The Big Sweaty

Saturday was hot. Very hot. Sticky, steamy hot.

It was a day to stay inside with my air conditioning and a good book - or better, a good man. Well, I had my A/C full blast, but I'd just finished my latest book and a good man wasn't in sight. Looked like I'd be forced to venture outside. But, to where? It had to be somewhere befitting this sweat-fest of a summer's day.

As luck would have it, the folks at SummerStage had figured out the perfect game plan for this heatstroke weather - a full day of New Orleans bands.

Heck, if the outside was gonna feel like the Bayou in July, I might as well have some Big Easy benefits!

And so, I gathered myself up for the trip to Central Park and even convinced my pals Kurt and Sarah to come along, bringing a gaggle of sundry gal pals in tow. By the time I arrived (5 minutes into a smokin' set by Kermit Ruffins & The Barbecue Swingers), Kurt was in his element on a baby blue blanket, surrounded by a harem of hot babes, sipping a Stella Artois out of a plastic cup. Then I looked a bit closer...The boy was glowing...Scratch that, he was dripping with sweat...And so was I. So was EVERYBODY.

But everybody didn't have the good sense to be prepared. (I was a 4-H girl, after all.) I had snuck in a pitcher of Juniper Breezes, a cool, sophisticated cocktail, rife with gin and the vitamin C goodness of grapefruit juice. How did I get it past security? (Like I said, I was in 4-H. Whaddaya think they teach us? How to birth calves?)

Cups were quickly passed out and sipping commenced as we kicked back in the blistering heat and listened to the spirited, heart-thumping, toe-tapping, dancing-with-an-umbrella-in-the-air rhythms of trumpeter Ruffins and his glorious band. The libation was helping ease us into the mood of The Big Easy, but the sun was plain evil - in concert with the raging humidity, steaming us right up like a box of little White Castle burgers. (And, I'm not a White Castle fan.)

All too quickly the pitcher ran dry, with several blanket companions mourning the loss and asking for my refreshing recipe. Would we make it through the set now that we ran dry? Luckily, Kermit and his crew were winding down. The timing was on the mark, because we simply weren't gonna make it without another pitcher. Stella Artois was serviceable, but once you've partaken of the Juniper Breeze, it's hard to go back.

And, for those of you planning on hitting SummerStage on another scorcher of a day, here's my drink recipe. (Please note that the original was created by noted mixologist Julie Reiner of Flatiron Lounge, but I've simplified it a bit, for those of us who don't commonly keep Elderflower Syrup or Star Fruit in our refrigerators.):

Juniper Breeze
1 1/2 oz Gin (I prefer Plymouth or Bombay Sapphire)
1/2 oz Roses Lime Juice (or an equivilent)
1 1/2 oz grapefruit juice
1/2 oz cranberry juice
Wedge of lime - for garnish/squeezing

Build drink in a high ball glass, crammed with ice cubes. Garnish with lime.

Note: If you're going to attempt a pitcher of these, remember to add a 1/2 oz of cold water for each drink, as the melted ice ends up perfectly balancing the cocktail's consistency.

P.S. Extra points, if you can correctly identify the firey, red-headed gentleman in the picture above.

Comments

[laurel]

That's Mr. Heat Miser, silly!

mmmm, Juniper Breeze.

[Dr. Biggles]

Awww, dang. That sounds a bit uncomfortable. Don't feel too bad, it was 127 in Needles CA the other day and 115 at 11:15pm.

Now you can feel bad, it's about 67 here with a nice ocean breeze with very little, if no humidity. Sorry, eh.

Hugs

[Toni R]

I was one of harem with Kurt at Summer Stage. Nice article. Thanks for the recipe! Where's the write up on Blue Smoke?