28 Days Later: Sandra Bullock walks into a bar and orders... a zombie! RRARGH!

[thehefner]

Also, please forgive me if my writing is off tonight. Between my brother being back in town and spacechild coming over to visit, I've spent all night experimenting with drinks for my two little guinea pigs. And for myself, of course. Tonight alone I've made the following:

-Martinis, one for Edd and one for Danny. I've got these really expensive Texas martini olives stuffed with jalapenos which are truly excellent and make an astounding gin martini. Now I'm out of gin and am not sure what to buy. Not Seagrams, that's what my father drinks and it's shit anyway. I consulted Misty for her expertise in that area and she prefers Bombay Sapphire. I wonder if Tanqueray is any good? That Black Austin Powers dude in the commercials seems to think so.

-Vanilla and Jasmine martinis (vodka, vanilla vodka, chambord, and jasmine tea), which were "meh." The recipie actually called for four vanilla pods to be muddled, plus a fifth for garnish. Vanilla beans are around $35 each, man. Fuck that, I just used genuine vanilla extract. I wonder if I'd used an actual vanilla bean, it would have improved the final result? Somehow, I doubt it.

-"Sweet Louise"s for all three of us. This drink is made from chambord, raspberry vodka, fresh lime juice, simple syrup (sugar and water), and amaretto. There is no honor in this drink, but no one cares. This had quickly become one of the single yummies drinks I know how to make. Garnish calls for a floating orchid, but Mom'll kill me if I cut off one of her flowers. It's a deeply unmanly drink, but if I make you one, I doubt you'll be in much of a position to poke fun. And in either case, I'll deny this entry tomorrow when I'm sober.

-Pina Coladas for all three of us, made not from mix but from Coco Lopez cream of coconut and Dole pineapple juice. Rather than use the Bacardi or Captain Morgan (spiced rum tastes surprisingly good in strawberry daiquiris, by the way), I used Malibu coconut rum. I'd never heard of anyone actually using coconut rum in a pina colada before. Let me tell you, this shit is deadly. You can't taste a fucking trace of booze in there. Edd and Danny actually threw a shot of Captain Morgan in there anyway!

-Manhattans. fiveseconddelay gave me some great tips to making a perfect Manhattan, including to use Crown Royal whiskey, a bit of grenadine, and of course, never forget the bitters. Lately, I've been adding just a splash of dry vermouth, which sounds like it should ruin the drink but actually is really, really nice. Sadly, I put in, like, a quarter ounce too much. It really has to be just a splash, I'm learning. Once I perfect it, it'll be fantastic. It's still my drink of choice, especially in these cold winter days.

Danny thinks I'm getting really good at this mixing drinks thing. Edd's just delighted to have someone make him all manner of drinks after a long, hard day of working on the Mosaic From Hell.

So yeah, I think the new icon of poor Flyboy is appropriate for my current state of mind. Seriously, mrbnatural has made some *awesome* DAWN OF THE DEAD icons. Between those and ponyboy's hauntingly lovely NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD icons, I'm gonna have a pretty Romero-heavy icon library for the next few months.

Seriously, these icons are so good, they actually make me love the movies even more. How weird is that? They really capture the humanity of the characters. And that's really the most important part of any zombie story, isn't it?

Comments

[2sick2pray.livejournal.com]

I generally always use EXACTLY the same recipe you just mentioned for pina coladas... down to the brands and everything. Coco Lopez + Dole + Malibu. Okay, sometimes I use Parrot Bay. But still. But Mike the bartender (to distinguish from Mike my friend at Thirtyback) taught me a trick: at the end of that recipe, add just a splash of coconut amaretto. I swear, it's divine. It's like a pina colada with a teensy tiny bit of spice.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

My god, I've never heard of coconut amaretto! I'm definitely a fan of regular amaretto, which is also on the "non-manly" list; amaretto sour tastes, to me, just like lemon meringue pie. Coconut amaretto, eh? Mm, I'd better add that to the list, once I get replenished in the essentials (gin, dry vermouth, sweet vermouth, etc).

Gin?

[the-mithril-man.livejournal.com]

Gordon's is a good Martini gin but only if you like them dry. Tanqueray is good but avoid the flavored one they have out now if you are mixing. I made that mistake at a friend's Christmas party this last year. I am no longer welcome near their wet bar.

Re: Gin?

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

They make flavored gin now? I should be surprised, but ew. That just sounds like one base liquor that just shouldn't be flavored!

yum

[carohavoc.livejournal.com]

The 'Sweet Louie' sounds fabulous ... scrumdiddlyumptious ... however, all I've got over here is crappy white Chin@ liquor (beijou) and some Absolute Vodka. I won't touch the beijou, any suggestions as a good way to serve up the vodka besides the usual subjects?

Re: yum

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Hehe, well, unfortunately I'm not sure what you can do with Vodka other than add it to, like, cranberry juice or something unless you're willing to buy dry vermouth.

[wendywoowho.livejournal.com]

Oh, my, the Sweet Louises sound deadly! Especially as they'd prompt me to say, loudly and often, "SING LOUDER, LOUISE!" (Me and musical quotes: not separated by booze.)

And, mmmmm, Malibu. In my family, we have a saying: "Do you know what would taste good with this? MALIBU." It's good for just about everything. Including use as a marinade for watermelon, right before grilling...

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's fine. I've been known to get drunk and start role-playing as Green Lanterns.

While I don't care for watermelon (you can't be both water and melon! We're at war, pick a side!) that sounds positively fantastic! Bloo and I used to talk about grilling pineapple, and wow, that could be something amazing if I ever get around to doing it myself.

[wendywoowho.livejournal.com]

Grilled pineapple is lovely, but tends to soak up less of the rum than the watermelon does -- that thing is like a sponge!

[kali921.livejournal.com]

You know why both of their icons are so good, right? They're twin sisters. mrbnatural and ponyboy. They're both dolls.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

No way, really? (and they both have male names?)

Man, now I wanna meet 'em!

[spacechild.livejournal.com]

HEFTEEEEEEENEEEEEEEEES!!