The Shrunken Skull

shrunken skull
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

What do you do with a nasty looking shrunken skull mug? Make a Shrunken Skull of course.
This Vintage Shrunken Skull mug was originally sold at the Mai Kai in Ft. Lauderdale, FL where they served up this dangerous drink in this very mug. Today there is a new version of the mug with the tattoo all glazed. What makes this mug so special is the Cold Paint that was hand painted over the glaze. Of course the paint was susceptible to chipping and this savage shows some wear and tear, but hey, he’s been around for a while and thankfully I rescued him from a thrift shop for 0.29. Normally I would never drink from a vessel so valuable, but I had to pay tribute to him after rescuing him from that nasty thrift store. And what more appropriate way than making the very drink served in him for so many years.

This version comes from Jeff Beachbum Berry’s essential tome Grog Log.

1 oz. fresh lime
1 oz. Grenadine
1 oz. Gold Rum
1 oz. Demerara Rum

Shake like hell in a shaker with ice and pour the entire contents in a skull mug.

Now that’s a killer drink.

Whisky Mac

Whiskey Mac
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

I'm a big ginger fan, ginger beer, ginger brandy ,and when I saw ginger wine my eyes lit up like a kid looking at the Sears wishlist.

The Whisdy Mac is a simple drink but packs a punch and delivers a unique taste.

You can play with the parts ratio. Some call for equal and others add the ginger to taste.

1.5 oz. Scotch whisky
1 oz. Stones Ginger Wine

Carefully pour the Ginger Wine into the scotch without disturbing it much and enjoy.

The Godchild

The Godchild
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

I was craving a brandy based drink and found this simple concoction.
1.5 oz. Brandy
0.5 oz. Amaretto
Pour over Ice and stir.

Star Scale Montage - NASA Sun Solar Planets - PHJ

Makes you feel sort of small and insignificant does't it? Dead can Dance always makes for good music too.

China Blue

China Blue
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

We found a few recipes for Lychee Liqueur and the China Blue jumped off the page and begged us to try it. Sometimes its just fun to make a blue drink.

1 oz. Blue Curacao
1 oz. Lychee Liqueur
1 oz. Grapefruit juice
Shake in a shaker with ice and serve in a cocktail glass.

Keep in mind my loyal drunks, that Curacao tastes the same no matter what color it is. If you dont have blue you could make this sucker any color you want. Green, red, orange etc... its the bitter orange flavor your after. As for the grapefruit juice, there seems to be a shortage of plain grapefruit juice. Usually all I can find is ruby red, the more sweet version of grapefruit juice and the more popular. I believe the grapefruit juice style will change the overall flavor of the drink and look forward to trying regular when I find it.

The drink was lovely with a great tropical exotic feel. A bit sweet for my tastes, I'm a sour guy, and I dont think I could drink more than one, but the wife like it and tried a second. We halfed toned down the Curacao to 1/2 oz. and added 1/2 oz. of water. This didnt effect the overall taste, and cut a few calories to boot.

Orange Blossom Special

OrangeBlossome Special
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

We stumbled upon Lychee Liqueur yesterday and just had to find something to use it in. A few years back we planted a lychee tree and this year it finally bore fruit. We yeilded 15 lychee nuts. Currently we are infusing rum with it and have yet to try it.

2 oz. Gin
1 oz. Cointreau
1 oz. Lychee Liqueur
1/3 oz. lemon

Now, I admit I broke a cardinal rule here using the little yellow lemon juice bottle, but we were in a pinch because there was not a fresh lemon to be found in the house. Thats why we keep a few of these babies in stock. Thankfully the recipe only calls for a dash.

It was a tasty drink with the unique lychee flavor and the kick from the gin made it feel like a masculine drink. The recipe book I found it in states this should be made when the orange blossoms are in bloom, but that doesnt happen until March in Florida, so a brisk (65 F)November evening was just fine with us.

Black Pearl cigar

black pearl cigar
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

The Black Pearl cigar is a Nicaraguan hand rolled cigar with Nicaragua filler and binder with Ecuador wrapper. It has a nutty flavor with hints of wood. A mild smoke with a decent burn. Cigar Aficionado rated it an 88 and the cost is around $5 USD. I prefer to punch the end rather than cut it. It makes the draw more intense and centered and you dont get the tip all sloppy. I dont normally drink a beer with a cigar, but it was a hot sunny day and it just felt right. I got mine is a bakers dozen variety pack from Thompson Cigars. I do recommend it, not the best I've ever had, but it was memorable.

Old Pal

Old Pal
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

1 oz. Rye Whiskey
3/4 oz. Dry Vermouth
3/4 Campari

Stir over cracked ice. Strain in a cocktail glass.

If you are a fan of Campari this one is for you. If Campari is a bit to harsh for you , dont worry, the Rye is the perfect additive taking some of the bitterness out of it.

Cigar time...Leprechaun

I started smoking cigars in the early 90's when the cigar craze just started. I would buy one or two at a time, smoke one with friends and I even joined a cigar bar. A Twenty dollar membership and you got to enter the back room where jazz music from John Coltrane met you in a blue cloud of cigar smoke and a purty girl tending bar and would dress your cigar dipped in brandy. My friends and I thought we were big shots. I admit it was fun. We even met a few "stars" if you can call them that (90's rock band Candlebox).

I never minded spending upwards of $10 on a nice puro. Ten bucks was a lot of money for a starving Scuba instructor at the time. Well, the cigar bar closed and the craze died down due to an influx of cigar makers taking advantage of poor scuba instructors. Over the years I continued to enjoy a stogie now and then, and even bought a humidor to keep my puro's longer. I will try and bring to light a few of the smokes I enjoy.

Todays entrant is Leprechaun. I have found the lack of time to be a major problem when the desire to smoke a cigar is in order. When time is not on your side I turn to the cigarello. Many cigarello's fall into the flavor infused category. Cherry, Rum, Vanilla, Honey Nut, etc...While they may taste nice to some, to me it just isn't the same as a classic cigar tobacco. This is where cigar companys like Leprechaun take the stage. For years the Dutch have owned the market on cigarellos in Europe, now countires like Ireland are joining the cigar market and producing wonderful bold cigar tastes packed in a 3 5/8" 23 ring guage puro. Give them a try when you seek the taste of a cigar but just dont have the time for a full size.