The plum honey was ready yesterday so I decided to put this on. Not entirely happy with it quite yet but here’s something odd…Angel and I burned our taste buds out last week trying the high proof noyaux. All week the tip of my tongue has been sensitive and when I try anything with alcohol it tastes…Off. I didn’t think much of it for whatever reason but he turned to me yesterday before service and said, “Does the tip of your tongue feel like it’s burned?” Yes, oh yes. We discussed our identical symptoms.

A quick search on the Googs tells me this is a thing. You can burn your taste buds out with high proof hootch such as the 192 proof noyaux we were stupid enough to try without watering it down. And not just that but the 138 proof O.F.T.D. rum version of noyaux we also tried afterward. Something about the cherry pits made it worse too. Hey, you’ve got to learn your lessons the hard way most of the time. Amirite?

This concoction is for my amazing lady, Jo. It was her last day yesterday. She’s moving on to greener pastures. I’m normally stoic in these situations and then reflect later, so expect more emotions down the line. Not seeing her everyday at work will probably hit me later next week like a tsunami. Her time there is significant in many ways. For one, she was there for nine goddam years. She was the very first person I saw at Rustic when I went in there for an interview. I looked in the front door and gave it a light knock and she appeared. This blonde goddess in a sundress and heels. Jesus Christ. I’ve written about this before. There was a moment where I thought to myself, “Holy shit, what a knockout,” before I had to gather myself for the weirdest job interview I’ve ever had. I sat down in front of a panel of four people who interrogated me. One of them, the famous chef, Jeremy Fox. Yup, pretty weird. When I walked out she smiled at me and said, “How did it go?” I said, “No idea.” I had been unemployed for over a month and was the most down and out I’d been ever. Almost eight years later we live together, betrothed, and have a son who will turn three in a couple of months. Life is crazy, strange, and beautiful. You can’t write this shit.

Swan Song

1.5 oz. Gin

.75 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice

.5 oz. Kumquat Vanilla Pisco

.5 oz. Aperol

Big .25 oz. Salted Plum Honey

Top with prosecco

Double strain into a large coupe.

I typically stay away from bubbles in drinks but people like them. I may switch this over to champagne because prosecco is nasty…But it’s totally possible the burnt tip of my tongue isn calling all the shots. I really can’t taste any liquids with alcohol properly. So odd. It’s getting better but still not great.