It's good to be King, Wrong Way Corrigan, Yellow Pigs Day and The Bacon-Infused Old Fashioned Cocktail

On this day in 1717, King George I of Great Britain sails down the River Thames with his close friends the Duchess of Bolton, the Duchess of Newcastle, the Countess of Darlington, the Countess of Godolphin, and the Earl of Orkney. Alongside, a barge of 50 musicians including George Frideric Handel premier "Water Music" a work that the king requested Handel compose for the occasion.

__________________________________________________________________________


On this day in 1938 – Douglas Corrigan filed a flight plan to fly to Long Beach, California before taking off from Brooklyn airport. Corrigan then proceeded to fly the "wrong way" and claiming low light conditions made it difficult to read his compass, he would land 28 hours later at at Baldonnel Aerodrome, Ireland. Becoming only the second man to make a solo transatlantic flight at that time, he would be forever known as
Douglas "Wrong Way" Corrigan.

__________________________________________________________________________

Today is Yellow Pigs Day, a celebration observed by mathematicians at Hampshire College, it is a day is marked by exchanging gifts relating to yellow pigs.  Who am I to judge.
I will, however, celebrate the day slightly differently.

The Historical Inebriant:  

PDT's Bacon-Infused Old Fashioned
http://nymag.com/restaurants/recipes/inseason/45776/

FOR THE BOURBON- BACON INFUSION:
3 or 4 slices bacon, or enough to render 1 ounce of fat
(PDT uses Benton’s, but any extra-smoky variety will do)
1 750-ml. bottle of bourbon such as Four Roses Yellow Label

FOR THE OLD FASHIONED:
2 ounces bacon-infused bourbon
1/4 ounce Grade B maple syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Twist of orange

FOR THE BACON-INFUSED BOURBON: Cook bacon in pan and reserve rendered fat. (1)When bacon fat has cooled a bit, pour off one ounce from pan. (2) Pour bourbon into a non-porous container. (3) Strain the bacon fat into the container and infuse for 4 to 6 hours at room temperature. Place mixture in freezer until all the fat is solidified. With a slotted spoon, remove fat and strain mixture back into bottle.

FOR THE COCKTAIL: In mixing glass, stir 2 ounces bacon-infused bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters with ice. Strain into chilled rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with orange twist.

To see the video: http://videos.nymag.com/video/In-Season-PDTs-Old-fashioned#c=HGRYL1W4ZQ1CXCC7&t=In Season: PDT's Old-fashioned


For more information: http://www.holidayinsights.com/other/pigday.htm

_______________________________________________________________________

Rest in Peace Kitty 

______________________________________________________________________

Rest in Peace Sharkey

_____________________________________________________________________

 "And that's the way it is..."