Friday, May 29, 2020

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Let’s pretend that I have access to the top politician of a country in the middle of a historic crisis. Maybe I have just presented him with a cocktail. Let’s pretend that this politician has been feeling “burnt” by the media, and has been ranting about how he is not being treated fairly.

What would I say?

“Stop glorifying violence. Stop using words which carry racist undertones. Stop complaining about First Amendments violations if you do not fully understand First Amendment protections.

“Stop lying. And please, stop Tweeting.

“When a business provides me with unsatisfactory service, I stop being a customer. If you don’t approve of Twitter and Facebook, stop using them.”

And I imagine I would then take the cocktail —one with lots of ice cubes–and dump it over his head. Hey, it’s my fantasy, and I can do what I want.

Today’s drink is my version of the Burnt Orange Negroni.

In a shaker with ice, combine 1 1/2 ounces gin, 1 ounce sweet vermouth, 1/2 ounce bitter orange liqueur (I used Aperol), 1/2 ounce simple syrup, 1/4 ounce lemon juice, 2 dashes of orange bitters, and a cut-up charred orange slice. Shake, and pour entire contents into a low-ball glass. Garnish with an additional charred orange slice. (I generously dusted thin orange slices with powdered sugar and baked them in a 200 degree oven for about an hour, and then let them dry out.)