Lifestyle

  • Follow up to The Spirt World

    I was recently introduced to three aged rums that are well suited for sipping.

    Rhum J.M. VSOP: It was kind of savory with a lot of bark tendencies.

    Appleton Estate Rare Blend: A 12 year old (versus the 3 year old above) with a strong spicy fruit taste.

    El Dorado 15 year old: It was like candied nuts!  Absolutely delicious. (Runs about $45, more than Appleton, but less than Rhum JM)

    So grab your ice ball and pour some sipping rum into a glass, you’ll be surprised. You can also ask your favorite bartended, it leads to a great conversation.

     

     

     

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  • The Spirit World

    I’ve always been pretty crafty around a bar, many times out of necessity because I didn’t have either enough alcohol for an event or possess all the right mixers. I’ve always thought it was important to be a good home bartender to serve and impress guests, and I’ve always tried to maintain a reasonably stocked bar. I’m always a bit chagrin when an expensive bottle of liquor start looking empty.

    Always on the endeavor to learn more about the craft of cocktail mixing, I recently had the opportunity to take a class about three typical spirits; gin, whiskey, and rum. I had no idea how any of them were actually constructed and It was quite enlightening to learn about the distilling process for each. Secondly, I never gave any thought to pairings for liquors; food and liquid. The class was quite fascinating.

    So my take-aways were:

    1. You can do a lot with gin. Tanqueray 10 is a delicious, light gin that has many qualities of vodka. It is known as the perfect martini gin.
    2. Whisky blending is an art. There are so many subtle flavors and ingredients that contribute to the taste os a whisky. I worked with a group that tried to recreate a flavor and it was nearly impossible.
    3. Rum is a versatile liquor, but it sneaks up on you and has a lot of sugar in it.

    The craft of blending is really challenging.

    Blending whisky flavors
    Blending whisky flavors

    We have a great resource in Austin for well manufactured bar equipment.

    The Austin Shaker card
    Great place for high-end bar service tools

    We had to craft a cocktail with Tanqueray 10 and we muddled a pair, added some bitters and made a martini. It was quite delicious, but I can’t remember a thing about making it!

    man standing
    Mixing and muddling

    This is a fantastic addition to a citrus inspired cocktail.

    Bittermans bottle
    Hopped Grapefruit was delicious

    Finally, I now know what these bottles mean, regarding flavor.

    picture of bottles
    Flavors of Johnny

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  • http://ralphlaurenhome.com

    Ralph Lauren’s Home Collection is the $&#£

    Shopping for furniture and home fissures is a huge pain in the rear. Potter barn, Restoration Hardware, Z Gallerie, Arthaus… etc.. etc… It is really tedious.

    If you go online, you’re overwhelmed.
    If you go into a store, you’re bombarded with retail sales tactics.
    If you use a consultant, they don’t listen.

    Given all that, I’m resigned to admit that the items offered by Ralph Lauren Home are exquisite. Substance, style, and effect. That’s what the brand embodies. I was blown away by the light fixtures offered by the lighting line. Simply stunning.

    We have been searching for months to find something for our formal dining room that the “wow” factor we wanted. Well, we found it. Mind you, it costs some $, but I think it is well worth the investment. The pieces are singular, artistic and, well, “butch.” No frills here, it’s ballsy. I love it.

    Here are a few examples of items we liked while shopping around Austin for light fixtures. I’m sure you’ll agree they have great character.

    Table Lamp photo
    Table Lamp
    light fixture photo
    Light fixture with leather straps
    light fixture photo
    Hanging shade
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  • From Flab to Fab

    So 2016 is upon us and so are resolutions. Most people put weight loss, exercise and healthier habits at the top of their lists. I’m of the opinion that it takes a mix of diet and exercise to yields the best results. Being a small-framed man, I struggle with weight issues and body dysmorphia, but I try to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating well and exercising to keep myself motivated and happy. I am a bit paranoid of overeating, but curiously, I eat all the time. I just don’t gorge myself and I don’t eat bags of chips and sugared items.

    My advice; take small steps. Ease into a routine and chart your results. Aim for accomplishments that are real, meaningful and beneficial. One can significantly transformation the body in as little as 8 weeks. It just takes cause and commitment. My physician once said to me, “As long as you’re doing something rigorous for at least 30 minutes a day, you can stay healthy.” So I heed that advice.

    The Obvious:
    – Walk
    – Reduce food intake
    – Cut out processed and sugary foods
    – Don’t be sedentary
    – Focus on an age-appropriate fitness routine

    Taking Charge:
    – See a professional (nutritionist or trainer)
    – Join a gym
    – Enroll in classes
    – Start with yoga
    – Meditate (connect the mind and the body)

    Resources:
    – Heat Boot Camp (Cody Butler)
    – Castle Hill Fitness (Chris Gavin)
    – Love Cycling Studio (Maria Groten)

    I’d stay away from CrossFit as I personally don’t feel that is a very healthy way to work out or treat the body.

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  • Offline While Moving

    The posts have been few and far between lately as I am deep into a moving project. We all know what a PITA moving is and this one is up there with the best of them. I’ll be back at it soon, so stay tuned.  Thanks and Happy Holidays.

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