Tuesday, February 18, 2025
The new year hasn’t gotten off to a very promising start. It kicked off with the area’s biggest snowfall in years, then limped into the inauguration of a convicted felon. Within days, domestic terrorists were pardoned, the USAID agency was routed, trade wars were instigated and Elon Musk started ravaging through federal computer systems.?
Things are looking gloomy as people worry about higher prices, job security and basic rights. There are certainly a lot of sorrows to drown.??
If you want something constructive to toast, pick up a copy of Philip Greene’s “Cheers! Cocktails & Toasts to Celebrate Every Day of the Year.” Greene, a cocktail historian and the author of several books, offers 366 (one for leap year) historical anecdotes, excellent elixirs and positive events to salute.??
“Every page of the book offers, for that date on the calendar, an event worth celebrating on that day, a drink connected to it, a song or video to enjoy while making and drinking that drink, and a toast or quote,” he says. “This book gives you something to celebrate from the pages of history, pop culture, sports, entertainment, literature, you name it.”??
Full of festivity and upbeat vibes, it’s the perfect antidote for the 2025 blues.??
Recent events have left many feeling as defeated as Charlie Brown. Some liken Donald Trump to the mischievous Lucy, fooling voters with his promises, then pulling away the football at the last second.??
Did you know at that on Feb. 13, 2000, the last edition of the beloved “Peanuts” comic strip was published, hours after the death of its creator, Charles M. Schulz? The comic ran for 50 years and its characters are still cherished by people worldwide.??
Greene suggests honoring the “Peanuts” gang with a cocktail named after Charlie Brown’s imaginative beagle. The Snoopy cocktail (see the Difford’s Guide recipe below) is described as a fruity variation of the classic French Boulevardier. While it shares the common core ingredients, such as Campari and bourbon, this canine cocktail adds Grand Marnier and Galliano for a sweeter profile.??
As a toast, Greene offers a quote from Schulz himself: “Keep looking up … that’s the secret to life.” To establish a chipper environment, listen to the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” album from 1965.
Women across the U.S. have been feeling a loss of respect since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Sisters can find inspiration on March 2. On this date in 1967, Aretha Franklin won her first two Grammy awards for her signature song “Respect.”??
Greene suggests honoring the Queen of Soul with a shooter called “A Shot of Respect.” This high-octane tipple combines rum, tequila and a couple dashes of tabasco, perfect for a fierce female warrior.??
While tuning in to this compelling anthem, you can quote Franklin: “We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right.”??
If you truly want to celebrate a time when America was great, Feb. 24 is a good opportunity. The U.S. men’s hockey team (amateurs at that time) won the Olympic gold medal in 1980. You can reminisce about the days when Russia was our rival and not adored by the commander in chief.??
“This victory capped an improbable, if not miraculous run, for the young American team, the youngest and least experienced in the field, going up against teams made of professional players,” Greene reports.??
To honor this achievement, he recommends the Olympic cocktail from “The Savoy Cocktail Book.” It’s a fruity, citrussy potable forged from Grand Marnier, Cognac and fresh orange juice. For a toast, Greene proposes the words of sports play-by-play commentator Al Michaels: “Do you believe in Miracles? YES!”?
?So even if your 2025 outlook isn’t what you hoped for, you’ll find this book full of positive glimmers. “Life is short,” says Greene. “We need to celebrate things worth celebrating from time to time, carpe diem, and all that.”?
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The Snoopy
1 ½ oz. bourbon?
¾ oz. Grand Marnier?
1 oz. Galliano?
½ oz. Campari (or another red aperitif bitter)?
¼ oz. lemon juice?
Orange peel?
? Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add bourbon, Grand Marnier, Galliano, Campari and lemon juice. Cover and shake well. Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange peel.??
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