WFH
WFH
2 oz Gin
1 oz Apple Brandy
0.5 oz Lemon
0.5 oz Ginger Soda Syrup
3 Dashes Scrappy’s New Orleans Bitters
DRY Sparkling Cucumber
2 Strawberries
Mint Sprig (For Garnish)
Wrap a long cucumber peel in the inside of a wine glass or highball/Collin’s glass (dealers choice) and set aside. Combine gin, brandy, lemon, ginger soda syrup, and bitters into a cocktail shaker, and shake vigorously with ice. Strain into your chosen glass with fresh cubed ice and sliced strawberries. Top with DRY Sparkling Cucumber, and garnish with a mint sprig.
Since many of us are experiencing various forms of staying away from social gatherings, I figured I’d bring the drinks to you. But also, not really, because…well, you get it. The internet is powerful, but only so. Strangely enough, I was working on this recipe well before the ‘shelter in place’ took action. Merely because I was working from home, it was a warm day, and well, I was thirsty. I made the drink, took the pictures, figured I’d eventually get around to writing about it. And here we are, weeks later, and wow has everything shifted.
I think many of us are feeling many things. We’re feeling isolated, sad, anxious, annoyed, bored, restless, hurt, scared, fine, unfazed, lonely, fat–all of the things. Aaand it’s only day 5. Some of these things we’re feeling for ourselves, some we’re feeling for others, and some, both apply. I’m not here to speak to the things you should and shouldn’t be doing or feeling and shouldn’t be feeling. I’m just here to give you a refreshing cocktail from things I found at Whole Foods on a random afternoon, and to share with you my work from home space.
I’ve always been pretty good at keeping busy at home. Maybe because I’m a big dreamer and doer, and one thing tends to lead to everything. This is probably because I've turned my condo into a playground for various forms of creative energy to be absorbed. I have my music corner, home theater, writing oasis, and of course, my bar. It can be super distracting for my scattered brain, but all in all, good and necessary. I’ve truly made this space open for whatever Bex I seem to be that day. Though, one of my favorite things to do when it’s warm, and the sun fiiinally hits reaches my balcony (which is conveniently just around happy hour time), is then to mix up some kind of libation and enjoy it outside. I might have a book, journal, guitar (sorry, neighbors), or sometimes it’s just my thoughts. My drink varies from being something boozy, to a homemade soda, or an ice coffee twist. But I’ll put on a record to play in the background, maybe Billie Holiday or Louis Prima, and before I open anything or take a sip, I sit down, put my feet up on the rails, and I take a deep breath. I just let that moment be what it is. Feel whatever I’m feeling. I let my eyes stay closed for as long as they need to. And then once I open them, I take a sip, and calmly dive into what I have in front of me.
Working from home has a lot of comfort to it. I know that’s another one of those duh-sayings, but it’s true. And even though there is work to be done and it’s no time to be lazy, everything feels like it’s slowed down. It’s safe. Like no matter what may happen, you’ll be okay. Because you’re home. It’s funny when I look back on some cocktails I’ve created over the years, because home has become a theme. I never realized how much I think about the importance of home and that sense of space and belonging–until I’m crafting something. It’s very weird and fascinating at the same time. But some of the best things I’ve created have been when I’m home. As someone who travels a lot, I get so much inspiration from those journeys. And it’s once I get back, I’m finally able to put it all into what I need it to be. Whether that’s music, stories, or drinks–it settles and comes together here.
So this “WFH” cocktail I have here, is another reflection of something coming together once I got home. I was over at my friend’s house and wanted to make drinks for Mardi Gras. Originally I wanted to do a Pimm's Cup…but not really having enough Pimm’s for everyone…made the plans change. I found myself standing in Whole Foods, starring at the liquor aisle trying to piece together something somewhat equivalent. And instead of trying to substitute every piece of the ingredient to something similar, I thought to just create something based off of feel. And well, here you have it. I was mainly guessing on my build for it once I got to my friend’s house, but once I used them as testers on what works and doesn’t, by the next couple days at home, I found myself with this concoction of delightfulness. This high spirited (energy, not booze per se) cocktail is great for all y’all working from home and want a nice sunshine sipper. With gin, apple, ginger, strawberries, and cucumbers dancing around? Nothing can go wrong. Welcome home.