I once lived a very dreamy city life- studying Spanish films by day, walking big stretches of the city by afternoon, studying art history in El Prado, then hitting any number of the historical theaters for after-class entertainment. I’d return home to my apartment to sit on the balcony and watch the Madrileños dip late into the night.
It was the summer I spent navigating Madrid as part of a study abroad program- a bubble of culture and academia that mostly protected me from real world stresses. During that summer, I befriended a fellow student named Julia, who shared my passion for the arts and cultural outings. She encouraged me to attend several operas and plays with her. Recently, Julia called to ask for my insider’s perspective on living in Pittsburgh. With a potential move from NYC on her horizon, she wanted to know, “Is there enough variety to keep you entertained?”
“Uh… I have a dog.”
You crazy dog people get me, right?
I used to make the rounds to all the “it” restaurants and bars, nibbling varieties of tartare and sipping all the bourbon cocktail variants. Back then, I may have told you the Pittsburgh dining scene was growing, and it was a big part of why I stayed in Pittsburgh, but it still left a lot to be desired. Then, I brought home my puppy.
In the early puppy days, I stayed home from a place of pure necessity peppered with exhaustion. Here was this brand new creature trying to acclimate to my world. Furthermore, she was growing exponentially, and I didn’t want to miss any of that puppy cuteness. Quite frankly, it’s surprising I was able to hold a job during that puppy period.
Julep grew, she settled, the Urban Farmer joined us, and by that point, I felt better drinking a cocktail at home then going to the same routine of places. Some may say I am old. Some may say I’m content. I say, “have you seen how cute my dog is?”
Around these cute dog parts, we typically stick to wine and whiskey on the rocks, but every once in a while, I’ll try my hand at frantically shaking the ol’ cocktail shaker like a tattooed, mustached mixologist. Every once in a while, a box with my name on it arrives from my friends at Tamworth Distilling, and we have an even fancier excuse to stay home to drink cocktails. In the case of this snail mail, we had a bright, golden reason to stay home: Von Humboldt’s Natur Wasser Turmeric Cordial.
I may have trouble navigating my work/life balance, a destination as illusive as the Bermuda Triangle, but that’s where happy hour comes in I suppose. This floral spirit is dedicated to Alexander von Humboldt, a true explorer who navigated Latin America in the early 1800s. Von Humboldt “was a Prussian geographer, naturalist, explorer, and influential proponent of Romantic philosophy and science.” In short, he was the type of guy I’d want at a cocktail party entertaining my guests and scientifically validating the cuteness of my dog.
So friends, whether the city life beckons, or your home life pulls the hardest, here’s a cocktail for your happy hour sipping. It’s bright, fresh and floral. If you happen to be a Brooklynite with a penchant for leaving your apartment, here’s all the places serving up cordial cocktails. If you, like me, are holed away in a place that is not Brooklyn, you might consider having this spirit arrive at your door. It makes staying home and cuddling your dog that much easier.
Santé!
P.S: I did receive product in exchange for this post, but all sips and opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support With The Grains.
The Expedition
from Tamworth Distilling
About this Recipe: Turmeric on its own is quite a powerful, bitter flavor, so Tamworth’s distillers “combine it with the floral piquant of coriander seed and rose petal to smooth things out, then lemon zest to bring them together, underscoring the bitterness and opening up the spice on the nose. The final result is worthy of any discerning globetrotter’s amaro line-up: an earthy modifier that is able to stand up in a cocktail as a base, serve as an intriguing addition to a drink, or be sipped on its own as a digestif.” This cocktail is straight from the experts at Tamworth, so start shakin’!
Ingredients
2 oz. Von Humboldt’s Turmeric Cordial
1 oz. fresh lemon
1/2 oz. honey syrup
3-4 thin slices of cucumber
Directions
Muddle cucumbers in bottom of a shaker, add all liquid ingredients, and shake with ice. Strain into a coupe glass, and garnish with a cucumber floating on top.
Enjoy!
