And what a sweet ton of bricks it is
The mercury (admittedly, few thermometers still employ mercury to tell one what one needs to know when one requires the services of a thermometer) has begun its yearly descent. The work day now starts and ends in darkness. The Jack-O-Lantern Peeps are nowhere to be found, having been vanquished by those of the Christmas tree and snowman varieties. At a time like this, one finds oneself in need of what the French might call un aide-mémoire, though usually only in diplomatic circles; someone of the English-speaking persuasion might instead bethink oneself of those contented days of summer. Days spent snoozing on the dock, shuttling the cock back and forth over the badminton net, supping the sup en plein air (again with the damnable French), as it were, and so on and so forth.
Here, friends, is an agreeable curative if ever there was one. The long-gone warmth and frivolity of summer will come rushing back to the fore; crashing down like the softest, most wonderful, tart and tangy ton of lemony, boozy bricks one could hope under which to find oneself. The standard home bar may not consider among its faithful members two of the ingredients--the guilty parties involved being limoncello (a lemon cordial) and butterscotch schnapps—but both are available at most liquor stores. Alternatively, recipe for a simple and delightful limoncello substitute can be found on my website, and also here, and here. Entering the "make your own lemon liqueur" industry, however, will take some advanced planning--at least a week or so for the flavors to mix, mingle, and otherwise get to know one another.
So when one’s morning routine requires the calculation of just how many pairs of long underwear into which one will need to stuff oneself, the time has come for one or two Simpaticos.
THE SIMPATICO
4 oz. vodka
2 dashes vanilla
½ oz butterscotch schnapps
2 oz lemon juice
2 oz Limoncello
sugar for rimming glasses (optional)
2 thin slices of lemon, or 2 twists of lemon (optional)
Combine first five ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake for 20 seconds. Strain into chilled, sugar-rimmed glasses. Add lemon slices or twists, if using, and serve.
Yields 2 cocktails
