Which orange liqueur did you use? I have Cointreau (and all the other things) so I guess that would work!

I can’t get past the underlying wine taste. I like wine but it doesn’t like me back and when I do drink it, it’s better for me to keep it as a stand alone drink.

But to each their own! It’s like my grandpa used to say “If everyone liked the same thing, we would all be chasing Grandma!”

I had a Garden Party (without Rick Nelson!), : Chambord, vodka, lemon juice, grenadine, club soda. It was very pretty, and was very refreshing.

I’ll have to try that. But next weekend. I’m dry until next Friday.

I want to make sure I’m doing it right.

It was done as a large batch drink.

I went looking to see if I could find an exact recipe, but it must have been created for the lecture. On the other hand, I saw a recipe for something called a Wildgarden Cup Cocktail witth Hendrick's Gin on their website that might interest you.

iinteresting things, I still like to share. One never knows what might have been overlooked! On the other hand, I just spent some 20 minutes down a rabbit hole with some strange cocktail recipes, and I would not consider inflicting them on anyone! One person commented after one of the weird recipes (even though one of the ingredients was Hendrick's. . no way!) that where he tended bar, no cocktail could be over 4 ounces. I had never heard of such a thing, and I have been in bars all over the country. No 16 oz Margarita???

But that should extend to a patron’s relative level of intoxication, and not the size of the drink.

I’m always open to new cocktail ideas. There are cocktails in my bar book that I’m not interested in trying; the ones that call for grapefruit juice or -blecch!- clam juice; that kind of thing.

So outside recipes are always welcome.

The clam juice I can absolutely understand. And some of the weird new cocktails that are popping up. I love smoked salmon, for example, but not in my drink!

They have a high-end bar there (21 and older, of course). They mix a killer Old Fashioned that’s garnished with a strip of smoked bacon! It’s incredible.

for some of what I have seen is quite another! And I am not a fan of the current fad for smoking all the ingredients in drinks either, but to each their own.

I did see a potentially interesting one I will have to think about. A kind of hot toddy made with reposado Tequila and nutmeg.

A hot toddy is supposed to warm your heart, not shoot you in the head. But the nutmeg sounds nice.

Here's the long version.

Wife is a retired high school English teacher; retired in 2004.

Years ago she taught to her 11th graders Dumas' "The Count of Monte Cristo." Don't ask why, I don't know, but for some reason the kids loved it.

So. From time to time she waxes reminiscent and tells me, in fact, the "Count" was FIVE VOLUMES -- not the wimpy 625-page paperback you find in bookstores. Something about how it was serialized in French newspapers of the 10th Century BC and how Jesus made it required reading for his disciples.

Our library has a source of ebooks -- no, not Kindle. Last week -- under the influence of Hendricks and tonic -- I downloaded all goddam five volumes to my iPad and announced to Madam English Teacher I was going to readthewholedamnthing. She looked up from her latest Baldacci waste of time and declared "You'll love it!"

Big mistake.

But in for a penny, in for a pound.

And now -- between the hours of 11:00 PM Eastern (after Lawrence) and 1:30 AM Eastern, I am plowing my way through all five volumes. Vol I is down. Dr. Jack helps me get through it.

Do not try this.

I just poured my last ounce of Hendricks Gin for my Bella Bella above. Excellent! Need to get another bottle.

I also tried Jack Daniels, and will not drink hillbilly rotgut again. It’s the Highlands for me when it comes to the water of life.

Equal portions of Hendrick’s gin, Campari and sweet Vermouth served very cold with a slice of orange. Delicious.

It’s sublime, which I didn’t think any gin could be.

Cheers!