Like it or not, we are all products of our environment. A big part of that comes from family. As I sip this drink from my mom’s China, I am reminded of all the things handed down from previous generations. The good and the bad, our strengths and our weaknesses all start at home. We carry them with us and, if we are not careful, we pass them along to the next generation. So with an eye to the future, please join me now as we stand and make, the Mad Hatter. 

Grab your tins and pop in 2 ounces of rye, I went with Crater Lake Reserve; 3/4 of an ounce of simple syrup, 1/3 of an ounce each of fresh squeezed lemon and lime juices. Add ice and shake hard to the beat of Marc Cohn’s “Things We Handed Down“. It is kinda slow, so your gonna want to hit the backbeat too and use big cubes. When your tins are good and chilled, grab an exquisitely fragile teacup and rinse it with absinthe, I chose St. George, before double straining the drink into it carefully. For the teacups, I often go ahead and prechill them with some ice water, to avoid thermal shock. Garnish with a thinly sliced lemon wheel and a lime wheel as well. 

This drink is wonderful. There is no tea component, but still it has that feel and almost flavor. The juices play so well with that spicy rye and the absinthe rinse give it just the right amount of astringency. A lovely drink in all ways. 

I’m all in on teacup cocktails. I love the presentation. I love the feel in my hand. Especially, when the teacup is something special. Today’s vessel comes courtesy of my mom, a lovely hand painted Haviland China teacup and saucer from Limoges. They are beautiful, but a big part of the charm is just how fragile they are. You can see through these, so sipping with big clumsy monkey hands always has an aspect of terror. Make one slip, grip a little too hard and this thing of beauty is shattered. This awareness enhances the experience. The risk keeps you in the moment, focused on enjoying things. To be fair, when accidents happen, you can make repairs, a little superglue and a promise to be better next time, but the cup would never be the same, once the cracks are there, they don’t go away. So, it is important to be careful. We also have to be careful as we choose the things we leave for those who come next. They say that the two things you can truly give your children are roots and wings. The roots are important, to help them stay grounded, but the wings are what really matter. The wings will help them transcend the bounds that held us back, to rise above. Protect those wings. Stay safe, stay hydrated and stay sane, my friends.