Tuesday, June 9, 2020

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I’m baaaaack, sort of. I am calling this next part of the summer a “quasi-quarantine,” because here in central Virginia, we have entered Phase 2 of our re-opening in response to the CoVid-19 pandemic shutdown.

School is officially over for the summer, so now I am legitimately “on break” from my job. However, I am trying to stay busy with my resurrected “to-do” list, so daily cocktails are not happening–but occasional cocktails? Yes, please, and I would like to share them with you.

I read yesterday that researchers are estimating that the ordered shutdowns prevented about 60 million cases of coronavirus infection in the USA. Wow.

But we are hardly out of the woods yet. Phase 2 does not mean we can become sloppy and irresponsible. So here is some sage advice from me (and a multitude of experts):

1. Keep wearing those masks.
2. Wash your hands often.
3. Maintain a generous physical distance between yourself and non-household members.
4. Don’t visit crowded places.
5. Keep an extra bandanna or mask in your car or purse, just in case.
6. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in your car.
7. Keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse or pocket, just in case.
8. Get tested if you exhibit any signs of infection.

Husband, Daughter, and I went to a local brewery on Friday afternoon. We sat outdoors gazing at the mountains while we sipped. The staff was masked and gloved, the tables were all at least 6 feet apart, and the patrons were all wearing masks when going inside to purchase beer. I felt comfortable enough, but it was weird being “out” after so many months. We are going to make a concerted effort, in the upcoming weeks, to venture out into more of these lower-risk places.

My dear friend, Stephenie, dropped off a bouquet of fresh herbs from her garden. I couldn’t resist incorporating the sage into a cocktail.

Today’s drink is my version of a Honey Sage Bourbon Cocktail.

Make a honey-sage simple syrup with 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup honey, and 5 large sage leaves. (I used the crystallized honey from a long-forgotten jar in the back of the pantry.) Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes. Let syrup cool.

In a shaker with ice, combine 1 1/2 ounces of bourbon and 3/4 ounce of honey sage syrup. Pour into a low-ball glass filled with fresh ice cubes. Rub an orange rind around the rim of the glass to release some oils. Garnish with a twist of orange rind and a few sage leaves.