I picked up a bottle of Buffalo Trace bourbon this afternoon. It's a middle-shelf priced bourbon with top-shelf character. I've only recently gotten into bourbon after my favorite local wine shop started carrying spirits. As far as bourbon went, I originally believed Maker's Mark was all I would ever need. I fear my wine and spirits man has ruined Maker's for me, as I find it to be so lame compared to a few other bourbons I've had. What's really great about Buffalo Trace is it's less than 25 bucks, which means it will quickly replace Maker's space in my cabinet.
The Buffalo is very nice on its own. Very mellow, with a pleasant tingle on the tongue and gums. This is a chewy bourbon. The viscosity feels comparable to grandma's marmalade. I haven't developed a very refined or matured palate, so I won't even try to describe all the tasting notes. Just go out to the store and buy yourself a bottle and say goodbye to Jack and Jim... and sadly, Mark. Sniffle. Although, I wouldn't recommend mixing this with Coke or Pepsi.
The Buffalo also plays very well with others. Currently, I am enjoying my second Old Fashioned. Andrew, my whiskey man, suggested I use Buffalo Trace for my Old Fashioneds and boy, was he spot. on. I have tried Old Fashioneds with Maker's, Maker's 46, and Rock Hill Farms. It was OK with Makers, marginally better with 46, really good with Rock Hill. But Rock Hill is a phenomenal bourbon, one which shouldn't be mixed with anything besides a drop or two of water or an ice cube perhaps.
If you are curious about Old Fashioneds, don't let any idiot tell you that you gotta top it off with seltzer or club soda or sprite or ginger ale. They are fools. The greatest Old Fashioned can be made by simply folllowing Robert Hess' formula.
The (almost*) Perfect Old Fashioned
*Use a (1) sugar cube and a teaspoon of water instead of simple syrup.
Not a very exciting post tonight. I'm sorry for that, non readers. I'm sure you'll get over it.
Cheers.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Yerba Mate Makes Me RAWR!
My normal 9 to 5 workday starts out with about 15 cups of too-strong, black, dark roast coffee (slight exaggeration). I usually drink three before going to work. And around 2 to 3 p.m., I approach The Wall.
You know The Wall. Most people know The Wall. Some studies indicate most car accidents occur between 2 and 5 p.m., because of The Wall. You know The Wall. Where you run smack into it and cease all activity and feel like a big stupid glob, slogging through the afternoon. Around 2:30, I look up at the clock and freak out, seeing that The Wall is approaching, so I run to the store, and buy a couple Starbucks Doubleshot espresso drinks, or Red Bulls, or crank out some more coffee in the office. I chug and chug and chug, hoping to push through The Wall. Sometimes it works, but generally I end up jittering about, watching my productivity plummet while kicking out sick whirlwinds on the floor.
Not today. No siree. My good cousin, Jitzjosaf, who happens to live above my office, brought me a cup of Yerba Mate this morning around 10 a.m. I've cranked out a fair amount of work and now I look at the clock and find that it's past 3 p.m. I have crushed through The Wall.
Ha Ha! Wall, you are NO MATCH for the MIGHTY MATE!
I feel insanely amped. But not only am I fired up, there really is a clarity to my mind. While I could do without my super sweat palms and fingers, which slip and slide all over the keys on this here keyboard, making my words-per-minute about as good as my one-armed friend, the rest of the perks are totally worth it. (Sorry Ryan). So worth it, in fact, that I feel I need to get away from this computer and kick down some more work. RAWR.
I just wanted to post this blog real quick to tell all my non readers about how awesome Yerba Mate is, and how I will likely continue to drink it for the rest of my days. I am shamelessly going to copy and paste all its health benefits for you now, sign off, and get back to work.
RAWR!
Helps Stimulate Focus and Clarity
Yerba mate has the ability to quicken the mind and increase mental alertness and acuity. Yerba mate also provides sustainable energy due to its complex combination of xanthine alkaloids and caffeine. Although its caffeine content is comparable to coffee, the stimulation is balanced by yerba mate’s nutritional content. Clinical studies have shown that caffeine-sensitive individuals generally have very positive results and don’t experience the hard side effects (jitters, stomach discomfort, headache) commonly associated with caffeine. Read Testimonials
Boosts Physical Energy
Yerba mate is a central nervous system stimulant. The metabolic effects of mate appear to include the ability to maintain aerobic breakdown of carbohydrates during exercise for long periods of time. As a result, more calories are burned, thereby increasing cardiac efficiency and delaying the build-up of lactic acid. Additionally, mate’s blend of xanthine alkaloids: caffeine, theophylline and theobromine, provide sustaining energy. Read Testimonials
Traditionally Used to Support Weight Loss Programs that Include a Balanced Diet and Exercise.
For many years now, physicians in Europe have been incorporating yerba mate in treatments for obesity. In 2000, a research team studying obesity at the Charlottenlund Medical Center in Denmark tested an herbal preparation of Yerba Mate, Guarana, and Damiana (YGD) for gastric emptying and subsequent weight loss. They concluded that the herbal preparation, YGD capsules, significantly delayed gastric emptying, reduced the time to perceived gastric fullness and induced significant weight loss over 45 days in overweight patients treated in a primary health care context. In addition, maintenance treatment given in an uncontrolled context resulted in no further weight loss, nor weight regain in the group as a whole. Guayaki recommends that the product be used as part of a program that includes a healthy diet and sufficient exercise. Read Testimonials
Aids Elimination
The indigenous of South America traditionally use yerba mate to treat gastrointestinal disorders as eupeptic and choleretic agent. Research conducted by a team at Catedra de Farmacologia in Buenos Aires, Argentina found that yerba mate does in fact induce an increase in bile flow and enhance intestinal transit. Read Testimonials
Fights Bad Breath
Polyphenols found in tea and yerba mate have been shown to prevent both the growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath and the bacteria’s production of odorous compounds.
BUY SOME MATE
You know The Wall. Most people know The Wall. Some studies indicate most car accidents occur between 2 and 5 p.m., because of The Wall. You know The Wall. Where you run smack into it and cease all activity and feel like a big stupid glob, slogging through the afternoon. Around 2:30, I look up at the clock and freak out, seeing that The Wall is approaching, so I run to the store, and buy a couple Starbucks Doubleshot espresso drinks, or Red Bulls, or crank out some more coffee in the office. I chug and chug and chug, hoping to push through The Wall. Sometimes it works, but generally I end up jittering about, watching my productivity plummet while kicking out sick whirlwinds on the floor.
Not today. No siree. My good cousin, Jitzjosaf, who happens to live above my office, brought me a cup of Yerba Mate this morning around 10 a.m. I've cranked out a fair amount of work and now I look at the clock and find that it's past 3 p.m. I have crushed through The Wall.
Ha Ha! Wall, you are NO MATCH for the MIGHTY MATE!
I feel insanely amped. But not only am I fired up, there really is a clarity to my mind. While I could do without my super sweat palms and fingers, which slip and slide all over the keys on this here keyboard, making my words-per-minute about as good as my one-armed friend, the rest of the perks are totally worth it. (Sorry Ryan). So worth it, in fact, that I feel I need to get away from this computer and kick down some more work. RAWR.
I just wanted to post this blog real quick to tell all my non readers about how awesome Yerba Mate is, and how I will likely continue to drink it for the rest of my days. I am shamelessly going to copy and paste all its health benefits for you now, sign off, and get back to work.
RAWR!
Helps Stimulate Focus and Clarity
Yerba mate has the ability to quicken the mind and increase mental alertness and acuity. Yerba mate also provides sustainable energy due to its complex combination of xanthine alkaloids and caffeine. Although its caffeine content is comparable to coffee, the stimulation is balanced by yerba mate’s nutritional content. Clinical studies have shown that caffeine-sensitive individuals generally have very positive results and don’t experience the hard side effects (jitters, stomach discomfort, headache) commonly associated with caffeine. Read Testimonials
Boosts Physical Energy
Yerba mate is a central nervous system stimulant. The metabolic effects of mate appear to include the ability to maintain aerobic breakdown of carbohydrates during exercise for long periods of time. As a result, more calories are burned, thereby increasing cardiac efficiency and delaying the build-up of lactic acid. Additionally, mate’s blend of xanthine alkaloids: caffeine, theophylline and theobromine, provide sustaining energy. Read Testimonials
Traditionally Used to Support Weight Loss Programs that Include a Balanced Diet and Exercise.
For many years now, physicians in Europe have been incorporating yerba mate in treatments for obesity. In 2000, a research team studying obesity at the Charlottenlund Medical Center in Denmark tested an herbal preparation of Yerba Mate, Guarana, and Damiana (YGD) for gastric emptying and subsequent weight loss. They concluded that the herbal preparation, YGD capsules, significantly delayed gastric emptying, reduced the time to perceived gastric fullness and induced significant weight loss over 45 days in overweight patients treated in a primary health care context. In addition, maintenance treatment given in an uncontrolled context resulted in no further weight loss, nor weight regain in the group as a whole. Guayaki recommends that the product be used as part of a program that includes a healthy diet and sufficient exercise. Read Testimonials
Aids Elimination
The indigenous of South America traditionally use yerba mate to treat gastrointestinal disorders as eupeptic and choleretic agent. Research conducted by a team at Catedra de Farmacologia in Buenos Aires, Argentina found that yerba mate does in fact induce an increase in bile flow and enhance intestinal transit. Read Testimonials
Fights Bad Breath
Polyphenols found in tea and yerba mate have been shown to prevent both the growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath and the bacteria’s production of odorous compounds.
BUY SOME MATE
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Lessons in keeping my mouth shut
If you look over to the right ---> you will see the beginnings of an ongoing list of things I've learned so far. Here's a fine example of the one, "Some things really are best left unsaid."
My wife and I were talking about some of my hobbies that I'm pretty passionate about, like playing guitar, taking pictures, and drinking bourbon. I added that I like woodworking, too.
"Woah. Hold on a sec. This is where your interests diverge from your hobbies. You don't even DO any woodworking," my wonderfully observant wife reminded me.
"Yeah, but I will. As soon as I get a couple power tools. I just need a circular saw and a jig saw."
"No. You need an education first. Some schooling to teach you how to use those tools. I'm not going to buy you power tools for Christmas when you don't even know how to use them. You could cut off your fingers, or hands, or hurt somebody else."
"Pff. I already put some woodworking books on my amazon list and I know how to use power tools ... I got a good idea."
Boom. My death knell. There was a good chance I'd have gotten some tools had I not said that last, wishy-washy part.
Face, meet Palm.
My wife and I were talking about some of my hobbies that I'm pretty passionate about, like playing guitar, taking pictures, and drinking bourbon. I added that I like woodworking, too.
"Woah. Hold on a sec. This is where your interests diverge from your hobbies. You don't even DO any woodworking," my wonderfully observant wife reminded me.
"Yeah, but I will. As soon as I get a couple power tools. I just need a circular saw and a jig saw."
"No. You need an education first. Some schooling to teach you how to use those tools. I'm not going to buy you power tools for Christmas when you don't even know how to use them. You could cut off your fingers, or hands, or hurt somebody else."
"Pff. I already put some woodworking books on my amazon list and I know how to use power tools ... I got a good idea."
Boom. My death knell. There was a good chance I'd have gotten some tools had I not said that last, wishy-washy part.
Face, meet Palm.
Monday, October 25, 2010
First Post, Huzzah!
I am testing out this blog. This is my blog. A place where I can put down my manic ramblings that wander through my mind. Some may be funny. Some may be interesting. Many will be worthless. Or valuable. That's for me to decide and you to judge. So suck. on. that.
I am selfish and this blog is self-serving, yet selfless. Try wrapping your head around THAT!
I've found putting thoughts to print helps alleviate tension and anxiety.
I am selfish and this blog is self-serving, yet selfless. Try wrapping your head around THAT!
I've found putting thoughts to print helps alleviate tension and anxiety.
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