Graduation stands as a landmark, a moment of liberation in my lifetime, and the night before, well that’s the crescendo. Our evening began with this symphonic mixture of a drink, a refreshing yet still affordable testament to the life we used to live.
Weekends, Wednesdays, Thursdays were nights to ravage the town. The soft Northwest skies stretched above like Grand Central’s Zodiac Tableau in Persian blues, and deep violets. The nights were promising. But cheap, watered down, coke-rum wells turned into long receipts, 15% tips turned into days without lunch. Enough was enough.
Curiously, the university social scene is one of a paradoxical nature. 4-year, in state universities average $9,000/year. Room and Board is about the same. The comedic turn of this tragic joke takes place in what’s labeled ‘Other Expenses.’ Essentially, its what is left in a students pocket. At the average of $2,100 per year we’re expected to enjoy the other side of academia, and divided by 9 months, 4 weekends, and 2 days, it seems the odds are against us.
If I haven’t been blatant enough, most students have little to zero money to socialize. However, we are still allured into going out by the promises of future connections to money, and power, and intimate conversation. Therein lies the paradox. We don’t have the money to go out, and meet the people who will help us get the money to go out, and meet the people who will help us etc. Often times I was stranded at the end of my weekdays with the existential question, do I spend what few dollars remain, or do I save. Reminiscing back on this decision, I found the former favorable. I also found that the way I was approaching it was all wrong. We need to help ourselves.
Instead of wasting money on expensive bar drinks, I’ve created a list of budget, yet still bossy drinks. The first, my Gregarious Greyhound, a breezy drink with a sociable head. This drink dates back to the prohibition era, where it was called ‘the Grapefruit Cocktail,’ and made with marmalade! Unfortunately, I’ve never bought grapefruit marmalade. So legacy, prestige, and funk are on the Greyhound’s side. More versions of this drink to come. May your college years be enriching, and your graduate years prosperous.
The Gregarious Greyhound. (2015)
- 3 parts Grapefruit Juice
- 6 leaves of mint
- 2 parts Tito’s Vodka
Add ice, shake, and strain over ice.
The Vodka Greyhound. (1945)
- 3 parts Grapefruit Juice
- 2 parts Vodka
Pour over ice and stir.
The Grapefruit Cocktail (1930)
- Juice of 1 1/2 Lemons
- 2 Small Spoonsful Grapefruit Jelly
- 4 parts Gin
Add ice and shake.
Con Amor,
Mr. Gittleman