Truth be told, She Who Must Be Obeyed and I still find ourselves freaked out respectfully scratching our heads in awe when it comes to the Southern college football scene.
For simple-minded folks who have always viewed Montana fall Saturday afternoons as less-crowded fishing windows when the big games were on, the zealous devotion to regional gridiron giants exhibited by our new neighbors at times borders on insanity is quite the spectacle to behold.
Though I have to admit the food and beverage tales being told about tailgating events do sound damned interesting.
Two Monday nights ago I was leaving SWBO’s store, where I’d chatted up Montana fly fishing with a customer (JT) earlier, when said gentlemen called from a parking row over “Hey Chi Wulff guy, I’ve got something you’d be interested in here.”
He motioned me to the back of his suburban (obligatory maroon crimson colored), opened the back doors and revealed the most impressive custom wooden bar insert I’ve ever imagined could fill the space.
He said he and his peeps had designated the Bourbon and Homebrew Ginger Soda as their beverage of choice at the weekend’s game and offered me a sip of the ginger syrup mixed with a bit of soda, he having exhausted his rolling bourbon supply in the days prior.
The homebrew ginger soda was as amazing as you’d expect it to be; JT said something along the lines of “The recipe for the drink is everywhere, dig it up”. Looking around I found this copy on Garden and Gun’s website; the additional of the fruit looks interesting.
Thanks, JT. There’s ginger syrup steeping this afternoon finally…
Ginger Syrup
1/2 cup fine sugar
1/2 cup water
1/4 lb. fresh ginger root (peeled and grated)Make One
3 oz. your favorite bourbon (ah, new Bulleit in the cabinet)
1 tbsp. ginger syrup
2 slices fresh pear or peach if in season
2 oz. soda water
Large ice cubes
Make the syrup. Being the sugar, water and ginger root to a boil, stir to mix well, then remove from heat and steep for an hour. Strain out the ginger pieces and reserve.
Mix one. Fill your trusty highball glass with ice, add the bourbon and ginger syrup, stir. Add the fruit slices, pour soda water to fill the glass and gently stir again.
Enjoy.
