The Modern Day Hobbit

Jozin z Bazin polskie napisy

2009-06-23T17:02:00.001-04:00

Dos Lunas reposado tequila

2008-09-09T09:55:00.002-04:00

DSC_1133
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

Today a discussion about Dos Lunas Reposado tequila. The is a newcomer to the premimum tequila market. Accoding to the company the tequila is produced by Tequilas del Senor in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico under direction from Dos Lunas. Dos Lunas is headquartered in El Paso, Texas.

The reposado is aged for nine months in new American oak barrels and used bourbon barrels.

Our initial tasting neat was a bit hot, but a smooth finish. Hints of cocoa aroma and coconut surprised us. There is a wonderful organic flavor that is very difficult to place. Somewhere between wet sandy minerals and fruit. We added a few pieces of chipped ice and the flavors became more clear and wonderful.

Our favorite way of serving this fine tequila is over ice with a splash of soda water. It treates you with a very clean, slightly bubbly, organic and flavorful agave.

The reposado scored 94 points at the 2006 International Review of Spirits in Chicago, a year before full production came on line. We can see why. This is our favorite reposado to date. In fact we can't wait to get our grubby mits on the next bottle. The only flaw is the strange top used on the bottle. The cork that rests under the copper colored cap feels like it will snap off at any time. But hey, if the cork is the only thing we have to critique, its all good for Dos Lunas.

Bison Grass Vodka

2008-08-28T10:49:00.002-04:00

DSC_0189
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

This is a Polish vodka called Zubrowka and is a dry herb flavored vodka distilled from rye. The spirit is mixed with a small addition of Hierochloe odorata, also known as Bison Grass. The grass grows in portions of Poland and Blearus. Each bottle has a decorative blade of bison grass in the bottle, but it does not add anything to the drink.

Bison grass contains a toxic compound coumarin which is prohibited by the FDA and thus caused the drink to be banned in 1978 to the US. By nurtalizing the comound and making Bison Grass Vodka coumarin- free, the US is now able to bring the flavor of Bison grass vodka back.

We found this bottle in Cleveland, OH. I have not seen it anywhere else yet. We drank it neat and on ice. I was surprised by the flavors. Vanilla and fresh cut grass was the dominate flavor. Coconut and almond came through in the finish. I am not a lover of flavored sprits, but this is so unique that it should be tried if you can find it. I assume the green color is an artificial coloring agent.

Some believe bison grass contains an aphrodesiac....perhaps...give it a try and tell me what you think.

Traditionally, the bison grass vodka is mixed with apple juice, a drink known in Poland as Tatanka and in Britian as a Frisky Bison.

Tres Generaciones by Sauza

2008-06-02T14:10:00.003-04:00

Tres Generaciones by Sauza
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

Up this week is a Reposado tequila by Sauza called Tres Generaciones. What a delight this was. $32 USD and well worth every penny. Very smooth, slight oak flavor with hints of pear and vanilla. Wonderful finish that gives a warm fuzzy feeling. Normally I run from big name barands with huge marketing budgets but this one is good. 100% Agave and a beautiful clear amber color. Two big thumbs up.

Tails of the Merman: The Exciting Conclusion

2008-05-05T07:55:00.001-04:00

Well, E33's project is finally over, such fun to partake in. A sequel? Wait and see.

Ti-Toki Liqueur

2008-04-28T14:26:00.003-04:00

Ti-Toki
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

Lets talk exotic liqueurs. Ti-toki liqueur from New Zealand is made from Titoki berries, kawakawa and manuka leaves. It is a sweet liqueur reminding me of Licor 43 or Nassau Royal. It has hints of vanilla, but after that the tastes become exotic. Hard to describe but it is mellow and almost flat at first. The tastes open up as you continue to sip it. After a few sips the flavors become more complex, but still undescribable, especially to those of us, not used to New Zealand herbs, and flavors. The flavor of manuka is clear in this liqueur. Manuka is a native shrub or small tree to New Zealand and southeast Australia. Manuka is a Maori word, but the Australians call it tea tree, probably from Captain Cook who used the leaves to make a tea drink in his early explorations of New Zealand. Manuka contain high antibacterial potency and the plants have been used by the Maoris as a natural medicine.
The Ti-toki liqueur company produces the product in a hand crafted tekoteko crock. A tekoteko is a Maori term for a full figured human form. They are usually found attached to a gable of the whare (house), or freestanding close to the whare. They are usually carved with the tongue outstreched and contain paua shell inlayed eyes to ward off intruders. The crock is available in a 500ml capacity or can be purchased in a glass bottle for less money. The crock comes with a cork that must be opened with a wine screw, but they give you a cork cap after the original has been removed. The bottle cost about $60 USD. Thankfully this one was a gift.
It tastes great straight, but if you add one part Ti-toki to 3 parts ginger beer it is a home run.
Exotic, fun and you get a cool Maori tekoteko to watch over your bar to keep away evil spirits (Barcardi).
Kia Ora.

El Tesoro Platinum tequila

2008-04-24T11:21:00.002-04:00

El Tesoro Platinum
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

A few weeks ago I ran out of tequila and found myself in my happy place...the liquor store. I have been enjoying good tequila lately and have been trying out different brands. Patron Silver has been popular in the house, but I know there are better deals out there. The selection of tequila is large. First you need to decide what tatste you are looking for.
Blanco or white, silvers or platinums have a more mellow, less classic tequila flavor. They are un-aged and immediately stored after distillation or aged less than two months in oak barrels.
Oro of Gold is un aged blanco blended with rested or aged tequilas and often use caramel coloring or sugar based syrup or oak extract for added color to resemble an more aged tequila.
Reposado is aged a minimum of two months but less than a year in oak barrels giving is a golden color with hints of oak flavor.
Anejo is aged a miniumum of one year, but less than 3 in oak barrels.
Extra Anejo is aged a minimum of three years in oak barrels.
I prefer to drink a nicer tequila shaken with ice and served in a large shot glass. Cold is nice and the small added water from the ice melt helps bring out the flavors. Some prefer to bite into a lime wedge after drinking the tequila, but when tasting I will omit the lime to keep the flavors pure.
This round I tried the El Tesoro Platinum. They have been making fine tequila for 71 years. Don Felipe built La Altena in the mountains of Jalisco, Mexico in 1937 and his family continues to produce award winning tequila the old way.
I was very impressed with this tequila. Exceptionally smooth, with no mouth burn. The swallow is wonderful and the flavors are sublte and crisp. The price point of $28 USD makes this a true winner. Cheap enough to mix with, but equally wonderful to sip. Look out Patron silver, this one has you beat.

Lemon Hart and El Dorado showdown

2008-04-21T12:48:00.003-04:00

Lemon Hart and El Dorado showdown
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

Today we have a little head to head throwdown comparing my favorite type of rum, Demerara. Demerara rum is made in Guyana on the northern portion of South America. The country has three major rivers with the Demerara being the centrally located one. It ends in Georgetown and spills into the Atlantic. The flood plain region surrounding the river creates an oasis for growing demerara sugar cane, the same sugar used in making Demerara rum. The rum has a strong molassas flavor and a beautiful dark brown color. Demerara rum is an essential ingrediant in many tiki drinks and if you can find it, must be a staple in your home bar.
A good friend brought me a bottle of Lemon Hart which is like gold in my neck of the woods. It is a very difficult rum to find and when he showed up with it, I had to compare it to the El Dorado brand that is available to me.
El Dorado makes a 5, 12, 15 and 21 year old. The 15 is of such high quality that it is rarely used for mixing drinks. Straight up or on the rocks is the best method for serving it. Mellow and smooth the taste is wonderful. I use the 5 year old for most of my drinks calling for Demerara. It's cheap, very tasty and adds the necessary molassas flavor to the drinks. There is no alternative when Demerara is called for. El Dorado is a young distiller, founded in 1992, but they use the locally grown demerara sugar and have done a wonderful job at producing a high quality rum.
Lemon Hart was founded in 1804. It has a long history of distilling, but it has become very diffucult to find, especially in the Southern US states. I was so anxious to pit these two head to head and find out if the Lemon Hart lived up to its reputation. Like El Dorado, Lemon Hart also sells gold, white, 5, 12, 15, and 21 year old rum, all made with locally grown demerara sugar. This battle is between the 5 year old El Dorado and the regular Lemon Hart. There is no age on it, but it is probably a mix of young and old making comparable to the 5 year old El Dorado.
The color test. Both are deep brown as expected with any Demerara rum. The Lemon Hart is deeper in color. Both have great long lasting legs around the glass and both are very similar in aroma. The Molassas shines in the aroma. At first taste the Lemon Hart is more complex in it's flavors. It is similar to the El Dorado, but there is just more there. Both benefit from a few chips of ice. This brings the flavors to life. The Lemon Hart takes first place, but not by much. Perhaps because I'm used to the El Dorado and the Lemon Hart is slightly more complex. I will make a Mai Tai with both later to see how they mix. Both are great, and I'm glad to have finally had the chance to give the Lemon Hart a go. Bottom line. You need Demerara in your bar, no matter what brand you can find.

Start of the 2008 12 Hours of Sebring on turn 1

2008-03-18T08:14:00.004-04:00

Start of the 2008 12 Hours of Sebring on turn 1
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

Alright racing fans, the start of the ALMS season is now underway. The 56th running of the 12 Hours of Sebring is in the history books. Congratulations go to Porsche and Penske Racing for an outstanding overall victory. Porsche won it's first overall victory in 20 years and its great to see them back on top of the game.Lots of photos of the race can be found on my flickr site.
www.flickr.com/photos/9935150@N08/sets/72157604141048751/

Audi R8 at Sebring 2002

2008-03-07T09:46:00.002-05:00

Audi R8 in pit lane.
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

This is the Champion Racing Audi R8 taken from the pit box during a night practice. This car finished 2nd overall 1 lap behind the winning Audi R8. It was driven by Andy Wallace, Stefan Johansson and Jan Lammers. It started 5th with a qualifying time of 1:50.797. The reflective graphics really pic up the flash nicely. No photoshop here folks.

Saleen S7-R #010R

2008-03-06T10:45:00.002-05:00

83saleen
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

With the 2008 running of the 12 Hours of Sebring happening next weekend, I thought I'd blog some of the past cars that ran in the 12 Hour race.
This beauty is the Graham Nash Motorsport (GB) Saleen S7-R driven by Nigel Smith, Rich Sutherland and Ricky Cole. This photo was taken on the outside of turn 1 early in the race. The team finished 25th overall, but did not finish due to an accident.

The Saleen S7 is the first car produced by Saleen not based on an existing design. It was built and designed from the ground up. They dubuted in late 2000. From 2000 until 2004 the S7 was a naturally aspirated V8 engine producing 550 horsepower. In 2005 the S7 was replaced by the S7 Twin Turbo and produced 750 horsepower with and estimated top speed of 200mph.
The body of the car is made from carbon fiber and with its many scoops and spoilers that created a split chanel airflow throughout the car in theory at 160mph the car would produce enough downfroce to drive upside down.

The S7-R is the racing version of the S7 and has competed in the American Le Mans Series, FIA GT Championship, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The S7-R has always been a fan favorite with its sleek looks, sporting about 20 gills and scoops and producing a great low rumble as it speeds by.

Flying Scot

2008-02-29T11:24:00.002-05:00

Flying Scot
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

1 oz. Scotch
1 oz. Sweet Vermouth
1/4 oz. Simple Syrup
2-4 dashes bitters (Peychauds or Angostura)
Pour over cracked ice, and enjoy.

This drink really shows off the importance of the Vermouth. If you are undecided about your taste for Sweet Vermouth, give this a go as the scotch tones it down. Adjust the vermouth to your tastes. In this version I used Peychauds bitters that give a more orange flavor than Angostura and its herbal flavor.

El Diablo

2008-02-29T11:18:00.003-05:00

El Diablo
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

My version:
1.5 oz. Tequila
.5 oz. fresh lime
.5 oz. Creme De Cassis
Pour each ingrediant over cracked ice, stir. Some recieps call for ginger ale to be added.

If you've ever had a "Shrub" drink, you will like this one.

Brown Anole Lizard

2008-02-26T11:32:00.002-05:00

Hey lizzard?
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

I figured it was time to put an animal on the Modern Hobbit and what better than the good ole' Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei). The Brown Anole is not native to the United States, but has become well established in South Florida. They more than likely migrated via cargo ships importing fruits and veggies from South America. This fellow (probably a female) and a thousand more like it was photographed in my backyard sunning itself on a broad leaf. The brown anole varies in coloration ranging from all browns, to creams, some have stripes, chevrons and triangles along the back. We often watch them clean up the yard of insects including ants, roaches and any other small insect that crosses their path. Harmless and fun to watch, we enjoy their bravado and welcome them.

Johnnie Walker Green

2008-02-25T16:16:00.002-05:00

DSCF7845
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

With the current Whiskey/Whisky binge I thought I'd break out my stash of Johnnie Walker Green. Sadly I'm getting close to the bottom and with a $50USD price tag, it may not get replaced. Not because it's not worth it, but there are so many to be tried. Tough life I tell you.

Anyway, JW Green is a vatted malt whisky consisting of a blend of around 15 individual malts, including Talisker (The only distillery on the Isle of Sky, and famous for a salty, high peat content), Cragganmore (a Speyside regional Scotch), Linkwood and Caol Ila(From Islay region with floral and peppery notes). All Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky is produced in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland. Where it gets confusing is that most Johnnie Walker Scotch is a collection of Single blends from different distileries, its the joining of specific single malts that give each blended Scotch their distinctive flavors.

The taste is very pleasant with the characteristic peaty flavor you should expect from a Scotch Whisky. It is very smooth and has a caramel finish and a pleasant mouth burn. I always enjoy a few ice cubes as most Scotch comes alive with the ice melt. This bottle was a gift and was purchased in a Duty Free store, so the price paid was around $40 making it worthy of purchase. There are more pleasing Scotch whiskys in the $50 range in my humble opinion. It's good, and I'm very glad to have enjoyed drinking it.

Irish Whiskey Flight

2008-02-14T09:30:00.003-05:00

Irish Whiskey Flight
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

My loyal readers...(if there are any of you out there), it's time for another Flight of booze. A few months ago I did a tequila flight using the three common Patron versions. Interestingly, it is one of my most viewed blog entries. Well, with St. Patrick's day coming up next month I thought an Irish Whiskey flight was in order.

I'm no expert on Whiskey, but I enjoy them. I drink what I like and that's all I can do is tell you my opinion for what its worth.

The word whiskey is an ancient Gaelic term "uisce beatha", translated as "Water of life". I'm sold already. When refering to Irish Whiskey there is an "E" between the k and y. All other whiskies from any other region is spelled Whisky. With the exception of American Whiskeys, that must use at least one E in the name.

The three Irish Whiskeys in this flight are Kilbeggan, Tullamore Dew, and Powers Gold Label. These are all blended. Most Irish Whiskeys are distilled three times and aged in wooden casks for a period of not less than three years. The Kilbeggan is distilled twice as are all whiskeys distilled at Cooley Distillery.All three use unpeated malt (which makes them sweeter than Scotch Whisky). All cost less than $20USD per .750.

All were tasted using two ice cubes, allowing some water to be added due to ice melt. I usually enjoy tasting this way, as the flavors and aromas seem to come alive as ice melt it added.

Kilbeggan-Medium color, very pleasant aroma, had a nice oakey taste, became very mellow as the ice melted. IMO, it was the most well rounded of this group.

Powers Gold Label-This was the darkest of the three in color, but only slightly. There is a slight medicinal aroma, followed by oak. Of the three the Powers had the most punch of flavor. You just knew you were drinkng Whiskey with this one. It has the characteristic sweet flavor expected from whiskey.

Tullamore Dew- The coolest name by far. It was the most mellow of the three. Almost like drinking water with no bite or punch. Almost to a fault. We felt it had a flat finish. Just not a lot going on in terms of the classic whiskey taste. Don't get me wrong, it's good, but if you want flavor this is not the one for you. If you want to try your first Irish Whiskey, this may be a good starting point.

When we do the next flight, we will try some of the single malt whiskeys.

The Gulf-Mirage M-6

2008-02-11T15:18:00.001-05:00

Me wants one
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

I believe this is the Gulf-Mirage M-6 that raced in 1973. This was one of John Wyers cars in the famous Gulf sponsored livery. JWA raced Ford GT-40's, Porsche 917 and the Mirages using this famous color scheme during the late 1960's and early 70's.
The M-6 was introduced in the eary 70's and were powered by a V8 Ford/Cosworth engin setup that produced 445 horsepower. They raced in the Group 5 Sports Car class (IMSA) and made its first appearance in the 1972 12 Hours of Sebring. Previous versions of the Mirage dated back to the M1 model in 1967. There are only 5 or 6 left today.

FIA GT Championship Sebring Octoberfest 1997

2008-01-29T10:59:00.001-05:00

FIA GT Championship Sebring Octoberfest 1997
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

Wow, this is fun digging through old race pics. Here we have the McLaren F1 GTR #020R-BMW V12 powered machine that raced for the first and only time in the US during the Octoberfest FIA GT Championship on October 18, 1997. The race was a 3 hour enduro.
This event was historical as it was the first time many of the FIA GT cars raced in the US.
This team was sponsored by Gulf Team Davidoff (GB) . This car was driven by Pierre-Henri Raphanel (F)/Jean-Marc Gounon (F), and finished 5th (2 laps behind the winner). I remember this race well because it rained the entire time. It was still great seeing these awesome machines zipping by, shooting up their rooster tails.
I'll keep posting pics of this event to show off some of the other great cars that participated.
Cheers.

12 Hours of Sebring 1979 Porsche 935

2008-01-28T10:13:00.001-05:00

12 Hours of Sebring 1979 Porsche 935
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

This past weekend I was at the 46th running of the 24 Hours of Daytona. Great race as usual and its the kickoff to the 2008 racing season. Now, I'm in race mode much to the Chagrin of the wife. I was digging through some old photos and stumbled on this beauty. This is from the 1979 12 Hours of Sebring and shows the second place overall car of Brian Redman, Paul Miller, and Charles Mendez. The car has just come off of turn 17 and is on the front straight.
Redman was attempting a repeat victory in a Porsche 935 and some slight mechanical problems allowed Bob Akin to take the 1979 victory.
Porsche has long been a dominate marquee in auto racing, and is still the most winning manufacturer at Sebring with 17 overall victories. The 935 was a dominate model in the late 70's and early 80's during the great IMSA days. This photo is a great example of the aerodynamic body work they were experimenting with.
If anyone has stories on this please comment.
I will be posting more vintage photos as I get them scanned.

The Boilermaker

2008-01-10T12:20:00.001-05:00

DSCF6384
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

The Boilermaker traditionally is a shot of whiskey, tequila or vodka and a glass of beer. There are many ways to drink the boilermaker. Drinking the shot of liquor and chased by the beer. Pouring the liquor into the glass or the Depth Charge, dropping the shot into the glass of beer causing the carbonation to fizz at a quick rate forcing a quick consumption. Normally I would associate this type of drinking behavior to the college kid or serious bar fly. However, a shot of amaretto gently dropped into a nice quality beer makes for a fine afternoon drink. The 'college' version of this is called a Flaming Dr. Pepper in which the young drunk tops his beer with 151 proof rum and lights it with his trusty zippo. So, give it try and enjoy.

Tiger Milk

2008-01-03T14:31:00.001-05:00

Tiger Milk
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

Living in South Florida does not allow us the opportunity to enjoy a hot adult beverage very often. Our temps dropped today to a balmy 39F and it was time to try out something warm and yummy.

This recipe comes from Jeff Berrys Sippin Safari must have book. http://www.amazon.com/Beachbum-Berrys-Sippin-Safari-Cocktail/dp/B000TSI2O4

This recipe is a double and contains a batter that you must make.

3 oz. Virgin Island rum- Cruzan dark works great.
2 Tablespoons of Tiger Cream*
6 whole cloves
2 strips of orange peel
8 oz. almost boiling water

Add the rum, cloves, Tiger cream, orange peel and slowly pour the hot water in the mug. I liked using a straw so you are not constantly getting the cloves in your mouth.

*Tiger Cream
This makes a large batch of cream and will last a few weeks in a tupperwear container.
1 stick of soft butter (4oz.)
16 oz. Clover Honey
15 oz. Lopez Coconut Cream
Cream all this gooey mess together and you have one tasty sticky mess.

Honolulu Cocktail

2008-01-03T10:01:00.001-05:00

Honolulu Cocktail
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

Greetings and Happy New Year. Lets start out with this tasty little number. I know little about the history of the drink so if you know, share it... dig?

3/4 oz. Gin
3/4 oz. Benedictine
3/4 oz. Maraschino*
Stir with ice, strain and serve in a cocktail glass.

Our initial reaction to the drink was complex flavors, but just too sweet. We added a dash or two of bitters and this balanced out the drink for us. We are not sweet drink fans, so if you like em toned down use the bitters. It made for a great aperitif, so one should do you well.

*Maraschino is a clear, relatively dry liqueur made from Marasca cherries, including the crushed pits which give it a subtle bitter almond flavor. The cherries are processed and distilled much like brandy, and later combined with a pure cane syrup before it is aged and filtered.

There are several distillers of this liqueur, but one of the foremost brands are produced by the Italian company Luxardo.

Maraschino liqueur should not be confused with the juice from Maraschino cherries or other cherry liqueurs, that are both much sweeter.

The Mustapha Cocktail

2007-12-26T14:53:00.001-05:00

DSCF6334
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

Found this cocktail from Chicken Angel but we changed it a bit. Its a tribute to the Henchmen in the Merman series...man those guys look like trouble.

1.5 oz. Gin
.5 oz. Creme de Casis
.25 oz. fresh lime juice
a dash or two of Crystal sauce or any hot sauce you like and adjust to your hot level.

Shake with ice, strain and serve in a cocktail glass.

It is a very interesting drink and much better than you would expect. Much like a Shrub that uses vinegar. We served 6 and everyone liked it. Give it a shot.

Tails of the Merman-Episode 4: The Morning After

2007-12-05T08:55:00.001-05:00

Episode 4 was so fun to be a part of. exp33 has done such a great job with this mini series. I will be sad to see it end.

The Shrunken Skull

2007-11-30T08:36:00.001-05:00

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

2007-11-26T14:47:00.001-05:00

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

2007-11-21T09:57:00.001-05:00

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

2007-11-08T11:00:00.001-05:00

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

China Blue

2007-11-08T08:26:00.001-05:00

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

2007-11-08T08:09:00.001-05:00

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

2007-11-06T08:07:00.001-05:00

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

2007-11-05T16:13:00.001-05:00

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

2007-11-02T10:47:00.000-04:00

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.

Tails of the Merman-Episode 3: Party Time!

2007-10-26T09:35:00.001-04:00

Orange Revolution

2007-10-18T09:51:00.001-04:00

Orange Revolution
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

The Orange Revolution was invented at the Pier Top Revolving Lounge at Pier 66 in Ft. Lauderdale. The Lounge was located at the top of the building and was designed to rotate 360 degrees allowing patrons to enjoy a panoramic view of the Ft. Lauderdale area and ocean. Unfortunately the Lounge is gone now, but the drink lives on.

In a blender add two cups of ice.
1/2 oz. Grand Marnier
1/2 oz. White or Orange Curacao
1/2 oz. Triple Sec
1 1/2 oz. fresh orange juice
1 oz. Gin

Blend till smooth, garnish with orange slice.

Patron tequila flight

2007-10-12T11:03:00.000-04:00

Alright my loyal readers...all two of you. A neighbor stopped by with an assortment of Patron Tequila. We are primarily rum drinkers and the prospect of trying some high end tequilas couldnt be passed up.

The three contenders: Patron Silver (green bow), Patron Reposado (orange), and Patron Anejo (yellow).

All were served neat with a wedge of lime after the taste. Four judges. Water between each, starting lighter to darker.

First up, the Silver (Blanco) A 100% De Agave which is produced using only the sugars from the Weber blue agave. An unaged tequila and Patrons most popular. It is very smooth, no bite, little to no heat, great finish with a slight tequila taste. It is amazingly smooth. It is not cheap, but it deserves to be in your bar.

The second is the Reposado. It is a mixture of Silver and Anjeo aged 6 months and is 100% De Agave. It has a slight hint of oak flavor and it gives that classic tequila taste. It would make a great margarita. We were all a little disappointed in the taste drinking it neat as a sipper. I would have a hard time serving it in mixed drinks because its not cheap and only those with great appreciation for tequila would know the difference.

The Anejo is a 100% De Agave and aged up to 12 months. This was the stand out of the three. Extra smooth, great taste, clean finish and basically wonderful. It would be a crime if this were used to mix drinks with. A sipper only and a damn good one at that. We didnt even use the lime for this one, as you just dont need it. Around $65 USD for a .750l makes it less than cheap, but it will have a place in my bar for that special occasion or any day you feel like a quick visit to Mexico.

Tequilas have a new place in our bar and we are looking forward to trying some more premium brands out there. Patron is only the starting point as its easy to find and tastes great. The fancy hand blown glass bottles only adds to the allure of this fine libation. Of course, your mileage may vary. Goce de mis amigos.

This is Florida

2007-10-10T15:01:00.000-04:00

THIS IS FLORIDA AND ONLY FLORIDANS KNOW THIS...

"Down South" means Key West

"Panhandling" means going to Pensacola.

You think no-one over 70 should be allowed to drive.

Flip-flops are everyday wear.

Shoes are for business meetings and church.

Sweet tea can be served at any meal.

An alligator once walked through your neighborhood.

You smirk when a game show's "Grand Prize" is a trip or cruise to Florida.

You measure distance in minutes.

You have a drawer full of bathing suits, and one sweatshirt.

You get annoyed at the tourists who feed seagulls.

All the local festivals are named after a fruit.

A mountain is any hill 100 feet above sea level.

You think everyone from a bigger city has a northern accent.

You know the four seasons really are: almost summer, summer, >not summer but really hot, and Christmas.

It's not soda, cola, or pop...its coke, regardless of > brand or flavor, "What kinda coke you want?"

Anything under 95 is just warm.

Anything under 70 is chilly.

You've hosted a hurricane party.

You go to a theme park for an afternoon, and know when > to get on the best rides.

You pass on the right and honk at the elderly.

You understand the futility of exterminating cockroaches.

You can pronounce Okeechobee, Kissimmee, Withlacoochee, Okahumpka and Loxahatchee.

You understand why it's better to have a friend with a boat, than have a boat yourself.

Bumper stickers on the pickup in front of you include: various fish, NRA, and a confederate flag.

You were 8 before you realized they made houses without pools.

You were 12 when you first met someone who couldn't swim.

You get angry when people say "Florida isn't really part of the SOUTH"

You've worn shorts and used the A/C on Christmas.

You know what the "stingray shuffle" is, and why it's > important!

Socks are only for bowling

Orange juice from concentrate makes you vomit

Tap water makes you vomit

You never use an umbrella because you know the rain > will be over in five minutes

A good parking place has nothing to do with distance from the store, but everything to do with shade.

You can tell the difference between fire ant bites and mosquito bites.

You've driven through Yeehaw Junction.

You could swim before you could read.

You have to drive north to get to The South.

You know that no other grocery store can compare to Publix.

Every other house had blue roofs in 2004-2005.

You know that anything under a Category 3 just isn't worth waking up for.

You dread lovebug season.

You are on a first name basis with the Hurricane list. They aren't Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Frances...but Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne.

You know what a snowbird is and you hate them.

You know why flamingos are pink.

You think a six-foot alligator is actually pretty average.

Tails of the Merman-Ep. 2: Special Delivery - With Contest

2007-10-10T13:56:00.001-04:00

Tails of the Merman-Episode 1: LuRu Prepares for a Party

2007-10-10T13:55:00.001-04:00

Tails of the Merman...my good buddy over at http://exp33.blogspot.com/ has created one of todays greatest action heros...The Merman. Enjoy

Flash Gordon

2007-08-07T15:31:00.001-04:00

This post goes out to a friend who has been waiting for something special for a while. I stumbled on the LP version in a thrift shop and have burned it digitally and one day i'll post it up here for all you Flash fans... Queen did the mucic score for this film. I remember going to see the movie with my dad when I was 8. I loved it then, and still remember the scene with the wood beast. Scarry stuff. Enjoy it Eric.

2007-07-27T13:12:00.000-04:00

If you live in the Columbus Ohio area come check out the Hot Rod Hula Hop...Cool cars, Tikis, Surf music and great food...I'll be there with all my Fellow Fraternal Order of Moai Brothers and Sister.

http://fraternalorderofmoai.org/hotrodhulahop/2007/index.html

Muppet Hawaiian War Chant

2007-07-27T12:28:00.001-04:00

If you grew up with Jim Hensen's Muppet Show and like Hawaiian music you will love this version of the Hawaiian War Chant. Mahalo!

Mai Kai Coffee Grog

2007-07-27T10:42:00.001-04:00

coffee grog in the making...Rick is Da Man!
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

I hope some of you get a chance to visit the Mai Kai restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale. It is one of the last remaining Polynesian Mecca’s in existence. It really celebrates American Poly pop in all its glory years.

When you visit, you must order the Coffee Grog as dessert. The server prepares the drink before your eyes in spectacular fashion. The drink is so wonderful...creamy, buttery, and served with a cinnamon stick.

Noa Noa

2007-07-27T10:34:00.001-04:00

Noa Noa
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

1 oz. fresh lime juice
Tablespoon brown sugar ( substitute Demerara Sugar if you like)
Dash of Angostura Bitters
4-6 mint leaves
3 oz. Demerara Rum

Dissolve sugar in lime juice, swizzle everything in an old fashioned filled with curshed ice. Add ice to fill. Swizzle again until the glass frosts with ice. Garnish with mint sprig and lime shell

Lowenbrau Porsche 962

2007-07-19T10:51:00.001-04:00

Al Holbert Porsche 962
Originally uploaded by Lokis world

I've been uploading tons of old pictures to Flickr and when I stumbled on a shot of the Lowenbrau Porsche 962 I had to post my love for this car. During the glory years of IMSA in the mid 80's The Porsche 962 dominated the racing circuits. For whatever reason, I always loved the livery of this paticular car. Be it my German blood or the fact that it just looked cool, this was my favorite. If memory serves me, the 1986 12 Hours of Sebring race featured a classic showdown of the 962. The late Al Hobert and Derek Bell were the pilots of the Lowenbrau and had lead the entire race. Down to the last hour, the Lowenbrau had to make an unexpected pit stop to cure a mechanical problem. The time in the pits allowed that pesky 962 of AJ Foyt to sneak past for a dramatic win in the last few minutes of the race. Needless to say this only made the Lowenbrau car more famous and it continued to place well in the remaining races of the season. I'll have to check my facts but I believe it won Le Mans later in the year. Correct me if I'm wrong race fans.

The White Out

2007-07-17T12:48:00.000-04:00

My liver wanted a break from the rum so we decided on Vodka tonight. This is a very simple drink to make and tastes great.

2 oz. Vodka

1 oz. Creme De Cocao (white)

1 oz. heavy whipping cream

Shake like hell with ice and serve in a cocktail glass. Dont expect sweet...the creme de cocao is subtle and does not create an over bearing chocolate taste. I added a few dashes of grated nutmeg to change the flavor on the second round. Give it a try.

Blog update and things to come

2007-07-17T11:29:00.001-04:00

Finally another update.

I'm in the process of burning a ton of LP's to digital and I will be uploading them as soon as i figure it out. Look for lots of Hawaiian, weird far out stuff.

A shaving update. I've been using Crabtree and Evelyn products for a while. I find that the cream is especially wonderful. It makes great lather and the sents are fantastic if your looking for a real gentleman shave. I suggest Sienna.

The super badger brush from C&E is also a beauty. It's designed by Edwin Jager and it's a monster. The super badger soaks up tons of water and creates the best lather you could hope for. I admit the brush is big, and sometimes I just dont like to use it, but when you really want some super lather this brush wins hands down.

Remember to be good to yourself sometimes and take the time for a really good shave...it can make your day.

Coming up: More drinks and music soon.

The Polynesian Paralysis

2007-07-02T09:12:00.000-04:00

Nothing beats a refreshing adult libation shared with the Ohana during a weekend. In this drink presentation is everything. The volcano bowl to be exact.

This fine party drink comes from esential Grog Log by Jeff "Beachbum Berry". You must buy this fine book as it is a must for making the finest old skool drinks from the past. Check out the Bums blog. http://www.beachbum.com/

3 oz. Orange Juice

3 oz. Pineapple Juice

1 oz. sweet and sour

1/2 oz. orgeat syrup

3 oz. Martinique rum (St. James if you can find it)

Blend with 12 oz. ice, serve in volcano bowl. Use long straws, and add 151 rum to the volcano top, light and enjoy with friends.

Star Wars Sears Wishlist from 1978

2007-06-22T10:37:00.000-04:00

I stumbled on this great scan of the 1978 Sears Wish list catalog. I remember thumbing over these pages and ear marking the pages as a kid. Star Wars was released in May of 1977 and the toys hit stores soon after the release of the film that same year. In fact, the Cantina Adventure Set in the picture labeled 1, could be pre ordered before the toys came out. Well it seems that Hasbro made an error when desiging one of the characters. Snaggletooth, the tall blue character standing next to Greedo was actually in the movie as the one seen as item #3, the small red guy. The story goes like this. The toy designer only had an onscreen image from the movie to use as his template. He had no idea how tall ole' snaggletooth was so he designed him full size. This as it turns out was incorrect, snaggletooth was really only about 3 to 4 feet tall and thus Hasbro made a new sculpt to fix this problem. The cool thing to collectors, was the short release of the blue snaggletooth in the Cantina Adventure set. He only came in the set and as you could imagine, the set was soon fixed to include the small red one.

The last time I looked the blue snaggletooth was commanding prices around $200 USD. I have one that I actually traded for because my friend didn't like him. I never did get the Cantina set, but I'm glad as hell, old Happy decided to make the trade. Anyway, it is a cool story. And, May the Force Be With You. Always.

The Gatling Gun

2007-06-22T10:21:00.000-04:00

I watched a TV program last night about Machine Guns...I don't know why this intrigued me so, but alas, I enjoyed learning about the history of the machine gun.

The Gatling gun was invented by Dr. Richard J. Gatling in 1861. It was his intent to save lives on the battlefield. After the American Civil War ended, Gatling discovered many soldiers had died after wounds sustained in battle. His logical told him, if he could invent a weapon that could take the place of 15 men, that would mean less soldiers on the battlefield to be injured or killed. Fuzzy math indeed, however the gun proved to be less than effective during battle because of user error. The gunman would turn the crank to fast and the gun would heat up and jam. The idea was tabled until advances in machine gun technology evolved and became more portable. In the end, the machine gun killed more than 5.5 millions soldiers during WWII, so much for saving lives.

I'm Going to a Hukilau

2007-06-12T08:27:00.001-04:00

For more info check out the official site: http://www.thehukilau.com/2007/

Do you Neti?

2007-06-11T14:40:00.000-04:00

Jala Neti is an ancient yogic cleansing practice of the nasal cavity with saline water and a specialized pot. In recent years, western medicine is referring to it as nasal irrigation. I like the term Jala Neti better.

The user mixes a saline solution to 0.9% salinity in body temperature water in the special pot. This is about a teaspoon in a half liter, but each pot is different so you need to know your pots capacity.

Once the saline and temperature is correct, you bend over a sink, start breathing in and out of the mouth and cram the neti pots spout in one nostril and slowly turn your head to the opposite side. Slowly the warm saline water will run out the other nostril taking with it, mucus, pollen, and any debris that has been lodged in there. It sounds nasty, but it is quite pleasurable. Once half the pot is empty, rotate your head center, slowly exhale out of the nose and move to the next side.

After each side is done, you hang your head low and exhale gently through the nose about twenty times to release the water. Slowly return upright and gently blow each nostril about 1o times. It is very important to rid the sinus of the excess water. Never blow hard, as this can send water into the upper sinus and cause infection.

I have just started the practice, and find it very easy, and the results are simply amazing. It increases smells, clears the sinus for easier breathing and give you nice rush. If you are interested, please learn the proper technique. My blog only touches on it and it is very important to learn it correctly. I think if you give it a go, you will use it everyday as part of your normal routine and it only takes a few minutes. What do you have to loose?

Campari Ad in Hustler Magazine

2007-06-11T14:25:00.000-04:00

It seems that the late Jerry Falwell was good friends with Hustler magazine founder Larry Flint and the two of them would trade friendly jabs at one another for years. I dont remember where I found this advertisment, but it sure is telling. I dont have the date but judging from his young appearance, I'd say it was a while ago

The Theremin

2007-06-06T09:43:00.000-04:00

You have probably all heard the sounds of a Theremin. You know, that strange outer space sound in all the black and white Sci Fi films? Star Trek episodes? Well, I found a great video showing just what it is and how it works.

The Panama Hat

2007-06-05T08:38:00.001-04:00

Legend has it, the Panama hat was so named because President Teddy Roosevelt had returend from a visit to the Panama Canal and raved about how much he liked a hat he picked up locally. Thus the name for the straw made hat was dubbed the Panama Hat.

Today the best Panama hats are hand woven in Ecuador by master weavers, a skill that is passed from generation to generation. Much like skilled cigar rollers, these master hat weavers have spent much of their lives honing their skills.

Today there are many brands of this fine hat. Most brands grade the quality of the hat into three categories.

Fino Grade: Quality typical of a Grade 2-4 straw. 100-500 weaves per sq. inch
Super Fino Grade: Quality typical of a Grade 5-8 straw. 500-800 weaves per sq. inch.
Optimo Grade: Quality typical of a Grade 9 and up straw. 900-2000 weaves per sq. inch.

No, straw hat will last foever, and most Panama's can last from 1-10 years depending on wear. The most common issues for the breakdown of the straw comes from the straw drying. Never store your hat in direct sun and never pick the hat up by its top. This bad habit will bread down the crown and you will loose the shape. Never pinch the crown and when handling, hold the hat by the brim.

If you start to get sweat stains on your Panama hat, a mix of lemon juice and water sprayed on the hat and then allowing the hat to sit in the sun for a few hours will sometimes bleach the sweat stain out.

Most importantly, the use of a wide brim hat WILL help prevent skin cancer. Why not look slick while taking care of yourself? I wear my anytime I go outside.

Cheers from the Panama Hat wearing Hobbit.

My Holy Grail of retro furniture

2007-06-04T12:35:00.000-04:00

The Eames Lounge Chair and ottoman.

The Eames Lounge (670) and Ottoman (671) was first released in 1956 by designers Charles and Ray Eames who worked for the Herman Miller Furniture Company. The Chair is made from molded plywood with thin wood veener guled and shaped under heat and pressure. The seat cushions were usually covered in leather.

This is just one comfortable looking chair and they style is timeless. The unfortunate problem is the insane cost the chairs are fetching. Upwards of $7000 USD. There are knock off versions to be had and sometimes you can find one in rough condition at used furniture stores. The search for an original Eames is always on, however I'm not getting my hopes up on this one.

The Suffering Bastard

2007-06-01T08:27:00.001-04:00

First Drink Post. Hopefully I'll keep adding to the list of adult libations.

The Suffering Bastard.

Found a 1959 New York Times interview with the inventor himself, Joe Scialom, one-time head bartender at Sheperd's Hotel in Cairo. Here's what it said: When liquor was short during the war, he had to concoct "something to quench the boys' thirst." He combined equal parts gin and brandy with a dash of Angostura bitters, a teaspoon of Rose's lime juice, and English ginger ale. He garnished the drink with a sprig of fresh mint, a slice of orange and a cucumber peel. The bartender advised Americans to substitute ginger beer for the ginger ale because the British version of the soft drink is more heavily seasoned with ginger than ours.

I've seen variations of the story, but I like this one.

My reciepe comes from Jeff "Beachbum" Berry's Grog Log.

1 oz. Lime Juice (always fresh, and I perfer Key Lime)

1 oz. Gin

1 oz. Whisky

2-4 Dashes Angostura Bitters

4 oz. Ginger Beer (Dont substitute Ginger Ale, its just not the same thing)

It is a staple in my house and so refreshing on a hot sunny day. Enjoy! And, as always...Drink what you like, like what you drink.

Gentlemen, its time to step it up. Learn the Joy of Wet Shaving.

2007-05-31T14:32:00.000-04:00

Shaving. A necessary evil for most of us. A morning chore. Glob on that canned gel goo, work it to a substandard foam and attack your puss with that expensive multi-blade gillette quatro fusion phantom. Boy that sounds cool. Electric motor that coaxes your whiskers up toward the 5 platinum blades that will cut them down giving you that baby butt smooth face. Right? Wrong. If you are like me, you figured out this popular shaving method just wasnt cutting it. Sorry for the pun. And who wants to pay $25 for 8 replaceable cartridges that claim a smooth shave, but in reality on hack and pull the hair out of your face then cut it. Guys, thats why it hurts to shave like this.

Well, do youself a big favor and learn to use a Double Edge Safety Razor. That's right, the one you probably saw your old man using when you were a kid. The one where one single razor is inserted into a cool, heavy, steel, manly looking razor. This design has been used for over 100 years and you know what? It works like a charm. The razors are built to last a lifetime, the blades are super cheap. The really addicting part of learning to use this razor is pampering yourself like you deserve. Don't call it Metro, call it what it is. Gentlemanly. Ever walked into a Real barber shop? That great smell of aftershave? It's really a great thowback to the good old days..you know when things werent broke. There is a world of great quality English shave creams just waiting to be explored. These products work, unlike that canned blue goo that is so easily found. They make you feel like a gentleman when you use them and make the shave painless, and easy. And you will enjoy making your own lather using a badger brush or boar hair brush. Nothing beats an English lather or glycerine soap lather made to order.

Recently I found out that Gillette spent $250,000 on a party to showcase their new Fusion Phantom razor. This was thrown to magazine and newspaper editors and writers. Half naked models, Guest DJ's, Lots of free booze...and when the new product was unveiled....drum roll...it was the same Fusion as last year, but the plastic was black and had bronze colored highlights......are you kidding me? No wonder the cartridges cost so much.

Guys, check out the link to shavemyface.com and give the Safety Razor a chance. I think you will find you will have the most enjoyable, close and painless shave you've ever had.