Reviewing my 2022 resolutions and thinking of a few more for 2023
Think of these as encouragements versus resolutions. Lets get it.
I absolutely stink at New Year’s Resolutions.
I can write down goals, make sticky notes, put reminders in my cell phone and ask folks to help with accountability … nope, nope, nope and nope.
The only way I get things done is when I am properly motivated. Spring cleaning around the house never usually happens during March-April-May. Instead, it takes place when I’m tired of tripping over clutter and I struggle to find necessary things in the house. Weight loss? Man, it usually happens when I really need to get into a tailored suit for an upcoming wedding or event. Saving money? I mean, I COULD set up a recurring withdrawal in the future, or I usually just go broke for a few weeks or take on some extra work last minute to make it shake.
Point is, resolutions and I don’t really get along well.
This time a year ago, I’d just started this newsletter. For those of you who have stuck around, I’m grateful. For those of you who are new around here, buckle up. One of the first things I wrote was resolutions to upgrade your drinking game in 2022. Did I live up to my own expectations? Are there some things I’d reconsider? Let’s go through last year’s list and add a few things for this year.
1. Buy more spirits, wine and beer made by distillers of color.
Check. In fact, this is a double down for 2023, because black and brown folks are entering the industry by leaps and bounds.
Last year, we focused on Uncle Nearest, Ten to One and Loft & Bear as spirit brands to consider. That consideration by the tastemakers resulted in awards and recognition. Uncle Nearest can’t stop winning gold medals, Ten to One’s doing incredible collaborations with Uncle Nearest, and Loft & Bear is now widely available across the country.
This year, there are a few new options worth seeking out, but I ask you to keep this consideration in mind: You will buy these staple spirits sometime in the next year. The prices of these spirits will not break your bank. You’ll be giving a distiller of color a chance in an industry that’s been highly exploitative to non-whites.
Here are a few whiskeys worth considering:
Old Hillside Kentucky Bourbon, $52 via BevMo: I’m biased here, as one of my friends and coworkers is a co-owner of the brand. Four friends from North Carolina came together to pay homage to a legendary black jockey in horse racing to make a delicious bourbon. The story is good, the juice is better.
Dread River Master Series Bourbon by Eboni Major, $115 via Dread River: Eboni Major, Bulleit’s former Master Blender, finally dropped her first bourbon and it’s available for pre-order. I’d consider buying two bottles, one to share with friends and one to save for a celebratory cause.
Mercer + Prince Blended Canadian Whiskey, $29 by Total Wine: Founded by Rihanna’s boo A$AP Rocky, Mercer + Prince is a four-year whiskey blend aged in Japanese Mizunara Oak. I had this last month in an old fashioned at Fixin’s (owned by Phoenix Suns legend Kevin Johnson) in Downtown Los Angeles and I was impressed. Going to try and cop a bottle later this year.
2. Try and buy local.
Check. Last year I didn’t buy as much local whiskey as I’d liked to, but being able to tour distilleries like R6 Distillery in El Segundo and The Spirits Guild in The Arts District here in Los Angeles were real treats. I even bought bottles of non-whiskey. (Gasp.)
No. 2 and No. 1 hit on a major point for me — Try something different. Expand from those familiar brands like Woodford Reserve and Basil Hayden’s. One thing I struggle with is feeling inundated with all those brands on the shelf that I really don’t know anything about. Supporting a local distiller helps directly give money back to the creator. Supporting distillers of color is all about leveling playing fields. Give your local spirit maker a shot, they might give you a shot when you come for a visit. (Thanks Gerald as TSG!)
3. Splurge.
Nope. I can’t say I did in 2022. A quote from last year’s story:
In 2022, I’m committing to breaking the $100 mark on a few bottles. Why? Well, I did get another promotion at the day gig (celebrate your boy please!) and I want to know if the hype is deserved for certain bottles.
My miscalculation was that yes, I did receive a promotion. However, I wrote that story while my son was all of four months old. This boy is an energy and money drainer. Why didn’t you all tell me?
I’m recommitting to my goal because, well…it’s not a hard goal. I did buy multiple pair of Jordans in 2022, so I can buy a $100+ bottle. I’ll probably start with Eboni Major’s from Dread River up above.
4. Make more cocktails (and experiment)
Check. Man, did I make some drinks in ‘22. Do you know who else made drinks in ‘22? My wife.
Look at that glorious creation up above.
About a week before NYE ‘22, the wife and I were debating what to do to ring in the new year. I suggested we have a small number of folks swing by, watch some college football, order some wings and celebrate accordingly. Yes, I know…real manly of me. My wife had other ideas.
“We should host a cocktail making contest!”
Have you ever had a moment that helps you fall in love with your partner all over again? That moment happened to me when Paige exclaimed her idea for all to hear. I was befuddled and titillated. Of course, I want to host a cocktail making contest honey, let’s do this. What she said next was the real stunner.
“You know I’m the real drink maker in this house. I’m going to win.”
Girl, please. I’m the drink king in this house. I will not be defeated.
Y’all, I was soundly defeated.
Recipe: Smokin’ Lemon Mezcal Margarita (Adapted from A Nerd Cooks)
Serve: In an old fashioned glass
Servings: 2 cocktails
Garnish: Rosemary sprigs
Ingredients
For the honey syrup
½ cup honey
¼ cup hot water
For the grilled lemon juice and lemon wheels
2 lemons, halved
2 lemon wheels
For the margaritas
Sugar or kosher salt, for rimming the glasses
2.5 oz grilled lemon juice
4 oz mezcal
1 oz lime juice
1.5 oz honey syrup
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, for garnish
Instructions
Make the honey syrup: Combine the honey and hot water. Whisk to combine.
Make the grilled lemon juice and lemon wheels: Place the lemon halves, cut side down, on either a grill or a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lemon wheels. Cook until the flesh of the lemons is browned. Set aside to cool. Once cooled, juice the grilled lemon halves.
Make the margaritas: Rim two glasses with sugar or kosher salt, depending upon your preference. Add ice to the glasses. Set aside. Add the grilled lemon juice, mezcal, lime juice, and honey syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until very cold. Strain into the prepared glasses. Add a grilled lemon wheel to each glass. Garnish with a sprig of fresh rosemary.
5. Drink your good stuff.
Check. I went through all of my Baller Single Malt. I went through all of my Old Forester collection (Birthday Bourbon, Prohibition Edition, 1920, Old Fine, etc.) which upset me for some reason. My Uncle Nearest x Ten To One Rum collaboration? Empty.
I took down my collection plenty, but I added more than I shared and consumed. And then I received a few gifts for Christmas, including the newly released Uncle Nearest Rye. I don’t even like rye whiskey but that will be shared with friends in the backyard in the near future.
One tip: If you have some bottles you’ve been sitting on for more than six months, be sure to flip the bottles once or twice a year to help ensure the cork does not dry out or oxidate.
So I went four out of five with my 2022 resolutions. That’s pretty good, right? Lets see if we can add a few more for 2023. Lets start with…
6. Host more gatherings at home
New Year’s Eve was a reminder that having folks over to the crib and experimenting with new drinks is FUN! Our neighbors and friends who came by all brought drinks we’d never had before over and we had a blast decorating and researching drinks so we could one-up each other.
One idea of an event I plan on hosting is a blind whiskey tasting challenge. I’ll challenge 2-3 friends to bring a bottle of certain parameters, and then we’ll have a flight tasting with friends to determine which one is best. That would be fun, right? Winner gets his Lyft or Uber paid for, at minimum.
7. Talk to your local bartender or bottle shop owner.
This is something I find myself doing more and more when I go out for drinks at the bar. I ask way too many questions and casually name-drop my cool whiskey club and newsletter, which leads to follow-up chats.
There’s a bottle shop (actually named Bottle Shoppe) about a mile from my home, and I’ll go in there to peruse their latest offerings, and every single time I end up chatting for 20 minutes with the two owners about everything and nothing. I chastise them for pricing their Blanton’s for $200 and then they tell me that there’s a real estate huckster in the area that buys it at whatever cost whenever he sells a home. Ok, I get it.
However, on two different occasions they’ve come up clutch for me. When I was looking for the Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, they were able to hold me a bottle for 12 hours and they sold it at MSRP to me. The other, they put in an order of Ten To One Rum simply because I kept talking to them about it. That was cool.
8. Go visit a distillery.
Check. Learning about the process of making a spirit makes for a great learning experience and a good date with your partner. The wife and I went to The Spirit Guild in Downtown Los Angeles for a tour, and we came away with a greater understanding of how they make their award-winning Star Keeper gin and a bottle or three. Most distilleries are generous in sharing sample pours and unreleased spirits, so take a trip on the weekend and check them out in your area.
What resolutions did I forget? How many did you complete in 2022 and how many will you aim to complete in 2023? Share your thoughts in the comments and thanks for reading!
Love getting more from folks of color! Definitely will work on that this year. Cheers.