After a lot of hard work, an actual editor’s polishing, and a professional cover design, Book Three of The Bucks County series is here! This is Joni and Graham’s story. Even if you haven’t read the first two books of the series, you will recognize Graham from the prequel short stories: Lips Like Sugar and Dear Mr. Fantasythat appeared in Sunday’s Song Lyric in the last couple months. Run For It is available in print and e-book on Amazon. You can find it here. I hope you all will enjoy:
Joni Cooper is in the best shape of her life. In fact, she’s training for the Boston Marathon. So why does she feel like the last kid picked for the team? Mostly because her two best friends have fallen in love with a pair of handsome brothers. It looks like she’s stuck with the third and final brother, Graham, as an escort for both weddings. Even though Graham is gorgeous and successful, he’s also irritating as sin. Will the two of them manage to call a truce until the two couples are married? Or will the sparks these two generate erupt into a five alarm fire?
It’s week two of the Year of Drinking Adventurously. Bourbon. (Find all 52 entries, here.)
This week we cross the pond from Scotland to the southern United States to sample bourbon, America’s most famous spirit. Bourbon has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity recently. Even cool kids like Hilary Clinton are drinking it.
Hilary touring the Maker’s Mark Distillery, image courtesy Huffington Post
Now, I’m not going to pretend that I haven’t been caught up in this wave of bourbon trendiness. Honestly, three or four years ago, I wouldn’t have touched the stuff given another whiskey option. That’s what happens when your earliest bourbon memories are sneaking a taste of your Dad’s Old Grandad on the rocks when he isn’t looking. Blech.
Then I met Woodford Reserve and my life was forever changed. The thing I hated about bourbon was that “corny, sour mashy” taste and smell. The Woodford had none of that. Recently, I acquired a bottle of Blanton’s Bourbon and it’s become my new favorite.
My bottle, not my kitchen
However, I can’t find it in my local liquor store leaving me to buy this instead:
My bottle, my kitchen
So how does one drink their bourbon? Straight up? Yes. But I can’t keep posting that every week, you’ll stop reading. Here are 2 of my favorite options:
1. The classic Manhattan:
In a shaker with ice: 3 oz. bourbon, 1 oz. sweet vermouth, 2-3 dashes bitters, 1 Maraschino cherry. Shake and pour into Martini glass or if you prefer, serve on the rocks.
I know it looks like a girly drink but if you were hoping for a Cosmo, you will be sorely disappointed. You have to like whiskey to like this cocktail.
2. The bourbon hot toddy:
(No photo because it looks like a cup of tea)
In a small sauce pan: 3-4 oz. bourbon, juice of half a lemon (or a fresh orange or tangerine is nice too), 1-2 tablespoons honey, water to dilute (not too much!) Heat until honey has dissolved (don’t boil it or you’ll cook off the alcohol and then what would be the point?), serve in a teacup or mug.
Comfort in a cup! Nice on a sore throat, too. Even my tea-totaling Nana would have a hot toddy when she had a chest cold. This was the perfect drink for me with the nagging cough I’ve been battling.
I struggled to tie this into writing. Bourbon was the drink of choice for some famous authors like William Faulkner, Hunter S. Thompson and Samuel Clemens. Bourbon is featured in the lyrics of over 400 hundred songs. I’m sure it’s fueled the muse in many famous drinkers over the years. That’s all I got!
Make sure you check out Lula’s post today. She wrote about rye, bourbon’s kissing cousin!
Week 1 in The Year of Drinking Adventurously. Scots Whiskey. (Find all 52 weeks here.)
While the rest of you all are hitting the gym, drinking barley grass smoothies for breakfast and giving up refined flour and sugar, I am starting the new year by flying in the face of convention. This is the year of drinking adventurously! (All things in moderation, dear friends. I am not advocating overindulgence.)
Based on Jeff Cioletti’s book of the same title, my adventure will take me (figuratively) around the globe to sample the potent potables of the world. (And possibly go broke – life’s too short to drink cheap booze, after all.) Each week, I’ll let you know how I enjoyed the beverage of choice and hopefully find a way to tie it into writing. This is a writing blog, remember?
I’m joining my friend Lula on this tour. You can see how she traveled the globe here. And follow Jeff’s blog, here.
Week one: Scots whiskey
I do enjoy my whiskey. Especially in the winter when comforting heat can be had in a glass. I’m not above drinking a blended whiskey but prefer the single malt.
Image thanks to Pinterest
There are differences among the regional varieties that I won’t go into here. If you want to know, Jeff’s book has a nice overview.
My liquor cabinet currently holds Dalwhinnie Highland Malt Scotch Whiskey.
A decent bottle, medium priced and smooth.Seawater filtered through dirty ashtrays, pricey, exquisite
The Laphroaig is one of my favorites but I know it’s not for everyone. I grimaced at my first sip of Laphroaig. But I fell in love after the second. Jeff’s book compares it to “kissing a supermodel who smokes.”
Or if you prefer, kissing Aidan Turner:
Thanks BBC America
Sorry, I’ve been looking for an excuse to post a photo of Aidan Turner. Anyway… I take my Scotch neat or with just one ice cube. I’ve never had a Scotch cocktail; not even the classic Rob Roy or Rusty Nail. Why mess with a good thing?
At the end of the day, whether it be a day I spent in practice or a day spent writing and editing, it is a joy to savor that glass of liquid smoke. Sometimes there is a flash of inspiration in that last sip – one that has me pulling out my notebook and pen, scribbling furiously while the words roll off the tongue of the invisible narrator. So fill your glass with a dram of good Scots whiskey. And find a beautiful companion to share it with! (Here’s more Aidan. Sorry, couldn’t help myself. Wait. Why am I apologizing?!?)
Meg Sorick, Author/Artist 