Are you a writer because you drink? Or, are you a drinker because you write? Do these two sentences say the same thing, or are they different? Hmmm… Now that is the question.
I found this book at my local library and perused the contents. It is very interesting and has great drink recipes from famous authors, poets, and playwrights on what they drank while perfecting their profession. Check it out…
I consider myself a decent cook, but I can’t bake for nothing. My chocolate chip cookies come out like communion wafers, my muffins come out like ballooned portabella mushrooms, and any boxed cake I try to bake, turns out like runny glue, if of course there is such a thing as runny glue.
But, experimenting with alcohol recipes, well, now were talking. No, I’m not an alcoholic, but being Italian, I grew up drinking wine during meal time. And, I often helped my dad and uncle make homemade wine every October. It was hard work pressing the grapes into juice in our “spotless” garage. Spotless you ask? Of course! You can’t make wine in a dirty and cluttered garage. We had to wash the cement floor with soap and water prior to setting up our tools and machine to squeeze the grapes. There’s no fooling around in our house when it came to winemaking.
Our family wine-making days are over, my father is too old. I do miss the good ol’ days that’s for sure. But now, there are so many different ways of making wine. I’ve included a few links below if you’re curious.
How to Make Homemade Wine: 13 Steps (with Pictures) – wikiHow
Homemade Italian Wine – How to make wine at home from grapes without yeast and sugar – Bing video
Homemade Italian Wine – YouTube
As I’ve gotten older, my tastes have matured. I still love wine for dinner, but I also enjoy whiskeys and bourbons.
All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.
So, what’s the difference between the two? Find out for yourself:
Bourbon vs. Whiskey: What’s the Difference? | Taste of Home
What’s the Difference Between Bourbon and Whiskey? | Southern Living
The difference between rye, bourbon, and scotch – Bing video
Is there a correlation between libations and writing? In my humble opinion, no. It seems that writers have been associated with drinking alcohol for centuries. In fact, Ernest Hemingway said it best…
I don’t need alcohol to write. In fact, I prefer water. There are days or nights while editing that I might have a cocktail to help ease the tension of correcting my writing. I’ve only been in a euphoric zone of writing on a few occasions, and that’s hard to do. What is “euphoric zone”? It’s my made up term for when you have those crazy, haunting ideas swelling your brain, and then you’re trying to write those thoughts down as fast as you can without losing it. It’s a glorious feeling when it has happened; I’m so immersed into what I’m writing that I can’t stop. Its’ heart beating and exhilarating—that’s Euphoric Zone.
My advice to you for when ideas hit so strong, is to park your butt in a seat and write, type, or dictate. Otherwise, the ideas will disappear.
As for making drinks, I’ve seem to have perfected the “Art of Making Limoncello”. At least that’s what my family and friends tell me. It’s an Italian liquor made from lemon zest; a drink served before or after a meal to aid in digestion. I’ve been making it for years and even documented the process. Click below for my three-part Limoncello-making series.
Part 1: A Writer’s Adventure to Making Homemade Limoncello
Part 2: The Mid-Process Peek. A Writer’s Adventure to Making Homemade Limoncello
Part 3: Reaping What You Sow. A Writer’s Adventure to Making Homemade Limoncello
Here are a few other links to making Limoncello:
What Is Limoncello and How Is It Made? | MyRecipes
What Is Limoncello & How To Drink Italian Limoncello (bespokeunit.com)
So, I may not have the gift of baking, but I can surely make you a drink.
Until next time friends, cheers! Be responsible.