Saturday Sips

Saturday Sips – Rum

Warning: If you’re not of legal drinking age, this is not the place for you.
Appleton RumYo ho ho and a bottle of rum! You don’t have to be a pirate to enjoy this tasty distilled alcohol. Rum comes from sugar cane, sometimes in the form of molasses, sometimes directly from the cane juice. There are a large variety of rums to be found, but my favorite is Appleton Special Gold, which I first tasted in Jamaica (where it comes from).

Rum comes in colors/tastes, including:

  • Light
  • Golden
  • Dark
  • Spiced
  • Overproof
  • and Flavored.

Each of these has special characteristics. Rum is popular all over the world, and the most popular brand in the US is Bacardi, which comes in quite a few flavors, and also the famous 151 overproof.

And now, for your sip of one of my books.

Cover: Spanking Her HighnessThis is from Spanking Her Highness, my most recent release at Blushing Books and Amazon. There’s no alcohol drinking in this book, but they do like their sweet tea, which makes me think of some of the rum cocktails I’ve had over the years.

This is a PG-13 rated excerpt, but please bear in mind, this is an erotic spanking romance.

The sitting room where Arthur sent her was a little more familiar to her than the main room. Some of the features were memorable from the day of the incident, though she hadn’t gotten a full impression of the place through her tears and upset. It smelled warm from the late-afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows, and there was a slight scent of lemon furniture wax.

It wasn’t long after her tea was served that Will came into the room. He looked a little tired, and the line between his brows was deeper as well. However, he greeted her with a big smile on his face. “It’s my favorite neighbor! Come to visit?”

A gentle thrill went through her at the sight of him. He was so handsome, with his sun-tipped dark red hair and bright eyes. Queenie tamped down the urge to run her hands over his broad shoulders and thick biceps.

Shaking her head slightly, she quickly came to the matter which drew her to visit.“Not exactly. The sheriff is having some trouble figuring out who tried to ram me the other day. I was hoping you might remember something I said.” A slight heat brushed her cheeks. “I was a little…upset.”

He sat next to her on the couch. “Yeah, you were. Well…you didn’t say much.”

She rose. “I’m sorry to have bothered you.”

Will took her hand and pulled her back down beside him. “You’re not bothering me. Let’s see…you said that you’d been hit by an SUV, and that you thought the driver was trying to run you off into the drainage ditch.”

“Did I describe the driver?”

“Not really. You thought it was a woman.”

Queenie sighed. It looked like she’d been so hysterical that all she’d done was blubber. She withdrew her hand from his and knotted her fingers together in her lap. She watched Will’s face, looking for any hint of new information. “That’s all I said?”

He nodded, covering her hands with one of his while he brushed his fingertips along her cheek. As she’d done before, she leaned into that warm hand, then caught herself. “I should go.”

“Don’t go.”

Will got closer, and she could feel his breath against her lips.

“I…I can’t stay.”

“No?”

His lips hovered over hers, nearly touching her.

“Please…”

“I thought you’d never ask.” Will’s lips took hers in a searing kiss.

Now, I think I’d like a little rum cocktail to slow my rapid pulse. What shall it be? Rum and coke? Cuba libré? Mai Tai? Daiquiri? Rum Punch?

Oh I know…

Bahama Mama (recipe found on The Hooch Life)
(This one kicks like a mule, and in the Bahamas they make it so strong, it’s enough to remove paint. Before you order one, be sure to have a designated driver.)

Ingredients (makes 1 drink)
3/4 ounce White Rum
3/4 ounce Anejo Rum (ED: Anejo means aged. One aged brand is Appleton Estate 21 Year – but it sells for more than $100 per bottle.)
3/4 ounce Dark Rum
1/2 ounce Coconut Rum
3 ounces Unsweetened Pineapple Juice
2 ounces Fresh Orange Juice
2 tsp Classic Grenadine
1 dash Angostura Bitters

(Adding a little more Grenadine makes it sweeter and more pink in color.)

Method:
Put all ingredients and a couple of handfuls of ice in a shaker, shake well, and serve in a hurricane glass. It can also be served on the rocks (don’t put the ice in the shaker, put them in the glass) or as a frozen drink (put the whole thing and ice in a blender and crank the baby up to frappé).

Here’s a fun rum video. It’s called “Why Is The Rum Gone?” You’ll see why.

Have a healthy, happy, mostly sober Saturday!

Saturday Sips – Gin

Bathtub gin. Ever heard of that? It was a Prohibition-era artifact. Because liquor was against the law, enterprising folks would gin some up (pun intended) in the bathtub where they’d set up an illegal distilling operation. Many of these distillations proved to be pure poison, occasionally blinding or killing the unlucky drinker. Consequently, “bathtub gin” got quite an unsavory reputation.

In case you haven’t guessed, today is gin day on Patricia Green Books. Belly up to the bar, where I’m serving Gin Rickeys, Gin & Tonics, and, of course, Traditional Martinis (with double olives, of course).

Cover: Strong, Silent TypeI went through my books and couldn’t find anyone drinking gin. This is a total oversight, and I promise I’ll remedy it in a future book. But, if you’ll allow me, I’ll offer a little of my most recent release, The Strong, Silent Type. Readers seem to be enjoying this book, and my hope is that you will too. Let me tantalize you with a taste.

The afternoon had been taken up by a drunk and disorderly complaint and some coordination of cases with the BIA security office on the reservation. When four-thirty came around, Drake was tired and tense. The idea of meeting with Mae excited him and filled him with dread.

He heard her car on the blacktop outside, took a deep breath and came out of his office to greet her. No one else was in the station; they were alone.

“Hi, Chief.” She offered a hug, but he held out his hand. If he held her, he might not be able to let go. As it was, he felt an electric bolt through his body when she returned his handshake. She looked a little puzzled, and her eyes roamed the little station, then turned back to him with a silent question.

“Yes, we’re alone.”

“Oh.” She flipped back a lock of red curls and smiled gently. “So…”

Drake took his eyes off her face and tried not to give her a once-over. She wore a little summer sundress with a bright floral pattern. She was adorable and sexy, both.

“Right,” he said, finding his voice. “Come into my office.”

She followed him and sat in a chair across from his desk. He admired her slender, smooth legs as she crossed them at the ankles primly.

“Well, let’s get right to it. I have a voice recording—the greeting from a person’s cell phone—and I’m wondering if you can tell me if the voice sounds like the second robber.”

“I’ll try. I didn’t sleep well last night. Nightmares about the robbery. I can’t guarantee that I’ll be much help. But I’ll give it my best shot. I don’t mean shot, what I mean to say was–“

“I understand.”

“I want to help. Go ahead.”

If you’ve been following Horny Hump Day here, you’ll have a pretty good idea what transpires in that office. If not…You can get The Strong, Silent Type at Blushing Books, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Although a bright Gin Rickey made with Citadelle brand gin is my favorite summertime gin cocktail, I thought you might like this one from the Citadelle site:

Saturday in the Park

Citadell GinIngredients:
1.5 oz. Citadelle Gin
– .75 oz. Aperol *
– .5 oz. Laird’s Applejack
– .5 oz. Green Chartreuse
– .25 oz. Mathilde Pear Liqueur

Method:
Crack solid ice cubes and half-fill a shaker. Fill the rest of the way with solid cubes. Add all ingredients. Stir approximately 30 times. Strain into a glass and garnish with a lemon peel.

* Aperol is a low-alcohol liqueur that’s a lot like Campari.

Bottom’s up!

Oh right… the video clip. This week’s clip was a tough one. No one does a decent job singing about gin. All you songsters out there had better get busy—there’s a niche to be filled. Anyway, I thought it almost as appropriate to post a song by the Gin Blossoms. Do you know what the term “gin blossom” actually refers to? It refers to the pattern of broken capillaries one finds on the nose and cheeks of a person who imbibes rather too much gin too regularly. Not a pretty sight.

Here’s the vid. “Follow You Down” by the Gin Blossoms.

Saturday Sips – Vodka Day

сердечный привет (serdechnyĭ privet, or in English, hearty greetings), my friends!

Square One Cucumber VodkaToday is Vodka day on Patricia Green Books. Why? Because it’s my birthday, and ice cold vodka is perfect to celebrate a hot summer birthday dinner of chilled caviar, blini, and all the fixin’s. My favorite vodka is Square One Cucumber. It’s an “organic” vodka with a wonderful, crisp taste and smooth finish.

I looked through all my books, and realized that I didn’t have anyone drinking vodka. What an oversight on my part! However, I do have a Belorussian hero in my Daughter of the Moon books. I would imagine he’d enjoy a freezer-chilled shot of vodka now and then. Here’s a little snippet from Daughter of the Moon, Book 1: Surface. This is one of my older books, before the time when head-hopping became a no-no in pop literature, so forgive my old-fashioned prose a bit, please.

You might recall, this book is set in the future, and the customs there are rather more free-wheeling and open-minded. Our hero, Mikhail, has won a weekend with Sonata as a game prize. She’s not so sure she likes it, but when they kiss…

“She’s yours, Mikhail.  Game over,” stated Larry.  “Dinner will be in about twenty minutes,” he announced to all.

“Stand up,” commanded Mikhail looking down at Sonata, and people paused to watch, anticipating fireworks.

Sonata stood slowly, looking both angry and hurt.  Her eyes met his, and he saw her fury.  He liked her anger.  It was evidence of her spirit; something he had been afraid Charles had snuffed out.  Mikhail found her exquisitely beautiful, her green eyes flashing, chin tilted in defiance, fists clenched.

“Kiss me,” he said.  More people turned to watch.  Sonata was tall, but the top of her head still only reached his chin.  She glared at him, but rose on tip toe and kissed his lips, like a sister.  She knew it was not what he wanted and his frown was gratifying.  “No.  Kiss me the way a woman kisses a man she’ll be sleeping with,” he rumbled.  Sly chuckles could be heard all around her.

She blushed crimson, and itched to smack him, but honor was honor.  Both her hands reached around his neck, and pulled his head toward hers.  Her soft lips met his gently, playing upon his firm mouth slowly.  His hands trailed down her back to cup her buttocks and pull her hard against him.  His tongue darted out to tease her lips open, and she lost her breath as his kiss became demanding, forceful.  His tongue plundered her soft mouth, coaxing a response from her which she could not have anticipated.

Her plan to bite him was lost.  She could feel the hardness of his manhood against her belly and felt a warm surge beginning deep within.  The crowd cheered and clapped.  Sonata was surprised at her own disappointment when he broke away from her.

“Much better.” He grinned, perfectly in control.  “Remember where we left off.”  He patted her bottom and strode away.

Sonata stood there for about thirty seconds, her anger returning, feeling somewhat humiliated.  It was just a kiss after all.  But her body felt so tingly, so affected.  Waste!  What was happening here?

Mikhail might be the Belorussian, but I’d have to say that Sonata is the one who needs that shot of vodka right about now.

Here’s my page about Daughter of the Moon, Book 1: Surface, with blurb and buy links and a longer excerpt.

Vodka on the RocksIf you’re not into shots, there are all kinds of drinks that use vodka as a base. One of my favorites is a dry, vodka martini. Here’s my personal recipe.

Ingredients:

2 oz chilled vodka
splash of dry vermouth
2 plump, juicy olives (or a twist of lemon)

Method:

Put ice cubes in a martini glass to chill the glass down (or you can start with a chilled glass).

After the glass is somewhat chilled, dump out the ice and pour in a splash of dry vermouth. Twisting and tipping the glass, coat the inside with a thin layer of vermouth and then pour out the remainder.

In a shaker, put in a handful of ice and the vodka and shake vigorously for 20-30 seconds. This “bruises” the vodka and takes some of the astringency off the foretaste.

Pour the vodka into the chilled martini glass and garnish with olives or a lemon twist.

That’s your Saturday Sip for today. And here’s the accompanying video! This is “The Vodka Song” by Seamus Moore. I thought it wonderfully quirky to have an Irishman sing about vodka.