Drinks with Friends
Tips to Rock Your Zoom Happy Hour
In this brave new world of social isolation, technology has offered us a sort of lifeline. Zoom happy hours and parties have taken the edge off our growing desire to give ourselves a haircut. Here are some tongue-in-cheek tips for making the most of your virtual soirée.
Concoct something special. For one recent online birthday party, we all toasted with a Sazerac. Our local market procured some exquisitely blended Fluid Dynamics–1850 Cocktail from Tamar Distillery. Crispin, the distiller himself, joined us remotely to describe how he crafts the perfect blend of Low Gap Whiskey, Germain-Robin Brandy, with a hint of absinthe. So good!
Dress up. Pants may not be required in any head and shoulders Zoom meeting, but you never know when you might have to get up, exposing your Tinkerbell PJs to your friends. Raise the bar and wear a fabulous hat, tiara, or ascot.
Have a topic. It’s easy for Zoom conversations, especially if alcohol is involved, to devolve into friends talking over each other and confusion. Put out a fun question and take turns sharing your quarantine philosophy, post-pandemic party plan, or (thanks Lia) best coronavirus movie titles: Germs of Endearment, Edward Washyourhands, Coughablanca, 10 Things I Hate about Flu, The Great Gaspy . . . ok, we’ll stop.
Don’t be afraid to mute. As host, you can ensure that everyone has a nice time by muting the person whose dog won’t stop barking or who has forgotten online party etiquette. Just don’t forget to unmute them at some point.
Play a game. Whether using an app like Jackbox.tv or Houseparty, loosen people up with some silly competition. Quick: What three countries count as an “enclave” or a nation completely surrounded by another nation? No Googling. First person to message Word of Mouth magazine on Facebook or Instagram gets a fun prize.
Toast in gratitude. Each of us is experiencing our own challenges and stress while we shelter in place. Be sure to give thanks for the gifts that we have and the friends and loved ones that we will hug to pieces as soon as we safely can. Cheers to that!
Classic Sazerac
The official cocktail of New Orleans, the Sazerac has been around since the 1800s. Originally it used a brandy base but switched over to rye whiskey as that spirit became more available. Full of complex depth, if you put on a Preservation Blues Band album and close your eyes, you just might be transported to the streets of the Big Easy.
2-3 large ice cubes
½ oz Absinthe
1 sugar cube
4 dashes bitters
1-¼ oz rye whiskey
1-¼ oz fine brandy
Fresh lemon peel
Rinse a chilled tumbler with the absinthe, discarding any excess. In a cocktail mixing glass, muddle sugar cube and bitters. Add ice, rye, and brandy, stirring until fully chilled. Strain into prepared glass. Twist lemon peel over the drink to release oils and place atop the cocktail as garnish.
