INVITE: Rye's Up Against Cystic Fibrosis

As many know, fundraising is incredibly difficult to do unless you tap into a cause that resonates with people personally...or you have an event with great mass appeal. Several causes move me to participate in drives, donate, and even promote their charities, but cystic fibrosis has never been on the list (to date). However, the Baltimore Bartenders' Guild (BBG) is hosting a special charity event with personal mass appeal! In the final week of the BBG Rye Month, they are teaming up for a gala affair with live jazz, local food & rye-based cocktails plus a seminar on rye (sponsored by Bulleit Rye) to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Maryland.

Next Sunday up the cups for a good cause! Tickets are still available for $50 here.

Rye's Up Against Cystic Fibrosis 

Date: 

Sunday, February 24, 2012 - 6pm to 9pm

Location: 

B&O American Brasserie (a fab restaurant)

2 North Charles Street

Baltimore  Maryland  21201

New Deal Distillers Coffee Liqueur

Many people tend to see alcoholic coffee drinks as some variation on an Irish Coffee, served hot with the tell-tale whiskey smell and topped with frothy cream, or perhaps a Kahlua-based drink like a White Russian or some such liquid-dessert confection. While I do heart me the occasional Espresso Martini, I find I gravitate towards less cloying liqueurs. So to avoid the syrupy ones you can make your own, or go with one of the international varieties, but I would suggest going with the growing craft distillery industry in Portland, OR as they appear to be pushing a trend of coffee liqueurs. Naturally being quite keen on both coffee and spirits, this is a welcome development for yours truly. (The fact that it's in my hometown is just perk-a-licious.) 

Last fall at a local farmer's market I bought a bottle of coffee liqueur from Portland's Distillery Row members, House Spirits, completely impressed by the (sale price and) lack of usual oily residue and mitigated sugar content. Of course you can make cocktails with it, but it was a surprise to enjoy it neat as a digestif. Similarly, as I learned this week, the New Deal Distillery has produced an excellent coffee liqueur, along with four others from the Row, all comparable in quality. Branch out away from mimosas! These make a nice addition to brunch too, FYI. Highly recommend trying one of these spirits for coffee lovers of all kinds.

Cold Remedy

Stress in the past week has left me a bit weak in the immunities it seems. Starting to get that scratchy throat and that sinus congestion that can only signify the future joy of kleenex consumption and cold meds. Usually when I get the tell-tale signs, I start flushing out my system with tons of water and airborne...and completely abstain from coffee (!!!) and alcohol (ish) until it all passes. Oh, and I grab the makings for my favorite cold remedy, which is similar to a honey-lemon "tea."

1 Wedge of Lemon
1 Tbsp. Honey
3 Cloves
1.5 oz. Whiskey (optional)
Boiling Water

Jab the 3 cloves into the skin of the lemon and put in a mug. Add the honey and whiskey (if using) and boiling water in that order. Drink up!

Best kind of medicine.

Orange Julius Recipe

Breakfast time! We're having one of my favorites... Orange Julius smoothies. There's lots of recipes available that I've seen, some with water, powdered sugar instead of granulated and some with a full teaspoon of vanilla but this one is my fave so far. Very filling and super fast to make. One may or may not want to add a shot (2 oz.) of white rum to it...

Orange Julius

2 C. Milk
6 oz. Frozen Orange Juice
1/3 C. Sugar
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
12 Ice Cubes

Blend ingredients until smooth. The more ice, the thicker the drink. Can be put in freezer and refreshed in the blender again.