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Drink in the Season

Key Lime Pie
Drink in the Season

In Buffalo, drinking season officially kicks off on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and runs until New Year’s Day. It’s a relatively short period, but very intense. That’s why many self-described “social drinkers” train year-round at special events like every single hockey, football and baseball game, as well as important holidays like Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, April Fool’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the Fourth of July, August 17 (Davy Crockett’s Birthday), Labor Day and Halloween—with sundry birthdays and anniversaries peppered throughout the year—and allowing for other special occasions like whenever it’s raining and whenever it’s not raining.

Crown Royal Whiskey Sour
Bulleit Bourbon Mint Julep
Hot Chocolate Mint Patty

During drinking season, people are faced with a vast array of holiday beer, wine, champagne and mixed drinks, along with mysterious shots and all kinds of punch. There’s also an element of danger involved in some holiday drinks, because of the reliance upon raw eggs for the traditional egg nog and Tom & Jerry. Like the Japanese businessman ordering the potentially lethal blowfish sushi, enjoy them at your own risk. Above all, don’t drive vehicles or operate anything with a blade if you intend to participate in drinking season—far better we all live to compete another day.

That being said, here are a few holiday favorites, courtesy of Mark Supples, owner of Mothers. These potent potions are designed to put a lampshade on the head of even the shyest wallflower at the party.

You could start with a seasonal favorite, the Tom & Jerry. Make your own at home: separate a dozen eggs; beat the yolks with 2 lbs. superfine sugar and 1.5 tablespoons each cinnamon, cloves and allspice. Add 4 ounces of dark rum. Beat egg whites into stiff peaks; fold whites into yolk mixture. To each cup add a ladleful of the mix, 2 ounces of brandy or bourbon, fill the rest of the way with hot milk or water and sprinkle with nutmeg.

Crown Royal Whiskey Sour

1 part Crown Royal

Juice from 1⁄2 lemon

1⁄2 teaspoon sugar

A little egg white

Shake with ice & serve on the rocks

Garnish with cherry

Hot Chocolate Mint Patty

1 part Godiva

1 part Rumple Minze

Hot chocolate

Top with whipped cream

Hot Buttered Rum

3 parts warm apple cider

2 parts 10 Cane rum

Cinnamon stick

Top with small pat of butter

Bulleit Bourbon Mint Julep

2 parts Bulleit bourbon

2 teaspoons water

1 teaspoon super-fine sugar

Stir well in tall glass or silver cup

Garnish with mint sprigs

Key Lime Pie

2 parts Stoli Vanilla

Splash of Rose’s Lime Juice

2 parts pineapple juice

Shake with ice

Strain into martini glass rimmed with crushed graham crackers

Mr. Supples advises that these drinks are to be made at home and not to be ordered in bars unless you want to be considered extremely irritating.

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