Ever since the days we ran a horse operation in the Flathead, up between Kalispell and Columbia Falls not far off the main stem of the Flathead River, as a family we’ve always cast a wary weather eye on the month of October.
A couple of the years we were running horses on the place commercially we had some of the coldest weather of the year in late October after a few weeks of glorious Indian Summer. The first time it caught us shamefully unprepared, the second time it almost did again.
Indian Summer in the northern Rockies can be quite the seductress – you think the bluebird skies and 7o degree afternoons just might go on forever – though one October morning you’ll wake up to 7 inches of wet, heavy snow over an ice layer with the wind chill pushing -15 or -20.
No doubt there are a plethora (always good to work that word in when you can) of great things about the fall, not least among those being the rotation to fall and winter soups, chiles and cool weather cocktails.
And speaking of fall cocktails, friend of Chi Jack K. in Driggs sent this adult beverage recipe a couple of weeks ago suggesting fall had already arrived in his neck of the woods –
…I know you guys are partial to mezcal and tequila based drinks, here’s one my girlfriend and I had for the first time at an overly high-brow party for her office (she works for one of the big law firms in JH). The apple cider and Sidral Mundet provide a nice fall apple base with the smokey goodness of the mezcal still notable.
We thought the Sidral Mundet would be hard to find but a friend brought back two different Mexican apple sodas on her last run to SLC (she found them at Walmart believe it or not).
Bet you’re missing fall in the West this week…
Now to find some fresh cider, and yes, dammit, we are missing fall in the West these days.
1 ounce Mezcal
1 ounce St. Germain liqueur
1 ounce Fresh apple cider
1/2 ounce Fresh lemon juice
1/4 ounce Honey syrup
2-3 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
2 ounces (+/-) Mexican apple soda (Sidral Mundet)
Garnish: Fresh apple slice (tart)
Combine everything but the apple soda in an ice filled shaker; shake things up.
Strain into a tall, ice-filled glass.
Top with the Mexican apple soda and stir, garnish with the apple slice(s).
Enjoy.
