TMCnet Feature

June 12, 2012

Summertime Drink Delights -Mixology for Dummies

By

Peter Bernstein

,

Senior Editor

For those of us who are social drinkers, summertime is awesome. The reason is we typically come out of our shells and try to mix up a concoction for ourselves and friends that is refreshing, provides a nice afterglow and to impress is something totally original. Yes, on a really hot day it is almost impossible to resist a “tall cool one.” In my case it is a Lone Star longneck, as taste acquired years ago that can be hard to quench here in the New York area on occasion without a bit of searching. However, when it is party time, it should be time to experiment. But, what to mix up that might taste good?

Obviously, the first place to turn, depending on your platform of choice, are either the Apple (News – Alert) Store or Google Play. There you will find hundreds of free apps with thousands of recipes. However, that seems to me to be a little like cheating since these are combinations already tried and true. This is a real challenge for those of us who while adventurous have no clue as to what goes together, and probably do not have the patience to try everything lying around the house in the hopes of finding a one-of-a kind and never been attempted before magic elixir. The good news is there is help for that.

I must give a tip of the hat to the New York Times Dining & Wine section on this one. It literally could make you the life of the party. As the article that contains the app points out, you should not have to settle for ordinary when you can create an extraordinary original. It is never a bad idea to know what you have on hand before a party, but how about going for all of the gusto with a true surprise. At a minimum you should consider a bookmark for this page. I admit to having called Jack Daniels my choreographer in my youth, and my idea of a great mixed drink was a Tequila Sunrise which I never did master making myself. This could be a game changer.

The app for mixology is self-explanatory. It starts with an exotic modifier you might wish to try, and then gives you options of hard liquors you probably have from previous parties, and some fruity alternatives to add a little zest, sweetness and unpredictability. And, if you don’t think your first alternative makes sense, hit RANDOMIZE. Up pops alternatives which seem sure to please.

As I said at the top, this is for non-mixologists who want to have a little unpredictability in our lives, and the potential for star quality.

Cheers!

Edited by Rachel Ramsey