Enjoyed: Friday, June 18, 2021

Listed on the menu: As The Captain “Slingback” Dick (named after the establishment’s mythological patriarch, who was in the Navy, travelled around the world, and enjoyed the finer things in life. “This is his composed, pipe smoking, whiskey sipping cocktail.”)

Ingredients: Woodford Reserve bourbon, muddled Luxardo cherry, bitters, orange twist, smoke.

The occasion: Husband’s birthday and Father’s Day, which again fall on the same weekend. We also took along Youngest Son, to celebrate his most recent job offer. Husband had the day off for the new Juneteenth federal holiday, so we took advantage of the gorgeous afternoon. So much to celebrate!

My rating: ***** out of 5! Delicious, with a lovely mouthfeel. Smooth and so easy to sip. Patrick, our bartender, added to the fun by showing us how the drink is made. Since Husband and I both ordered one, Patrick muddled and mixed in a beaker-type container, and then he placed it in a glass chamber and piped in applewood smoke. Oh yes, we watched that baby SMOKE! Patrick then removed the container (still slightly smoking), strained it into glasses with large ice cubes, and added orange twists. Happily, the drink was not overwhelmingly smoky, like some Scotches may be. The smoke flavor was discernable, as was a pleasant sweetness. Husband was also very impressed, and he is picky about his bourbon drinks.

Final thoughts: Although Basic City is a brewery that makes fine beers (we have enjoyed all the ones we have sampled), The Showroom is likewise fun! The menu tells a story about every cocktail, and all are presented with flair. (Husband also recommends the Coon Skin Nightcap cocktail, a Manhattan-like drink with maple syrup. Son enjoyed his One for the Pot, One for the Cook, made with aquafaba instead of egg whites. ) Go to Basic City, get a cocktail first, get a sandwich, and chase it all with a beer. I am thinking we just may make this a Father’s Day tradition. Support local businesses!

Enjoyed: Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Listed on the menu: Yes, as Burnt Orange Old Fashioned.

Ingredients: Bulleit bourbon, spiced bitters, vanilla brown sugar syrup, brulée orange

The occasion: Today was the last day of the 2020-21 school year, so my colleague DK and I decided to celebrate with a late afternoon drink.

My rating: ** out of 5. The cocktail was tasty, probably because of the fine Bulleit. However, I cannot recommend this particular drink because I did not receive the cocktail that was listed on the menu! After we waited for a substantial amount of time, our sweet server placed my order in front of me and announced that she was just beginning as a bartender, and she wanted to know my opinion of the drink. I tasted it, and the orange zest was pleasantly evident, but I detected no burnt flavor. “What do you use to get the burnt flavor?” I asked. “Usually we use a torch to burn an orange wedge, but the torch hasn’t been working for a while, so we haven’t been doing that,” she replied. So, why didn’t she tell me that when I ordered? AND, would she have confessed to that if I hadn’t asked? AND, why oh why can’t the restaurant simply purchase a torch that works? I felt duped, and hence the low rating, and hence my reluctance to ever again return to this establishment.

Final thoughts: My experience with today’s cocktail is actually a fitting metaphor for the school year we just completed. I was hoping for a burnt orange cocktail, but ended up with a modified version. I was hoping for a productive school year, but ended up with a modified version. I felt cheated out of a positive experience, and I don’t want to place myself in that situation again. And my students no doubt felt cheated out of a positive experience, and they almost certainly don’t want to place themselves in that situation again. I did drain my cocktail glass, you know, since coming to the end felt so good.

Enjoyed: Friday, June 11, 2021

Listed on the menu: Yes, as Peanut Butter Old-Fashioned.

Ingredients: Skrewball peanut butter whiskey, orange bitters, xocolatl mole bitters, smoked orange.

The occasion: A Mother-Daughter Day. We shopped, chatted, visited a hair salon, chatted, ate lunch, chatted, explored Daughter’s new residence, chatted, drank coffee, chatted, and got caught in a downpour.

My rating: **** out of 5. I expected sweetness, and I got it, especially with the initial sip of the cocktail. As my palate opened up, I did pick up the orange and chocolate flavors of the bitters. The citrus worked to balance the sugary peanut butter taste. I would definitely order this drink again, but only at the end of a meal, to serve as a dessert.

Final thoughts: Is Skrewball really whiskey? The product’s website claims that whiskey and peanut butter are blended together to make this combination, but I think they have a “skrew” loose, since critics point out that cane sugar and hazelnut butter are also added. Therefore, I will argue that this is not whiskey, even though you can get “skrewed” by over-indulging.

Throwback to May 29, 2015

1. That supper-time robo-call from the attendance office informing you that your son or daughter was not present for one or more of his/her classes today.

2. That supper-time confrontation when you ask son or daughter why he/she was ditching and what he/she was thinking at the time of that poor decision.

3. That supper-time apology you must issue the next day when you find out it was a recording error, and that he/she was indeed at school.

4. The dings and scrapes that your student’s vehicle collects in the school parking lot.

5. Waiting up late to make sure your student arrives home safely from late night functions like football games and dances.

6. Paying for prom gowns for your daughter, and then paying even more for son to rent a tuxedo that you don’t even get to keep.

7. SAT exams.

8. SOL exams.

9. Editing essays for college applications.

10. Admitting that you have forgotten most everything you have ever learned about chemistry or calculus or statistics, and that you simply cannot help with that homework assignment.

11. Summer homework.

12. The drama.

13. The eye-rolling.