Preparing for the holidays

Well yesterday afternoon after I got out of classes I decided it was time to prepare for the holidays and get some more things moved out of my storage unit and into my actual house. This is the primary item moved yesterday (because I was actually able to talk someone into helping me load it in the truck and carry it in the house), it is a solid oak bar with a brass top that was my fathers. Its about the most valuable thing I got when I cleaned out his place earlier this year. I figured some of you might be able to appreciate these kinds of holiday preparations.

The "Private Bar" sign will get hung once I get some new hangers and a picture wire for it.

The current stock

I'll take a Jack on the rocks please.

Better than a christmas tree any day.

I see Jose, Jim, and Jack. Is Jose standing in Johnny Walker ? I'll have mine - 3 shots of Jim Beam, 3 ice cubes, and just enough ginger ale to hold 3 bubbles ( that'll work just fine....)

My nephew is Jack Daniel XYZ, but I have not turned over any of my trinkets from Lynchburg Tenn while he is still in college ( maybe when he sets up a bar in his own place ?)

Yeah its funny you should mention better than a christmas tree, in the past the bar has gotten wrapped in lights and ornaments hung as christmas decoration instead of having a tree. This year both may happen.

I do have a few more bottles not pictured that I still need to get from my old place, including a bottle of cabo wabo, some crown royal and a bottle of 70 year old rum that scares the hell outa me.

Very nice! That is a gorgeous bar, and I want one.

If you're looking to add good Rums to that collection, I highly recommend Pyrat (produced by the distillers of Patron). They regularly have it discounted nearly half off at my neighborhood BevMo. Other good rum distillers are Mount Gay and Cruzan.

If you can get the stuff, here's my best original mixed drink recipe:

"Sultry Midnight":

• 2 parts Black Rum (Cruzan Blackstrap)
• 1/2 part black raspberry liqueur (Chambord)
• 1 dash Angostura Bitters

Shake with ice. Serve strait up in martini glass.

my holiday preparations are me making sure the wife's credit card is hidden

Excusing some clutter and my wife's exercise bike, this is my basement bar:

We keep it rather well-stocked. My wife just picked up some St Germain for martinis for special guests.

I want to pick up some Hendrick's gin. Makes an unreal gin and tonic. Out of this world.

Nice basement. Mine just has the office and guitar stuff. Still, a row of Gretsches lined up on the wall makes me almost as happy as a well-stocked bar.

And my father-in-law has both the well-stocked bar and a pool table. We visit a lot.

Salanis that sounds like a good drink I'll have to give it a shot. Last night I made a vodka martini (shaken) and I love how cold it got over stirring, it was kind of like drinking ice that lit up once it hit your stomach, very nice. Granted it was after that I remembered I had math homework to do for school.

Nice looking basement bar. Sadly a basement bar is not really possible here (you would brain yourself coming back up the stairs) and the basement just isn't setup well to put a bar down there.

rebelgtp wrote: Salanis that sounds like a good drink I'll have to give it a shot. Last night I made a vodka martini (shaken) and I love how cold it got over stirring, it was kind of like drinking ice that lit up once it hit your stomach, very nice. Granted it was after that I remembered I had math homework to do for school.

Thanks. I love that recipe. It kind of bridges a gap between dry and sweet drinks.

For a nifty Vodka martini, try Ciroq vodka ~5:1 with Vermouth Bianco (a variety, not a brand; it's clear, but sweet).

You guys and your fancy liquor! I've got a 12 pack of Saranac ready to go for the Thanksgiving season...