The Summer of the Literary Liquors

The Summer of the Literary Liquors

During the spring and summer of COVID lockdown 2020 I started experimenting with fresh herb and fruit infusions that I call the summer of the Literary Liquors. What is a Literary Liquor I can hear you asking? Well, it is an liquor base, (Vodka, Gin, Rum, and Saki) that I infused with flavors based on a few of my favorite works of literature and all infused with herbs and fruits found in my garden.

I was extending my experiments with infused butter and oil and since there was nothing else happening I of course turned to liquor. I should point out THIS research was entirely self-funded. Although it was technically a part of my #ProjectMartian initiative it was NOT being used for educational purposes.

It Started With The Theater

There is a theater in the city where I live (Columbus, OH, US) called Shadowbox Live. I have been a fan of this theater for 30 years. They are wildly creative, talented, and adventurous and they inspire me.

I came up with this idea for infusing alcohol, originally sake, while seeing one of their OTHER original productions, “Tenshu” which was a stage, dance and theatrical spectacle that was a synthesis of Japanese Kabuki, 19th Century Western Opera and 20th Century Rock and Roll. At the time ShadowboxLive had 20 Japanese students visiting the states to explain and model the finer points of Kabuki, and two of those students were staying at Mezzacello.

One night Rick and I and our Japanese exchange students had a lively conversation at the farm about the poetry of sake. We discussed how it can be a dove or a dragon, depending on what you infuse or ferment in the fruit. One of my favorite operas is Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” and we sat around the fire that glorious summer discussing what about M. Butterfly would make a great sake.

The Seeds of a Great Idea

Fast forward a few years and I went to Shadowboxlive to see “Broken Whispers” a stage and dance homage to “The Great Gatsby” set in the 1920’s but with fantastic “Post-Modern Jukebox” covers of 80s pop songs — oh and Gatsby was a woman who had a lesbian affair with Daisy. Totally mind-blowing theater with stunning choreography and a live band with artfully reconfigured arrangements of 80s classic pop songs.

The Summer of the Literary Liquors
A still from “Desire” detailing “Gone With The Wind” and the review in the screenshot is spot on!

The final piece of this lovefest for amazing, original, and live theater was the remarkable stage performance called “Desire”. “Desire” was a collection of 12 of the greatest literary traditions of the western canon that were set to rock music and portrayed as vignettes in the imagination of two ;literary professors discussing the art of love and desire with original choreography.

“Desire” included amazing references in literature inclusing “La Morte d’Arthur” “Wuthering Heights” “Don Juan” “Gone With The Wind” The Addams Family” it was was amazing! And it was the seed that set my imagination on fire! Then we had COVID19.

Then COVID19

I was bummed out in March 2020 when the entire world closed down. No more Live theater, no more hanging out with friends on a lark; so I decided to recreate “Desire” in alcohol.

It stuns me to this day to reflect on how isolated we all of us where through that entire year. The lost year of COVID. Luckily for me I had inspiration and resources. Otherwise I might have gone mad.

That is the true story of how “Literary Liquors” even came into existence. A fantastic arts group, this vibrant arts city and my friend Jimmy Mak willed it into existence. After their lead creating a story for each infusion was second nature.

My only regret is that I never got to share this with the fabulous artists at Shadowboxlive in person. I never got to make them a perfect cocktail:

  • The List of Liquors
    • “The Great Gatsby” Vodka (Lemon, cucumber, mint, and savory) with my own quinone and water carbonated tonic water
    • “Huck Finn” Vodka (Blackberry, lemon, strawberry and peppercorns) with my own quinone and water carbonated tonic water
    • “Don Juan” Rum (Lime, passionfruit, cherry, rose, peppercorn, and almond) with water and pomegranate juice over lemon ice
    • “The Canterbury Tale” Gin (Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme with lemon) with my own quinone and water carbonated tonic water
    • “Porgy and Bess” Gin (Rosemary, thyme, plum, cherry, and lemon with peppercorns) served with lemonade and ice
    • “Madama Butterfly” Sake (Rose, passionfruit, plum, lime, and dragon grain) served over cold saltwater tears tea

Blessed is inspiration and the instinct to create. I have the privilege and bounty of a farm – in the city – with access to ALMOST every fresh ingredient I used in these infusions, and I spent the COVID 2020 summer exploring them. It was a labor of love to honor my beloved theater.

I do know that theater is life, and I blessed to have it — and the instinct to create something from nothing — in both my farm and in my community. I am currently infusing another line of these fabulous liquors. Maybe this summer I can share it with my ShadowboxLive friends. #Brava


The Foodist: Favorite Hot Toddy

The Foodist: Favorite Hot Toddy

Hot Toddy: Orange peel, Lemon Juice, Honey, Brandy, Cardamon, Cinnamon, Hot Water and “I Love You” Mug…

It is winter at Mezzacello and that means it’s time to start making winter drinks! The Foodist: Favorite Hot Toddy is like the name suggests, a favorite. #FullDisclosure I love a hot toddy made with tea, and my favorite Toddy Tea is Bigelow’s “Constant Comment”.

The flavor notes of “Constant Comment” are perfect for pairing with Brandy. Just to be clear, you can make this with Bourbon or Whiskey, but we prefer brandy with the fruit and spice notes and honey. Experiment with your own blends! But the recipe remains the same, fruit, tannins, liquor, honey, lemon, hot water. So without further ado, our recipe for an impressive Hot Toddy!

Ingredients

  • 16 oz Hot Water (Boiling!)
  • 1 Tbsp of honey
  • 1 Tbsp of Lemon Juice (we squeeze 1 lemon)
  • 2 cardamon seeds (slightly crushed)
  • 1 4cm slice of orange peel
  • 1 2cm piece of Cinnamon Bark
  • 1 tsp bourbon vanilla extract
  • 3 fl oz brandy
  • 1 small tea sieve

Directions

  1. Boil water. Prepare the cardamon and cinnamon by mild crush and snipping. A whole 8cm cinnamon bark is excessive, 2 cm is plenty.
  2. In a tea sieve combine cardamon seeds (powdered cardamon is a disaster as is cinnamon) and cinnamon with orange peel.
  3. Measure out honey, bourbon vanilla, and lemon juice (bulb lemon juice is fine) and pour into a heated cup (take the time to heat that cup!)
  4. Pour in a bit of the boiling water and stir to mix honey, lemon and bourbon vanilla.
  5. Drop in the sieve and pour over remaining boiling water.
  6. Let sit for three minutes and serve.
    • You might think you could serve this immediately, you would be wrong. Like love this builds over time.
  7. Enjoy.

Technical Notes

  1. In a pinch you can substitute a Bigelow “Constant Comment” tea bag instead of the raw ingredients.
  2. It will be Toddy-like, but will lack the depth of this recipe.
  3. For the best effect, splurge on Fresh orange peel – at a grocery – and cardamon seeds, and cinnamon bark at World Market.
    • They are cheaper there and they both keep well in a dark cupboard.
    • This blog is NOT sponsored by World Market, they just keep a great assortment of sundry spices.
  4. Use the best Brandy and Honey you can afford.
  5. Make sure the person you are serving this to knows you love them; It’s psychosomatic, but it makes it so much better.