The Journalist

Our Project Begins!
This week, we're thrilled to put the finishing touches on Thursday Happy Hour's online environment -- soon, we'll let all our friends know about it. But even as Gary snaps a few shots of my favorite happy hour at home cocktail, the Journalist, and I jot down how he makes it, I worry a little that this side project of ours to record our Thursdays might ruin the whole tradition. Hmm. A sip of my golden Journalist -- cloudy with lemon and bitters, but sweet enough to smile over -- erases the thought. This is too fun.

Here's our version of the recipe for an icy Journalist -- and Gary's secret for keeping it interesting.

The Inspiration "I may have lost the heart of the original recipe; it changes a little every time. It just depends what we have on hand. "In the past, I've substituted the lemon with sweet and sour or Rose's Lime, or a fresh lime. Vodka instead of gin. Lillet (French aperitif wine) instead of dry vermouth. This week, I tried a new blood orange bitters I found at BevMo. It smells so good." ~Gary

The Drink The Journalist, adapted from a classic: 2 1/2 oz gin 1 teaspoon sweet vermouth 1 teaspoon dry vermouth 1 teaspoon triple sec The juice of 1/2 a lemon 2 dashes of bitters Combine ingredients. Shake with ice. Strain into cocktail glass. Serve up with a twist of lemon.

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