Gin and Sin

February 24, 2010 (Day 25) — Gin and Sin

So, despite all odds, I actually managed to get a full hours worth of exercise in tonight. Was it effective? Lord only knows. But, at least I made the effort, right? I followed up my weight training with a smoothie packed full of fresh fruit, juice and protein powder. The U.S. hockey team rocked out against Switzerland this afternoon, and Canada just put the fear of God into Russia. So why not make something healthy?

I think it’s paying off though…

By nature, it would seem that a healthy cocktail would be an oxymoron. Alcohol isn’t usually associated with finely tuned athleticism. But I played hockey in college, and we’re the most irresponsible athletes out there. So, I figure I can get away with calling a booze-fueled libation healthy. It has juice in it. It must be good for me right? Right!

So, I present tonight’s Hump Day drink (with the strangely fitting name) Gin and Sin:

• 1.5 oz gin
• 1 oz lemon juice
• .5 oz orange juice
• .5 oz simple syrup
• Dash grenadine

Stir in your mixing glass, then strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

I’ll try to avoid any untoward or lascivious comments, considering my wife’s name is Jenn, which sounds like gin and the name of the drink is Gin and Sin. But rest assured. I had some great ones.

But seriously… she’s gorgeous!

Case in point, I tell her the name of tonight’s cocktail, and she licks her finger, puts it on her ass and follows it up with a “sssssssssssssss.” And it’s never stopped Jenn from giggling every time I make a comment about “good gin.”

But enough! Gaze into the beauty of the Gin and Sin!

Preeeeeety….

And it is a pretty drink. It certainly fulfills the cocktail’s job of being pleasant to look at, as well as pleasant to drink. Here’s the thing, and it pains me to say this, this is way WAY too sweet. Now, by my own admission, I like the occasional foofy drink. But there’s a limit to it. I’m going to lay the blame for this drink of the amount of simple syrup. A half of a shot of simple syrup is way WAY too much, and my better judgment told me so. However, I did say I was going to break new ground on this, so I stuck with it. It kills what would be an otherwise promising drink.

But that doesn’t mean it can’t be salvaged. Cut back on the simple syrup to simply a dash, right along the lines of the grenadine. The citrus bite of the gin, lemon juice and orange juice are enough to balance out that sweetness from the two syrups. So, here’s my REVISED Gin and Sin:

• 1.5 oz gin
• 1 oz lemon juice
• .5 oz orange juice
• Dash simple syrup
• Dash grenadine (Rose’s)

And you’ve hit the perfect pitch. Unless you like drinking candy. If you do, keep it with the original version.

Genieße das Leben ständig!

Du bist länger tot als lebendig!

— Mark