Hey guys, sorry about the infrequent updates, but I've been grinding my book SO hard. I'm pleased to say that I've finally finished writing it and that I've sent it over to my editors, one real life editor and a few professional poker players who will know what I'm actually saying. I'm exploring and considering some different and newer forms of advertising out there, so if you guys have any ideas, feel free to shoot me a PM. BTW, huge shout out to my friends who are helping me edit this thing and make the cover along with countless other things, you guys rule <3.

For those of you who have been reading my blog with any regularity, you've noticed that I've been writing about cocktails quite a bit lately. In that same vein, I'd like to share with you now a few of my favorites that I actually took the time to photograph starting with a lemoncello.

This is my first attempt at making this dessert liqueur (I say liqueur but it's strong as ****). Here's the recipe that I got from here and a little photo-time line of it's progression into a tasty beverage.

Lemoncello
1 bottle everclear (wee)
8 lemon peels (no white on the peelings!)
Simple Syrup (made slightly stronger than normal with 5oz water and 3 cups of sugar)

The lemon peels have to sit in the everclear for two weeks, shaken once a day to make sure the flavor is being soaked up well, and then combined with the simple syrup. It turns from a clear yellow to a creamy yellow and thereafter smells slightly less like a lemony kick in the nose. Here are the pictures:

Wait, never mind on the time line thing, I slowrolled myself and/or lost the pictures.

Sazerac
Rinse glass with Absinthe (or substitute liquorish flavored liqueur)
1 tsp simple syrup (1:1 ratio of water and sugar, fully dissolved)
3 dashes of Peychaud's bitters
2.5 oz Rye Whiskey
1 lemon peel to garnish

I've been using Booker's Bourbon in a little adaptation of this drink mostly because nobody in NC I've seen carries good Rye. Jim Beam is the best I can get and it's so mellow and young that it doesn't really make that good of a Rye to use for a Sazerac IMO.

Here are the ingredients along with the finished product (don't judge my glass wear yet):



Finally, the negroni. One of my favorites and a drink sure to put a smile on your grandfather or any other old man's face. It's very simple to make and very awesome to drink.

Negroni
1 part Gin (I prefer Bombay Sapphire for the extra hints of juniper flavor)
1 part Campari
1 part sweet vermouth
1 Lemon peel to garnish

Make sure you stir, not shake, this drink in order to cool it. Shaking the drink causes bits of ice to float around in it, which is normally awesome, but for something that has a chance at being translucent is something you want to avoid so the ice doesn't catch the light and create the appearance of a light red swamp in a glass. If you or your guests don't care how it looks, shake away!

Here are the ingredients and the slightly effeminate looking beverage (yes I'm comfortable carrying around a pink drink in a martini glass, what):





I hope some of you guys try one or a few of these and like them! I'll put some more up if people enjoy this kind of thing. Also, if anyone knows something besides lemonade to make with a ton of peeled lemons, I have plenty.

Hope you guys enjoy my new 2k and 5k video that should be out tomorrow or very soon! I'll let everyone know when the book is published. I appreciate the PMs. It's good to see my own excitement about it mirrored by you guys

-Reid