Today's cocktail: Tequila Sunrise

Today's ingredients: blanco tequila, orange juice, grenadine

As I'm writing this, it hasn't been above freezing here in almost two days, if you count the wind chill, and being the Southern city it is, everyone is bum-rushing the grocery stores for bread and milk ahead of the almost-certain snow and ice that's either already here or on the way. I've never understood this behavior, more so in warmer months, but still. No power means no refrigerator means spoiled milk. Whatcha putting on all that bread, the soon-to-be-bad lunchmeat and cheese in the fridge? I could live off PB&J for awhile, I suppose, and being this time of year, just set the stuff outside. Mob mentalities and all, I swear.

At any rate, while the rest of the city is losing its mind Joker-style, I'm flipping through some Key West pictures that we took on our honeymoon. One of the draws of the Florida Keys is the semi-unique spectacle of watching the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico. Those of us who grew up going to East Coast beaches never saw that, and getting up for a sunrise while on vacation at the beach just wasn't in the cards. There's a somewhat official sunset party at Mallory Square each afternoon where people crowd the seawalls and piers, sitting and waiting and watching around the carnival-esque vendors and performers. It's something you have to do at least once (and check out 90 Mile Lounge for a great whiskey selection, though the patio music was WAY too loud when we were there).

Then, there's the quieter, less crowded, quainter option of heading over to Fort Taylor Park. I'm not one to promote public intoxication, but let's just say a couple Big Gulps, a bottle of rum, and some beach chairs in the surf are tough to top as a way to spend an afternoon or three.

Tequila Sunrise

With the warm weather and scenic evenings in mind, why not trot out a quick-and-easy cocktail good for any time of day:

• 4.5cl / 1.5oz blanco tequila
• 9cl / 3oz orange juice
• 1.5cl / 0.5oz grenadine
• Pour tequila and orange juice into highball glass with ice cubes.
• Add grenadine for chromatic effect--DO NOT STIR.
• Garnish with orange slice and/or cherry if desired.

The "do not stir" is more for visual effect. Once the drink is presented. stir it, especially if your orange juice is freshly squeezed or otherwise a little tart--the tequila will likely enhance that flavor and may overpower the sweetness rather than balance with it. If you get sweetened, pulp-free juice (and really, what kind of monster would get that stuff?), stirring may not be necessary. Also, keeping it slightly tart would make it a better-suited cooler and cleanser in the summer.

In deference to winter, you might substitute reconstituted Tang for the orange juice and heat it up. I did not try this, mainly because I don't have any Tang in the house, but go nuts. It's better than milk sandwiches by any stretch.