Day 24: Pining for the Fjords
"And now for something completely different, a man with a tape recorder up his nose..." Wait, no, this is day 24 of our quarantine cocktails! Welcome back to the exciting world of making cocktails in my home for you to make in yours. I've been feeling like we all need a good laugh lately. The world around us is changing so rapidly, the only things that seem to create escapes are drinks and comedy. Today, we are going to combine a little of both.
In 1969, the world was introduced to what would become perhaps the most famous comedy troupe of all time in Monty Python's Flying Circus. The Monty Python group consisted of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam. With their use of animation, fast transition comedy, and outlandish characters, it was a sketch comedy show unlike any other. When the eighth episode rolled around, the now famous "Dead Parrot Sketch" was aired. Today, it's considered one of the best comedy scenes of all time. In this sketch, a pet-shopkeeper is working when a customer comes in with a parrot, clearly dead, demanding a refund. The shopkeeper insists the parrot is still alive, and hilarity ensues. Among the dialogue shared, the shopkeeper refers to the bird as a "Norwegian Blue" claiming that the bird is only resting and he's "pining for the fjords." I know this is all meant in fun, but do we think perhaps the Pythons were telling us to be realistic and let things go when there's nothing you can do about them? I know I'd like to think that's the case. Watch the sketch for yourself here.
Pining for the Fjords
1oz Aquavit
1oz Aged Jamaican Rum
.5oz Blue Curacao
.5oz Falernum
.75oz Lime Juice
3 dashes Absinthe
Collins Glass
Swizzle with crushed ice.
Top with more crushed ice.
Top with Angostura Bitters.
Garnish with mint sprigs, flower, lemon peel, and two pineapple fronds to resemble a beak.
The whole idea of this garnish is to be somewhat bird-like with the colors of a blue and gold macaw, just like in the sketch.
Sometimes there's nothing we can do and things, and that has to be okay right now. I could sit here getting blue in the face complaining about the state of the world right now, but that's not going to change anything. Some of us are in a position to change the world, and some of us are drink makers. I'll keep doing what drink makers do best, and that's cheer people up in times of turmoil. Until next time thirsty readers, keep enjoying these drinks, and I'll keep shaking.