When I was about 10 years old, I decided it would be really cool to make my parents cocktails. As the child of a different era, my dad was all for the idea of training me to be his tiny bartender. My mom was skeptical, but as with many things that involved my father and me, mom threw up her hands and let it happen.
The problem with letting a 10-year-old be your mixologist is that there is an inherent over-exuberance involved in being 10 years old. My father opened the door to adulthood juuuuust a crack, and I tried to shove my whole face through.
The first night I made cocktails for my folks, they were politely enthusiastic. Pleasantly pleased, one might say. The next night, when I made the exact same cocktails, they were a little surprised, but accepted the drinks with grace. By the third night, my mom explained to me that really, it was nice and all, but she and dad didn't exactly need - or want - cocktails every night. Also? Preparing the on-the-rocks drinks at 4 p.m., well in advance of their 5:30 return from work, was probably not quite necessary. Sure, the fridge kept the drinks nice and condensationy, and then adding more ice to the now watered-down mess was INCREDIBLY thoughtful of me, but honestly, more than I needed to do. But how could I have the drinks waiting for you if I don't prep them ahead of time? No really, mom assured me - REALLY. Don't. It's fine.
So ended my daily bartending gig. I became an occasional mixer, however; and below is the recipe for the drink I'd occasionally prepare for my mom: The Brandy Manhattan. It's named after the swankiest borough in New York City - it must be good.
BRANDY MANHATTAN
Ingredients:
2 ounces brandy
1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
2 dashes of bitters
1 teaspoon maraschino cherry juice
1 maraschino cherry
splash of water
Directions:
In a rocks glass over ice, add the maraschino cherry juice, the cherry and bitters. Then add the sweet vermouth and the brandy. Top with the splash of water and stir. You could garnish it with an orange twist, although the cherry is supposed to be enough.
Traci Arbios is a mom, stepmom, adoptive mom and working mom. She lives with and writes about her blended family of seven kids, two pets and one amazingly patient husband at www.thefullmoxie.com. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/traciawesome; contact her at traci@thefullmoxie.com; or zap her on twitter, @traciAWESOME.
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� 2013, Traci Arbios.
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