What beverage goes best with palms?

[palmmermaid]

Gina,

A glass of sherry around a pinion fire sounds great!  I think you have been warmer there than we have.  Our high yesterday was only 76 and it is in the 60's at night.

We have been sitting on the back porch sipping red wine in the evenings.  We are usually out there around sunset so we see all the birds waking up and going to bed.  Lovely time of day.

Have you ever tried the sherry from the San Sebastian Winery in St. Augustine?  It is divine!  It is made using the solera method where the new is funneld down into the old barrels.  Wonderful.

[metalfan]

We've had good daytime temps, but cool nights last week (we had 38 earlier this week, eek!). Its back up around the mid-50's to 60 at night for this week.

I might have indulged in some red wine when it was cold, but my hubby was in Philadelphia all week at a meeting and its no fun to bundle up and sit out at night all alone, LOL.

I actually have not tried that sherry but I will look for it! The sherry I really, really like is frequently unavailable because its only made in certain years and I guess it gets snapped up when a new batch hits the stores. Its called Imperial Corregidor. I love Tawney ports too. I try to limit my consumption though due to the *extremely high* sugar content of those yummy beverages!

[palmmermaid]

I haven't tried the one you mention.  I will be on the lookout for it.

You are right, it isn't fun to bundle up and drink alone.  That can lead to all sorts of morbid side effects.

I think I've finally gotten my husband over the idea that when you open a bottle it isn't necessary to consume the entire bottle in one seating!  One year we were decorating the CHristmas tree and having sherry.  I had 1 glass and he had 3 or 4, laying on the couch while I did the work.  After I was done I wanted to sit and admire the tree.  He said he needed to go to bed.  He didn't know why he was so sleepy and tired!

[metalfan]

We feel sort of compelled to finish a bottle of wine because my husband is "picky" and won't drink "left over" wine.

My policy is, its good for at least 4 days on the fridge, but he won't even have it the next day!

Has anyone tried the premixed Shmirnoff vodka Mojitos? I am curious if they are any good.

[palmmermaid]

I'm glad my husband isn't quite that picky!  We usually finish a bottle in a couple of days.

Haven't tried that mix.  I am a purist with some drinks - mojitos being one of them.  I always make them from scratch.  The same is true of caipirainas (I don't think I got the spelling right) and juleps. And sazaracs - one of my favorites.  I just have a really hard time find Peychaud's bitters and Herbsaint.  Thank goodness for the internet and shipping!

[amazondk]

Kitty,

It is Caiprinhas.  Since I don't use sugar I just use squeezed lime aand cachaça mixed together.  They make caipirinhas with all kinds of fruit in Brazil, passion fruit, kiwi, and others.

dk

[palmmermaid]

Don,

Thanks for the correction!  I tis one of my favorite drinks.  A friend brought me a bottle of the liquor back and it was gone in a short time - about a month.  Tha's short considering I have other bottles of liquor that languish for years in my closet.

[metalfan]

I had a really good cocktail this last weekend....a Champagne Mojito. It had all the regular Mojito stuff, but instead of using club soda as the filler, they used Champagne! It was very yummy.

I am not a huge cocktail drinker. In college, my drink of choice was gin and tonic, tequila shots with a 'bite-o'lime' or a good margarita. I never did sweet stuff like Rum and Coke, Pina Coladas or fruit drinks with liquor...for me that was a certain trip to Barfsville. I like the kinda sour-edgy drinks.

Then I gave up liquor altogether and only drank wine for many years. Only this last summer did I discover the Mojito and now its my absolute favorite drink, made with either mint or basil.

[amazondk]

Ktty,

In Brazil anyone can distill alcohol.  In certain areas like the state of Minas Gerais certain farmers have developed very high end cachaça which is even aged in oak casks.  In fact it cost more than Scotch Whiskey here.  Cachaça differs from Rum in that it is distilled from sugar cane mash instead of molasses (which rum is).  Caipirinhas are normally only made from cheaper types of cachaça.  The better varieties are best consumed chilled in a shot glass.

dk

[palmmermaid]

Don,

I like the cachaca is clear and yummy on the rocks with just a slice of lime.  My friend brought me some of the high end stuff.  It was really good.  It is hard to find here in the the states.  Nice to know you can brew your own without the G-men coming after you!  And it definitely has a better taste than rum.

[DoomsDave]

This is timeless.

[tjwalters]

When it's hot - Thai iced coffee (or iced Vietnamese with coconut milk)

When it's not - Hot Vietnamese coffee

For all other situations - coffee, espresso, cappuccino, etc.

(Did I mention coffee?)

[Trópico]

Nothing screams palms more than Piña Colada with white Bacardi.

[JASON M]

When the work is being done, for me it is plain old Bud Light straight from the can.

In viewing mode only, a Greg Norman Cabernet does it for me.  Unless it is a really hot midsummer day, in which case I may revert back to the Bud Light.

And on a cool/cold morning, nothing beats an early walk through the gardens with a steaming cup of dark roast coffee.

So, what beverage heightens your palm viewing pleasure?

~

Pina Coladas!

[yachtingone]

Fun topic Keith.

I agree nothing like first thing in the morning. Peace and quiet, sun just coming up, hot air balloons launching out of wine country, strolling around the yard, with a nice steaming cup-O-java.

Later in day, nothing better than a cold frosty one or two or three.

Matt. Did you run outta fingers or beer?

[DoomsDave]

Beer!

[Jeff Searle]

This past weekend, Andrea just made the first of many batches for this summer, Brandy Slushies. It's a frozen slushie mix of brandy, ice tea, lemonade, among other things. You really don't taste the Brandy in it. You put this mixture in a glass and add sprite. It's truely a refreshing, slushy drink to enjoy when it's hot outside.

Jeff

[John Case]

When working in the garden and toward the finish for the day, Pacifico Clara. When sitting in the garden relexing, a fine red wine with some cheese. At Dick Douglas' home, vodka!

[DoomsDave]

Hmm.

Early in the day, orange juice with sparkly water & ice (too much, and you get Diharrea . . ); or just plain water.

Or, as long as power equipment or anything with a sharp blade is being used, including pruners and shears, and bow saws. Or, Ellyn the Tree Shredder.

Once the heavy artillery is retired for the day, then, some beer or wine . . . . .drink, drink, drink Typrolia . . .

[Kim]

There is a seasonality to this question, and of course time of day, as others have mentioned. In the early morning Point Loma fog, a robust cup of dark roast with milk, steam rising from a mug is the best way to go. On one of those rare, crystal clear, warm September mornings when the sound carries long distances, a chilled glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice is a nice brightener, the coffee to follow. Mid-day, taking a break from working in the garden, sparkling water is nice, especially with some fresh lemon squeezed into it. If it's winter, I might go for a cup of earl grey tea with a drop of honey in it. When the sun is over the yardarm, my typical choice will be a glass of red wine, or in warmer weather I'll go for a chilled sauvignon blanc.

At the recent biennial in Brazil, I had multiple opportunities to sample the local cachaça, as described by amazondk above, in the form of caipirinha. The first lesson: one is enough! But the rum with lime was so tasty, I had to seek it out at home. BevMo had three different brands, and I picked up two, clueless about quality and the finer distinctions between them. We've refined our recipe, and now have it balanced just right, a refreshing addition to a walk among the little palms in the garden.

[edbrown_III]

A nice bucket of Dilmah extra strength tea in the morning. A couple of Toohey's extra drys through the day, and Bundy in the afternoon...yummo!

And if I'm workin...water, water, water...

Daryl

I agree with Daryl water water and ice tea!

But in my pretend rainforest a few Brahmas and Xingus ( I cant spell write)

and I am on a Brasilian vacation

Best regards

Ed

[palmcurry]

Nothing beats H2O. The stuff of life.

In the morning I have tea and juice carrots, celery and whatever else I can throw in. Kinda like the thought of drinkin the plants while I look at the plants as I go to the green house and open the vents each morning. Then I go to my compost station and mix in the pulp from the juice. Thats my daily ritual before I go to work.

The dayjob is a laborous one so each evening when I get home( n'weekends too)I like my beerz cold and fridge full. Sierra Nevada or any California IPA.

[KPL]

I couldn't agree more, water is the best drink on the planet.

Try it hot with lemon, honey and ginger any time of the day.

Karolyn

[John in Andalucia]

For me it's water, tea or instant coffee. No milk or sugar in the last two. Maybe a "tinto de verano" (red wine and lemonade) in summer if I'm done with the chores. I rarely drink alcohol these days.

[The Germinator]

When the work is being done, for me it is plain old Bud Light straight from the can.

In viewing mode only, a Greg Norman Cabernet does it for me.  Unless it is a really hot midsummer day, in which case I may revert back to the Bud Light.

And on a cool/cold morning, nothing beats an early walk through the gardens with a steaming cup of dark roast coffee.

So, what beverage heightens your palm viewing pleasure?

Bud Light is the Washingtonia robusta of beers, If your planting top shelf palms then you need to drink top shelf beer.