A PLEASANT DRINK FOR WARM WEATHER.
Afternoon!
I am surprised I can actually write this seeing as I am nothing more than a puddle on the floor at the moment. At least I have a legitimate excuse to eat ice cream and do very little whilst wearing only my underwear. Apologies if you are eating.
Well, it's finally happened. I have a date for the publication of my book and if you are super keen to buy it, it's now available as a pre-order on Amazon so just click the link below.
BUY MY BOOK SO I CAN BUY MORE BAD MOVIES!
I'm very happy that they decided to take the Dr. Off my name, it makes me seem stuffy and the book is far from stuffy.
The book is officially available from July 19th and, oddly enough, that is the day I will be arriving at Bovey Castle in Dartmoor...I shall as always, keep my eyes out for Monstorous hounds.
On a non-Holmes front, I am also happy to announce that my short film "Alan" is getting his premier at Chapter Arts Centre on August 5th, we shall also be doing a Bad Film Club after it. Seeing as my film is "batshit crazy" we're showing another film that is just as mind-blowingly odd, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Lord help us all.
Seeing as we are roasting and sweating I thought this blog's theme would be drinks and I've also added TWO victorian cocktail recipes from Mrs Beeton which are not disgusting. I KNOW! So, grab a glass and let's get sipping.
A four of gin hot — a phrase used in A Study in Scarlet by Constable John Rance as he recounted the events of the evening to Holmes. A four of gin hot was a drink which was regarded as having the same warming medicinal value as a hot toddy. It consisted of fourpence worth of gin with hot water and lemon. "I was a strollin' down, thinkin' between ourselves how uncommon handy a four of gin hot would be."
Beaune — a type of wine, a red burgundy which is produced in the region around Beaune in the east of France. In The Sign of Four, poor Watson admonishes himself for not confronting Holmes about his frequent drug use but, after a bit of courage from his wine glass, feels he can approach the subject. “Yet upon that afternoon, whether it was the Beaune which I had taken with my lunch, or the additional exasperation produced by the extreme deliberation of his manner, I suddenly felt that I could hold out no longer.”
Whiskey-pegs — this is a drink made from whiskey mixed with sugar and lemon or lime juice as mentioned by Jonathan Small in The Sign of Four, when describing how nonchalantly his boss Mr. Abelwhite took news of the great mutiny. “He had it in his head that the affair had been exaggerated, and that it would blow over as suddenly as it had sprung up. There he sat on his veranda, drinking whiskey-pegs and smoking cheroots, while the country was in a blaze about him.”
Comet vintage — refers to wines where, prior to harvest, there has been a significant astrological event such as a big comet. It is also used by wine experts to describe wine which is of an exceptional quality and who believe that these astrological events help to create great wine vintages. Spoken by Watson in The Adventure of the Stock Broker’s Clerk to describe the expression of Holmes when he is told, again, of Mr. Pycroft’s mystery employer. “Then Sherlock Holmes cocked his eye at me, leaning back on the cushions with a pleased and yet critical face, like a connoisseur who has just taken his first sip of a comet vintage.”
On a more general Victorian note:
Lamb’s wool - this is a traditional Irish drink made from apples, spices, and milk (yum). Dating as far back as the 16th century, the Victorians served it during holy days and it gets its name from the frothy foam that forms on the top which looks like lamb’s coat. Now, doesn't THAT sound appataising on a hot day. What do you mean, no? tsk.
And from the wonderful book of Mrs Beeton:
RUBARB WINE
INGREDIENTS.—To every 5 lbs. of rhubarb pulp allow 1 gallon of cold spring water; to every gallon of liquor allow 3 lbs. of loaf sugar, 1/2 oz. of isinglass, the rind of 1 lemon.
Stay cool everybody!
Nicko x
I am surprised I can actually write this seeing as I am nothing more than a puddle on the floor at the moment. At least I have a legitimate excuse to eat ice cream and do very little whilst wearing only my underwear. Apologies if you are eating.
Well, it's finally happened. I have a date for the publication of my book and if you are super keen to buy it, it's now available as a pre-order on Amazon so just click the link below.
BUY MY BOOK SO I CAN BUY MORE BAD MOVIES!
I'm very happy that they decided to take the Dr. Off my name, it makes me seem stuffy and the book is far from stuffy.
The book is officially available from July 19th and, oddly enough, that is the day I will be arriving at Bovey Castle in Dartmoor...I shall as always, keep my eyes out for Monstorous hounds.
On a non-Holmes front, I am also happy to announce that my short film "Alan" is getting his premier at Chapter Arts Centre on August 5th, we shall also be doing a Bad Film Club after it. Seeing as my film is "batshit crazy" we're showing another film that is just as mind-blowingly odd, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Lord help us all.
Seeing as we are roasting and sweating I thought this blog's theme would be drinks and I've also added TWO victorian cocktail recipes from Mrs Beeton which are not disgusting. I KNOW! So, grab a glass and let's get sipping.
A four of gin hot — a phrase used in A Study in Scarlet by Constable John Rance as he recounted the events of the evening to Holmes. A four of gin hot was a drink which was regarded as having the same warming medicinal value as a hot toddy. It consisted of fourpence worth of gin with hot water and lemon. "I was a strollin' down, thinkin' between ourselves how uncommon handy a four of gin hot would be."
Beaune — a type of wine, a red burgundy which is produced in the region around Beaune in the east of France. In The Sign of Four, poor Watson admonishes himself for not confronting Holmes about his frequent drug use but, after a bit of courage from his wine glass, feels he can approach the subject. “Yet upon that afternoon, whether it was the Beaune which I had taken with my lunch, or the additional exasperation produced by the extreme deliberation of his manner, I suddenly felt that I could hold out no longer.”
Whiskey-pegs — this is a drink made from whiskey mixed with sugar and lemon or lime juice as mentioned by Jonathan Small in The Sign of Four, when describing how nonchalantly his boss Mr. Abelwhite took news of the great mutiny. “He had it in his head that the affair had been exaggerated, and that it would blow over as suddenly as it had sprung up. There he sat on his veranda, drinking whiskey-pegs and smoking cheroots, while the country was in a blaze about him.”
Comet vintage — refers to wines where, prior to harvest, there has been a significant astrological event such as a big comet. It is also used by wine experts to describe wine which is of an exceptional quality and who believe that these astrological events help to create great wine vintages. Spoken by Watson in The Adventure of the Stock Broker’s Clerk to describe the expression of Holmes when he is told, again, of Mr. Pycroft’s mystery employer. “Then Sherlock Holmes cocked his eye at me, leaning back on the cushions with a pleased and yet critical face, like a connoisseur who has just taken his first sip of a comet vintage.”
On a more general Victorian note:
Lamb’s wool - this is a traditional Irish drink made from apples, spices, and milk (yum). Dating as far back as the 16th century, the Victorians served it during holy days and it gets its name from the frothy foam that forms on the top which looks like lamb’s coat. Now, doesn't THAT sound appataising on a hot day. What do you mean, no? tsk.
And from the wonderful book of Mrs Beeton:
RUBARB WINE
INGREDIENTS.—To every 5 lbs. of rhubarb pulp allow 1 gallon of cold spring water; to every gallon of liquor allow 3 lbs. of loaf sugar, 1/2 oz. of isinglass, the rind of 1 lemon.
Gather the rhubarb about the middle of May; wipe it with a wet cloth, and, with a mallet, bruise it in a large wooden tub or other convenient means. When reduced to a pulp, weigh it, and to every 5 lbs. add 1 gallon of cold spring water; let these remain for 3 days, stirring 3 or 4 times a day; and, on the fourth day, press the pulp through a hair sieve; put the liquor into a tub, and to every gallon put 3 lbs. of loaf sugar; stir in the sugar until it is quite dissolved, and add the lemon-rind; let the liquor remain, and, in 4, 5, or 6 days, the fermentation will begin to subside, and a crust or head will be formed, which should be skimmed off, or the liquor drawn from it, when the crust begins to crack or separate.
Put the wine into a cask, and if, after that, it ferments, rack it off into another cask, and in a fortnight stop it down. If the wine should have lost any of its original sweetness, add a little more loaf sugar, taking care that the cask is full. Bottle it off in February or March, and in the summer it should be fit to drink. It will improve greatly by keeping; and, should a very brilliant colour be desired, add a little currant-juice.
A PLEASANT DRINK FOR WARM WEATHER.
INGREDIENTS.—To every 1-1/2 pint of good ale allow 1 bottle of ginger beer. Mode.—For this beverage the ginger beer must be in an effervescing state, and the beer not in the least turned or sour. Mix them together, and drink immediately. The draught is refreshing and wholesome, as the ginger corrects the action of the beer. It does not deteriorate by standing a little, but, of course, is better when taken fresh.
Stay cool everybody!
Nicko x
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