Our gloriously boozy festive season was kicked off by the arrival of Beth and Anne’s homemade brews. All three were delicious, but the sloe gin was the unanimous favourite. I had to laugh – Pete asked if “doing Slamseys” was hipster-speak for slamming down shots…
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We opened the bottle of 1992 Howard Park that I’d been carefully cellaring for Big Boy (it’s his birth year). It was sublime…
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We’ve discovered a ginger beer that we all love! It’s very gingery and not overly sweet. Made in the UK, it’s available at Dan Murphy’s and it’s much nicer than any local brews we’ve tried…
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Big Boy put me on to Mr Black, an Australian made cold-drip coffee liqueur. It’s extremely fine. I really haven’t been doing all that well at keeping my caffeine intake in check…
Mr Black is produced in small numbered batches and packaged in a very slick bottle which pours badly. As the bottle is drunk down, the custom artwork on the back is revealed…
Mixed with Belvedere vodka, it made a divine Espresso Martini…
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I don’t have a good relationship with tequila, but I’ve now discovered one that doesn’t make me (overly) paranoid…
Besides, how could I resist a label with a skeleton riding an enraged rooster?
We’ve perfected our margarita recipe:
- 45ml Espolòn tequila
- 15ml Cointreau
- 45ml combined of freshly squeezed lime and lemon
- loads of ice
Shake everything together well in a cocktail shaker then strain into a salt-rimmed glass…
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Our final boozy discovery over the festive season was this fabulous free iPhone/iPad app. Based on your age, weight and gender, it estimates your blood alcohol over the course of the night. You enter each drink in real time as it’s consumed.
Just as an experiment (sigh..Anne isn’t going to believe this), I tried entering three drinks in quick succession and this is what it came up with. Remember, people care about you…
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Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could do this all year long? Unfortunately I doubt my liver would cope, so it’s back to herbal teas in the evening!
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
All looks so tempting – especially after a couple of weeks of herbal teas. I could quite easily welcome back the daytime drinking that Christmas allows!
Andrea, I know exactly how you feel. I’m trying to stay strong…hahaha
I love that tequila bottle. I’m not a big drinker by any stretch but I’m always curious and will taste everything. :)
Isn’t it gorgeous? I found the label irresistible! Luckily the tequila was also very good.. ;-)
When I get to Sydney next month I am going to have such a long list of things to buy and try and places to go. Celia, you are too much.:)
Hehehe..bring a big spare suitcase! :D
That is really a mix, a wonderful mix. Pity we have to be sensible, isn’t it?
Pete doesn’t drink, so I was really quite good for a few years. Then the boys started drinking with me and the rest is history.. :)
Oh dear!
Espresso martinis, margaritas, sloe gin — it seems like you’ve been enjoying all my favourite drinks this Christmas!
Hahaha! Our first taste ever of sloe gin – we don’t grow sloes here in Oz – and we were thrilled! :)
hahaha! I love that app! Can you send me all your booze? I’d definitely trade some locally made High River gin for some Slamseys!
Send you all my booze? That assumes there’s any left Bernice! :) High River gin sounds intriguing! :)
I’ve been eyeing that gin you have for a while…it’s from the UK right? Maybe my specialty booze shop would order it?
Bernie, it’s made by fellow IMK blogger Anne at Life in Mud Spattered Boots. I’ll connect you guys on twitter, maybe you can arrange something! :)
thanks!! It looks very interesting and I’m always up for adding another gin to the cabinet.
An experiment? Pull the other one :) You are (as it so rightly points out) Bad, Bad, Bad. Mr Black sounds divine.
Pass me a margarita please.
See, I told Pete you wouldn’t believe me. :) Maybe one of these days we’ll get to sit in your kitchen, surrounded by muddy boots, and “do Slamseys” together.. :)
Celia, I love this app! You know, I am very “petite”, and often worry that 2 glasses of wine could be already too much for me. I haven’t had any alcohol yet this year, but once the opportunity shows up, I think I’ll get this app going… sounds perfect
Sally, I suspect this app is on the conservative side, so it’s probably perfect for you! Only on iPhone or iPad though, not on Android phones yet!
I am not a fan of coffee, but love a good espresso liquor. All of these look great though!
The coffee liqueur is amazing! I can’t drink it too late at night though, or it keeps me awake! :)
I wouldn’t refuse any of those drinks – bad me. However, I am a big fan of the Fentimans ginger beer. Their Orange jigger is fabulous.
Kim, it’s a brand new discovery for us and costs a fortune here ($6.50/bottle) but we think it’s worth it! :)
It’s a premium product here too but it’s good as a treat! Have you tried a ginger cordial which is Australian called Buderim? I enjoyed that mixed with sparkling water.
Kim, we get Rochester Ginger from the UK here – it’s lovely mixed with soda water. I’m laughing at the fact that you’re buying Buderim and I’m buying Rochester ginger! :D
The world has gone mad.
not much of a big drinker either, but I would love to have all of these at the right time…
And someone needs to do these experiments for us, so thanks for the leg-work Celia :))
Your pictures are gorgeous.
Always happy to take one for the team, Roni.. hahaha!
I love the look of magarita signorina. So refreshing. Must check out that app!!!
Fra, I think I’m getting a little hooked on margaritas. They’re my new favourite cocktail!
I just love the Slamsey packaging – such smart looking bottles. We too have discovered the Fentiman drinks from the UK but you should try Strangelove – it;s a local ginger beer which is delicious and I am not usually a ginger beer drinker.
Carol, aren’t the Slamsey’s labels beautiful? You can see them in more detail here: http://www.slamseysdrinks.co.uk/. I checked the Dan Murphy’s site for Strangelove but couldn’t find it – will keep my eyes open. Thanks for the headsup! :)
Sorry, I should have mentioned that the Strangelove is non alcoholic.
I don’t have a good relationship with tequila either. I do tend to avoid spirits and liquors as it doesn’t take much to send me queasy. I love how you cellared wine from the year Big Boy was born. We’re not too good at cellaring wine around here – it tends to go straight from the bottle shop to a glass xx
Charlie, it was hard to get too, as 1992 wasn’t a great year! 1993 was better I think, in case you’re looking for any for Archie! :)
Festive indeed… I love the artwork-labels… I love a tipple but these day a a little goes a long way indeed for me but I know next time I visit Dan Murphy’s I’ll be sorely tempted by Mr Black. Years ago my family’s favourite was Bundaberg Royal Liqueur of which they seriously over indulged, so I may take a bottle of Mr Black to the next family [overnight-no driving] gathering :)
ED, it’s very nice and very fancy and very Australian! How could we go wrong with it? :)
I NEED that app, I get the taste for a drink too too easily. Love Mr Black and the killer espresso martinis it makes. We have a bottle of Howard Park 1998 still laying down, thought we might have left it too long, I feel encouraged by your praises of it. I give tequila a very wide berth, once bitten…….
Sandra, I reckon your HP 1998 will be fine if it’s been stored well, I’m pretty sure I still have some of those under the house as well. The 1992 was in great form, mellow but in no way flat, and with plenty of fruit left. My friend Chris used to say that no-one drinks tequila, some people just keep it down for longer than others.. ;-)
Cheers Celia. I did have a laugh reading this. I love gin and received a bottle of beautiful Bombay Sapphire Gin for Christmas. I had plans of making it last until mid year, at least, but that blue bottle calls to me so l’ve been having 1 drink most nights. Oh well, one’s not going to hurt me:)
I used to love gin until I figured out it made me weep if I drank too much of it! That Bombay Sapphire bottle is just so stunning, isn’t it!
Thought things had been a tad quiet. Research eh? Next Chrissy I’ll include a Vodkatini Espresso. Sighs, until then peace & quiet herbal tea. Peri
Ha! I hope you find an excuse to try it before then! :)
What an absolutely delightful post :) ! Appreciated with a smile as my European heritage simply does not ‘allow’ a well cooked meal without a glass of wine [or three!!]. Love the look of it all bar the tequila: have tried and tried but the taste and I [in spite of that fabulous label!] simply end up in different ballparks . . .
Eha, I’m still not convinced tequila does me any favours – I always have nightmares of people dying when I drink it (!), but I do so love the taste of a margarita! :) And yes, we should all take a leaf from the Europeans and drink a little wine with dinner!
I can’t do tequila or gin – both make me cry and I don’t need any encouragement at all in that department:) I LOVE the artwork on the Mr Black bottle – you need to refill that bottle with liquorice vodka…….
Oh gin makes me cry, but tequila just makes me paranoid. ;-) I’m not a huge fan of liquorice, but I’m developing an abiding love for vodka.. :)
Celia, try to get Chopin, a potato vodka – Phil had it last year at a dinner party and loved it! Apparently it is a very clean tasting vodka, perfect for shots, stupidly cold…
yum all of these sound wonderful. yes i do love a ginger beer that isnt too sweet. and that coffee liqueur yummo.
Sherry, the ginger beer is worth seeking out! :)
Great app, I wonder if it has any other sayings? ‘hand over your car keys ‘ ‘texting your ex is not a good idea’ ‘think how you’ll feel in the morning ‘
I bought a bottle of Midori this week and mixed it with fresh pressed cucumber and apple juice- yummo!
Becca, I know! I think I’d better try entering more drinks and seeing what comes up. I reckon.. “you’ll be soooo sick”…would be a good deterrent! :)
That app – I wonder if it could be programmed to say – Better slip into your kaftan before things get too messy…The coffee liqueur sounds divine!
Hahahaha! Always drink in a kaftan! :)
My ginger beer choice also! I nearly went into decline when Murphy’s ran out for 3 months.
Oh dear, I didn’t know that could happen! Better stock up! :)
I have a friend who would love that espresso martini blend!
Claire, it’s a gorgeous bottle and it tastes divine! Big Boy is very smitten with it! :)
Hi Celia, I like the sound of Mr Black. We were recently given some ginger beer called Matso’s which is available at Dan Murphys, it’s from Broome really good ginger flavour. Will have to try the Hollows one.
Thanks Stef, I’ll look out for it! :)
Awesome post Ms Celia, especially that Mr Black. I love everything about it. The liqueur is obviously the star but that bottle is scrumptious from it’s little black cap (everyone needs a little black cap ;) ) to that wonderful label. I think you are drinking it wrong if it is “pouring” Ms Celia, perhaps you need to quaff it straight from the bottle? ;). I think that the tequila paranoia is in looking at that label. Don quixote as a skeleton riding a rooster? The stuff that Earls nightmares are made of ;). “BAD, BAD, BAD” LOL! Thank you for this excellent post Ms Celia and remember “We all care for you” ;)
Hahaha…I laughed so loud when that came up, Fran! It was like “I can’t guestimate your blood alcohol any more, you bad, bad woman!” :D Mr Black is divine, I hope you can find some! xx
I think I would need to dim the lights if Mr Black and I ever got together Ms Celia ;). I would have been hysterical if that came up for me, most probably because I would have been squiffy and I always laugh more when I am a bit squiffy ;). Interactive apps that give you a lecture eh? I thought that’s what mums were for? ;)
geez Celia, I was carefully checking your post for misspellings and slurring of your words but you’re very coherent so I’m guessing you didn’t do all this experiments during the one post:)
I remember going to a very chic bar in Washington, DC called Slammers while we were at a conference. Whew – don’t know how we all made it back to the sessions the next day because the feature of the bar was Slammers where you’d take a shot & slam the shot glass upside down on the bar – then of course the bartender would bring you another. Lots of headaches & I’m guessing eyes were closed during the sessions’ slideshow presentations.
Blogging #101, Rule #1: never post when inebriated. Rule #2: never post when hormonal. :) You party animal you, I’ve never sat at a bar and slammed shots.. :)
That last part made me laugh out loud!!! :D I’ll take the red off your hands Celia!! Jan x
Not a chance, Jan. :) It was gone that night! :)
Downloading that app now – I wanna be told I’m baaad !
Ha! It would only take a couple of margaritas to achieve that! :)
Sounds like the party is at your place Celia! ;)
Hhahaha! That’s such a great post, Celia! Mr Black sounds cool!
PS. I’m organizing a chocolate contest on my bilingual blog. Maybe you’d like to join us? :)
Thanks Marcela, but I never do contests. Thanks for thinking of me though! :)
Dear Celia, I don’t have a good relationship with any alcohol, much less tequila, but I just love these homemade potions and also the beautiful bottles. The little photo of the vodafone at the end made me laugh, too. Lovely fun post!
Thanks Sue! I don’t have the best relationship with alcohol either, but I’m too stubborn to stop. Umm…or maybe that should be too weak.. :)
Ah yes but you can be stubborn and weak at the same time. I am!
Love your husband’s Slamsey’s remark! :D I’m not much of a drinker, but I made a batch of margaritas with three fresh-squeezed citrus juices for my afternoon tea party last week. They were a hit! Fresh juices are so much better than bottled mixes.
Ooh Jean, that sounds divine! We’ve been squeezing fresh lemon and limes!
As one who still cannot have a drink thanks to a nursling with no reliable timetable and the inability to have a bottle, I loved reading your post!!
I will admit I laughed out loud at the honest Mr Black description of the slick bottle which pours badly. I’d also dearly love an espresso martini right now, although honestly, it’s only 8:30am so I will just have to have a coffee instead :-)
Lisa, one day the nursling will be 22 and mixing up a cocktail for you.. ;-)
Did you know that Fentimans make an excellent range of mixers? They are fantastic to use and make you realise just how poor the quality of tonic waters and ginger ales are in the main. The tonic in particular is brilliant with no artificial sweeteners which for some bizarre reason almost every tonic water has these days. The ginger ale is nearly clear yet tastes just like ginger ale. Not cheap but worth it. Only available online at present in Aus.
Fiona, I knew they made them, but I didn’t know they were available here – thanks for the headsup! :)
I really like the look of Mr Black. Very special. I have someone to buy that for. If I drank it I would be a Pirate with sleep deprivation. I love a ginger beer too. I bet the people at Howard Park (usually amazing wine) would love to know how their 1992 ( cab sav?) was tasting. Wine geeks love to know that kind of thing. I am much of a drinker….hehehe
Great advice – I tweeted the HP folks to let them know. Thanks love! x
I love the Slamsey’s bottles and I think I must buy some sloe gin when we are in Scotland this year. I am a margarita lover but did you know that tequila is an hallucinogenic which is why it makes you feel paranoid? So nice you kept a wine for so long and that it was still good :)
Tandy, I did know that, actually. It’s a shame because I can’t stop drinking margaritas! :D
Oh I love the sound of that Mr Black, poured over some vanilla ice cream for an affogato.
Oooh, that DOES sound like a good plan! :)
Ooh, lots of exciting drinks here (Bad, Bad, Bad!!!!). If you ever can’t get hold of ginger beer, you could always try making it as I had to do in Spain :) Here’s my link http://chicaandaluza.com/2011/07/04/cheers-it%C2%B4s-4th-july/
PS. Hercules, Son of Priscilla is doing well and giving us lots of gorgeous loaves.
I’ll check out your link, thank you! We get Rochester ginger here, which makes a nice non-alcoholic substitute when mixed with soda water! :)
Ooh I love that Rochester Ginger!