because some days are just meant to be started with vodka. That is just how it is.
When I search back in the depths of my memory I remember hot summer mornings at my grandparent’s house in the tiny town of Darrington, in the foothills of the Cascade mountains. The mornings were started with a Screwdriver or Bloody Mary. There was no waiting for noon to get boozy. I do not remember anyone being tanked, but they did know how to have fun.
I remember the gallons of liquor, not top shelf mind you, gracing the “drinks” counter in the morning with all the fixings. Though both sets of grandparents would stock-up when traveling through Nevada, I only remember my paternal grandparents to have started the day with a drink. Probably because I did not spend many nights at my maternal grandparent’s, but I spent a good deal of time in Darrington. My grandmother’s brothers and sisters would also come for the weekend fairly often. It was a party from daybreak ’til well into the night.
Mostly my brothers and I were the only kids around. My father being an only child might of had something to do with that. We were cousinless on that side of the family. Therefore we spent a lot of time observing the adults. It was fun, really.
There was Aunt Mary, she lived the high-life in Seattle, a city girl, always dressing to the 9′s. She did look a little out of place in this country bumpkin town wearing fancy clothes and jewelry, she always wore jewelry. Everyone called her Mother Superior, so I obviously figured she used to be a nun. I never knew her to be married and I knew she did not have children. It made sense to me. So-very-far from the truth, her husband died before I was born, but she did like to tell everyone what to do. She was the oldest, and by quite a bit, and it was a large family, I am sure she had been telling them what to do their whole lives. She didn’t seem so old and bossy to me, as a kid, she had just as much fun as everyone else. I do not remember her scolding me once, I thought she must have been the nicest nun alive. Silly me.
I bet she would have loved this version. There was a huge garden in the back yard, brimming with fresh berries. Though I doubt it would have crossed their minds to try something new. They were traditionalists.
For something new:
This idea started with a bowl of leftover macerated strawberries in balsamic vinegar. I knew I had to do something with them. They were delicious, but they were now getting too soft. [Soggy strawberries are gross and disgusting and slimy and gross, just gross.]
The tart savory flavor from the vinegar and the sweet strawberries married very well with some salt and fresh ground pepper. The vodka was just the icing. I was out of vodka for the first attempt so I used some Żubrówka. Żubrówka, pronounced: zoob-roov-ka (according to the website), is Bison Grass Vodka from Poland. We have some Polish friends who have turned us on to this adult treat. You can see our first experience here.
Also delicious with a clean, top shelf, vodka. Yes, I only buy top shelf. Do yourself a favor and buy better even if it means that you will have to drink less. It is so worth it and the hangover from the lesser quality alcohols is the true test.
The best advise I can give here is to taste, taste, taste. Your perfect combo might be spicier, more vinegary or sweeter. I prefer the spicy/vinegar to the sweetish.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m a bit of a purist with cocktails – never straying from the standards. But I have to say that this sounds freakin’ delicious. And I love how you’ve garnished it. Fantastic indeed.
Phil, you surprise me, I thought you walked on the wild side
. It would have been better garnished with strawberries, but I was overzealous with the blender. Cheers!