Brooklyn Lemonade

Good morning, universe. Welcome to another Monday. I hope that you all had a nice little weekend. After the biblical rain that we experienced on Friday, I certainly did. Seriously, though, I couldn’t believe the torrential downpour that we got on Friday. I’m really glad that I had my umbrella in my giant Mary Poppins bag that I lug around with me everywhere. It’s not always such a bad thing to be attached to 10 pounds of miscellaneous items now, is it? I’m sure that carrying around my purse is messing up my back one way or another, but what can you do? Maybe one day I will have a car, but until then, the umbrella, along with a water bottle, sunglasses, chapstick, my wallet, camera, and whatever else I deem important that day gets slung over my shoulder and onward we go. Oh, and a sweater, because even if it’s 90 degrees now, what if it gets a little chilly later? I must maintain an even room temperature at all times – being too hot or too cold is literally the worst.

The 104th Street Community Garden.Anyway, this past weekend we were invited to a barbecue on the Upper West Side, a neighborhood that I think I’ve only ever been to one time. I’m glad we made the trek, though. Our friend Shahab is a member of a community garden up there, and it’s gorgeous. I’m always excited to be around nature of any kind, seeing as how we live in a concrete jungle where no grass can possibly grow, so when I see gardens and trees and whatnot, it’s fun. Meats were grilled, beers were drunk, and I had an absolute blast. I made miniature apple pies, as my obsession with miniature desserts will never end, and Shahab had the genius idea of putting hot dogs and sausages on baguettes, which with plenty of mustard and some pickled things, were absolutely delicious. However, an all day barbecue didn’t stop Kramer and I from grabbing a slice at 11 PM on our way home – you know us better than that. On Sunday, we slept in for the first time in a while (and I mean really slept in, like 10:30 AM slept in), did some chores (mopping, vacuuming, being productive adults, etc.), then went for a walk up to a new restaurant and bar called OTB, followed by a walk down to Maison Premiere where the wait was nuts, so we hopped on over to Noorman’s Kil for an ice cold gin martini with big, briny olives. Even though Noorman’s is a fantastic whisky bar, we watched Casino Royale recently (because my main man Mads is the villan) and I’ve been craving a martini ever since. We came home and watched Game of Thrones before bed, and I really wish we had just gone to bed because talk about one of the most boring, anticlimactic season finales ever. I feel like I didn’t watch anything at all.

Anyway, if I had a pitcher or two at home, I would have brought this Brooklyn Lemonade with me to the barbecue on Saturday. It’s got everything I love in a cocktail: beer, bourbon, and bitters. Obviously we like our cocktails in Brooklyn quite a bit, and seeing as how I just so happened to have made this one with Brooklyn Summer Ale, I figured it’d be an appropriate name. You can use simple syrup in place of the maple syrup for a sweetener, if you like, but I like the depth of flavor that the maple adds to the cocktail and it’s just one less step if you don’t already have simple syrup in your fridge. The bitters are optional, too, but I am a huge fan of bitters and think it makes almost any drink better with a dash or two added. I’ve actually got a bottle of baked apple bitters that would have done quite well in this drink, but decided to keep it more straightforward, as I’m sure you all don’t have the weird bitters collection that I do. Only I spend money on speciality bar items that get used once every few months. Or am I? Either way, shake up a few of these drinks, enjoy the warm weather, and maybe come give Brooklyn a visit! It’ll certainly put you in the mood.

Our friend Shahab, birthday boy and grill master.I don’t do well in the sun.

So handsome.

Kramer and Matt helping Shahab balance.

And what better way to relax after a long day (or BBQ) than with bourbon, lemonade, and beer? Tell me.