I have become quite enamored of whiskey in the past several months. I like the deep rich flavors and I think I am beginning to understand that because I have no sense of smell I need deeply flavored things to really enjoy-like chocolate and whiskey...also, it doesn't make me tipsy like vodka does. I don't happen to like vodka- it has no flavor or texture of it's own so it just takes on the flavor of it's mixers. Why should I bother with alcohol if it just tastes like juice?? I know some of you are saying why bother with juice when there is alcohol but I am not one of those people. :) I like gin as it has a flavor all it's own and should enhance and be enhanced by it's mixers. I tend to drink a negroni when I am having a cocktail, I like the vintage fabulousness of it-it suggests I might be at The Stork Club or El Morocco in a gorgeous Elsa Schiaperelli dinner suit.
Whiskey is so often ordered by men that I think it's sexy when a woman orders it, so unexpected-another reason I like it. It's like wrapping myself in a grey flannel pinstripe skirt suit with a lacy camisole underneath and high heel pumps. The unexpected play of the masculine and feminine makes everything that much more interesting, exciting.
Tonight my glam friend and I went with another friend of mine to Highlands, a new Scottish gastropub in the west village. It has been reviewed by Time Out and the food was definitely recommended along with the 7 Scottish micro brew beers and of course the scotch. I had a marvelous time talking to the adorable maitr'd about what scotch to order as I knew I could only order 1, my body, unaccustomed as it is to spirits can only handle one safely. I read through all the pages on the menu, asked the maitr'd for her suggestions and we each came up with 3 possibilities and 2 were the same! So I went with the Glenmorangie Lasanta because it was aged in the old oak barrels of the Spanish Oloroso sherry which I also happen to love. I simply adored it, probably more than any of the other whiskey's I've had in the past several months.
We ordered 12 oysters, the platter of smoked asparagus with sunny-side up egg garnish (the asparagus was BABY pencil asparagus nor was it smoked and was overwhelmed by the egg so I asked for more the glorious rosemary olive rolls to mop up the egg), smoked salmon on pumpernickel toast with horseradish creme fraiche and a wild mushroom shepard's pie (no meat, only mushrooms!!!). All was incredibly delicious. I was lulled into cockiness and bragged way too early that I liked whiskey for many reasons not the least of which because it doesn't make me tipsy. One does not make tipsy. Two is way over the top and I will never do it again! But I am truly looking forward to going back to the restaurant!
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