Saturday, July 28, 2012

Rum-Spiked Chocolate Milk aka The Black Death

So I promised folks on Twitter that I'd post the recipe for this, but the ingredients are bit less common than my usual, so I'm doing it long form here.
1) 4 oz. chocolate milk - I used Silk brand chocolate almond milk. It has a very rich chocolate flavor without being too sweet. If you want to make something similar with regular milk, use whole milk and a quality cocoa mix like Ghirardelli Double Chocolate.
2) 2 oz. Kraken Spiced Rum - tastes great, not expensive. No actual giant squid were harmed.
3) 2 oz. Black Blood of the Earth coffee extract - OK, here's where you definitely want to think about substituting. While BBotE is wonderful stuff, it's really pricey and not easy to get. If you can get unsweetened coffee extract (hard to find outside of Rhode Island), go with that. Otherwise, make it yourself - America's Test Kitchen has a write-up of a process most people can do at home without much extra investment. The extract will keep in the refrigerator for about a week, and is less acidic than hot brew coffee.
4) 0.5 oz of sugar cane syrup - I use Petit Canne syrup, mostly because it's what my local liquor store carries. Cane syrup has a flavor profile about half-way between plain simple syrup and caramel, and the strong flavors of the other ingredients requires something with a bit more authority.
At this point, you can just mix all the ingredients in a glass and add ice, or blend in a cocktail shaker with ice. The shaker will give you a nice froth on top of the drink. If you are using Black Blood of the Earth, be careful. Two ounces was enough to keep me up until 2 am, after drinking this at 8:30 pm.

Friday, July 6, 2012

H.P. Lovecraft "Drinking Song From The Tomb"

Come hither, my lads, with your tankards of ale,
And drink to the present before it shall fail;
Pile each on your platter a mountain of beef,
For 'tis eating and drinking that bring us relief:
So fill up your glass,
For life will soon pass;
When you're dead ye'll ne'er drink to your king or your lass!

Anacreon had a red nose, so they say;
But what's a red nose if ye're happy and gay?
Gad split me! I'd rather be red whilst I'm here,
Than white as a lily -and dead half a year!
So Betty my miss,
Come give me a kiss;
In hell there's no inkeeper's daughter like this!

Young Harry, propp'd up just as straight as he's able,
Will soon lose his wig and slip under the table,
But fill up your goblets and pass 'em around-
Better under the table than under the ground!
So revel and chaff
As ye thirstily quaff:
Under six feet of dirt 'tis less easy to laugh!

The fiend strike me blue! I'm scarce able to walk,
And damn me if I can't stand upright or talk!
Here, landlord, bid Betty to summon a chair;
I'll try home for a while, for my wife is not there!
So lend me a hand;
I'm not able to stand,
But I'm gay whilst I linger on top of the land!