54.5% ABV. The constituent whiskies are from various undisclosed distilleries, and are aged in bourbon and sherry barrels. This is one of the darkest products yet in this advent, but still has no colouring or chill filtration.

On the nose, I was expecting honey, but there's actually a surprising amount of spicy Sherry influence at the bowl. A little further back in the vapours there's an awful lot of honey that does come through, along with a hint of vanilla and graham crackers. When tasting, the first shot is definitely honey from the bear, and lots of it. But the Sherry influence is just as strong, with lots of warming cinnamon and nutmeg and whatnot. Orange pith is apparent, bringing a touch of bitter, and some ginger heat too. There's a touch of smokiness that enhances the warming latter half and makes for a strong, lengthy, delicious finish. Water sands down the edges off every phase of this and makes it even better, enhancing the sweetness.

This was amazing, especially with some water in it. I would definitely recommend this, as I would have the standard ABV 12 year-old. 

If I’m being honest though, the balance of the calendar so far has been leaning really far into the sherry bomb territory, and I could use a break on that. Sherry-heavy drams are nice once in a while, but probably wouldn’t be my personal choice one a day (or twice or thrice a day, as was the case this weekend while I was playing catch-up on this calendar). We’ll see what comes next!

[badreturns-m]

Australian Rhyming Slang!

aussie rhyming slang is a lot like british rhyming slang, which makes sense considering some theories on the origins for the slang say it started with the convicts. men used the slang more than women, as it wasn’t the type of way a lady should speak. rhyming slang is so named because the slang word or phrase rhymes with the meaning. 

Nail and Screws: news Forgive and Forget: cigarette Froth and Bubble: trouble Rock and Lurch: church Steak and Kidney: Sydney Dodge and Shirk: work Curry and Rice: price Dog and Bone: phone

Ducks 'n Geese: police Young and Old: cold Oxford Scholar: dollar Saint Louis Blues: shoes Babbling Brook: cook Angora Goat: throat Almond Rocks: socks German Band: hand Bag of Fruit: suit Bread and Jam: tram Grim and Gory: story Apples and Pears: stairs Smash and Grab: cab After Darks: sharks Noah's Ark: shark Ham and Eggs: legs Plates of Meat: feet Jam Tart: heart Mud Pies: eyes Gin Sling: ring Ginger Beer: ear Dog's Eye: meat pie Sky Rocket: hip pocket Kitchen Sink: drink Mystery Bags: snags, sausages Frog and Toad: road Near and Far: bar Young & Frisky: whisky China Plate: mate Captain Cook: look Nelly McGuire: light the fire Nellie Bligh: fly Dad 'n Dave: shave Pat Malone: alone Johnny Horner: corner Al Capone: phone Mad Mike: push bike Jimmy Grant: immigrant Rory O'Moore: close the door Georgie Moore: door Wally Grout: shout (turn to the buy drinks) Egg Flip: tip (racing) Joe Baxi: taxi Malvern Star: car John Hop: cop Johnny Hopper: copper Mutt and Jeff: deaf Mary Lee: tea Aristotle: bottle Jack Jones: bones Ned Kelly: belly Lionel Rose: nose Joe Blake: snake Jack and Jill: bill Barry Crocker: shocker Molly the Monk: drunk Reg Grundys: undies Harold Holt: bolt (run) Billy Lid: kid Tin Lid: kid Ginger Meggs: legs Bugs Bunny: money Tiff for Tat: hat Brown Bread: dead Dead Horse: tomato sauce Gregory Peck: neck Zane Grey: pay Germaine Greer: ear Trouble and Strife: wife Cheese 'n Kisses: missus Blood Blister: sister Comic Cuts: guts Stay Afloat: coat Potato Peeler: sheila Mad and Silly: billy Sausage Roll: goal Country Cousin: dozen Porkie Pie: lie Septic Tank: Yank Tin Tank: Yank

[revolutionbbq]

Getting a jump on #whiskeywednesday with the Peach Smash featuring #bourbon feom our favorite distillery @breckdistillery We muddled 2T of Palisade Peaches in 1tsp cane sugar and then added in about 1/2C of ice, 2 shots of bourbon, and then topped it off with Ginger Beer. A very refreshing beverage to celebrate peach season in #colorado Cheers everyone! 🍑🥃♥️⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #powertothepig #breckdistillery #whiskey #whisky #cocktails #adulting #palisade #palisadepeaches

[tenortower6-blog]

American Graffiti At Peanut Butter Jelly, Manly

The mere mention of one of my favourite foods was enough to make my ears perk up. Peanut Butter Jelly is a brand new bar and restaurant on Whistler and Sydney Streets in Manly. Given the name there are plenty of peanut butter items on the menu, but mainly dessert based. Otherwise there are tacos, baos, burgers and a big side serve of Mexican-American graffiti artist Mister Cartoon or Toons.

All night long I've been staring at a spray painted woman spilling out of her bikini. That's apparently artist Toon's ex wife. The graffiti artist (known for tattooing celebrities like Eminem, Travis Barker, Slash, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent and Beyoncé) was brought over to Sydney to spend four days spray painting the walls. In total Peanut Butter Jelly used five graffiti artists from Australia and America including Madsteez (NY), Usugrow (TYO), Mayonaize (MEL), Phibs (SYD) and Rone (MEL).

We enter through the Whistler street entrance which is the more colourful way to enter past the "Mayo-tunnel" and the Don't Be Jelly neon sign to the main part of the restaurant. The Arabic looking writing on the wall is actually in English - if you look at it at the right angle it says Peanut Butter Jelly and the owner's name in script. The restaurant is lined with banquettes on both sides and we slide into one where we stare at cartoon clowns to the thumping music. Service is friendly and personable.

Clockwise from left: PBJ Whiskey Sour $19, Jelly Belly Lager $8, Peanut Butter Jelly Dessert $18 and Peanut Butter Jelly Jam $18

We start with a round of cocktails. Mr NQN's is a peanut butter whisky sour with peanut butter infused Fireball, lemon, sugar and whites. Louise has a Peanut Butter Jelly Jam with peanut butter infused vodka, Chambord, lemon juice, whites and raspberry jam which is a bit unusual. I like my pick (which is really a dessert) aptly called the Peanut Butter Jelly Dessert with vodka, Frangelico, vanilla syrup blended with ice cream, Nutella and smooth peanut butter. Viggo orders a Jelly Belly Lager.

Curry Arancini Balls 4 for $16

We asked for some recommendations from our friendly waiter and went with them. The curry arancini balls are appealingly crunchy on the outside and are served with spiced curry mayonnaise and shaved parmesan. They're slightly sweet and I adore the curry mayonnaise on these.

Popcorn Chicken Tacos 3 for $18

So while most restaurants don't mind upsizing a dish to add another one because there are four dining apparently Peanut Butter Jelly do not do that. So Louise and I shared a popcorn chicken tortilla with chopped deep fried chicken, charred leek, lettuce and a habanero relish in a toasted flour tortilla. It's quite nice-Mr NQN's favourite dish of the night although I could not really taste any of the habanero relish in this and I would have loved some heat.

Pork Belly Baos 3 for $15

Again we weren't able to get four of these per serve so we made do with three. They're soft baos filled with a slice of roasted pork belly, Asian salad, soy garlic and ginger in a bao. By now we've eaten a lot of baos. It's a pleasant enough bao.

Spiced Taters $14

One of my favourite dishes is this simple but delicious potato dish. With smashed, fried potatoes, spiced salt, shaved serrano ham and a delicious smoked chipotle cream I kept searching the bowl for the crispy edged small pieces.

Charred Cauliflower $18

The charred cauliflower is nice although I like my cauliflower much more charred than this. It is served with a cream satay sauce, roasted peanuts, fresh herbs, eschallots and nam jim.

Hot Bird Burger $22 + truffle parmesan $4

The hot bird burger is a crunchy butter milk fried chicken thigh fillet, Asian slaw, pickled jalapeños and black sesame mayonnaise and big chunks of iceberg which fell out while eating. It was a bit of a dry burger and the fillet was quite a thin uniformly flat one whereas I love a thick, big gnarly edged, juicy chicken fillets. All burgers come with a side of fries and aioli and we upgrade ours to have truffle parmesan on it.

S’mores Brownie Bomb $16

There's a bit of a wait for our desserts although our entrees and mains were fast to come out. As expected, the desserts all contain peanut butter and we order three out of the five. The first is a very solid, dense chocolate brownie orb with a creamy chocolate centre. Outside is toasted marshmallow and raspberry powder on top. It's not served warm as it is says it is, it's quite cold and hard which is perhaps why it is a bit hard to eat.

The Twinkee $18

The Twinkee is like something from a fair. It's a deep fried lime cheesecake ice cream with a crispy batter, a splat of pink sauce and chocolate pearls. The inside is completely liquid once we crack it open whereas if it was a bit more solid it would have been great.

Chilli Chocolate Crack Pie $18

My favourite was the simplicity of the chocolate pie with a very, very mild hit of chilli and served with a caramel sauce and a miso chantilly cream. I liked the crunchy texture of the base and the chocolate and it was hard to stop at one bite.

So tell me Dear Reader, do you have a favourite graffiti artist? Are you a peanut butter lover too and if so are you team crunchy or smooth?

This meal was independently paid for.

7 Whistler Street, Manly 02 9977-5511 Mon - Sat 12pm - late Sun 12pm - 10pm peanutbutterjelly.com.au/

Source: http://www.notquitenigella.com/2018/10/01/peanut-butter-jelly-manly/

[travelonlinetips-blog]

New Post has been published on https://travelonlinetips.com/9-of-the-best-mackay-restaurants-cafes-and-bars/

9 of the best Mackay restaurants, cafes and bars

With bespoke bars, restored teahouses and classic Aussie pubs, Mackay makes an unexpected foodie destination.

To help you navigate, use this guide to the best Mackay restaurants, cafes and bars across the city and beyond.

BREAKFAST

Botanic Gardens Café – Lagoon Street, West Mackay

Start your day surrounded by tropical and native flora while enjoying breakfast amongst the beautiful Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens. The casual setting makes for a relaxed holiday vibe and you’ll appreciate the traditional, no-nonsense dishes enjoyed on the al fresco deck. The café is also open for lunch.

Order the… lagoons breakfast omelette with your mug of coffee.

Greater Whitsunday Farmers’ Markets – River Street, Mackay

One of the best ways to understand a destination’s food culture and mingle with locals is at a produce market and Mackay’s farmers’ markets is a great place to start your day.

Pick up a coffee and a few treats, and, if you’re staying in self-contained accommodation, grab your fresh fruit and veg here, too. The market is held every Wednesday (7am-11am) at Bluewater Quay.

Buy a… sweet Queensland pineapple for brunch snacking.

LUNCH

9th Lane Grind – Wood Street, Mackay

It has a killer breakfast menu, with mouth-watering lunch options to match. The friendly wait staff at this funky café will help you pick between dishes such as the brisket benedict eggs with beetroot hollandaise, and creamy truffle mushrooms.

You’ll also find plenty of overly indulgent desserts, which is no surprise given that Mackay is one of Queensland’s sugar-cane epicentres. Let’s just say, you won’t want to count calories here.

Order the… KFCB (Kristy’s Fried Chicken Burger) with smashed avocado, kale slaw and sriracha mayonnaise on a charcoal bun. We told you it was trendy.

Austral Hotel and Steakhouse – Victoria Street, Mackay

Queenslanders know a good steak, and a great spot to order a slab is Austral Hotel and Steakhouse. Known by locals as the place to go for premium beef (there are 10 different cuts available), you won’t leave this place hungry.

Afterwards, enjoy a round of pool or catch the cricket on the large screens.

Order the… grazier’s T-bone topped with garlic prawns.

Eimeo Pacific Hotel – Mango Avenue, Eimeo

Perched on the headland above Eimeo Beach, this old pub is a local’s hang-out and a must-visit.

Many come for the ocean views but the bistro menu is a knock-out, too. Think sourdough pizza, prawn gyoza, beef sliders and traditional battered seafood.

Order the… local grilled barramundi with a specialty Eimeo Lager.

AFTERNOON

The Old Station Teahouse – Cape Hillsborough Road, Ball Bay

Pretty, quaint and classic, The Old Station Teahouse is where you’ll want to take your mum for a Sunday cuppa. A former railway station that was relocated to the rainforest, the teahouse is a lovely spot to call into after seeing the kangaroos and wallabies on Cape Hillsborough Beach (also known as Casuarina Beach). Plus, the kids will love the sprawling gardens.

Order the… Devonshire tea, of course, with a chocolate pecan brownie to go.

Sarina Sugar Shed – Railway Square, Sarina

It’s not your typical place to have a bite, but Sarina Sugar Shed has some more-ish tastings on its tours.

Learn about the sugar mill and distillery, as well as Queensland’s sugar-cane industry, on a one-hour guided tour that includes samples of fresh sugar cane, molasses, sauces, and other goodies such as rum, schnapps and ginger beer.

Also try the… fairy floss, generally reserved for children but who’s judging?

DINNERTIME

Shamrock Hotel – Nebo Road, Mackay

Relaxed and fun, the Shamrock Hotel is the perfect spot to catch up with mates for dinner and a drink; it even has a sports bar if you want to watch the football.

The hotel was recently refurbished and there’s a new lunch and dinner menu featuring pub-style classics such as chicken schnitzel and parmigiana.

Order the… Shamrock beef cheek pie with peas and creamy mash. 

NIGHT CAP

The Dispensary – Wood Street, Mackay

No matter what time of day you’re after a feed or a beverage, The Dispensary, in Mackay City, has you covered. It’s open from 6am so you can grab an early coffee and breakfast, and the kitchen also stays open for lunch and dinner.

Head there in the evening to sample the extensive wine and whisky menu in the stylish, bespoke bar.

Order the… 350g grain-fed prestige black Angus rib fillet to go with your favourite tipple.

Know any other top foodie spots in Mackay that deserve to be on the list? Tell us below.

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[joons-expensive-gurl]

Lost Stars - Part 3

“I think you should go stay with Tae. Your mom doesn’t know where he lives. This will be the first place they come looking.” Jimin said, throwing a ball between his hands. “Jimins right. Come and stay with me. My moms been missing you.” Tae smiled. “Alright. You sure, though?” You inquired. “Yeah. As long as you don’t mind sleeping on a blow up bed.” “I have no problems with that.” “Tell us about this Jungkook then.” Jimin piped up. “He’s an absolute asshole. He’s been making sexual advances to me since he got here. I hate it.”

Tae’s jaw tightened.

“Want me to go teach him a lesson?” Jimin joked. “Nah.” “Is that why you left?” Tae asked. “Yeah. I couldn’t deal with it.” “I already don’t like him.” Tae grumbled. “At least you don’t have to live with him.”

The basement door opened and Jihyun stepped in. He was carrying a half empty bottle of whisky. Once he was down the stairs, Jimin went up and scolded him for drinking and took the bottle away. He took a swig and Jihyun complained.

“Oh, by the way, [First], there’s some dude upstairs looking for you.”

All four of you exchanged looks in panic. Jimin raced up, you and Tae after him.

“Can I help you?” Jimin asked sternly. “Yeah. I’m looking for [First].” It was Jungkook.

You stood behind the basement door, peeking out through the crack to see Jungkook and Jimin practically standing off.

“Why? Who are you.” “I’m her step brother - to be. Her mom sent me out to look for her.” “Well I really don’t think her whereabouts are any of your business.” “It kinda is. Her mom’s pissed. She’s not supposed to be out.” “She’s angry at me?!”

You pushed the door open, stepping out so Jungkook could see you. Jimin looked at you, biting his lip. He was nervous.

“Yeah. Of course she is.” “Well how about you tell her you didn’t see me? It’ll be the first nice thing you do and I’ll pay you back when you want to go get wasted.” “No can do. She told me I have to bring you home. Even my dad said so. So we’re leaving.”

He reached out, grabbing your wrist. A second hand came smacking down on your other wrist.

“Let go of her.” Tae’s voice was low, his hand on your wrist. You looked at him, gobsmacked. “No. You.” “You have no right to come here and take her. She left, and with good reason. She needs a break.” “And so do I. So give me a break and let go.” “I don’t know who you think you are but you definitely have no idea who you’re talking to.” “Listen here, pal. She’s my sister now and it’s my job to make sure she’s safe.” “That’s MY job.” “Tae.. you’re hurting me…” you whimpered.

As he got angrier, his grip on you was tightening. At the confession, Jungkook smirked and Tae loosened his grip.

“Sorry, [First].” He whispered. “It’s okay. Get me out of here.” “Alright.” “By any means possible.”

That was something you shouldn’t have said. Tae let go of your wrist and turned away from you. You gulped. Jimin watched. Tension was thick in the air. Then it happened. Tae spun around, pushing his fist out with force, punching Jungkook straight in the jaw. Jungkook stumbled back, finally letting go out you and Tae grabbed your wrist once more, rushing out of the door with you.

~^*^~

“Oh my god, Jungkook are you okay?!” Your mother rushed over to him as he stepped in.

There was a large, dark mark forming on his jawline, going up to his cheek and it was swollen. He smiled sheepishly.

“She got away.” He announced. “Don’t tell me she did this?!” “No, she didn’t. It was one of her friends.” “I’ll kill her. Do you know where she went?” “No. I’m so sorry, Ms [Last].” “Don’t fret. I’ll get some ice.”

~^*^~

“Truth.” “I can play the saxophone.” “No you can’t! That’s a lie!” “No really! I got interested in 4th grade so I started to play. I’m not too shabby, either, if I do say so myself.” “I don’t believe it.” “Take a shot then.” “With pleasure.” You took a swig from the vodka bottle. “Truth.” “I… have never slept with someone my own age.” “Really?!” “Yeah. They’ve always been older.” “Wow. You learn something new every day.” “Anyway, truth.” “I’ve also never slept with anyone my own age. They’ve always been younger.”

You both giggled, taking turns to drink from the bottle. The game was abandoned and you spent the next half an hour drinking. It probably wasn’t good to drink whilst hung over, but life was difficult.

Once the bottle was finished off, both you and Tae sunk into your beds for the night and tried your best to sleep off what would be a nasty hangover in the morning.

~^*^~

“Okay everyone. This is Jungkook. Please make him feel welcome in to the class.” Jungkook smiled, shuffling on his feet slightly. “Hi. I’m Jeon Jungkook. I’m sure working with you all will be great.” “Okay Jungkook, there’s an empty seat next to [First].” The teacher said and your eyes popped out of your skull. “Miss, Tae sits there!” You hurriedly blurted out. “No, [First]. Tae is being moved to the front. He’s a distraction.” “So is he!” “Miss [Last]! I will not tolerate this sort of behaviour. What has gotten into you today?”

Instead of replying, you let your head flop onto the desk with a small bang. You heard the stool next to you quietly scrape against the floor and a body plop onto it. Sighing - mostly in anger - you hopped over on your stool so you were on the edge of the desk, as far away as possible from him. He took his book out, scribbled something down and moved the page towards you.

‘Your mom’s super pissed now.’

Furrowing your eyebrows, you grabbed a pencil and scribbled back.

Like I care. I don’t need her babying me anymore.’

'I mean it. After your friend punched me, she took all your electronics out of your room. The longer you stay gone, the longer they’ll stay gone when you come back.’

'Why are you trying to help me?’

'Because you’re hot.’

Anger bubbled in your veins and you scrunched up the paper, launching it across the room. At he wrong time. The teacher had watched and her eyes fell on you. She turned purple in anger.

“MISS [LAST]! I HAVE WARNED YOU ENOUGH! GO AND STAND OUTISDE!” “But Jungkook-” “OUT!”

You angrily pushed back your lab stool and stormed out, slamming the door behind you. Jimin glanced at Jungkook, who’s face was grinning from ear to ear in pride. Bastard.

Once you were out, you stormed over to the lockers just opposite the door and brought your foot up, smashing it into locker 231, denting it permanently. You let out a loud groan of anger. This was really starting to annoy you. Running a hand through your hair, you walked back to the wall by the door and slid down it until you were crouching.

“Um… is this a bad time…?”

You looked up to see a beautiful, doe-eyed girl staring down at you. Her long, ginger-brown hair flowed down in elegant curls to just under her bust. She was stunning.

“Sorry, no. Can I help you?” You asked, trying to keep your tone not hostile. “Are you the girl who’s friends with Park Jimin?” “Yeah… I am. Why?” “I was wondering if he was okay. He’s been ignoring me for the past week or so.” “Um… he’s fine. I think. Maybe he’s just stressed or something?” “Has he mentioned me at all?” “Sorry, what’s your name again?” “Holly. Min Holly.”

Holy shit, Jimin was in trouble.

[rabbitcruiser]

World Cocktail Day

Host or attend a cocktail party and try out some new flavors, or perfect your hand at mixing any number of drinks, from a White Russian to a classic Cosmo.

“No party is complete without cocktails! My friends all have different tastes when it comes to their drink of choice, so I like to maintain a well-stocked bar with different kinds of alcohol to keep everyone happy.” ~Khloe Kardashian

One of the best ways people get together and bond over life is through drinking. For a fun night out, cocktails provide a wide arrangement of scents and flavors to keep everything exciting and have a long history of becoming a steady staple in people’s lives. So, let us dive right in and see what World Cocktail Day is all about.

History of World Cocktail Day

In 1806, The Balance and Columbian Repository coined the term “cocktail” as a stimulating liquor with a wide variety of sweets, waters, and bitters. Originally, the Oxford English Dictionary defined the term with a different set of connotations, describing it as a horse with a tail like a cock’s, with its tail cocked up instead of hung down.

Cocktails as a drink, however, started as a British invention in the 19th century and has since become an American innovation when a Connecticut-born bartender Jerry Thomas wrote the book “The Bartender’s Guide.” The Bartender’s Guide basically broadcasted an encyclopedia of how to mix drinks and recipes on some of the best combinations of drinks and flavors.

During the 1920s American prohibition, many cocktails were mixed into existence that remain firm favorites today. With not much high-quality alcohol available, cocktails were the perfect way to make that smuggled rum, gin or whiskey just a little bit more drinkable. Enter the cocktail; rum mojitos, the Sidecar, and the Tom Collins all flourished at a time when recreational alcohol wasn’t legal.

The ‘Bee’s Knees’ cocktail was actually created to mask and sweeten the taste of illegally brewed bathtub gin. The roaring twenties took the cocktail and shook it up into some of our most popular modern-day cocktails. Drinking didn’t stop during the prohibition, people simply went underground. Many illegal speakeasies popped up, serving cocktails in jazz-style locales.

Post-prohibition saw the invention of drinks that still grace the pages of your favorite cocktail bar menus. 1954 saw the mixing of the Pina Colada in Puerto Rico when Ramon Marrero created the delicious pineapple treat at the Caribe Hilton hotel. 1988 saw the much-loved Cosmopolitan enter our lives, thanks to Toby Cecchini and his desire to share a drink with his fellow bartenders in San Francisco.

A constant throughout the cocktail era in America was the Rainbow Room. Opened after the prohibition in 1934, the Rainbow Room was a high-end club where New York A-listers could celebrate in style with post-prohibition cocktails. The Rainbow Room was revived and renovated in different forms over the years, being closed during WWII and for various restorations.

The 1987 reopening saw emerging mixologist Dale DeGroff create a pre-prohibition list of cocktails that revived some firm favorites and spearheaded the modern cocktail mixing revolution that made the cocktail bar increasingly popular.

The holiday itself is held annually by Drinkaware, a United Kingdom-based charity that brings awareness to the effects of drinking and aims to reduce the harm that drinking can have on people and families. The website provides facts and information about drinking, alcohol poisoning, and alcohol abuse. The World Cocktail Day page that Drinkaware hosts have events all over the world that you can partake in, a blog you can follow about your favorite recipes, and how you can drink safely while also having fun.

How to Celebrate World Cocktail Day

If you’re up for a night of fun drinking, then host a party at your place and mix up some of your favorite drinks for your friends. If you want to spice things up, check out a new recipe on some of your favorite blogs or newsletters, and make your kitchen or bar into an experiment place for you and your friends.

If you’re feeling confident, you could create your own home bar and serve some of your favorite fizz-fuelled cocktails, or make your own cocktail creations with a fresh twist. Give your bar a theme and add your own unique names to your new mixers. Treat yourself to a cocktail bible and teach yourself how to make the perfect passionfruit martini or rope in your own bartender friend for some mixology advice.

If you are creating your own home bar and are jumping in as a novice bartender, you could start with a classy cosmopolitan or cheeky sex on the beach. Why not take a theme to a whole new level and take your new bar theme to a party level. Whether you’re making a sneaky speakeasy or a chic cocktail bar, making it your own is the perfect way to celebrate World Cocktail Day.

You could even avoid doing the work yourself and enroll in a cocktail class for you and your friends. Learn from the best shakers and master mixologists. Don’t want to leave the house? Why not use an online video or order a beginner’s pack right to your door. Or splash out on an inhouse mixing masterclass (calling all bartender friends again).

You might be more of a cocktail connoisseur than a master mixologist. Why not get some of the good stuff mixed for you, so you can sample some delightful cocktails without having to actually make them yourself. Put on a cocktail-themed film, sip your mojito and feel like you’re in the summer sun.

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