This delightful concontion brings a pleasent and refreshing twist to the standard Gibson for early autumn evenings in Wisconsin. This is the time when we celebrate the cherry harvest, and the orchards are rife with the product of the cherry trees. In Wisconsin that means cherries from Door County, the thumb in the mitten-like shape of the state. Substituting a little 100% pure cherry juice (not sweetened) for vermouth will leave you smiling at your soon empty glass. Use a good potato vodka for this drink, you’ll appreciate how this almost flavorless variety of vodka gets out of the way of the cherry juice’s dry, almost bitter flavor. This most certainly is not cherry vodka!

Door County Gibson

To a shaker of ice add a healthy splash of 100% pure, unsweetened cherry juice (a mighty anti-oxident!)

Add enough potato vodka to make a decent martini, about 3 or 4 ounces

Shake well, and strain into a martini glass

Garnish with a cherry

the New York Times recently reviewed The Joy of Drinking by Barbara Holland.  She offers up this interesting factoid about the founding of The United States:

In 1787, two days before their work was done, the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention “adjourned to a tavern for some rest, and according to the bill they drank 54 bottles of Madeira, 60 bottles of claret, 8 of whiskey, 22 of port, 8 of hard cider and 7 bowls of punch so large that, it was said, ducks could swim around in them. Then they went back to work and finished founding the new Republic.” Note the 55 delegates and 54 bottles of Madeira. Which founder was slacking?
The Joy of Drinking – Barbara Holland – Books – Review – New York Times

Pawn is getting thirsty just thinking about it.

A fine confection to watch colonial dénouements by

White Countess:

In a double Old-Fashion glass, pour over ice:

1 ½ oz. Vodka (use something good)

6 – 8 dashes Angostura bitters

Splash Sweet Vermouth

top off with club soda (seltzer)

Stir vigorously and sip with a mixture of hope, sorrow and reckless yearning.