Lovers of drink to me!

[wei yau]

Okay, so I've become quite taken with the whole Harry Potter thing. Not so much for the books themselves, just yet. But, mostly because of the community I can now join.

As I near the end of the first book, I found myself inspired to make a drink to honor the story. A nice new drink for the coming cold, something that will warm the heart...of a newborn dragon.

Something not unlike a bucket of brandy mixed with chicken blood.

I picture a variation of a hot brandy toddy, with the addition of something to substitute for chicken blood. Something which has the right color, but perhaps a little heat...since we are talking about dragons.

Something like this...perhaps

Thing is, it needs some deeper flavors than this...and here's where I need the help of all you lushes and fans of Mr. Potter.

What can be added? Honey? Cloves? Tea?

How should it be prepared? Coat the glass in honey? Add hot tea? Then brandy. Stir in "chicken blood" just before esrving?

How should it be served? In goblets of fire?

What do you all think?

[LadyShea]

I don't have any suggestions for the drink, other than drop the red syrup in rather than stir it in so it spreads slowly.

I would like to welcome you to Harry Potter fandom, though.

[Anastasia Beaverhausen]

The kids drink pumpkin juice with their meals at school. In Hogsmeade, they drink something called butterbeer, which I found a recipe for recently.

[Demimonde]

Oh, I like that idea. Toddies are one of my favorite things and I think upping the cinnamon to 11 could be really fun to play around with. Definitely coat the glass with honey, whatever you do.

Okay, this is going to sound oatmeal crazy, but if you want to balance the flavor out a bit, how about mint?

Dragon fire in my imagination always had a sort of ephemeral element to it. Not quite like boring old elemental fire it has to be cooler, more magical. I have been hooked right now on a new flavor for my ecig that is called Siberian Fireball, also sometimes called Fire and Ice, and it is a great blend of cinnamon heat and mint loveliness. I daresay, it kinda feels like magical, mystical dragon smoke. With the burn and the warmth of the brandy, it might be quite nice.

So perhaps you could try using a nice herbal mint tea as the mixer with the brandy? You could also try using a blend with African rooibos tea, which might help with the red color you want to achieve.

For serving, use an Irish coffee mug. The best combination of goblet for coolness and mug for practicality.

[Anastasia Beaverhausen]

Demi, the rooibos I've tried tastes like licking a tree. So I don't know how it'd work as the base for another drink.

[wei yau]

Butterbeer is nice, but it's been done.

I want to try something different, something bold.

I am intrigued by the idea of mint and cinnamon.

Do you think that tea, brandy, mint and cinnamon would achieve the depth of flavor we're looking for?

I think there's a fair bit of experimentation in order.

[Demimonde]

Originally Posted by Anastasia Beaverhausen

Demi, the rooibos I've tried tastes like licking a tree. So I don't know how it'd work as the base for another drink.

Really? I quite like it. It definitely is its own thing for sure. Very earthy, very complex, slightly sweet but not too much.

It is my go to herbal tea when I can't have caffeine but I still want something strong.

[LadyShea]

When you speak of community, do you mean the general fandom or something specific?

[thedoc]

Tabasco and Rum, a good pick-me-up in the morning.

or

Dave's Insanity Sauce, and Vodka, for later in the day.

[Demimonde]

Originally Posted by wei yau

Butterbeer is nice, but it's been done.

I want to try something different, something bold.

I am intrigued by the idea of mint and cinnamon.

Do you think that tea, brandy, mint and cinnamon would achieve the depth of flavor we're looking for?

I think it would be quite nice. I would first try:

1 tsp honey in the bottom of the mug
1 oz Brandy
1 cup brewed mint tea
Monin syrup to taste

For the mint tea you could always use a good pre-prepared bag or loose leaf tea. Or you could brew your favorite tea and steep fresh mint in it for a few minutes.

I think there's a fair bit of experimentation in order.

Mind if I join you? Because, FUN!

[livius drusus]

Rooibos is delicious, especially paired with dried fruits. I have a mixed berry rooibos that steeps to a beautiful crimson color.

[BrotherMan]

Originally Posted by Demimonde

Okay, this is going to sound oatmeal crazy, but if you want to balance the flavor out a bit, how about mint?

[Qingdai]

Jesus friking Avada Kedavra! Don't make me go measure my hot toddy mix, which by the way is the bomb, so says 5 out of 5 artsy gay men who I presented to this very Friday. It was declared delicious and what nottery.


1 heaping TABLESPOON of honey
Then add about 3/4 cup of boiling water, must be very hot. Melt that honey, does it smell like honey now? If not, add more honey. Is it honey colored? It should be. Next add
3-5 TABLESPOONS of lemon juice
a shot or two of Temperance straight bourbon whiskey, barrel aged if you have it. 121 proof bourbon at any rate.
Stir.
Add one lemon slice with a clove through it.
That's my standard recipe, and it's delicious.

You want dragon blood?
I give you dragon blood.

Mix honey with that cinnamon syrup.
drizzle in towards the end so it's not fully mixed in.

[Dingfod]

Kind of like this?

[Qingdai]

I don't know what that is, Ding, but I'm willing to try it FOR SCIENCE!

[Dingfod]

I found it in a GIS for "dragon blood drink".

[thedoc]

Originally Posted by Qingdai

Jesus friking Avada Kedavra! Don't make me go measure my hot toddy mix, which by the way is the bomb, so says 5 out of 5 artsy gay men who I presented to this very Friday. It was declared delicious and what nottery.


1 heaping TABLESPOON of honey
Then add about 3/4 cup of boiling water, must be very hot. Melt that honey, does it smell like honey now? If not, add more honey. Is it honey colored? It should be. Next add
3-5 TABLESPOONS of lemon juice
a shot or two of Temperance straight bourbon whiskey, barrel aged if you have it. 121 proof bourbon at any rate.
Stir.
Add one lemon slice with a clove through it.
That's my standard recipe, and it's delicious.

You want dragon blood?
I give you dragon blood.

Mix honey with that cinnamon syrup.
drizzle in towards the end so it's not fully mixed in.

Why do you spoil it with 'water'? The Honey, Lemon Juice, and Whiskey work just fine without. The Cinnamon sounds like a good addition.

[thedoc]

Originally Posted by Dingfod

Kind of like this?

Looks like a "Tequila Sunrise", I used to drink those, - till they started fogging my brain.

[Anastasia Beaverhausen]

(Jack Daniels makes a honey bourbon, if you want to test drive that)

[thedoc]

Originally Posted by Anastasia Beaverhausen

(Jack Daniels makes a honey bourbon, if you want to test drive that)

Then all you need to add is Lemon.

I'll do that sitting down.

[Dingfod]

Alien abortion could pass for dragon something or another, just use cinnamon for the red stuff:

[Anastasia Beaverhausen]

Originally Posted by thedoc

Then all you need to add is Lemon.

I'll do that sitting down.

My favorite bar serves it with muddled mint and ginger ale.

[Angakuk]

I don't have anything to add by way of ingredients, but since you are talking about hot toddys, you need to give this a listen.

Red Foley - Hot Toddy - YouTube

[Watser?]

Rooibos is nice, but if you want red you should try hibiscus tea. It gives a dark red colour. I have combined it with other types of tea and stuff and the colour is always dark red. I bet you could dye garments with it (but not so sure the colours would stick). Tastes very nice and fruity too.

[roastelk]

might i suggest a mix of Cinnamon schnaps & chili infused vodka....and maybe some red food colouring if ya need the red colour.