It's was holidays, and for me it meant many things. Terror, fun, shopping, food, candy and whiskey.
This year brought many challenges with working in events, the return of the Trail of Lights. 8 continuous nights of work (hell), intermingle a family Christmas party, regular work for spring (yes SXSW approaches) and the normal need to clean the house. It's too much, but it is what the busy season means, your busy. It is a test. Either you’re in, or your out.
When the first full cold spell hit the smells of molten sugar and corn syrup ripped through the house - peanut brittle. This became a daily meal until almost gone for 3 days.... Grandma was always right though, cold weather makes candy, not love, not a microwave, not any special recipe. And the pot method only works, yes microwaves do the same, but the flavor of the kettle is missing. The ladies in waiting (sticks of butter) tripled, and sit awaiting their order, cookies, biscotti, they are ready to move from the parlor to ballroom.....
One thing Christmas means is whiskey. A long time tradition for our family. It dates back to the days of vinyl leather covered ice buckets and true chrome stir spoons. Replaced now with the same libation, and modern day stainless steel double walled ice buckets. Grandpa would have had nothing to do with it. I have converted recently to Jameson Irish Whiskey and ginger ale. I fell victim after a sampling at the corner liquor store. More recently I have tried stump liquor. Moonshine to all you Yankees....
It’s made the old fashion way, small batches, well-worn hands, and true economic need. The apple pie stump liquor is divine, pure, clean, and tasty. Not fake like all those synthetic flavored spirits. Caramel vodka, really? Cake icing vodka - puke!
It reminds me of a day I can neither confirm nor deny, to when a certain family may have experimented in stump liquor. A full batch, caramel and barrel aged.
This spirit was responsible potentially for sordid tales of Mayberry officer stops in Brenham, but most of all memories. Family came together, old, young, peace officer, etc....
This rumored concoction may still live in panel fronted cabinets of garages of unmentionable locations, and beware should you attempt to seek is location, it has been known to cause actions and sights not seen since Woodstock.
This has brought memories of you all......a photo of each of you exists in my heart tied to whiskey....
-Spoons games
-La Strada
-illusionist weekends in Austin at Top of the Marc
-pool parties
-Halloween costume parties
-pitch games
-Rain nights
Thank you for the memories.....
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