Diener back @ MU?

[keefe]

And science says tomatos are actually fruit

What about tomatoes?

[Dawson Rental]

What about tomatoes?

No different.

[GOO]

I don't believe in what courts say, I believe in what scientists say.

And science says tomatos are actually fruit, therefore I know that ketchup is really a fruit smoothie.

The laws of nature versus the laws of men. 

If tomatoes were really fruit, that tomato smoothie would actually sound good.    I think that was part of the supreme courts ruling, after going through the different fruit smoothie flavors, the tomato smoothie fell into the vegetable smoothie class.

[AZWarrior]

The laws of nature versus the laws of men. 

If tomatoes were really fruit, that tomato smoothie would actually sound good.    I think that was part of the supreme courts ruling, after going through the different fruit smoothie flavors, the tomato smoothie fell into the vegetable smoothie class.

Isn't "tomato smoothie" just another way of describing a Bloody Mary?

[keefe]

Isn't "tomato smoothie" just another way of describing a Bloody Mary?

I like Bloodies but an ethnic Russian bud in the Ukrainian AF pointed out that additives only bruise perfectly good vodka. My comrade claimed that vodka should only be served ice cold and taken neat.

A few years before I drank with the Russian Air Attaches to Singapore one night and after a rich heavy Russian dinner the wives of Yuri and Oleg set out another feast but in small plates. Russians drink their vodka in half shots and immediately after downing one they tuck into the food.

I noticed that the fare was either pickled or salted - herring, cukes, salo, pig's feet, various greens, beef tongue. They don't eat a lot after each shot but they eat at least one healthy bite. I was there with my bud who was the USAF Air Attache and we consistently made the mistake of not eating after a shot - which would trigger a round of scolding from our former communist hosts. Finally, Oleg informed us that, "if not to eat then you must be very not good tomorrow!" 

I ended up crashing at my buddy's place though I have no idea how we managed that feat. We were scheduled to golf that morning and we both silently acknowledged that was not a good idea. Instead, we trudged over to Newton Circus and choked down some grilled chili sting ray in the vain hope that the sambal would nuke the hangover molecules raging through our brains. 

[Coleman]

I like Bloodies but an ethnic Russian bud in the Ukrainian AF pointed out that additives only bruise perfectly good vodka. My comrade claimed that vodka should only be served ice cold and taken neat.

A few years before I drank with the Russian Air Attaches to Singapore one night and after a rich heavy Russian dinner the wives of Yuri and Oleg set out another feast but in small plates. Russians drink their vodka in half shots and immediately after downing one they tuck into the food.

I noticed that the fare was either pickled or salted - herring, cukes, salo, pig's feet, various greens, beef tongue. They don't eat a lot after each shot but they eat at least one healthy bite. I was there with my bud who was the USAF Air Attache and we consistently made the mistake of not eating after a shot - which would trigger a round of scolding from our former communist hosts. Finally, Oleg informed us that, "if not to eat then you must be very not good tomorrow!" 

I ended up crashing at my buddy's place though I have no idea how we managed that feat. We were scheduled to golf that morning and we both silently acknowledged that was not a good idea. Instead, we trudged over to Newton Circus and choked down some grilled chili sting ray in the vain hope that the sambal would nuke the hangover molecules raging through our brains. 

I do really enjoy biting into a pickle after downing vodka.

I also love pickle martinis with Stoli, dry vermouth and pickle juice.

[keefe]

I do really enjoy biting into a pickle after downing vodka.

I also love pickle martinis with Stoli, dry vermouth and pickle juice.

I actually prefer a shaken extra dry Hendricks Gibson up but my wife insisted gin gave her headaches so I shifted over to a Ketel version of the same in order to keep her drinking. I share my Russian friends' view that adding anything more than an olive, onion, twist, or cuke does nothing but bruise perfectly good vodka.

[Coleman]

I actually prefer a shaken extra dry Hendricks Gibson up but my wife insisted gin gave her headaches so I shifted over to a Ketel version of the same in order to keep her drinking. I share my Russian friends' view that adding anything more than an olive, onion, twist, or cuke does nothing but bruise perfectly good vodka.

Hendricks is excellent as far as gin goes.

I'll always favor dark liquor but you can't do much better than Hendricks for a clear liquor

[keefe]

Hendricks is excellent as far as gin goes.

I'll always favor dark liquor but you can't do much better than Hendricks for a clear liquor

I always found that when drinking late afternoon or early evening and certainly with a woman that clear spirits are best. But after dinner, nothing beats single malt and a cohiba.

[Coleman]

I always found that when drinking late afternoon or early evening and certainly with a woman that clear spirits are best. But after dinner, nothing beats single malt and a cohiba.

I consider myself lucky in that I have found a woman who prefers dark tequila and whiskey over vodka and gin, although she does enjoy the occasional martini or gin & tonic

[keefe]

I consider myself lucky in that I have found a woman who prefers dark tequila and whiskey over vodka and gin, although she does enjoy the occasional martini or gin & tonic

Does she have a sister?

[EnderWiggen]

I consider myself lucky in that I have found a woman who prefers dark tequila and whiskey over vodka and gin, although she does enjoy the occasional martini or gin & tonic

Nothing wrong with a good vodka or gin drink but it seems that people equate vodka with frilly drinks these days and that's just a shame.  Gin and soda with a lime is perfect on a summer day.

Of course, a woman that can appreciate whisky is a blessing too.

[tower912]

Keefe, you are old enough to be more interested in her mother. 

[keefe]

Nothing wrong with a good vodka or gin drink but it seems that people equate vodka with frilly drinks these days and that's just a shame.  Gin and soda with a lime is perfect on a summer day.

Of course, a woman that can appreciate whisky is a blessing too.

Nothing panty waisted about an extra dry martini or four. I have never gone for the flavored nonsense that is supposed to pass for a martini these days. There is nothing better than the velvet smoothness of chilled Ketel sliding down the pipes with the merest hint of viscosity. The vermouth bottle should get no more than 3 feet within range of the shaker.

[EnderWiggen]

The vermouth bottle should get no more than 3 feet within range of the shaker.

Good man.

[MU82]

The vermouth bottle should get no more than 3 feet within range of the shaker.

Or as Hawkeye once told Trapper: "A moment of silence for the vermouth."

[AZWarrior]

Just put the vermouth in the humidifier.

And remember, it's always after 5:00 PM, somewhere.

[keefe]

"One martini is all right. Two are too many, and three are not enough." -- James Thurber

[keefe]

Quoting Thurber made me think of his works for The New Yorker. He was the original Far Side.

[GGGG]

And PTM his season ended over there at the end of April.

PTM, my apologies on this one.  His season is still very much going on.  His team is in the league semifinals.

[Lennys Tap]

Nothing wrong with a good gin drink.  Gin and soda with a lime is perfect on a summer day.

Q:Why did Hitler give up gin?

A:It made him mean.

[🏀]

http://www.eurobasket.com/boxScores/Italy/2014/0530_4_294.asp

[WarriorFan]

Nothing wrong with a good vodka or gin drink but it seems that people equate vodka with frilly drinks these days and that's just a shame.  Gin and soda with a lime is perfect on a summer day.

Of course, a woman that can appreciate whisky is a blessing too.

The issue is that that the stuff that's called Vodka in the states is more like Kerosene.  After 2 years in Russia, where Beluga is one of the WORST (but still very drinkable) vodkas, it's easy to understand why Vodka in Russia is taken alone.  Yes, you must have a fatty, salty and pickled snack assortment available for a small bite after each shot.  That plus Mors (kinda like cranberry juice) means one can survive past the 12-15 shot level, and the vodka is smooth, with no aftertaste and minimal burn.  I've even had big nights with the cheap Russian stuff (Baikal or Husky - about $8-10/liter) and came through pain free after following the Russian methodology.

[keefe]

The issue is that that the stuff that's called Vodka in the states is more like Kerosene.  After 2 years in Russia, where Beluga is one of the WORST (but still very drinkable) vodkas, it's easy to understand why Vodka in Russia is taken alone.  Yes, you must have a fatty, salty and pickled snack assortment available for a small bite after each shot.  That plus Mors (kinda like cranberry juice) means one can survive past the 12-15 shot level, and the vodka is smooth, with no aftertaste and minimal burn.  I've even had big nights with the cheap Russian stuff (Baikal or Husky - about $8-10/liter) and came through pain free after following the Russian methodology.

I've eaten enough salo while drinking with Russians and Ukrainians to clog the arteries of three men.

[swoopem]

I saw that Diener officially retired last night. Hopefully we hear that he's joining the staff in the next few days.