I am not, nor have I ever claimed to be a vodka man. I respect the stuff, but there’s something about an odorless, “I go with anything” alcohol that I just can’t get behind. Also, when you think about a vodka man — crisp, put together, owning multiple suits… I’m not him. I’m a rum guy (half-pirate). Maybe I can pull off whisky guy (classic, beard-having), but vodka guy is beyond me.
That being said, Sunday is National Vodka Day, and because of that, I will try (I’m a giver). I will swallow my pride and attempt to be a vodka man. Today, in the spirit of fall, the Pumpkin and Spice is here to aid in my struggle. You know what else is here? The Uproxx weekly recap. Read, savor, enjoy.
Uproxx Sports: Dwight Howard Thinks He’s Got ‘A Good 10 Years Left’ In The NBA
Uproxx Music: Are We Getting A New Lauryn Hill Album? Maybe…
Uproxx TV: ‘It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’ Totally Predicted The ‘Peeple’ App
Uproxx Life: 11 People Have Been Arrested After Stealing Nearly $1M Worth Of Parmesan Cheese
Uproxx TV: The Sixth Season Premiere Of ‘The Walking Dead’ Is Both Massive And Brilliantly Executed
If you want to drink what I’ll be drinking, here is the recipe for Pumpkin and Spice from Sean McClure at Anchor Distilling:
INGREDIENTS
1.5 oz Karlsson’s Gold Vodka (Oatmeal-Infused)
1.5 oz Ginger Beer
.5 oz Oloroso sherry
.25 oz St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
.25 oz Molasses
1 tbsp Pumpkin Puree
1 tincture Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters
GARNISH
Fresh Nutmeg
GLASSWARE
Rocks Glass
PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS
In a Boston shaker, combine all liquid ingredients except the ginger beer. Shake vigorously for 25 seconds and strain over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Top with the ginger beer and grate the fresh nutmeg over the top. This cocktail is nice to serve with a little bowl of toasted and salted pumpkin seeds.
NOTES
Oatmeal-Infused Karlsson’s Gold Vodka (yield- 750 ml.):
Ingredients
– 750 ml. Karlsson’s Gold vodka
– 2 c. Raw oats (Quaker works)
Instructions
Using a large sauté pan toast the oats for about 10 minutes, constantly watching them and making sure they don’t burn. Once they’re aromatic and have a touch of color, add the oats to a mason jar with the vodka and let it infuse for 12 to 24 hours. Strain and press out all the vodka from the oats. Return the liquid to the bottle and store in a cool dark place.
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Do you guys remember disposable cameras? The $3 ready-to-go set ups with the super bright flash you could set off by hitting the whole camera to your palm? And that winder that rubbed the pad of your thumb raw after 36 golden Kodak moments were captured? Remember that?
Not to get morbid here, but with the recent “selfie death vs. shark death” statistics, I can’t help but wonder how many deaths or accidents disposables caused every year. Looking back on it, I used to palm-slap-flash the hell out of my dad — even when he was driving. It was hilarious to me and, in retrospect, also incredibly dangerous for the whole family. I’m not much of a selfie taker, but thinking about it now, I cringe thinking of the trouble I could have caused. Kids, man.
Here’s to better selfies, smarter (less mischievous) kids, and safer image capturing. Let’s lighten the mood and unwind with an Uproxx recap and a Friday drink. Regardless of how you capture it, selfie, disposable camera, whatever, your weekend is here. Let’s make some memories worth framing.
Have you guys heard about A-F-R-O yet? Holy hell. This kid…
Uproxx Music: Is This 17-Year-Old The Future Of Old-School Hip-Hop?
The Russians seem to be ahead of us in safe selfie practices:
Uproxx Life: It’s Time We All Learned Selfie Safety From The Russian Government
One of the most uplifting stories of the week:
Uproxx Movies: Lizzie Velasquez Battles The Bullies In ‘A Brave Heart,’ A Documentary About Her Life
Also:
Bill O’Reilly Has Challenged ‘Pinhead’ Will Ferrell To A Debate For Some Reason
Get Your Munchies Ready, Because Nickelodeon Released A List Of Its ’90s Shows Making A Comeback
And
The Pope Is Recording A Rock Album. Yes, For Real.
Your Friday reading is served — kick back and enjoy this Nieux Carre from Sean McClure and the Anchor Distilling company.
INGREDIENTS
1.5 oz Karlsson’s Gold Vodka
.75 oz Gran Duque d Alba Solera gran Reserva brandy
.75 oz Carpano Antica Vermouth
.25 oz Benedictine
1 tincture Peychaud’s bitters
1 tincture Angostura bitters
GARNISH // Lemon twist
GLASSWARE // Old Fashioned Glass
PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS // Combine all liquid ingredients in a chilled mixing glass with cracked ice and stir for 20 seconds. Double strain the cocktail over a large cube. Garnish with a lemon twist, making sure to release all the essential oils out of the twist. Also make sure to rub the entire rim of the glass with the twist before dropping it into the cocktail.
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This week, we reel in your five-day troubles with the Hemingway’s Muse from the fine folks over at The River Roast in Chicago, Illinois. Now, I may not be a professional on the subject but I was always under the impression that Hemingway drank daiquiris. I suppose a guy who says things like, “I drink to make other people more interesting” wasn’t too particular. Regardless of what that guy indulged in, this drink is good — fresh, light, clean, smart. Mix one for yourself and catch up on some Uproxx stories you might have missed. You’ll find the recipe for Hemingway’s Muse below.
Being from Jersey, this piece hits extra close to home for me:
This piece just published this morning, but people around here liked it a lot and it’s got that awesome Paulie-slicing-garlic scene:
As well as this deep dive on the masters and their long game in GoT:
The Grand Maester’s Conspiracy To Wipe Out Magic In ‘Game Of Thrones’
Here’s a double review from new film and TV editor Keith Phipps:
And your weekly fast-food fix:
Burger King Will Give Away Mutant Burgers For World Peace On Sept. 21
For everyone out there who ever felt so inclined, this fantasy just got a little ($$$) more realistic:
Princess Leia’s Infamous Slave Bikini Can Finally Be Yours
Have a great weekend and look for a few longer pieces (including one by yours truly) dropping on Saturday. The River Roast in Chicago, Illinois is here for you.
Hemingway’s Muse
The River Roast, Chicago (Illinois)
2oz Mint & lime infused Brugal Rum
.75oz demerara sugar simple syrup
.5oz lime juice
4 mint leaves
Add ice to shaker, shake, double strain.
Garnish with mint leaves and a lime wedge.
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We here at Uproxx love our readers, which is exactly why we bring you this column. We want you to be comfortable and well-informed. Relaxed and educated. Hell, liquored up and entertained.
This week is a good time to embrace fall with the Pumpkin Spiced Cable Car, brought to you by Firefly in Studio City, California. It’s a nice sipping drink as the leaves start to change. We also hand-picked a few choice pieces, some science, some pop-culture, some just for fun, but all worth looking back on while you wind down.
This week, we discussed:
- The fierce Black Mamba anti poaching unit
- Burning Man through photos (in two parts)
- Obama showing Bear Grylls he can hang
We spent time pondering and investigating:
- What the hell Pluto is all about
- Just how rad Bethany Hamilton is
- If the Lakers can win back our hearts
We looked back on:
- The musical guests of The Fresh Prince
- The missing link
- Howard Stern on the morning of the 9/11 attacks
And we looked forward to:
- Winter coming (Game of Thrones, not actual winter)
- The future of football none of us saw coming
- Some more Hollywood destruction-on-a-mass-scale (which looks like a tone of fun)
- Stephen Colbert getting back on the air, and everything that entails
So kick back, relax and enjoy this week’s Uproxx collection along with this pumpkin spiced concoction brought to you by the Firefly bar manager David Castagnetti.
Pumpkin Spiced Cable Car
Firefly, Studio City (California)
1.5 oz. spiced rum
.25 oz. lemon juice
.25 oz. orange juice
.75 oz. house made pumpkin syrup
Cinnamon/sugar for rim
Sage Leaf
Candied Ginger
Shake ingredients with ice, then strain into a cup.
Rim glass with cinnamon sugar.
Garnish with candied ginger and sage leaf.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbR7axof1wk
Ferris was right, life does move fast and if you don’t slow down you really might miss something. Here are a few pieces from this week we wouldn’t want you to miss, along with a cocktail to sip on as you savor your Friday afternoon reads.
It was a big week for interviews, starting with this oral history that the whole team felt giddy over:
The Kids From ‘Kids’ Discuss The Controversial Film That Changed Their Lives Forever.
That was the only oral history this week (those pieces are monsters to produce) but there were a number of other interviews filled with funny anecdotes and surprising moments of pathos:
UPROXX MUSIC: ‘I Overdosed Three Times In A Month’: Now FIDLAR’s Zac Carper Is Back From The Dead
UPROXX LIFE: ‘Home Fries Or Hash Browns?’ Talking With Top Chef Season 10 Runner-Up Brooke Williamson
UPROXX LIFE: Mythbusters’ Jamie Hyneman Tells Uproxx About The Stunt The Show Won’t Let Him Do
UPROXX MOVIES: Director Richard Donner On The Legacy Of ‘The Goonies,’ 30 Years Later
If you’re ready for a deep dive, this exploration of Gene Roddenberry’s removal from Wrath of Khan, is definitely worth your time.
GAMMA SQUAD: How ‘Star Trek’ Creator Gene Roddenberry Got ‘Kicked Upstairs’ And Off ‘Wrath Of Khan’
We leave you this week with a reflection from Martin Rickman about college football, what it means (and where it fits in his life), and how you can expect to see it covered in UPROXX SPORTS this season.
Crossing The Bridge: Reflections On A New College Football Season
NOW FOR THE DRINK!
Tommy Gun Manhattan from Freds at Barneys New York in Chicago (Ill.)
Mixologist: Clarence Mills
3 oz Bulleit Rye
½ oz Punt e Mes Vermouth
½ oz Carpano Vermouth
Dash Angustora Orange Bitters
Served in with a house-spiked cherry (to do this at home, check this recipe)
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Today’s drinks are all made with cachaça, a spirit distilled from sugarcane juice. This “Brazilian Rum” — a name coined because some Caribbean brands are now making their own raw cane versions — isn’t quite as deep-bodied as your typical rum from molasses. It’s still smooth, but feels a little more… alive. Actually, cachaça resembles tequila in that way: You really taste the fact that it’s plant-based.
Our Friday cocktails were designed by Matthew Houlihan for the brand Cachaça 51 to perfectly resemble the stock alcohol emojis that we all have in our phones. So that when you send a drink emoji to your friends to signal the end of the work week, you’ll also be giving them a pretty realistic idea of what you’ll be serving up.
Pearl Diver (tiki cocktail emoji)
2 oz Cachaça 51
1/2 oz orange juice
1 oz passion fruit juice
1/2 oz grenadine
Lime for garnish
Pour grenadine to the bottom of a hurricane glass and fill with crushed ice. Combine Cachaça 51, orange juice, and passion fruit juice into a shaker and shake lightly. Pour over ice. Garnish with lime wedge.
Bitter Coat (slushie emoji)
2 oz Cachaça 51
3/4 oz lemon juice
1/2 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz Aperol
Combine Cachaça 51, lemon, and simple syrup in a shaker and shake lightly. Pour into glass and add crushed ice. Float Aperol on top.
Yellow Lilly (martini emoji)
2 1/4 oz Cachaça 51
3/4 Yellow Chartreuse
Olive for garnish
Combine ingredients into a glass and stir with ice until cocktail is chilled well. Strain into a coup. Garnish with an olive.
***
Now that you’re well on the way to getting sauced with emoji drinks, here are a few Uproxx articles from this week that you won’t want to miss:
The Inside Story Of How The First VMAs Almost Killed MTV, But Ended Up Saving It Instead. This longform piece details Madonna’s antics and Michael Jackson’s snub at the first ever VMAs. The Smoking Section’s article detailing the best hip-hop performances in VMA history makes a nice follow up.
If you’re sports minded, this piece on the demise of the Bethel Bobcats provides a deep investigation into the dissolution of a high school basketball team. Uproxx Sports also introduced us to Josh Rosen — UCLA’s new starting QB — with an exclusive interview.
If you’re looking for a movie this weekend, Vince Mancini seemed to surprise himself with how much he liked both We Are Your Friends and No Escape. He didn’t love them… but this weekend couldn’t be considered a complete movie desert by any stretch.
Lastly, this conversation and investigation into the 13-season run of Aqua Teen Hunger Force will give you a deeper appreciation for everything the show accomplished.
Until next week friends, have fun getting buzzed with emojis.
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The week is winding down and we’re sure that by this point you have Friday happy hour to Sunday brunch properly mapped out — with Fear The Walking Dead as your weekend closer. You earned all of it (probably, you seem nice).
It was a week of ups and downs, highs and lows. Any glance at the headlines kept emotions ebbing and flowing. One minute we were feeling sympathetic for Manny and the next we were giddy over the news of a forthcoming Flight of the Conchords movie and tour. When stories about human awfulness sent us low, we had amazing stories like KoKo’s to cheer us up.
Straight Outta Compton continues to dominate the summer (at the box office and the water cooler). Last week, we sat down with DJ Yella to hear about what it took to make it in Compton. Today, Dr. Dre addressed some of the controversy that the movie has swirled up for him. Ice Cube, on the other hand, has come out of this mostly unscathed — chatting for cameras with his son, and responding to mostly-glowing YouTube comments.
A final piece for your consideration, we spoke with some of the best surfers alive to create an oral history of the greatest heat in competitive surfing history. If you haven’t read it, do yourself a favor and finish up your Friday pre-gaming by learning about that fabled day when Kelly Slater and John John Florence went toe to toe at one of the most dangerous surf breaks on the planet.
What to drink as you do all this reading? This week, Mike Chung of Power House Bar LA sent us the “Buenos Notte.” It’s easy to make and perfectly balanced, a great way to start the weekend.
The BUENOS NOTTE by Mike Chung, bartender at the Power House
2 oz. Casamigos Blanco tequila
.5 oz. Campari
.75 oz. grapefruit juice
.5 oz. yuzu lime syrup
.5 oz. agave.
Mix over ice and garnish with citrus zest.
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It’s Friday. Let’s rejoice with a libation. Ring in the weekend! You want something slightly sweet, yet strong enough to remind you that you are an adult.
It’s time to kick your slipper-adorned feet up as music thumps in the background. While you’re thinking about music, did you read this deep dive into the music behind the beloved TV show Pete & Pete? Did you check Kendrick Lamar talking to the N.W.A crew? The Uproxx team is predicting a huge opening for Straight Outta Compton, and think that these other biopics deserve to get made.
Now we’re talking about movies, so it’s worth asking if you caught this fun Frozen/Tarzan theory, or read Bobcat Goldthwait and Vince Mancini riffing on Bobcat’s new documentary and “The Gathering of the Juggalos.”
You might want to mix a double when you see that the universe, as we know it, is dying. On the bright side, Bill Nye is getting a documentary. So, maybe humanity will smarten up before all the ice caps melt. Or we can just get everyone a hoverboard for crossing our soon-to-be water-world.
Have fun — but stay responsible-ish (#makegoodchoices). If you just need to veg out, don’t bother catching up on True Detective. Check out the genius twists of Mr. Robot instead.
Cheers!
THE DAISY CHAIN by Cameron Johnston, head bartender at Gleneagles Hotel (Scotland)
Ingredients
1.5 oz Haig Club Whiskey
1 squeeze lemon
1/2 oz honey water (honey mixed 1:1 with water)
2/3 oz camomile tea (cold-infused)
1 egg white
2 dashes Bob’s Ginger Bitters
Garnish: aromatic camomile sugar
Directions
Pour the Haig Club, lemon juice, honey water, camomile tea, egg white and Bob’s Ginger Bitters into a cocktail shaker.
Shake and then fine-strain into a rounded coupette glass.
Garnish with aromatic camomile sugar.
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We’re all in the same boat right now. We may have a beautiful weekend on tap, but it’s hard to look forward just yet with Jon Stewart gone from The Daily Show. Better to watch a few more of the man’s many highlights and give ourselves a day to cope with the fact that next week will glow a little less brightly.
Today’s drink is like Stewart himself. He offered us a modern twist on a classic newsman, so let’s tip back another modern twist on a classic.
Godspeed, Jon. We’re all here toasting you from afar.
FIG & WALNUT JULEP from FIG & OLIVE, Washington, D.C.
Ingredients
2 oz. Bourbon
.75 oz Elderflower Liqueur
.5 oz Lime Juice
.25 oz Tawny Port
.25 oz Simple Syrup
2 Black Figs (muddled)
3 mint leaves
2 Slices of Fig 1/4 inch thick
Grated Walnut
1 Mint Sprig
Ice
Preparation
Cut mint sprig to about four to five inches long (long enough so it will be able to peek over the edge of the rocks glass). You will have to strip the mint off each sprig until you have just three to four smaller leaves at the top of the mint for garnish. The rest of the leaves (three) will be used in the cocktail.
For the simple syrup, you will need to heat one cup of water and bring to boil. Add ½ cup sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved. Turn off heat and let cool.
Directions
Using a mixing glass (Boston) or a two-piece shaker, combine black mission figs, tawny port, simple syrup, and fresh lime juice and muddle into a nice paste. Add three fresh mint leaves, bourbon, and elderflower liqueur. Add ice and shake vigorously for about eight to 10 seconds so the ingredients can infuse. Strain contents over ice in an Old Fashioned Glass or Rocks Glass. Cut a fig to garnish cocktail. Grate some walnut over drink and add a mint sprig.
Or swing by and visit the crew at Fig and Olive. There’s strength in solidarity. We’ll get through this loss together.
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Today’s drink comes from The Blind Pig Restaurant + Bar in Orange County, Calif. It features strawberry shrub, a sweetened drinking vinegar that’s 1) relatively easy to make and 2) extremely popular with the craft cocktail set. With temperatures high, forget a drink that makes your teeth feel sticky — cocktails made with shrub manage to taste fruity without being overly sweet.
Fixx the Shrub by Jeff Baitx
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Cimarron Tequila
1 oz house-made strawberry shrub
.25 oz lemon
.25 oz honey
Instructions:
Whip and shake all ingredients, and pour over crushed ice.
Spray with Scotch mist, and garnish with a slice of strawberry and thyme sprig.
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