Thread by @DavidWondrich

An’ just like that it’s Lo-Fi Lush Hour No. 76: Calci di Rigore. Overtime is over, we’re all bent over panting, trembling hands on trembling knees an’ no breath to be caught, an’ now we’ve gotta kick th’ ball past th’ poor bloody goalie more times than th’ other guys. Sheesh.

Today’s Toast: Wine and Bitters, just like George Washington served Sir Guy Carleton back in 1783, when he was negotiating how to get the damn Brits outta NYC, what with them having lost the war the hard way. But first—you may recall the drill—wash your hands.

So. Wine and Bitters. Turns out to be a very stretchy sort of term. It can be wine—the General woulda prolly served Madeira, like these—and bitters; he woulda used Stoughton’s, like these that I had made up for an event way back in th’ Before Time.

If you ain’t got Madeira, sherry, like one of these, or a tawny port or even a good Marsala will do; if you ain’t got those Stoughton’s, which you ain’t, there’s these—or use any fairly gentle bitters you like.

But the “Wine” in “Wine and Bitters” didn’t hafta be wine at all. I mean, this was Amurica, goddammit. It could be *distilled* wine, like this lovely stuff. And once you switch that up, you’d best find the bitters that matches it best. These are good an’ spicy.

Prevent the wine of the cane? Of course you do. Here’s a lovely combo, but Tikiphiles will have no problem figgerin’ out their own.

You like gin, you say? Well, you could go English, with an Old Tom an’ bitters with th’ mug of an English geezer on ‘em (if you’re still holding).

...or you could go full New Amsterdam.

Whiskey ain’t too gentlemanly, not by 1783 standards, but it also ain’t bad. Angostura with rye, Peychaud’s with Scotch.

Anyway, yinz get th’ picture. Booze. Bitters.

Tools. Small glass—2-3 oz is ideal—an’ stemmed for elegance. Libby makes these 2-oz 18th-century style, and size, wine glasses and I love ‘em. Only tool you need for this.

Here’s how: pour a splash of bitters—5 or 6 good dashes— into the glass. I went with the old Stoughton’s.

Now roll it around to coat the glass.

You can pour out the extra if it looks like too much. To finish building the drink, add 2 ounces of wine or whatever yinz are callin’ wine. I went with th’ rainwater Madeira, ‘cause it wouldn’t fuss an’ fight with th’ bitters.

An’ there stands the glass. It’s my first one today, but I suspect it won’t be my last.

For more on the General an’ Sir Guy, see here: . thedailybeast.com/from-washingto…

If this fuckin’ thing goes into another round a penalty kicks I’ll be back tomorrow.

Today’s Toast was brought to you by #IVoted. Because of course I fucking did.