Cocktail of the Month - Manhattan

Well, the time finally came for our first monthly Cocktail Hour. As outlined in The List, we are going to try one new cocktail per month with our good friends that live in Milwaukee....through the amazing world of technology, of course.

This plan was hatched not too long after I posted The List to my blog.  Shelley and I were on face time talking about The List, while Robin was also plotting how she could convince Shelley to try a new cocktail every month.  And so, voila!  The Monthly Cocktail Hour was born!  (Lucky for all involved!)  AND....for Christmas, Robin and Shelley put together a kick sha-booty basket that included all kinds of fun cocktail-ey, bartender-ey goodness.  And while we were out on the town in Chicago with them we set a standing virtual date....the first Sunday of each month.

Since this was our first one, earlier in the day we swapped texts yesterday regarding how this would work.

We have a plan!
Yes, the reference to Ruffie's might have something to do with a VERY potent drink I had recently....yowza!  But NOT to Cocktail Hour.

So, here we go.  The bar and ingredients, and of course, Sweet Sarah is ready to bartend! 

No idea why it's so blurry (I promise I hadn't been drinking at this point!)

The drink for January was a Manhattan.  (and I must say that up until last night I had NO idea it was STRAIGHT!!!!  stick straight.  no messin' around, ALL Al-key-haul!!!!)

Cheers!!!

And then.......then.....I'm pretty sure I channeled Steve Carell in "40 year old Virgin" when he has his chest hair waxed.  

HOLY.MOTHER.BE THOU MY VISION IT'S UNLEADED DIESEL MY THROAT IS ON FIRE BURN BURN BURN JOHNNY CASH NO YOU DIDN'T DEEP BREATHS...DEEP BREATHS IN THROUGH THE NOSE OUT THROUGH THE MOUTH.  BREATHE.  BREATHE.....

REALLY???!!!  REALLY??!!!  People really drink these things?

Shelley and Sweet Sarah had nearly the same response.  I remember hearing, "well that'll put hair on your chest."  Robin on the other hand?  Well, she likes Jack.  Jack Daniels.  So this little sweet thing in a glass was right up her alley!

But to be fair I think we should apply some sort or ranking or rating to this Cocktail of the Month.  So here it is (I'm totally doing this without the other participants.  Next month, we'll do this virtually and I'll report out.  Perhaps, they'll be so kind to comment below)

Ease in Making:            Easy Cheesey
Standard Bar Ingredients:  No.  Two kinds of Vermouth?  Come on!
Palette Pleasing Rank:     Wicked!  Not pleasing!


Needless, to say this is how cocktail hour ended....Wine.  A nice glass of red wine!

So, stay tuned for February.  Rumor has it the cocktail might be a bit sweeter.