Wednesday, May 07, 2008

The 75 Skills Every Man Should Master


Esquire magazine published a great list yesterday entitled 'The 75 Skills Every Man Should Master.'


While the whole list is great, number 17 is classic:


17. Make one drink, in large batches, very well.


When I interviewed for my first job, one of the senior guys had me to his house for a reception. He offered me a cigarette and pointed me to a bowl of whiskey sours, like I was Darrin Stephens and he was Larry Tate. I can still remember that first tight little swallow and my gratitude that I could go back for a refill without looking like a drunk. I came to admire the host over the next decade, but he never gave me the recipe. So I use this: • For every 750-ml bottle of whiskey (use a decent bourbon or rye), add: • 6 oz fresh-squeezed, strained lemon juice 6 oz simple syrup (mix superfine sugar and water in equal quantities)
To serve: Shake 3 oz per person with ice and strain into chilled cocktail glasses. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice or, if you're really slick, a float of red wine. (Pour about 1/2 oz slowly into each glass over the back of a spoon; this is called a New York sour, and it's great.)


Dead on.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

ah yes that is truly a skill every man should have. did the next one say that every man should also learn how to make one great breakfast item to woo any lady guests who may have enjoyed the punch bowl the previous night.
further, every modern man should have a robot that makes cocktails
http://www.monochrom.at/english/2008/05/roboexotica-usa.htm