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Aristus

(71,413 posts)
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 09:40 PM Nov 21

Friday Night Gin Buzz. Ask me anything.

Two shots to get the party started. Now a Costa Del Sol; gin, Cointreau, and pear brandy. Yummy!

God, what a week. I was at the clinic today for nearly twelve hours.



Time to relax. I love you all…

56 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Friday Night Gin Buzz. Ask me anything. (Original Post) Aristus Nov 21 OP
What led you to cocktails? Marthe48 Nov 21 #1
Good night. Aristus Nov 21 #3
Why does Trump now love Mandami and hate Marjorie Taylor Greene? surfered Nov 21 #2
I'm as mystified as everyone else. Aristus Nov 21 #5
Ok, I'm sticking with my wimpy sparkling wine with an orange slice and orange juice ice cube... Trueblue Texan Nov 21 #4
Sounds wonderful. Aristus Nov 21 #7
Rough day, rough week Grim Chieftain Nov 21 #6
Ever had Lagavulin single malt? Aristus Nov 21 #8
Thanks for the suggestion, never had it Grim Chieftain Nov 21 #12
Day-drinking is a decadent delight. Aristus Nov 21 #13
Ha! Will do! Grim Chieftain Nov 21 #16
And that's just the beginning of your enjoyment of Lagavulin. Aristus Nov 21 #17
You could never bore me to tears Grim Chieftain Nov 21 #19
Okay, that's it. I need a glass of Lagavulin. Aristus Nov 21 #20
Have one for me Grim Chieftain Nov 21 #21
I will! Aristus Nov 21 #22
I have to say, the whiskey stones cracked me up the first time I saw them. niyad Nov 21 #27
They were a gift from my step-daughter. Aristus Nov 21 #31
They are a great, and practical, gift. niyad Nov 21 #33
One of my favorites too Redleg Nov 22 #38
The prices have been jumping up and down wildly over the last year. Aristus Nov 22 #41
$75 is reasonable Redleg Friday #56
I'm sticking to a bottle of Purple Haze tonight. TexasTowelie Nov 21 #9
You gotta drink what works for you. Aristus Nov 21 #10
What the hell is wrong with you? underpants Nov 21 #11
What the hell is wrong with me? Aristus Nov 21 #14
That's correct....start with God underpants Nov 21 #25
Drinking a Filthy Martini Chicagogrl1 Nov 21 #15
Filthy, huh? Aristus Nov 21 #18
And we love you back. huggggs. deeeeeep breaths. You have the niyad Nov 21 #23
Oh , that sounds wonderful! Aristus Nov 21 #24
This is so very true! niyad Nov 21 #28
Ever had a Dark & Stormy? Captain Zero Nov 21 #26
Good ginger beer is a must for that. Easterncedar Nov 21 #29
If you think they can't do a Dark & Stormy, watch them screw up a pousse cafe. niyad Nov 21 #30
What a coincidence Marthe48 Nov 22 #37
They are interesting, and a pain in the ass to make. One needs a very steady niyad Nov 23 #51
what is a "pousse cafe"? CTyankee Nov 23 #47
It's a layered drink, poured very carefully so that it stays in layers. niyad Nov 23 #48
Oh. Not sure I would want to drink a layered drink. I will have to think about it.... CTyankee Nov 23 #49
It can be a bit intimidating, at first. But remember, a White Russian is niyad Nov 23 #52
Hmm, I don't ever drink those but I might find them very interesting! CTyankee Nov 23 #53
They are very good. If you do decide to try them, let me know what niyad Nov 23 #55
Yeah! Aristus Nov 21 #32
Tell me why a layered drink is so good. I'd like to know, at my advanced age... CTyankee Nov 23 #50
Yeah. I love it. Aristus Nov 22 #42
Had two things I haven't had in years. Wolf Frankula Nov 22 #34
Sounds great! Aristus Nov 22 #43
I wish I could drink (meds)... I liked to get buzzed once in awhile. electric_blue68 Nov 22 #35
I would say I will drink one for you. Aristus Nov 22 #44
Ah, I'd take it as supportive. electric_blue68 Nov 22 #45
How much moniss Nov 22 #36
The best I can do at my retirement village is a glass of Pinot Grigio (forgot how to spell it) tonight. CTyankee Nov 22 #39
Perfect! Aristus Nov 22 #40
This has been a long day. Dulcinea Nov 22 #46
Keep this around for your next rough spell, Aristus True Dough Nov 23 #54

Marthe48

(22,477 posts)
1. What led you to cocktails?
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 09:58 PM
Nov 21

Are you planning to try recipes alpha to omega? Or find a few perfect mixes to repeat? Or just exercise your bar?

I might have to read a reply tomorrow. Heading to bed. Enjoy the lounge!

Aristus

(71,413 posts)
3. Good night.
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 10:06 PM
Nov 21


I used to just be a utilitarian drinker. Beer, wine, whatever. Then, in an attempt to expand my horizons, I started ordering cocktails, to see what all the shouting was about.

My first favorite cocktails: a whiskey sour and an amaretto sour. Then I tried a Manhattan, which is my most favorite cocktail to this day.

So I got a bar book, and decided to try every drink that sounded appealing to me. Voilá! I’m an aficionado of cocktail culture.

surfered

(10,616 posts)
2. Why does Trump now love Mandami and hate Marjorie Taylor Greene?
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 09:58 PM
Nov 21

A Dungeness crab cocktail with Mexican street corn preceded and followed by nice Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. Cheers 🍷

Aristus

(71,413 posts)
5. I'm as mystified as everyone else.
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 10:08 PM
Nov 21

I will say that this puts Trump in a position in which, anything Mamdani succeeds at, Trump will claim it was his idea.

Trueblue Texan

(4,087 posts)
4. Ok, I'm sticking with my wimpy sparkling wine with an orange slice and orange juice ice cube...
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 10:07 PM
Nov 21

It’s my comfort drink. It’s a beautiful Friday evening on the patio with Henri Mancini on the Echo. The great thing about this drink beside being cold and refreshing is I can drink a lot of them without getting too sauced.

Aristus

(71,413 posts)
7. Sounds wonderful.
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 10:12 PM
Nov 21

There are times when I miss my home state of Texas. Increasingly few times, nowadays. But a few.

Grim Chieftain

(1,027 posts)
6. Rough day, rough week
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 10:09 PM
Nov 21

Glad you have something to take the edge off. I have nothing but wine in the house and it is not working to soothe the stress. I need a Jameson or even a Jack Daniels. Interestingly, I never had either one until November of last year. Hmm...wonder why.

Cheers, Aristus! Have a great weekend.

Aristus

(71,413 posts)
8. Ever had Lagavulin single malt?
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 10:14 PM
Nov 21

My personal favorite whiskey.

If you were here, I’d bore you to tears with my enthusiasm for Lagavulin. Then you would try it, and see for yourself.

🥃

Grim Chieftain

(1,027 posts)
12. Thanks for the suggestion, never had it
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 10:23 PM
Nov 21

I'll be sure to get some tomorrow. Might even try a little day drinking.

:

Aristus

(71,413 posts)
13. Day-drinking is a decadent delight.
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 10:30 PM
Nov 21


All those D’s…

When you break the seal on the bottle, take a sniff and tell me it doesn’t smell like a campfire.

Aristus

(71,413 posts)
17. And that's just the beginning of your enjoyment of Lagavulin.
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 10:48 PM
Nov 21

Told you I’d bore you to tears…

Aristus

(71,413 posts)
22. I will!
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 11:08 PM
Nov 21

Lagavulin over chilled whiskey stones. Smokey, peaty, my lips and tongue are tingling…

Cheers!

niyad

(128,951 posts)
27. I have to say, the whiskey stones cracked me up the first time I saw them.
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 11:37 PM
Nov 21

The implication of the whole display of all the "manly" accoutrements of refined male drinking was that permanent ice cubes were some brand new thing. I had been using permanent ice cubes since my teens (yes, we had ice cubes back in tthe last millenium!). Granted, the first set I bought was pink elephants, which I used to great effect, so the stones are definitely classier!

Redleg

(6,795 posts)
38. One of my favorites too
Sat Nov 22, 2025, 10:51 AM
Nov 22

I last had a bottle back in 2002 when I completed my Ph.D. It was somwhat pricey back then. I am afraid I might have sticker shock if I see it in the store.

Aristus

(71,413 posts)
41. The prices have been jumping up and down wildly over the last year.
Sat Nov 22, 2025, 09:02 PM
Nov 22

I’ve seen bottles priced as low as $70, and as high as $120.

My current bottle set me back about $75.

Redleg

(6,795 posts)
56. $75 is reasonable
Fri Nov 28, 2025, 11:12 AM
Friday

I live in Kentucky and have seen the bourbon prices going up every year for the last 15 years or so. Bourbon has exceeded scotch in the global marketplace and the prices show. I still prefer a nice scotch and I like that scotch seems to have more variety. I can get a peaty Islay malt, or a robust highlands malt or a mellower Campbeltown malt depending on my mood.

TexasTowelie

(124,642 posts)
9. I'm sticking to a bottle of Purple Haze tonight.
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 10:15 PM
Nov 21

I haven't felt adventurous with my drinking in awhile.

underpants

(194,195 posts)
11. What the hell is wrong with you?
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 10:20 PM
Nov 21


I had a guy in my platoon (Cav) who used to lead with that when someone said even the slightest naive uninformed comment. Especially new guys. We’d see the head start to turn and we’d all start cracking up. He was a great insult comic. He had something for everyone- farm boys, hayseeds, city guys, cowboys etc.

Vodka with lemonade and a few splashes of Cholula

niyad

(128,951 posts)
23. And we love you back. huggggs. deeeeeep breaths. You have the
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 11:22 PM
Nov 21

weekend off, do something fun or relaxing. I am cheating. . Kirkland liqueur eggnog, a splash of brandy in my coffee. It is a damp, chilly night.

Aristus

(71,413 posts)
24. Oh , that sounds wonderful!
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 11:24 PM
Nov 21

Egg nog on a cold, blustery night. Makes you glad to be alive. Nowadays, we need anything that does.

Captain Zero

(8,654 posts)
26. Ever had a Dark & Stormy?
Fri Nov 21, 2025, 11:35 PM
Nov 21

They are pretty good when mixed correctly.
Most bartenders have no clue. Some bars here don't even have dark rum.

So I'm mixing my own for the holidays.

Marthe48

(22,477 posts)
37. What a coincidence
Sat Nov 22, 2025, 08:19 AM
Nov 22

Just this morning, someone asked Miss Manners how to drink a pousse-cafe. I knew there were layered drinks but what they were called.

I was going to ask Aristus if they ever made a pousse-cafe, and here is a post mentioning them.

For the record, Miss Manners suggested that you enjoy each layer and the ingredients will mix as you drink. And she was going to go try one

niyad

(128,951 posts)
51. They are interesting, and a pain in the ass to make. One needs a very steady
Sun Nov 23, 2025, 10:24 AM
Nov 23

hand to pour each ingredient carefully and slowly enough so that they layer, not mix. When I was in Houston, I was friends with one of the hotel bartenders in our mall. He was making a French 125 for me, and we were discussing difficult drinks. He was telling me about a woman, very pretentious*, who ordered a 7-layer pousse cafe. It took him two tries to get it perfectly layered. When he served it to her, she stirred it up, and gulped it down in one go. He refused to make her another one.

*My personal favourite pretentious bar patron was also in Houston. I was sitting at a bar, waiting for a friend, and reading. A guy came in, all bluster, sat just a couple of seats down from me, and ordered a Perrier and water. Perrier had just become available in this country. I looked at the bartender over my book, we both grinned, and I bent into the book so that I wouldn't actually laugh.

niyad

(128,951 posts)
48. It's a layered drink, poured very carefully so that it stays in layers.
Sun Nov 23, 2025, 10:03 AM
Nov 23

The ingredients are added in a specific order, densest to lightest. A Tequila Sunrise is one type, but not as specifically layered. Trust me when I tell you it is not a bartender's favourite drink to pour! There are actually specialty pousse cafe glases, but a champagne flute will work. There are a number of variations, but you can look up the recipes.

CTyankee

(67,672 posts)
49. Oh. Not sure I would want to drink a layered drink. I will have to think about it....
Sun Nov 23, 2025, 10:05 AM
Nov 23

niyad

(128,951 posts)
52. It can be a bit intimidating, at first. But remember, a White Russian is
Sun Nov 23, 2025, 10:35 AM
Nov 23

also a layered drink, as is a Tootsie Roll, and they are easy. As is a Kir Royale!

CTyankee

(67,672 posts)
53. Hmm, I don't ever drink those but I might find them very interesting!
Sun Nov 23, 2025, 10:53 AM
Nov 23

I'm down to one glass of white wine per day, with my evening meal.

niyad

(128,951 posts)
55. They are very good. If you do decide to try them, let me know what
Sun Nov 23, 2025, 12:50 PM
Nov 23

you think.

I am guessing that you would have to go out to a restaurant with a decent bar to try them. Guessing your retirement village does not have a well-stocked happy hour bar?

Wolf Frankula

(3,801 posts)
34. Had two things I haven't had in years.
Sat Nov 22, 2025, 01:28 AM
Nov 22

Stormbreaker Winter Coat. A dark winter strong ale. And I was given a Cafe Pied Noir. It's a cup of strong French coffee with a shot of anisette.

Aristus

(71,413 posts)
43. Sounds great!
Sat Nov 22, 2025, 09:07 PM
Nov 22

There’s nothing better than a good strong winter ale.

A number of years ago, I was in an Irish-style pub in Ocean Shores, Washington on a cold winter night. The wind was howling outside, but inside, it was snug and warm, and I was fortifying myself with a rich, dark ale, and a bowl of Guinness beef and potato stew. That was a magical night. Like something out of a dream.

Aristus

(71,413 posts)
44. I would say I will drink one for you.
Sat Nov 22, 2025, 09:08 PM
Nov 22

But I don’t know if it would come across as supportive or mocking.

BTW: It would be supportive…

CTyankee

(67,672 posts)
39. The best I can do at my retirement village is a glass of Pinot Grigio (forgot how to spell it) tonight.
Sat Nov 22, 2025, 06:06 PM
Nov 22

It's my go-to glass of wine in the dining room. Very nice.

Aristus

(71,413 posts)
40. Perfect!
Sat Nov 22, 2025, 08:58 PM
Nov 22

Dry, slightly astringent, with pear and woody notes. Can’t go wrong with a good Pinot Grigio.

Dulcinea

(9,517 posts)
46. This has been a long day.
Sat Nov 22, 2025, 10:32 PM
Nov 22

8 hrs round trip in the car picking the college kid up for Thanksgiving break. Unwinding with a beer & Penn State beating Nebraska! Unseasonably warm here in the ATL...almost 80 degrees...shorts in November!

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