Quantcast

Friday, August 7, 2009

5:00 Fridays


First of all, did you know that North Carolina does not sell liquor in liter bottles (that's litre if you're from across the pond where you speak and spell funny English and call sweaters "jumpers" and trunks "boots" and other such nonsense)? And I thought not selling beer and wine until noon on Sundays (after church, natch) was cuhrazy. Wacky liquor rules dumbfound me. It takes me back to the ridiculous 3.2 beer sold in Minnesota grocery stores.

Well, it turns out that you can buy a liter of liquor in our fair friend to the south. I was returning home from a beachy keen vacay and popped into a liquor store 30 miles shy of the North Carolina border. Word on the street is that Firefly has a line of fantastically flavored vodkas that are only available in the palmetto state. You know I love me some Firefly.

I snatched up a bottle (LITER) of Firefly Mint Tea Vodka.

Sidebar:
I absolutely loved John, the owner of the liquor store. Turns out he's a retired funeral home director. After a heart attack at age 50-something, he turned the reins over to his sons. It is a little known fact about me that I am fascinated with the whole industry and commerce of death. I have even done some reading on the topic. John was a gracious host who offered lots of drink tips that I've tucked into the back burner of my brain. He even offered me a little personal tasting from behind the counter. It felt oh so dastardly to be nipping from an open bottle lodged between the extra register tape and sleeve of plastic mouthwash size cups. Nothing like straight vodka and rum at noon on an empty stomach. On a Sunday! Stay tuned for some goodies from John's recipe box. And by the way, he's a bastion of health now. In his words, "people are a lot more happy buying liquor than buying caskets."

Now on to my concoction.

Mint Tea w/ a Twist (I really need a better name. Suggestions welcome.)

1 1/2 cups cubed, seeded watermelon (What a great way to use what I got from Farmer Tom this week!)
2 shots of Firefly Mint Tea vodka
1/4 cup ginger ale
sprig fresh mint

Put everything but the mint in a blender and give it a quick whir. Serve over ice in a goblet or tall glass with a mint sprig garnish.

Find yourself a porch, a rocking chair, a ceiling fan, and some fireflies to carry your dreams and light up your night.

5:00 FridaysSocialTwist Tell-a-Friend

4 comments:

Christy said...

I've been using up my CSA watermelon, too, in watermelon martinis. Yummmm!!!

KBO said...

Oh, tea vodka. You'll make an alcoholic out of me yet.

Magpie said...

that vodka sounds great. may need to get some.

i love what the liquor store guy said, that it's a happier job than selling caskets.

Ree said...

We had some sort of tea vodka - it wasn't mint, just with lemon. WAY wicked...and far too easy to drink.

;-)