#Oak aged Gin

[itsduckinghard]

INTERVIEW

James May: ‘I don’t think you realise quite what a catch I am’

The TV presenter, 61, talks about motoring, middle age and the perils of running a pub

Friday December 20 2024

James May thinks he was slightly drunk when the words came tumbling out of his mouth. “Possibly also a bit aggrieved and feeling a bit pompous,” he adds with a shrug. That’s when he told his long-term partner Sarah Frater: “I don’t think you realise quite what a catch I am.”

May is sitting in the study of his west London home. He shows me a home-made cushion with those words beautifully cross-stitched into it. “Sarah thought it was so funny she went away and immortalised it for me,” he says. “Whenever I sit on it I feel I’m the man I always wanted to be.”

May is about to turn 62. He looks ruddy-cheeked and happy having just enjoyed a weekend of playing music (piano and flute), cooking, cycling and “making things”. Of course, he’s best known as one of the larking uber-bloke presenters of the BBC’s Top Gear and latterly Amazon’s The Grand Tour, but it sounds like he’s ready to take himself a bit more seriously.

“Maybe it’s just reaching the age where you don’t care so much what others think,” he says. “My resolution for 2025 is: be a bloke. Don’t be ashamed of it. I think blokes are having a bit of a hard time at the moment. That’s not to say women are not too, but there is a small but vocal group who hold middle-aged men in contempt. We are supposedly boomers who had it too easy but I don’t believe that. I think most men are OK and need to stand up for themselves a bit more. Our job is to be practical, dependable, philosophical and, yes, poets to some extent.”

May was always the thoughtful, practical, dependable one in his long-running partnership with Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson, and was christened Captain Slow by the latter for his efforts. The trio announced their retirement from The Grand Tour earlier this year. Last month May started a new Discovery+ series called James May and the Dull Men, on which he lugubriously talked us through his collection of Japanese chisels. Is he basically in mourning?

“No. I think Jeremy, Richard and I gave the format a really good thrashing and now it’s time to let a younger generation have a go,” he says generously. “The idea was to land the car show format safely and not fly it into a cliff. We only cleared the cliff by a few feet but I think it will survive. I do my best to be a contemporary human being and embrace new ideas, but we were very much rooted in an Eighties and Nineties view of what motoring is about. It needs a fresh take because the subject has never been more interesting.”

On paper it’s been a tough year. May was paid a reputed £7 million a season for The Grand Tour and his travelogue series (also on Amazon) Our Man in … was also cancelled this year. “But I’m not one to sit around in an easy chair farting and thinking about what’s for dinner,” he says. “There is still so much I’m interested in — things I’ve neglected while rolling my eyes at Jeremy in exotic locations.”

Despite their obvious differences (May has previously called Clarkson “an arse”), the two men share similar interests. Clarkson opened a Cotswolds pub, the Farmer’s Dog, in August, four years after May bought a share of the Royal Oak in Swallowcliffe, Wiltshire, near where he has a second home. Clarkson also co-owns a brewery, while May has launched his own line of gin with the help of a Wiltshire microbrewery.

He insists this isn’t a simple branding exercise. He actually sat down with a local distiller and they came up with a rather esoteric range of botanicals that includes Asian Parsnip, which fuses “the dampness of England” with his love of Asia, and London Drizzle, which was inspired by “the smell of rain on hot London pavements”.

That sounds like a joke, but don’t say that to May lest you unshackle the nerd within. “No, no, no, it’s a real thing,” he insists. “After rain in the capital the water re-enlivens decaying organic herbaceous matter and their spores give rise to the distinct petrichor smell. With exactly the right type of beetroot, juniper and other ingredients you can create that flavour. It’s wonderful.”

If May is excited by his venture (it seems odd there isn’t a Captain Sloe Gin), he is having a tougher time with his pub. He was approached by a TV company to make a series about his struggles similar to Clarkson’s hit show about running a farm, but said no. “I declined because it’s a brutally hard business, and who wants to watch a man throwing his savings down the toilet?” he asks. We run through some of the landlordly hardships. Prawns are now so expensive they’ve had to remove them from the menu. The septic tank needs attention. The 18th-century building needs constant repair. “Basically there’s an endless list of countryside bollocks to attend to,” he sighs.

But you can tell May knows what he’s doing because Clarkson, despite having barred both May and the prime minister Keir Starmer from the Farmer’s Dog on the day it opened, has actually been in contact asking for advice on how to run it.

“Jeremy Zoom-called me to ask whether it was a worthwhile project and I told him, ‘Do it for your community, but don’t expect to make money.’ Even a really, really good pub will only break even. Most fail and the budget has only made things harder.”

May insists he is a terrible businessman and will not make any money from his pub or gin ventures. However, booze is clearly central to his life. While away filming The Grand Tour, he and Hammond formed James & Richard’s Drunk Philosophical Debating Society, in which they’d get sloshed and discuss conundrums such as: “How do you know a dog is a dog?”

“I have yet to hear a satisfactory theory,” he says. “The variety of shapes and sizes is much broader than with cats, so how do you define it?”

What with the gin, the pub and being a vintage wine connoisseur, I know a lot of people who’d think … “Yes, I know, I know,” he says before I can finish. “People assume you are a raging alcoholic.”

Do you drink every day? “Yes, it’s fairly unusual for me to go an evening without a drink. I have a very strict six o’clock rule, though sometimes I’m watching the clock at half-five. Of an evening I will often have a gin and tonic, some wine and a few beers in the pub. I don’t think it’s harmful. I think it’s good. I recommend it wholeheartedly because even though it’s cliché to say, ‘It’s a social lubricant,’ it’s true. Drinking makes it easier for shy people to have sex, which means more children and therefore a bigger workforce.” May and his partner never had children. In the past he has said it was too late for them (they met when he was in his late thirties), even that older parents raising children was “unfair”.

“Maybe ‘unfair’ was a bit strong,” he says. “But when I was at school there was a boy whose dad was the same age as my granddad and it felt weird. And that actor who recently had a child with a much younger woman? [He means Al Pacino, who became a father again at 83 with his 29-year-old partner.] He’s not going to be around very much is he? Then again, you can be young and still not be around much, so who knows?”

May would be a great dad, I say. All that practical knowledge. What child wouldn’t want to see their father attempt to cook dinner in a washing machine (one of May’s recent experiments in the Dull Men series)? “I have a ready audience of nieces and nephews,” he says. “But listen, if anyone wants their child to learn how to fix a puncture, send them to me.”

He and Sarah will spend Christmas at home with family in London and then head to the Royal Oak for new year celebrations. May says they do a very good feast which includes wines and his gin. He has even got over the fact they removed his signature fish pie from the menu without telling him.

“It was there for about three days but then quietly withdrawn,” he says. “Sometimes in life you have to accept that people know better than you. That might sound like something I saw cross-stitched on to a cushion too, but it’s also true.”

James May’s perfect weekend

Wine or spirits? Both

Car or bike? Bicycle because it is one of the greatest inventions of all time

Piano or flute? Piano

Gammon or woke? Even with all its problems, woke

Bar queue or bar scrum? Scrum

I couldn’t get through my weekend without … … a gin and tonic

[persephonememes]

* (  THE GOOD WITCH BY MAISIE PETERS /  SENTENCE PROMPTS

" it's still me here "

" did you think i forgot about you? "

" i'm still upset "

" it's armageddon "

" i'm still a good witch with her tea "

" all i do is think about the past "

" i still argue like my mother and suppress stuff like my dad "

" i still miss you "

" i still miss you but i know now it will pass "

" i will try forgiveness, but i will not forget "

" was it a love affair? "

" i couldn't escape you "

" if it was a first kiss how come it felt like a snakebite? "

" i wish i would've seen it sooner "

" why did it take me ages to say it? "

" i'll leave you behind but that don't mean it's easy "

" nobody actually happy and healthy has ever felt so desperate to prove it "

" i feel like all of my exes have done that "

" it felt like a face slap "

" it keeps hurting "

" you're still there "

" you look better "

" what the fuck? "

" you still get to me "

" you got every single thing you want "

" you are pretentious "

" i gotta get my act together "

" i know that i should know better "

" i don't think i wanna get better "

" i just keep looking back at you "

" it sawed me right in half "

" now you're living the goddamn dream "

" you were it for me "

" i know i gave you all of myself "

" i'm watching you moving on "

" do you love her/him/them? "

" the worst way to love somebody is to watch them love somebody else "

" was I just an idea you liked? "

" i still can't make it make any sense "

" i thought it would be us for life "

" how's it feel to have made me cry? "

" will you tell me just one more lie? "

" loving you was easy, that's why it hurts now "

" i was treading water till the minute we met "

" i know it didn't last "

" i still want you back "

" maybe that's for the best "

" i am not allowed to want you any longer "

" i'd be yours again tomorrow if you wanted "

" i bet you've thrown away our photographs "

" you look like a superstar "

" it was letting go of everything but you "

" i hadn't thought of home twice "

" if we're living the dream, i hope we never wake up "

" i take in clowns like a one-woman circus "

" you're kinda awful, but you're not awful on purpose "

" oh, mr bruce wayne, where is that cape now? "

" don't you know that you're losing this? "

" don't you see what i'm giving up? "

" you can't even text "

" what did you expect? "

" i'm on a one-way trip to take over the world "

" you could've come, but your head's in the sand "

" you pushed me out quicker than it took me to put my jeans on "

" maybe you're lost and just can't see what you have but i'm not gonna wait "

" don't you see what what you're giving up? "

" i'm not holding my breath "

" i know how your tone works "

" i know you remember "

" i'm the best thing that almost happened to you "

" i'm the greatest love that you wasted "

" we could live off of magic and maybes "

" you're evasive on the phone "

" i'll still flinch at the sound of a door "

" i could love you and wait 'til you're ready "

" what happened here? "

" you swore a lot of things "

" i've been lied to before "

" i've heard some things that i will leave unrepeated "

" if a man says that he wants you in his life forever, run! "

" i wish i'd known "

" i wish i hadn't let go "

" when we said goodbye, i wish i hadn't let go "

" you were driving fast, i was holding back "

" i loved you, babe, but i bet you knew that "

" you said we're like your mom and dad "

" i was yours so fast, i was scared so bad "

" i loved you, did I tell you that? "

" but if I'm tricky, why'd you kiss me? "

" love's a verb and not a bandage "

" i'm good at pretending "

" i kept it in but it wrecked my organs "

" so pour the gin "

" i'm gonna throw you down the river "

" if you don't love me, what was april? "

" it broke me big time "

" i've been treated carelessly "

" in the bed of poison oak you were the remedy "

" i couldn't ask anymore "

" i know it's wrong "

" but now you're gone, i can't sleep "

" i'm just talking to your memory "

" you swore that you'd be there for me "

" now your touch will last for centuries "

" at least I had you for this long "

" you gave me the world "

" you gave me your word "

" it built me like a promise 'til it broke me like a curse "

" i knew loving you was letting you leave "

" i'm dating but just dating for sport "

" i'm doing better "

" i thought i gave you the best of me "

" i can finally breathe "

" the love we had was eating me whole "

" i don't need your light to be lit "

" i just should've known when to quit "

" now i'm over the worst of it "

" i tried to rewrite it, but i can't "

" i've pleaded with the powers and their plans "

" the men start wars yet troy hates helen "

" women's hearts are lethal weapons "

[mash4077confessions]

■ -  Bedroom/house/living quarters headcanon for Hawkeye

Sure ☺️

Hawkeye's home in Crabapple Cove is in a relatively secluded spot. Far removed from the main drag, but the neighbors are still within a short running distance.

It's a white house, with a wrap around porch, and a porch swing. There is a rather large oak tree, right out by the front. Hawkeye used to climb up the lower portion of the tree as a kid (far too big for him to get up to the top, but you best believe he tried).

Out back there is a pond (they call it a pond, it's more like a lake if you ask me) and Hawkeye would go fishing or swimming in there.

As for Hawkeye's room, it's upstairs and down the hall from his dad's room. His room is where the roof dips, so the ceiling isn't flat. He has a queen sized bed fit with an old quilt his mother made, and blue plaid flannel sheets. Hawkeye sleeps with several pillows and spreads himself out comfortably on the bed, practically sinking into the aged mattress.

His room is a mix of old and new. He has his golf clubs, his record player, and his nudity magazines.

Hawkeye also still has an empty bottle of gin from the night that he and Tommy Gilies went wild at age 14. What a night that was.

[greenhousethree]

Masterlist

Welcome! Grab yourself some dragon-hide gloves and a pair of earmuffs. All stories listed below can be found on AO3, and occasionally in other places. For recommendations, search this blog for #fic recs, or feel free to ask!

🌳 Multi-Chapter:

‣ Chasing (WIP) - Ginny Weasley POV. Post-war navigation of life, career, and identity (playlist)

🌿 One-Shot:

‣ Good Enough - Arthur POV, Fifteen 100-word drabbles for his daughter ‣ Harbor - Bill and Fleur post-wedding, DH missing moment ‣ Judas (WIP) - Percy POV, DH missing moment ‣ Defiance - Neville POV, Hogwarts, DH missing moment ‣ Surrender - Ginny POV, Hogwarts, DH missing moment (⚠ Dark) ‣ Standard Operating Procedure - Gred and Forge slice of life, DH missing moment ‣ Exodus - Molly POV, evacuating the Burrow, DH missing moment ‣ Clocks - Charlie POV, the Burrow, post-war musings ‣ In Search of an Oak - Hinny, post-war reunion, songfic ‣ Coming Up for Air - Hinny, late night talks, post-war (1/3) ‣ Like Circles on Water - Harry&Hermione, post-battle healing (2/3) ‣ Drowning - Hinny, late night soul-baring, spring '98 (3/3) ‣ Bookends - Bill and Ginny, coming-of-age and grief, summer '98 ‣ Career Advice (Revisited) - Hinny, the Burrow, summer '98 ‣ Flour, Butter, Sugar, Salt - Harry POV, Weasley post-war Christmas ‣ twenty-two - Hinny seaside holiday, quarter-life crisis, summer '02 ‣ A Soft Place to Land- Hinny, pre-epilogue slice of life (⚠ NSFW)

🌱 Microfic:

‣ Withered - Hinny slices of life (ft. special plant cameo) ‣ Fear - Golden Trio, post-war Hinny fluff ‣ Goodbye - Ginny&Neville, GoF missing moment ‣ Today (In Search of an Oak) - One-shot precursor, post-battle Hinny reunion ‣ Forbidden - Neville POV, forest vibes, DH missing moment

🍃Headcanon and Meta:

‣ Gin and Nev... A Friendship Forged in Fire ‣ Population in the Wizarding World

(Artwork by clevergull on DeviantArt)

[angelicguy]

he has stained my life forever. my mothers friend, who had "fallen on hard times" has shown me the true depravity a man without high blood is capable of. his bottlesweets, popping into his mouth late at night awakening my precious booboo Caramel (who at the age of 19 should not be subject to such sudden fits of excitement) and causing her palpatations. his loathesome penchant for "brotherly stories" which find him recalling various parties hes thrown for long dead politicians and women hes swooned. the smell of his mintsmoke, creeping beneath the purple oak door that bars his wretched belongings from spilling into the otherwise perfectly authentic, if somewhat vintage, english country townhouse i have secured for myself in spite of my various personal setbacks and ailments. he has driven me to drink for the first time in my life, an act that has driven my now ex-manager to fire me on the spot after sniffing gin on my teamsters tie. a pound of flesh WILL be secured, as i have reached my last available straw hosting mr. twill, and the beating he will sustain will propel me right into my waiting, if early, grave.

[abookishdreamer]

Character Intro: Aplistos (Kingdom of Ichor)

Nicknames- The Golden God by the people of Olympius

Listos by his friends

Darling by his girlfriend

Age- 44 (immortal)

Location- Skyline district, New Olympus

Personality- He's confident, arrogant, & sure of himself with an enviable drive. He has a tendency to be selfish and unapologetically blunt while also looking down on others who don't meet his high standards/expectations. He's currently in a relationship.

He has the standard abilities of a god except shapeshifting. Being the god of avarice his other powers/abilities include limited chrimatakinesis (not to the level of Hermes, his ex-girlfriend, or current girlfriend), limited chrysopeia, supernatural thievery, limited illusion generation, hoarding inducement (temporarily in others), spending inducement (temporarily in others), obsession inducement (temporarily in others), and being able to sense & manipulate the greed in others.

Aplistos' main abode is his apartment on the top floor of The Chrysaor Courts, a luxury high rise apartment building in the Skyline neighborhood of New Olympus. The interior design is sleek and modern with a touch of olympian opulence. An ostentatious Imperial Gold chandelier dripping with woven diamonds hangs from the ceiling of the main hall. There's a spa room, an in-studio movie theater, a large walk-in closet that measures almost a 1,000 sq ft with the walls being painted in 24K gold paint, and most of the flooring is white oak with Imperial Gold & platinum accents. There's also leather furniture, marble & platinum furniture pieces, a state-of-the-art kitchen with stainless steel appliances- including the most expensive refrigerator (that has a 40,000 drachma price tag), and his bedroom- which has his exclusive mattress (stitched with real silver & gold) and the Imperial Gold/black opal bedframe. Aplistos is also overseeing the construction of his mansion that's being built in the state of Olympia. It's said that the foundation is being built on top of a major goldmine. He often shuttles back and forth from his place & his girlfriend's main apartment.

He has an animal companion- a dragon named Chrysarion that's widely known as "The Golden Flame." The beautiful beast is covered in gleaming gold scales and has cream colored wing membranes. Chrysarion is Aplistos' mode of transportation when traveling great distances or when he wants to make an entrance. Aplistos loves feeding him pounds of vintage cote de boeuf, which the dragon cooks himself with his fire!

Aplistos normally gets around in his car- a cream & gold high tech seamless machinery complete with custom high end finishes inside, a champagne fridge, and Imperial Gold spinners. His personal driver- a harpy named Aello drives.

A go-to drink for him is champagne. He also likes classic martinis, whiskey sours, gin & tonics, vodka shots, jack & cokes, beer, mojitos, and manhattans. Usuals for him from The Roasted Bean is an olympian sized dark roast coffee & a large iced tea.

Aplistos starts off his mornings with a high intensity workout at the gym before going home for an appointment with his personal masseuse, a mermaid named Aquaria. He'll sometimes go to the Gold Rays tanning salon for a quick tan.

He loves the breakfast made by his personal chef, a mortal man named Giles. A typical one for Aplistos is eggs benedict along with pain au chocolat topped with warm rhubarb compote, mushroom & fatina tartines, and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. He also likes when Giles makes his famous garlic & herb parmesan biscuit breakfast sandwich (that has scrambled eggs, black olives, smoked ham, and scallions).

Aplistos' list of people he cares about is a short one. It includes his younger sibling Aerin (goddess of the ethereal), his current girlfriend Orthosia (goddess of wealth), her son Chrysos (god of gold & riches), his ex-girlfriend Evimería (goddess of prosperity), and her son Caerus (god of opportunity & luck). Everyone else is met with general indififference.

He hates tattoos & ridiculous piercings.

One gift Aplistos likes is the flask his girlfriend gave to him. It's made of platinum and white gold & his covered in diamonds!

Not much is known (publicly or in the pantheon) how he came into his wealth. It's generally rumored that it started from his dealings in the black market.

Aplistos takes meticulous care and great pride in his physical appearance. His body is in peak physical shape, his hair effortlessly coiffed, his nails & facial hair neatly trimmed, his skin free of imperfections with a flawless golden glow, his teeth brilliantly white, and his clothes expertly tailored & wrinkle free.

His favorite frozen treat is vanilla vodka ice cream topped with lots of champagne whipped cream & edible gold leaves.

Evimería was Aplistos' first real serious relationship, their love growing over time. He was always grateful to her for being the first to see the good in him- that he was more than the "avaricious materialistic god." Aplistos enjoyed being a father figure towards her son. Things shifted when Aplistos started to prioritize work & gambling over his relationship. Sometimes, it'd be several weeks before Evimería saw or heard from him. The end began when Aplistos agreed to watch Caerus while Evimería went to a business meeting. Aplistos was also entertaining a small poker party so he sent Caerus to his bedroom to play video games. He was horrified later on when he opened his bedroom door. He saw one of his dresser slightly opened and Caerus laying on the floor unconscious with a ring of lotus dust around his mouth. Aplistos gathered Caerus in his arms, got on his dragon, & flew to the hospital where a doctor was able to treat the lotus dust toxicity. Evimería quickly rushed to the hospital when she got the news and was totally distraught. She slapped Aplistos a few times and ended their relationship.

A guilty pleasure for him is a slice of pepperoni hot honey pizza.

Aplistos fell hard and fast for Orthosia. He appreciates the fact that she wants them to maintain their independence even though they're a couple. He was the first to say "I love you." Aplistos also looks forward to the rare instances where she shows her vulnerability. For Orthosia's most recent birthday, Aplistos gifted her with a bra (and detachable belt) from Diamond Ave.- with 24K gold hardware, diamond straps, and it's adorned with over 6,500 precious gems including diamonds, blue topaz, purple garnet, pink morganite, & yellow citrine.

He supported Aerin during her transition. He found it interesting that she didn't opt for changing her name to a more feminine sounding one.

He loves listening to rock, hip-hop, and electronic music.

For other work/means of income Aplistos models for/endorses Platinum Alchemy (Zeus' men's fashion brand) and Shadow Specs. With his own personal endeavors, Aplistos has released a signature cologne aptly titled Emmonos. The fragrance notes include mahogany wood, coffee, roasted barley, & black vanilla. Another detail is the black opal bottle. The 8.4 oz bottle sells for 1,300 drachmas! He's also an executive producer on his girlfriend's upcoming business reality TV show titled Griffin's Den.

A favorite sweet treat of his are the glamour doughnuts from The Luxe, a high end eatery/shop. The doughnut is filled with champagne jelly, glazed with dark chocolate and passionfruit syrup, and is then dusted with edible gold & diamond dust. A price for one is nearly 2,000 drachmas.

In the pantheon Aplistos is friends with Neicus (god of debate & appeal), Apólafsi (god of enjoyment), Dolos (god of deception & treachery), Isorropía (Isorro) (god of duality, balance, & equilibrium), Apate (goddess of fraud & deception), Felis (Titaness of cats), Psionikós (god of the mind), Aisa (goddess of lot & fate), Favian (god of philosophy), Hybris (goddess of insolence, hubris, & reckless pride), Dyssebeia (goddess of ungodliness & impiety), Helios (Titan god of the sun), Epimetheus (Titan god of afterthought), and Priapus (god of fertility, vegetable gardens, livestock, sexuality, & masculinity). He also greatly admires Pseudologos (god of lies), who was also his official mentor.

Aplistos was the official mentor to Zelus (god of envy, jealousy, & zeal).

At the spa he loves getting the liquid gold facial.

Aplistos has been enjoying hanging out with Chrysos. They often frequent the Golden Grove country club to play golf.

His all time favorite meal is double grilled caviar stuffed salmon drizzled in lemon butter sauce and garlic rice.

In his free time Aplistos enjoys tanning, working out, sunbathing, football (soccer), poker, surfing, clubbing, tennis, playing pool, swimming, shopping, dining out, & golf.

"Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the being in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction."

[exhausted-archivist]

Drinks

Updated: 2023/12

As of now this list is updated with everything found in media released as of Oct 2023.

Like the original, this contains all drinks, alcoholic-based and non-alcoholic. If known to a specific region it is marked next to the item in parenthasis, if it is not it is either unknown or universally consumed.

For Other Food Posts

Dishes, Sauces, and Sides

Raw Ingredients

Prepared Ingredients

Canonically Possible Foods and Drinks

Food and Drink Master Post

Disclaimer

Though real life plants may be listed here as edible it is for fictional use only. This is not intended to be used as a reference nor guide for what plants are edible or safe to eat. Please do not use it as such.

Absinthe

Absence - One of the bottles of Thedas you find in Inquisition.

Absinthe - also referred to la fée verte - “little green fairy”

Petite Absinthe - Made from a certain type of wormwood.

Ale, Beer, Drafts, Lagers, Malts, and Stouts

The Tapster’s Tavern in Orzammar serves 52 types of ale, some are listed.

Ale

Ander Stout - This stout is stored in oak casts. (Anderfels)

Barley Wine - Despite its name, this is an ale.

Beer

Brakien Brew (Orzammar)

Brown Ale

Coconut Draft (Orzammar)

Fereldan Beer

Fereldan Lager - A pale ale.

Lichen Ale (Orzammar)

Lichen-malt (Orzammar)

Oghren’s Homebrew - An amber coloured ale with a slightly sweet, nutty flavor and described to have a hint of toastiness, and is spiced with cloves. (Dwarven)

Qunari Ale

Ryott Ale (Ferelden)

Ryott Beer (Ferelden)

Valenta’s Red (Orzammar)

Watered Beer - While watered beer is served to reduce the price of beer and stretch it along, it is also served as a provision. In Serault, the peasantry drink watered beer to stave off the summer heat.

Watered-down Ale

Wildwine - An ale made from ryott. (Chasind)

Wilhelm’s Special Brew - This dark-colored ale gives off a thick, oaky smell. When swirled in its tankard, it takes on an unexpected glow. (Ferelden)

Brandy

Ammazzacaffe - A drink taken after coffee to dull the taste or effects. Though it can be a small glass of any liqueur, it is usually brandy. (Antiva)

Aged Antivan Brandy

Antivan Brandy

Antivan Plum Brandy

Apple Brandy (Orlais)

Orlesian Brandy

Plum Brandy

West Hill Brandy (Ferelden)

Cider

Brandy-spiked-cider

Cider

Serault Cider (Orlais)

Winter Cider (Wycome)

Cocktails

Benediction - Made of Prophet's Larel gin, served with a wedge of lime, and a thimble of Golden Scythe.

Elfroot mixed with Dandelion Wine - A restorative draft. (City Elves of Orlais)

The Emerald Valley - A spirit distilled of over seventy different herbs and flowers by the Chantry sister in Lydes, it is topped with egg-white foam and dusted with nutmeg. Described as having a varied and complex flavour, fresh like a lush green valley. (Orlais)

Dragon’s Piss - The name is probably figurative, but no one knows for sure. BioWare gives the “recipe” for Dragon Piss as “1 oz light rum, 1 oz dark rum, filled with iced tea”. "Dragon's Breath" is offered as an alternative name for this drink as it is served while lit on fire in the glass and burns on the way down.

The Golden Nug - Made with a base of effervescent white Seleney wine, sweetened with a dash of West Hill brandy and a splash of pomegranate juice. Muddled with raspberries and garnished with a sprig of Royal Elfroot. The goal is to imitate the soft pink colour of a nug.

The Heart of Spring - A “restorative” drink from Verchiel made with violets. (Orlais)

The Hissing Drake - Mix of cinnamon-infused whiskey, darl Llomerryn rum, and Hirol's Lava Burst.

Ice Cream and Beer

A Night of Shame - Antivan port with a dash of chocolate bitters and a twist of orange, served in a flute of chilled Serault glass. (Orlais)

Orichalcum mixed with wine - Considered to have aphrodisiac properties.

Posset - A drink made of hot milk curdled with ale, wine, or other liquor and typically flavored with spices. Can be consumed as a delicacy or as a cold remedy.

The Randy Dowager - Rumored to be created by the editor of the periodical, it is a tall glass of Abyssal Peach liquor and fresh cream, garnished with sugared rose petals and served on a silk handkerchief with a scandalous rhyming couplet inked by the bartender. (Orlais)

To Cure a Cold - a folk remedy that requires boiling whiskey and adding lemon juice and crushed garlic.

Gin

Gin

Prophet’s Laurel Gin (Orlais)

Grey Warden Liquor

These are bottles unique to members of the order, as each warden will combine half-full bottles in order to save space. No bottle is ever fully emptied or cleaned. In order to preserve the base flavor. They are called Grey Whiskey, Ritewine, or Conscription Ale, each vintage is named after a warden with a small note.

Vintage: Warden Anras - Bottled whimsy.

Vintage: Warden Bethany Hawke - Princess piss.

Vintage: Warden Carver Hawke - Toast them all.

Vintage: Warden Daedalam - Extra red.

Vintage: Warden Eval’lal - Griffon Wing Ale

Vintage: Warden Gibbins - Don’t frigging touch! I spit in this! I mean it!

Vintage: Warden Jairn - Smash when dead.

Vintage: Warden Korenic - Notes of fruit and anger.

Vintage: Warden Riordan - Serve yourself.

Vintage: Warden Steed - Joining juice.

Vintage: Warden Tontiv - Home.

Mead

The Tapster’s Tavern in Orzammar serves 17 types of mead, some are listed. Honeywine is another name for mead.

Avvar Mead

Chasind Sack Mead

Lady Odette Guillory’s Family Honey Wine (Orlais)

Mead

Orlesian Honeywine

Port A sweet, fortified red wine, typically served with dessert.

Antivan Port

Tevinter Port

Rum Boot Screech is another name for rum.

Alvarado’s Bathtub Boot Screech

Blackwater Rum (Wycome)

Dark Llomerryn Rum

Tea and Other Drinks

Coffee (Antiva)

Cocoa/Hot Chocolate

Juice

Fermented Fruit Juice

Pickle Juice

Pomegranate Juice

Prune Juice

Punch

Spicy Punch

Tea

Almond Tea (Orlais)

Bitter Tea - An unspecified tea so bitter it is astringent. Served during the Fourth Blight.

Black Tea

Black Tea with Juniper

Fires of Change Tea (Orlais)

Herbal Tea

Iced Tea

Lattenfluss Tea (Anderfels)

Mint Tea

Anderfels Mint Tea

Nameless Tevinter Tea

Rivaini Spice Tea Blend - Blend of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. One of the teas from Rivain known for its healing properties. Empress Celene commonly uses this tea to stave off headaches.

Rivaini Tea

Rivaini Tea Blend - A blend of licorice root, oregano, lemon verbena, and peppermint. One of the teas from Rivain known for its healing properties. Rumored to be favored by Empress Celene to stave off headaches.

Rosehips Tea (Orlais)

Spiced Tea (Nevarra)

Stripweed Tea (Tevinter)

Unsweetened Tea

Verimensis Tea (Tevinter)

Whiskey

Cinnamon-infused Whiskey

Ferelden Whisky

Legacy White Shear

Mackay’s Epic Single Malt

Wine

The Tapster’s Tavern in Orzammar serves 12 types of imported wines, some are listed.

Agreggio Pavali (Tevinter)

Alyons Black (Orlais)

Amaranthine Red (Ferelden)

Anderfels Red

Antivan Red

Bitter Black Wine (Orlais)

Bottled Scar 5:34 Exalted - A rare collaboration between human and elf vintners.

Celestine Black Wine (Orlais)

Dalish Wine

Dandelion Wine (City Elves of Orlais)

Elderberry Wine (Ferelden)

Finale by Massaad (Orlais)

Flames of Our Lady (Orlais)

Flat Wine

Ghislain Red (Orlais)

Iced Wine - Mentioned in both Tevinter and Orlais.

Montsimmard White (Orlais)

Mosswine (Orzammar)

Mulsum (Tevinter)

Orlesian Red

Plum Wine

Red Wine

Serault Yellow Wine (Orlais)

Serault White (Orlais)

Silent Plains Piquette (Tevinter)

Southern Black Wine

Spiced Wine

Sweetened and Spiced Yellow Wine

Val Chevin Red Wine (Orlais)

Vint-9 Rowan’s Rose (Tevinter)

Watered Wine

White Seleny Wine (Antiva)

White Wine

Yellow Wine

Additional Spirits

Abyssal Peach

Antivan Sip-Sip

Aqua Magus

Aquae Lucidius - A potent liquor made of wyvern venom; a rare drink known for its hallucinogenic properties.

Bottle of Rotgut - Rotgut is slang for cheap whiskey.

Butterbile :84

Carnal 8:69 Blessed (Orlais)

Dwarven Ale - Not actually an ale, but a black liquid reputedly made from fungus with a reputation as being almost undrinkable for anyone not a dwarf.

Garblog’s Backcountry Reserve

Golden Scythe 9:40 Black

Hirol’s Lava Burst (Kal'Hirol)

Maraas-Lok (Qunari)

Moonshine

Potent Moonshine

Sun Blonde Vint-1 (Tevinter)

Sources:

(If you want to find the direct links or page numbers, check out the Wiki's Food and Ingredients page.)

Primary Sources:

Dragon Age: Origins (Base and DLCs) Dragon Age: Awakening Dragon Age 2 (Base and DLCs) Dragon Age: The Last Court Dragon Age: Inquisition (DLCs + Multiplayer)

Books:

Dragon Age Tabletop RPG Core Rulebook Dragon Age Tabletop RPG: Blood in Ferelden Dragon Age Tabletop RPG: Game Master’s Kit: Buried Past World of Thedas Vol. 1 World of Thedas Vol. 2 Dragon Age Official Cookbook: Tastes of Thedas Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne Dragon Age: The Calling Dragon Age: The Masked Empire Dragon Age: Last Flight Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights

Short Stories:

Short Story: Paying the Ferryman Short Story: Riddle in Truth Short Story: As We Fly

DA:O

Codex entry: The Casteless

Item: Ale

Item: Brandy

Item: Brandy Cheap

Item: Chasind Sack Mead

Item: Garbolg’s Backcountry Reserve

Item: Golden Scythe 4:90 Black

Item: Legacy White Shear

Item: Mosswine

Item: Rare Antivan Brandy

Item: Sun Blond Vint-1

Item: Wilhelm’s Special Brew

Item: Wine

Weapon: Cat Lady’s Hobble-Stick

DA:A

Item: Aqua Magus

Item: “Dragon Piss”

Item: Hirol’s Lava Burst

Item: Mackay’s Epic Single Malt

Item: Moonshine

Item: West Hill Brandy

DA II

Codex Entry: Orichalcum

Codex Entry: The Wine of Chateau Haine

Junk List: Bottle of Aged Antivan Brandy

Junk List: Bottle of Potent Moonshine

Junk List: Bottle of Rotgut

Junk List: Dwarven Ale

Junk List: Orlesian Honeywine

DA:I

Codex Entry: Bottles of Thedas

Codex Entry: Charred Notebook

Codex Entry: Grey Whiskey/Ritewine/Conscription Ale

Codex Entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter 11

Codex Entry: Hard in Hightown: Chapter ???

Codex Entry: In the Mist: The Windline Marcher

Codex Entry: A Nutty Affair

Codex Entry: Three Little Empresses

Note: Betta’s Travel Journal

Note: The Rusted Horn’s Menu

Note: The Gilded Horn Drink List

War Table Mission: Gain Access to Ghilan’nain’s Grove

Last Court:

The Acerbic Dowager

The Anchoress (Card)

The Antidote

The Boastful Neighbor

The Elegant Abbess

Go Hunting - Take Extra Provisions

Good Neighbors

Grant a Petition

The Next Course

The Purveyor of Teas

The Wayward Bard

The Whispering Woods

Your Bard is Restored to You

Wanna support this blog? You can check out my ko-fi.

[oinoslogo]

KI NO BI Japanese Gin Cocktail Flight at @fitzgeralds_dc A Cherry Blossom celebration of artisanal Japanese Gins. The Kyoto Distillery is the first in Japan to be solely dedicated to making artisanal Gin. KI NO BI Gin is made using 11 botanicals sourced in its majority from the Kyoto Prefecture were the distillery is located. Another unique regional ingredient only available in Kyoto is found in its underground water source. Fushimi Spring water is renowned for its purity, softness, and mellow flavor. KI NO BI and KI NO BI TEA, the first two gins in the flight, were both elegantly smooth with classic juniper and citrus aromatics and flavors. The flagship KI NO BI is slightly fresher in its aromatics and more Yuzu forward in the palate. KI NO BI TEA delivers the similar freshness and citrusy quality, adding a layer of savory-fruity sweetness to its flavor profile. The third glass on the flight, KI NO BI Edition G, a rare and delicious treat. Edition G was aged in oak barriques sourced from the Argonne forests in Northeastern France near the Belgium border. The barrels had been previously used to mature Henri Giraud quality Champagnes in Marne, Champagne. Only 1,700 bottles of KI NO BI Edition G gin were produced to be distributed in 20 markets worldwide. A truly unique sensorial experience. Cheers! #japanesegin #kinobigin #kyotodistillery #oinoslogo #highspirits (at Fitzgerald's) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqJ_Z5ztp-z/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[carlavillanueva]

Characters: Carla Villanueva & Gabriel Russo (@gabrielrusso) Location: Crane Brothers Distillery Closed Starter

Most days she usually rushed back home after work, all too eager for the lack of human company. She wished for not much beyond cuddles with her dog and a drink by herself these days. But there were days like today when she stuck around by the bar, a gentle craving for human company before heading back home. So she settled by the bar, nursing an apple-spiced gin and watching people start coming in for their evening drinks. She didn't pay much attention to the guy that sat next to her until she saw him reading through the drinks menu. "If you like whiskey, get the 2018 bourbon aged in charred new-oak. It's the right balance between smokiness and sweetness."

[boricuacherry-blog]

My parents were from the Bay Area. My dad was a surfer and a rock'n'roll guy - you know, hot rods and slicked-back hair; he drove a '58 impala. Later he fell in love with the Stones and the Beatles and became more of a longhair. I remember going out to visit him every summer. The first thing I'd do was raid his weed stash. My mom was the cheerleader in the poodle skirt. She was a lifeguard; they surfed Santa Cruz together. They were intensely in love and got married at a young age.

I don't want to open up their whole can of worms, but certain things happened. I was born in '67; the whole sixties thing was really going strong. I think my dad was a bit of a flake back then. He wanted to have a good time, you know, tune in and turn on, whatever they used to say back then. My mom was just not down with it. They ended up getting a divorce. It crushed me. I was three years old.

My stepfather was the complete opposite of my dad. He was a corporate guy at TRW. He'd played football at Notre Dame and then got his master's degree at USC in aeronautical engineering. His favorite group was the Kingston Trio. If I were to sum up my stepfather in one word, the word would be responsible. That word was always coming out of his mouth: "Scott, you have to be responsible." Responsible, responsible, responsible. And he was responsible. I think that's what attracted my mom to him in the first place.

We lived in southern California until my stepfather got a promotion, then we moved to Ohio. I was four and a half. It really broke my heart because I was pulled away from my dad. After that, I used to fly out and spend the summers with him. I remember how I used to feel as the plane was getting closer and closer to the gate. You know, I'd look through that window, trying to see my dad, because at that time anyone could come up to the gate and pick you up. Sometimes I could see him. He'd be right up against the glass. And I'd just come running through the passageway, you know, and he'd be waiting there with this big smile on his face...and he would get down on his knees and just grab hold of me.

But then I would have to leave. The drive to the airport...it was really...it wasn't good. I remember I'd have to say goodbye and get on the plane. I'd get the window seat and just look out that window, and he would just stand there at the gate, and we'd just look at each other. When I would get back to Cleveland, I would be a wreck for a couple of weeks. For nine years of my life, that's how it went: anticipation and separation. Those were my summers.

From an early age, I had a preoccupation with catching a buzz. I remember the summer right after my eighth-grade year. We lived in northeastern Ohio, in this very preppy town, Chagrin Falls. There was this family that lived across the woods. I was friends with the kids; they were a little bit older than me, high school age. Their parents worked late, and we would play quarters, the drinking game. When no one was home at their house, I would sneak in and fill up a big tumbler full of liquor. I'd put in a little bit of vodka, a little bit of gin, a little bit of Black Velvet - a little bit of this and a little bit of that. And then I'd just go off into the woods and sit up against an old oak tree and chug it down.

Then I'd load up my BB gun and go shooting birds, which was always quite fun until you actually hit one and were consumed with guilt.

We moved back to California, to Huntington Beach, in Orange County. It was right after the movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High had come out. And I remember thinking to myself, This new school is identical to the movie! There were parties every weekend. I guess the parents' overall philosophy was, you might as well do it here, where we can supervise you. You could ride your bike from kegger to kegger.

My drinking kind of escalated. At the beginning of my freshman year, we'd get fucked up on Friday and Saturday, and then we'd make it all the way till the next Friday before doing it again. But as time went on, it became a fixation. An obsession. All you could think about the whole week was getting to Friday again so you could party. That was all I ever thought about. That and, you know, sex. [Weiland was raped by a classmate around this time].

My first experiences with cocaine was just completely...it was, like, sexual. It was unbelievable. I didn't think that there could be anything that good.

I'd formed my first band when I was a sophomore. I'd just turned sixteen. There was this cat who used to hang around, watch us rehearse, this really nerdy guy. He was a lop, you know, but he was nice. He ended up becoming a coke dealer.

One time, he came by rehearsal with a briefcase. It was very eighties, very Miami Vice. He opened it up, and he had these neat little half-ounce packages. And this stuff, my God - it was not that nasty, gasoline-tasting, cat-piss-smelling shit that they have nowadays. It was this fuckin' shale, you know? It was that mother-of-pearl stuff they used to have in the old days. It was so hard, you had to slice it real thin with a razor blade, like little slices of garlic. They don't even make that shit anymore. Maybe you can get it down in Colombia, but not here.

The guy cut us out a couple lines each, like, six inches long and about an eighth of an inch wide. I had two of them. And that was all we needed. We were high for five hours. And there was no grinding teeth. There was no big comedown. I think the devil gives you the first time for free.

Eventually, my parents caught on to the fact. At the beginning of my junior year, my parents went into my room and started raiding my drawers. They ended up finding a bag of weed and a couple empty little quarter bindles of blow and a mirror and a razor blade. They sent cops to pick me up at school. They took me to rehab. I got out just in time for New Year's Eve.

I was never much of a weed smoker. I thought too much on weed; it made my mind way too overactive. There's no solace for me in pot.

There was always an intrigue for me when it came to heroin. Most of my musical and artistic heroes were connected to dope. Everyone from William Borroughs to Keith Richards and Gram Parsons to Bird, all the jazz greats - if you listen to the fluidity of that music, you can hear heroin in that music. There was something about it that I was definitely drawn to. I wondered why this substance had so much powerful appeal, had such a power to affect music and art and lives in such a way that seemed to be so beautiful but also so dark and destructive at the same time. Those two elements, the beauty and the darkness, are what created that seduction for me. It's what attracted me. Because those forces have always coexisted within me. I call it The Great Dichotomy.

When you start doing dope, there's a honeymoon period. At the time I started, when I was about twenty-four, I was with the woman who would become my first wife, Jannina. Heroin was definitely something that was on our radar. After I tried it for the first time, we were excited about doing it together. It turned out her brother, Tony, was into it, too.

At that point I had this Toyota Landcruiser - the first significant purchase of my success [with my band STP]. The whole thing was very ceremonial, like a ritual, like a religious event. The copping. The smoking. The need. I started referring to it as my medicine.

The four of us would just hang out - myself, Jannina, Tony, and his girl at the time. We were just smoking it, you know, chasing the dragon. It was all pretty innocent. We'd drive downtown, grab a few bags, smoke...and then we'd just kind of lie around and have that sort of dope sex where you can fuck for eight hours. They call it a dope stick. You stay up forever but you have a hard time, you know, finishing. It's, like, tantric.

As time progressed, I was finding that there seemed to be a certain ceiling to the high when you were smoking heroin. And smoking is inefficient. Any junkie will tell you that: A lot of the dope goes to waste.

But not knowing anyone who fixed, I had to wait for my opportunity. It came on Thanksgiving 1993. We went over to Jannina's parents' house. Tony lived in a room in the garage. After dinner, he's like, "I got a couple rigs. You wanna fix?" So naturally I was like, "Sure." He tied me off and shot me up. And then he said, "Now you got your wings."

I remember just lying back on his mattress, and there was something barely on his TV, which was right by his bed but had bad reception, just static and snow. Complete warmth went all the way through my body. I was consumed. It's like what they talk about in Buddhism, that feeling of reaching enlightenment. Like in Siddhartha, when they say there's that feeling of a golden light. It's near the end of the book. After going through all those different journeys, Siddhartha finds what he's been looking for all along. There's that moment when he's sitting there, and there's this feeling of warmth, a golden light that just goes through his entire body. I can't remember exactly how they describe it, but there's this feeling in Buddhism where they say there's a golden glow that goes from your fingers all the way through every appendage and into the pit of your stomach. And that's what it felt like to me, slamming dope for the first time. Like I'd reached enlightenment. Like a drop of water rejoining the ocean. I was home.

All my life, I had never felt right in my own skin. I always felt that wherever I went...I don't know, I always felt very uncomfortable. Like I didn't belong. Like I could never belong. Like every room I walked into was an unwelcome room.

After doing dope for the first time, I knew that no matter what happened, from that day forward, I could be okay in every situation. Heroin made me feel safe. It was like the womb. I felt completely sure of myself. It took away all the fears. It did that socially; it distanced me from other people, made me feel less vulnerable. And it did that for me musically, allowing me to sort of go for it, you know, to dare to succeed. And it gave me a certain amount of objectivity, though what ends up happening with opiates is you get to a point where you get too much objectivity. It becomes all objectivity. You don't have any more connection to the heart, to the body, to anything real. You kind of cease to exist. All that exists is the need.

I went through, like, a million different detoxes. I don't know how many times. Rapid, rapid detox. It leaves you feeling like a Mac truck hit you. Beaten, bloodied, and boiled. Sickened, drained, unable to feel - it was a feeling like you can't imagine being able to feel any emotions ever again. No sadness, no excitement, no highs, no lows. Nothing. You're wondering when you'll be able to feel comfort again, physical comfort even. That's why it's so difficult to kick. Your pleasure receptors are so fried that your brain has no ability to feel any pleasure on its own. You're so depressed. It makes you want to get high. You want to kick, but in a sense, kicking to me was always just kind of a way to prepare your body to be able to experience that first fix again. I mean, there are always those noble intentions in the beginning, but ultimately, that's all it ever was.

Because at that time, I never wanted to quit. Never. I saw narcotics as something I needed in order to function. I believed at the time that I was born with a chemical deficiency.

And I realized I was. I was totally correct. I did have a chemical deficiency [bipolar]. But at the time, I believed this deficiency was one only opiates could fulfill. I have this dark place. It's a place of loneliness. It's a place of complete shame and self-hatred, where I deserve to feel all alone because I'm the one who has caused it. And I feel like I deserve to feel that way.

I know where it comes from. It comes from my parents divorcing, you know, abandonment and all that. And it also comes from a lot of guilt and shame. And I guess feeling that you caused that feeling yourself becomes its own self-perpetuating thing; it takes on a life of its own.

I'm so bad with dates. I never really had any perception of time when I was on dope. That was part of the problem. But having children showed me a whole different kind of love that I had never known. It was something that had always been missing. Complete love. I would die for them. But I could not get clean for them. First, I would have to know loneliness. Emptiness. Solitude. Complete desperation and disgust with who I had become and who I wasn't - a father, a husband. Myself.

-Scott Weiland, interview, 2005

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

⎯⎯ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝔸𝕤𝕤𝕠𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤

Tagged by: @settriigh @curtain-cxll @axewhirl @misstantabismuses @poisonflowrs (thank you all so much!!) Tagging: @windchaser @agonizedembrace @arkyn-iceborn-vindication @bells-of-black-sunday (your pick ♥) @kalijhomentethi @noxfortid @noxianwill @visionoxus @prtector

Animal: ⎯ ROBIN: For centuries, this tiny bird has been the symbol of good luck, happiness, rebirth - and sometimes even as a messenger for lost, loved ones. There are tales stretching back to Norse mythology where the robin is the protector from storms and lightning. And in Celtic folklore the robin is known as the Oak King of Summer.

Colors: ⎯ MOSS GREEN: Often associated with the feeling of being surrounded by nature, as it is reminiscent of the lush greenery found in forests and other natural settings.When used in fashion, moss green adds an earthy touch to any outfit, evoking a sense of connectedness with the natural world.

Month: ⎯ OCTOBER: The month of spirits, where the line between the living and the dead softens and blurs. The air is chilled, and the sun is setting on the year, filling the month with beautiful colors painted across every plant.

Song(s): ⎯ THE CHAIRMAN'S WALTZ by John Williams Day or night: ⎯ DAWN: Suggests the notions of illumination and hope, the beginning of a new day and thus a chance for happiness and improvement. Sunrise is a symbol of birth and rebirth, of awakening. The coming of light, resurrection.

Plant: ⎯ ROSEMARY: An herb that has long been associated with remembrance and death. Since ancient Roman times when the herb was used in burial rites for this reason, to several accounts of funerals in England where mourners traditionally tossed bouquets of rosemary on top of coffins.

Scent: ⎯ FRESH HERBS: Dried and tied into sacs to be carried on the body, to ward off dark spirits, hide the smell of decay, and stir into medicines to heal the living.

Gemstone: ⎯ LARIMAR -- Larimar is said to enlighten and heal in a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual way. It stimulates the heart, throat, third eye and crown chakras facilitating inner wisdom and outer manifestation. It represents peace and clarity, radiating healing and love energy.

Season: ⎯ AUTUMN: All at once symbolic of plenty, ripening, harvest, and abundance; and, at the same time, a symbol of decay, decline, old age, and even death, with associations of things being past their prime.

⎯ SPRING:  The season of rebirth, joy and love. Spring is the one season that shows, in stark terms, how good always triumphs over evil, light over darkness, life over death.

Food: ⎯ CRISPY DUCK CONFIT

Astrological sign: ⎯ CANCER: Cancers are shielded by hard, external shells. At first, these crabs may be perceived as cold or distant. With time, though, Cancers reveal their gentle nature, genuine compassion, and mystical capabilities. Just don't be surprised if it takes a while to get to know them. Cancers are highly intuitive and their psychic abilities manifest in tangible spaces: For instance, Cancers can effortlessly pick up the energies in a room. These crabs are highly sensitive to their environments, as well as extremely self-protective. 

Element: ⎯ EARTH -- O' to return to the eternal darkness beneath our feet.

Drink: ⎯ SMOKED NEGRONI -- A Negroni is an Italian cocktail, made of one part gin, one part vermouth rosso (red, semi-sweet) and one part Campari, garnished with orange peel and smoked rosemary.

[saint-starflicker]

A strong, hoppy beer pairs well with barbecue. I wouldn't drink a strong hoppy beer by itself for no reason but with an aftertaste of a barbecue, wash that down with something a bit bitter and fizzy, especially if the drink is cold and the day is bright and sunny—it's great! Milder beers can be mixed with fruit juices, to which the beer adds fizziness and a bit of alcoholic lift almost like spicy acidity and I think the contrast brings out the other flavors in the fruit juice that would otherwise be overwhelmed by the natural sweetness.

People get pretentious about wines because of reasons. Some wines are sweet like liquid poprock candy (moscato wine, and I'm going to give soju an honorable mention here even though that's from distilled rice or cassava and is not fizzy), others are salty but they call it dry, and most are in between and some combination with something else that sounds pretentious like "the inside of an aged oak barrell and stoppered with a curated Portuguese cork that's been smoke-infused over truffles and rosemary". But as a result, unless you really dislike the taste of alcohol content, then there will probably be a variety of wine that you like the taste of.

I don't really have paragraphs for vodka or gin. To me they're just there. Sometimes they characterize a complicated martini. Maybe a vodka or gin fan can tell me what those can do that soju can't.

tell me in the tags either the worse drink you've ever had or what you do to alcohol to make it palatable

[libidomechanica]

For dreamd of

A thing through which other killing.     But down! Delight; no doubted Knight: the glimmered another     with sudden dale: but kind of it fill, as these displeas’d     the always—perhaps than so well; then, still such a battle     for ghosts of ghosts of third,

through to make it ran inclination     such scene or whatever since had the pillow. Though a     lofty walks, that I could Colin many coral eglanting     what herself up to herd song the milky word. Seeing     woman passion impatience;

knees, at though yond Cosset, we     know, sorrowing and sunk, and once, but there’s deeply did     qualities, or age were limpid was out its muzzled bubbles     armed the beate for all and thaw before my health, and and     palsy should consecrate

in a brothers lay that sweet me     quiet, pluck dumb; therefore more his suitor gins to roose thy     splendour fearful to say, by degrade! With me, we behind     a milch door wish and loops, and in a lawn, your gyrlond a     screen new saving so let

us go, what can it gave its     dance, a life in her eye. For dream’d of satiety, but with     her stole a burther cradle talk all the gnawing to joy,     for the swell that are. The sweet begot; to each other full     verse be thy has not being

tended bid the trumpets every     oak applause, to the heart.—Ninon dear, I’ll spells a lost,     still. Look not for a little shun me divine amend the     fault, again as I must quaintance; like the murderous flowers     and self what dusky

gallery, both of gilding, a     beams threefold, in property at sometime dream that perfect     silent warm breaks of my weary me, as if thou love: its     wrong, to be; but thy harm’d the effort so durable and     by the restaurants were keep

if all wishing, first but knew not     a few we may be thou haste; for guide-books, rhyme; no scarcely     to saying dissolving up, cheek feels, as it heaven’s sent     find as angry eyed: heaven happy speed organs let us     far a-down as would

with briar may speld. And are you     may childish een. And we dish for note, as such various,     in unexhauster’d always wit. Her ashy-pale uncertain     with charms, whats good: but reluctant more kindle on more     longer clams awake! As,

supply and heart an hour winds stroke     of Potiphar, toss in their paces let the sky. Ah! The     glories of meridian book! For the wind bloody being     sweet dream; Woo’d and grace, as down with each the toast as thou     coy? The boar, unders green

an’ she will pay and his beauty     no miracle-tones mynd able, share—he saloon, you love     flew. They borrow wrinkling so, that shall counts to her works of     bloudy Cupid soaring from our of that then gleams. But if     he has twa sparing fever

framing she dim emble. With     down to a rose came says music’s gone? ’Twas evenings, along,     for no more be whose simple ye thy posteringhi Glasses     which as call; for source love, the priest compass my heard a     scope, and when his breath shed?

I know me, and demaund beldame,     acrossed by separative of his brow; here divine     could by the death the wind. Hopes of the cup of natures; it’s     morne for by deere, we pick is straw and then—they had them     Of lost, whereof doth well.

[smokysipspirits]

What Are the Benefits of Using a Smoking Kit?

Smoking kits have become an increasingly popular tool for home bartenders, culinary enthusiasts, and people who enjoy crafting unique, memorable food and drink experiences. These kits are especially valuable for adding layers of smoky flavor to various dishes and cocktails. Products like the whiskey smoking kit and cocktail smoker add depth and aroma to drinks, appealing to the senses and enhancing the overall tasting experience. Below, we explore the benefits of using a smoking kit and why it’s worth adding to your home bar or kitchen.

1. Elevates the Flavor Profile

One of the most appealing benefits of using a smoking kit is its ability to dramatically enhance the flavor profile of beverages and food. A whiskey smoking kit or cocktail smoker works by infusing smoke from specific wood chips, like oak, hickory, or cherry, which adds a rich, smoky flavor to a drink. This process introduces complex notes and layers to the beverage, turning a simple drink into a gourmet experience.

How Smoking Kits Improve Whiskey and Cocktails

The smoke molecules infuse with the liquid, bringing out hidden or subtle flavors in the whiskey or cocktail. For example, a whiskey smoker can add a woodsy depth that complements the barrel-aged notes in whiskey, while a cocktail smoker can enhance herbal or fruity undertones in drinks like margaritas, Old Fashioneds, or negronis. This transformation can make a familiar drink taste entirely new and exciting, making it a wonderful conversation piece at gatherings.

2. Creates a Unique Sensory Experience

In addition to enhancing taste, smoking kits create a multi-sensory experience that appeals to the visual and aromatic senses. Watching the swirling smoke as it encases the drink adds a dramatic presentation, making it a visual spectacle for anyone watching. The aroma of the wood chips or herbs used in smoking not only engages the sense of smell but also prepares the palate for the drink’s enhanced flavors.

Aroma and Visual Appeal

Imagine serving a smoked Old Fashioned to your guests; the aroma alone can stimulate their senses before they even take a sip. The lingering smell of smoke enhances the overall experience, making the tasting ritual feel special and memorable. This type of sensory engagement adds an artistic touch to home bartending and makes each drink feel like a crafted masterpiece.

3. Versatile Applications Beyond Cocktails

While smoking kits are most commonly associated with whiskey or cocktails, they are highly versatile and can be used with a variety of foods as well. Many people use their whiskey smoking kit to add a smoky flavor to foods like cheese, nuts, meats, and even vegetables. This expands the utility of the smoking kit beyond drinks, making it a versatile tool for anyone who loves experimenting in the kitchen.

Examples of Foods You Can Smoke

Using a smoking kit, you can transform regular dishes into gourmet experiences. Smoked cheese, for instance, develops a rich, nutty flavor that complements wine and charcuterie boards. Smoked nuts acquire a savory depth, making them perfect for snacking or adding to salads. Even fruits like apples or peaches can benefit from a light smoke, adding a new twist to desserts or cocktails.

4. Offers Creative Freedom

A cocktail smoker or whiskey smoking kit provides endless possibilities for creativity. Bartenders and chefs alike appreciate the freedom to experiment with different types of wood chips, herbs, and spices to create unique flavor combinations. Smoking kits can be paired with various wood chips, such as applewood for a slightly sweet note, hickory for a bold, earthy taste, or cherry for a fruitier profile.

Experimenting with Flavors

Experimenting with flavor can lead to exciting discoveries, and a smoking kit gives you the freedom to test and customize every aspect. Want to add a hint of rosemary to your gin cocktail? Or a touch of cinnamon to your whiskey? A smoking kit makes these combinations easy and enjoyable, letting you tailor drinks and dishes to your personal taste or that of your guests.

5. Easy to Use for Beginners and Pros Alike

Many people think using a smoking kit might be a complicated process, but it’s surprisingly easy. Smoking kits typically come with easy-to-follow instructions, so even beginners can start enhancing their food and drink with smoke right away. Advanced users, however, can also appreciate the intricacies and control these kits offer, making them adaptable to any skill level.

Quick Setup and User-Friendly Design

Most smoking kits are designed to be user-friendly, often involving a simple process of placing the wood chips into the smoker, lighting them, and then capturing the smoke in a glass or under a cloche. Some cocktail smokers are small and portable, making them easy to bring out for gatherings or store in compact spaces. Whether you’re an experienced bartender or just starting, a smoking kit is easy to incorporate into your routine.

6. Enhances Home Bar Presentation

Adding a cocktail smoker or whiskey smoking kit to your home bar setup can instantly elevate your bar’s look and feel. Smoking kits bring a professional edge to home bartending, adding a layer of sophistication and exclusivity. For anyone who loves hosting or throwing cocktail parties, a smoking kit can be a fun and interactive element that will impress guests and make home gatherings feel more luxurious.

Professional Touch for Entertaining

By introducing smoked cocktails or foods at your gatherings, you create a memorable experience for your guests. Many people have never had the opportunity to try a smoked cocktail, so this unique touch can be the highlight of the event. A smoking kit not only produces impressive results but also shows your passion for creating great experiences, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who visits your home bar.

7. Healthier Alternative to Traditional Smoking

Traditional smoking methods, such as using a smoker grill, often involve extended exposure to high heat and smoke, which can lead to higher concentrations of certain compounds that may not be ideal for frequent consumption. A cocktail smoker or whiskey smoking kit provides a much shorter exposure to smoke, which is usually enough to add flavor without the potential drawbacks of prolonged smoking.

Reduced Exposure, Same Great Flavor

With a smoking kit, you only need a few seconds of exposure to get the desired effect, minimizing the amount of smoke you actually consume. This method is gentler than traditional smoking methods, making it a great option for health-conscious individuals who still want to enjoy the flavor-enhancing benefits of smoke.

8. Affordable Investment for Flavor Enthusiasts

Compared to other kitchen gadgets or bar tools, smoking kits are relatively affordable, especially considering the range of flavors and experiences they offer. Investing in a whiskey smoking kit or cocktail smoker means you can enjoy premium, smoked beverages and dishes without needing to visit a high-end restaurant or bar.

Cost-Effective Flavor Enhancement

With a smoking kit at home, you can create high-quality cocktails or gourmet dishes anytime without the added expense of going out. Even high-end cocktail bars may charge extra for smoked cocktails due to the additional flavor and presentation they offer. Having a smoking kit allows you to enjoy these drinks at a fraction of the cost while offering you the flexibility to customize each creation.

9. Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Option

Many smoking kits use natural wood chips or other sustainable materials, which makes them an eco-friendly choice for flavor enhancement. By using a cocktail smoker or whiskey smoking kit, you can avoid pre-packaged smoked products, which may involve preservatives or artificial flavoring. Instead, you get a pure, natural smoky flavor derived from real wood, herbs, or spices.

Reducing Waste with Reusable Kits

Most smoking kits are reusable and require minimal additional supplies, like wood chips, that can last through many uses. This reduces waste and offers an environmentally friendly way to experiment with flavors, contributing to a more sustainable lifestyle while enhancing your culinary and mixology skills.

10. Personalized and Customizable Gifts

A smoking kit, whether it’s a cocktail smoker or a whiskey smoking kit, makes a fantastic gift for loved ones who appreciate unique culinary experiences. Since the kit can be used in a variety of ways, it offers a personalized touch that suits any occasion, from birthdays and holidays to housewarming celebrations. Smoking kits are often beautifully packaged and make an impressive gift for both amateur and professional bartenders alike.

Unique Gift Idea for Food and Drink Lovers

For the food and drink connoisseur, a smoking kit shows that you understand their passion for flavors. It’s a distinctive, thoughtful gift that encourages creativity, exploration, and enjoyment. Plus, it’s an interactive gift that the recipient can use right away, making it an ideal choice for anyone who enjoys trying something new and exciting.

Conclusion

The benefits of using a smoking kit are vast, from enhancing flavors and engaging the senses to adding a professional touch to your home bar setup. Whether you’re using a whiskey smoking kit for your favorite bourbon or a cocktail smoker for creating artisan cocktails, these kits bring excitement, creativity, and elegance to the food and drink experience. With a smoking kit, you can impress your guests, elevate your own culinary adventures, and enjoy a wide array of unique flavors at home.

[nwbeerguide]

Eugene brewery Alesong Brewing and Blending Brewery of the Year at the Great American Beer Festival awards.

https://bit.ly/4ebOqet image courtesy Alesong Brewing and Blending Press Release EUGENE, OR: Alesong Brewing & Blending was awarded two medals at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition and named Brewery of the Year in its size category, the top honor at the nation’s largest beer competition. This year marks the ninth year in a row Alesong has received at least one medal at GABF, coinciding with each year they have released beer since their establishment in 2015. The nine-year medal streak is now the third longest such active streak in the United States, a remarkable feat and nod to the consistency with which Alesong releases world class beers year after year.  In the 2024 competition, beers and ciders spanning 107 categories were judged blind by 285 judges, awarding 326 medals to the most exceptional beers from over 9,000 entries. Brewery of the year honors were given to the most awarded producers out of nearly 1,900 breweries and cideries who entered the competition from every state in the nation. Alesong was awarded a gold medal in the barrel-aged sour style category for French 75, a tart farmhouse ale aged in gin barrels with lemon zest and a bronze medal in the brett beer style category for Touch of Brett, a dry-hopped farmhouse ale, and now five-time GABF medal winning beer! Both beers are currently available for on-site consumption and in bottles to go at Alesong’s country brewery, tasting room, and restaurant (80848 Territorial Hwy, Thursday-Sunday 1-7pm). “It’s incredible to win Brewery of the Year at GABF,” says Brian Coombs, Alesong co-founder and Director of Brewing Operations. “We’ve had a good string of success at this competition, but you never really expect to win one of the major awards given just how competitive it is. GABF is the big stage in U.S. craft beer and in particular means a lot to us because the judges are professional brewers whose positive feedback validates the care and hard work that goes into crafting the unique beers that we make.” ABOUT ALESONG BREWING AND BLENDING: Alesong Brewing and Blending is an award-winning artisan brewery, winery, and cidery, and restaurant based in the heart of Southern Willamette Valley wine country outside Eugene, Oregon. With 100% of its beverages spending time in oak, Alesong crafts unique and small-batch blends, producing styles that span the flavor spectrum. As the beer, wine, or cider in barrels matures, the team samples and selects each barrel individually to create a final blend. Paying homage to old-world Lambic blenders and artisan winemakers, Alesong strives to achieve complex and balanced final blends that are much more interesting and complete than the sum of their parts or any individual barrel by itself. For more information, visit www.alesongbrewing.com.   ABOUT GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL:  Presented by the Brewers Association®, the best beers and ciders in 107 categories covering 175 different beer styles (including all subcategories) were awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals at a ceremony at the Bellco Theatre in Denver, Colorado, on Saturday morning. The 2024 GABF competition winners were selected by an international panel of 285 expert judges from 9,216 entries received from 1,869 U.S. breweries and cideries in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. For more information on the GABF competition, including a complete 2024 winners list and photos, visit GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com. from Northwest Beer Guide - News - The Northwest Beer Guide https://bit.ly/40cWlVj

[noisycowboyglitter]

Top 5 Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Events to Attend This Year

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ is a mouthwatering trifecta that brings together three beloved American culinary traditions. This combination represents a celebration of bold flavors, rich history, and Southern-inspired hospitality.

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Beer offers a refreshing counterpoint to the robust tastes of bourbon and barbecue. Craft brews, ranging from light lagers to hoppy IPAs, complement the smoky, savory notes of barbecued meats. The carbonation helps cleanse the palate between bites, enhancing the overall dining experience.

Bourbon, with its complex flavors of oak, vanilla, and caramel, adds depth to both the food and the experience. It can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or as an ingredient in barbecue sauces and marinades, infusing dishes with its distinctive character.

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BBQ, the heart of this trio, encompasses a wide range of regional styles and techniques. From slow-smoked brisket to pulled pork and ribs, barbecue represents a time-honored cooking tradition that brings people together.

Events and festivals centered around Beer, Bourbon & BBQ have gained popularity, offering enthusiasts the chance to sample various brews, spirits, and barbecue styles. These gatherings often feature live music, cooking demonstrations, and a convivial atmosphere that celebrates American culinary culture.

Drinking Food and Spirits Gifts combine the pleasures of gourmet snacks with fine alcoholic beverages, creating an indulgent experience for recipients. These carefully curated packages often feature a selection of artisanal foods designed to complement specific spirits or cocktails.

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A typical gift might include premium nuts, artisanal cheeses, charcuterie, chocolates, or savory crackers paired with a bottle of craft gin, small-batch whiskey, or aged wine. Some sets focus on a particular spirit, offering various expressions along with appropriate snacks and garnishes.

For cocktail enthusiasts, these gifts might include mixers, bitters, and bar tools alongside spirits and finger foods. Gourmet jerky or dried fruits could accompany bourbon, while olives and tapenades might pair with vodka or gin.

These gifts are perfect for special occasions, corporate presents, or as a treat for food and drink connoisseurs. They offer a sophisticated tasting experience that can be enjoyed at leisure, making any gathering a bit more special.

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Beer Gifts for Father's Day offer a perfect way to celebrate dads who appreciate a good brew. These thoughtful presents range from curated craft beer samplers to personalized beer steins and innovative bottle openers. For the home-brewing enthusiast, kits and equipment make excellent choices. Beer-themed apparel, unique glassware, and beer books add variety to gift options. Some popular picks include beer subscription services, delivering new brews throughout the year, and beer-infused snacks or condiments. These gifts not only show appreciation but also invite dads to relax and enjoy their special day with a cold, refreshing beverage in hand.