When did this happen? I blinked and all of a sudden there’s kumquats in the walk in, white grapefruit, and even some decent blood oranges. Is it going to be another weird year for fruit? If I remember correctly, “decent” blood oranges usually come around in late February. I say decent because blood oranges are one of the biggest scams of the twenty-first century. Now, cara cara, there’s an orange I can contend with, but blood oranges? All show and no go.

I’m very excited about kumquats. We did all sorts of fun things with the little suckers last year. We made kosho, we double infused after making the most delicious kumquat vanilla syrup. The first infusion was with vodka and once that was finished we made shrub. They have so much flavor they just keep on going. It’s remarkable. We were also receiving some product that was a little under my own standards if I may be so bold. Seedless guys on the drier side. I’m hoping that will be remedied in 2024…Although picking through the seeds ain’t no fun.

I mean, what else do you do with all this citrus? There’s lots of sherbets. That’s the best way to preserve them. Maybe lots of cellos? No, not the one you played in middle school, the limoncello fam fam. I guess we could make tons of those. I’ve already got a Buddhacello going on.

We could do fresh juice and then use the leftover once it “expires” to make sherbet for the same cocktail. I don’t know. I’m feeling a bit unispired these days. Maybe the thing to do is go the opposite way and instead of trying to be part of the new stuff, just be part of the old school and read more cocktail books from the early days. There’s still a lot of what they did that no one does anymore. There’s all sorts of interesting “lost” stuff out there that could be combined with some newish a bit like an east meets west deal except it’s old meets new. Back in the day these guys would cook a lot of stuff, not my favorite because I feel heat ruins fruit sometimes, but they did use it

Shit, maybe I’ll learn to swizzle…I don’t know…I watched a few videos and one of the guys had a lot of “flair” in the form of many pins on his apron…I don’t know…Maybe crushed and pebble ice is overrated…It does get a little too watered down in my opinion. It certainly looks cool but the average person who takes too long to drink their drink will suffer…

Citrus…Citrus…Will it be the same old shit? I used to wait on pins and needles and now could care less. I think stone fruit has become my new fave. Shit man, the greats don’t even think about seasons. Do you think Nico de Soto gives a shit whether or not something is local or in season?

I don’t know anymore. Maybe I actually love citrus…