a New Year's toast: with my favorite drink.

What drink am I?

My 5th grader recently had a class writing project where he had to describe his favorite candy bar in 10 sentences. It could not contain the name of the candy bar, but enough hints and clues that people could guess the name of the bar.

I thought I would do the same; though, lucky you there is a visual aid. I would have posted a sip of it if I could; but alas no tasting for this game. Here are 10 hints:

1. It has been a favorite of mine for 2-3 years—perhaps I have mentioned it?
2. A cousin to the lemon drop.
3. Sugar-rimmed.
4. Fresh squeezed citrus, of the yellow variety.
5. It is a classic; not an invention by yours truly (though, I don’t order it too often in restaurants, because they often mess it up according to my developed-over-years standard).
6. Not all bartenders are familiar with it; a few make it really well.
7. Brandy, not vodka.
8. Served up, sans rocks.
9. Yes: triple sec or cointreau.
10. Shaken, not stirred.

Give up? Got it? Answer follows recipe:

For 2: into cocktail shaker filled 2/3 with ice, place juice from a large lemon, then pour 2/3 brandy and 1/3 triple sec. In other words, two-to-one. BUT if there is some room left in the shaker, top it with the triple sec. I know, but exacting amounts for cocktails aren’t my thing: you should know that by now. Chill martini glass beforehand, if possible. Use the lemon wedge to juice the edge of the rim, then dip in sugar. Answer: A Sidecar.

I usually pour into martini glasses, but recently added the vodka shooter set to my glassware collection. No, these drinks aren’t of the shooting variety; however, a glass bowl, filled with 6 of these fancy, etched glass mini-sidecars, on ice, has proven to be a great hit at parties. Man, you would think I threw parties all the time—I really don’t.

But official party or not, tonight is New Year’s Eve and I will be toasting and hailing its welcome, even if it is just a party for one. Or two. Maybe four. And I can lift a glass to you, wherever you are, at your respective parties: Salute!

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