The Making of a Liquor Chick

This is the first in a series of blog entries about navigating my way

through the new, exciting (and hopefully successful) business healthy light cocktails:
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I suppose I always knew the corporate 9-to-5 world was not for me. Yet, I did it - quite successfully even, for the better part of two decades. And even though I steered myself toward the most interesting and creative roles (marketing and communications) within those very conservative and not-quite-"me"-companies, I never really had that passion. You know, the one that says "I will sacrifice my own time, fun time and family time to make this work." Nah, it was always "just a job." I tried a few different ones. Increased responsibilities, accumulated longer titles, more money. Nope. Still just a job.

And then I attached my passion to my newly born son, and then his brother, then sister at the time; so it never really registered with me that perhaps those jobs were not meant to be. True, I figured I would go back full-time once the "kids were older." After all, could in good consience, not use my M.B.A.? Be, quote, just a Mom? But even when I was "just a Mom" I still consulted, contracted, worked on a project-by-project basis, so that I could still remain connected to the firms, titles and roles that I assumed I would go back to in some context, at some point.

And those jobs were just that -- jobs. More specifically, they were baseball camp payments, or dance class tuitions, or when times got tighter, grocery bills or night out money. Each one served its purpose -- not my purpose. But that's OK. I'd find one.

Oh, and I also bartended on and off during those years. No real purpose there either, but I'll admit, more passion... And that made me think. Marketing, bartending, people. Maybe I could pursue a career that combined everything I liked - and not just one that came together out of necessity or expected career-paths.

So here we are today. That was a 200-mile-an-hour explanation of how I came to this milepost in the road of my career, life and passion. Liquor Chick was born. And then LiteHouse Margarita Mix was born out of Liquor Chick. Who, people may wonder, is Liquor Chick? Fun to say, that's for sure. When I meet people and see them react to the name, it's interesting to them. It's not financial writing-interesting or law firm business development-interesting (two previous "jobs" I'd held). No, it's truly INTERESTING-INTERESTING. Or maybe that's just my opinion. And that's how I know I found something purposeful.

Now my interests include bottle suppliers, fruit wholesalers, and lots of lots of research. I don't claim to be an expert on the business side of this interest quite yet. But, the concrete side on the other hand -- on the actual creating of a consumer product that will eventually have a life of its own while still being a part of me -- that gives me interest to develop the expertise.

"You may as well use what you know." "Do what you like." We've all heard credos like these. They all make sense now. Now that I've had the other experiences to compare to. I get it. And it's what's going to make this newborn brand take hold. The passion and desire to conduct hours and hours of research, networking, phone calls and more research -- the exact same types of things I've done in careers past and felt indifferent about each and every minute of it.

So hopefully a year from now I will look back on this first official blog entry, chronicling my forray into the fabulous world of beverage distribution, with satisfaction that I've come a long way - longer than 15+ years in the Corporate Communications industry ever took me. And maybe it's because my family and I just watched Justin Bieber's feel-good movie "Never Say Never", reinforcing the undeterred following of one's dreams, that I am so full of hopefulness and optimism. So we'll see...

Next up: I have this great idea. Now what?

Even the great wardrobe didn't hold my interest in the corporate world...

Less-Than-Fancy Vodka Experiment Yields Fastest Infusion Ever

Today, Wednesday, is the 6th of 7 days in my budget week. We try to stick to a certain cash figure each week, and try as I might - I always seem to spend to the last penny. I always think it’s due brilliant planning and money management on my part. He, well, he thinks it is more of the hole-burning phenomenon. Either, way with two full days left until cash flow Friday, things get a little tight on Wednesday.

Which is problematic. Because we all know that Wednesday is also Wines-day. And unlike many of my friends who amazingly always have stocked fridges and liquor cabinets, we subscribe more to the Toyota way of doing things - JUST IN TIME. We don't stock for the "just in case" situations. No, we run out, after inviting half the neighborhood over, and realizing they actually accepted, to the package store and amazingly buy "just enough" to get through the party of the moment. Kind of like my budget money, hmmmm.

So when in the mood for adult libations on Wednesday, and even worse on Thursday, we need to get creative. Yes, our first choices are generally of the Belvedere, Chopin and Ciroc varieties (Oh, sorry - we were in the mood for vodka drinks. Could we have settled for kegerator beer - sure. But since last night saw a restless night of vomit-interrupted sleep, thanks to a sick 8-year old, and today gave way to no free time at all thanks to the same named 8-year old, we felt we deserved a true "drink" drink tonight.).

So off I went to the corner store, with my very specific number of dollars in mind, and in my wallet. And what do you know; I found a bottle that was priced at the exact same figure that I was carrying. Well, two dollars fewer - since I promised said 8-year-old a Gatorade to help with his...issues.

Transaction made, I skipped home, happy to not have had to dip into credit on this second-to-last day before the budget week ends. The last day is a little easier to justify -- and perhaps if it were for an inhaler, or a humidifier, or antibiotics-- that would have been less offensive also.

Then, home again; showing my prize like a proud Momma Bear, I actually saw my purchase in the full light of the day. It looked, well, like it should have cost what it did – no bragging of triple filtering or spring fresh waters on the label. No Wine Spectator medals adorning it. But that's ok - I am Liquor Chick, and I infuse vodkas to taste better. Granted, I start with at least middle shelf vodkas, but I am pretty handy, and have been known to squeeze money from stone, after all. So why not try and infuse it?

And infuse it, I did. 90 minutes ago with the strongest, most concentrated orange peels and piths I could muster. Hey, I would trade medicinal for bitter in a heartbeat, if it at least tasted a little citrusy instead of isopropy-ish. Tick tock. Oh, and I only poured 1/3 of the bottle (roughly the exact amount that I predict we will have drunk tonight at the end of our Wednesday, which will cause me to think again about how we are like Toyota. And hey - if the vodka gets recalled, we get our measly dollars back, right?? Ya know, for things like inhalers and antibiotics....)

Check back for the results, and recipes of the less-than-fancy vodka experiment.

I Always Knew Christina And I Were Connected Somehow

So we all either saw, or read about, or watched over and over again, the National Anthem flubbing by Christina Aguilera.  And I say, to that -- who the HELL cares?? Well, actually, I care - but not in a "wow she's unpatriotic, a traitor, a disrespecting bad BAD girl" kind of way.  No, I care, because – hey, if SHE can mess up a song, than I don't feel so bad messing up my things once in a while either.

So, thanks, Christina.  Thanks to you, I can fully admit that I got way into the moment (wasn’t that your “excuse”?) of the ski get-away weekend I was planning for, and then on, this past week, that I lost my place [in my 30 day Challenge] myself.  Boy do I feel better knowing I have company the likes of you! I always knew we had a lot in common...

Now, can both us chicks just MOVE ON, PEOPLE??  Back to the Challenge. I am picking up on the day I left off on, even though it was about 6 days ago.  For those of you that actually, noticed – thanks for not tweeting, blogging and exposing me on all the gossip sites…I owe you a drink.

 

I mean -- check out the resemblance.  Uncanny.

Drink Skinny This New Year's Eve, and Into the New Year

New Year's Eve is the perfect opportunity to drink smart -- and no, I don't just mean taking advantage of free public transportation or making a resolution to read something besides the comic strips... I mean the actual drink of choice on this night -- champagne (or sparkling wine, depending on your preferred region) is a favorite of the Hollywood glamorous and skinny models all over the world.  And we know they know what's what.

Sparkling wine is low in carbs - usually about 5 per glass for the dryer varietals ("brut", in champagne speak).  The sweetest varietal is only 10 carbs per glass -- not bad, considering most nights out find us slurping on sugary mixed drinks and artificially flavored liqueurs.  And you can count on fewer than 100 calories per glass of this celebratory libation. 

If you don't want to drink the stuff straight (or simply want to mask the taste of a not-so-great, yet affordable bubbly) you have plenty of options that will still keep you in healthy mode --as long as you mix accordingly.  Here are a few of Liquor Chick's favorite champagne-inspired recipes (and take-offs on some un-chick worthy ones), that will keep your calories down, and your fun up tonight.  Cheers to a fabulous New Year!

Chick Champagne Cobbler

1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1/2 oz. orange-infused vodka

orange slice

champagne

Fill goblet with crushed ice. Add lemon juice, orange and vodka and stir.  Top off with champagne and stir gently again. 125 calories

 

Magna Carta, Chickified

1 1/2 oz. tequila

1/2 oz. orange-infused vodka

1/4 oz. Blue Agave Nectar

Champagne

Add nectar, tequila and vodka and stir.  Add ice, then champagne and stir gently. 140 calories - but remember, tequila breaks up fat and lowers cholesterol so the extra few calories are well-spent!

 

Lightened Up Poinsettia (featured in South Shore Woman's December Issue of Wink Webzine)

½ oz. Orange-infused vodka*

Brut Sparkling Wine

Splash light cranberry juice (or make your own – it’s so easy!)

Tsp. Organic Blue Agave Nectar

In a champagne flute, stir together agave nectar and chilled vodka.  Add sparkling wine, and top with cranberry juice.  For extra holiday spirit, muddle some fresh cranberries in bottom of glass with the nectar.

 

Pear Sparkler

 

1/2 oz. Pear-infused Vodka

Brut Sparkling Wine

Splash Light Cranberry Juice (or make your own!)

 

1/2 tsp. Blue Agave Nectar

 

Start with (chilled) vodka and nectar in bottom of champagne flute. Stir thoroughly.  Add the sparkling wine. Top with splash of cranberry juice. 130 calories

 

If you want to make this as a punch for some sort of party (New Years Eve, anyone?), then keep to these ratios:

1 part Vodka
2 parts Sparkling Wine
1 part Juice

 

Other tips when drinking something besides plain champagne:

·     Avoid Kir Royales or other similar type drinks that call for the addition of high-sugared liqueurs to the bubbly. 

·     If you must add something, add natural infused spirits like orange-infused or cranberry-infused vodka to keep your carbs down.

·     Have one glass of water for every glass of champagne consumed throughout the night.  It will keep your pace down, and help to keep you hydrated so that you avoid the mother hangover of them all - NEW YEARS DAY!

·     And one last thing - Toast to the Liquor Chick way of life, in this year and beyond!!

 

 

 

Caffeine and Alcohol Together? A Bartender Would NEVER do That, Right??

I know this is probably a stretch, but has anyone ever had Rum & Coke? (That would be Diet Coke for the sake of Liquor Chick living -- always keep it low calorie when you can!) A few of you? Hmmm. How about Baileys (light Baileys recipe, right?) with coffee? Anyone? After-dinner wine, alongside of your skinny cappuccino? I know - unheard of. Oh, and what about this combination ....Red Bull & Vodka? I know these drinks are probably vastly unheard of. And you must also know that the sarcasm is dripping as thick as the Low Calorie Baileys that you would never add to that coffee.

Oh, you would? Me too! And when we make the mixture ourselves, I will bet that your bartender, much like my own, adds more than the one-shot serving, to lighten it up to your liking? And your Red Bull probably contains more than one shot of vodka -- I am just guessing. So when you control your own pour, you may in fact add more than the suggested serving. And does anyone open up a beer and pour anything else in there? Not likely.

What's the point these questions? Well, if you side with authorities that want to ban caffeinated malt liquor products, you may argue that these types of drinks make our young people drink more and faster. My side of the argument goes something like this: Products don't make us drink more, faster, harder -- the stupid quotient that is present in all of us, to varying degrees, does that just fine. You can't ban a certain modus operandi of our stupid -- you need to educate the stupid out of us in the first place.

And isn't that what society, our parents, school, public service announcements, books, friends, and studies all aim to do? What? You say the college student population will still drink too much, perform keg stands, throw up, and end up with stomachs pumped? Most likely. But Four Loko (the product-of-the-hour at the heart of this controversy) is not more to blame than we ourselves are.

Remember Purple Passion? It came in 2-liter soda-like bottles, was purple and fizzy, and was appealing as hell to teenagers (so I've heard). Did its packaging and pleasing branding make me try it then? No. Just as Four Loko's "eye-catching" colors and "fun flavors" aren't going to make college students try this, even though many insist just that. This product is merely something new in the arsenal of the "let's get drunk and party tonight" mentality.

Okay, so the colors and the "young appeal" don't affect us. What about the caffeine? That's nothing new to drinkers, as I've said before - Rum & Coke, Red Bull & Vodka, Baileys & Coffee -- all have firm footing in our weekend repertoire. So just because the caffeine AND the alcohol come together, we are supposed to reject it? As I've alluded before, if you simply pop open the can and consume, there's far less alcohol (between 6% and 12% per 23 ounces) than if you poured your own drink -- at least at my house, bar, friend's house, poolhouse, etc... You get the picture.

Oh, so the caffeine gives you the illusion that you're not getting as drunk? That's what officials are afraid we are going to think - and that we can get behind the wheel sooner than if we didn't have that handy caffeine at all. Give us a little credit - everyone knows that is a total wives' tale, propagated by old sit coms and misinformed story-tellers. You want us to be responsible and make the best decisions? Give us a little leeway to do so- (is what I would say were I still a fledgling college student, who did, as I am sure all the Big Brotheresqe types did too, drink somewhat to excess a few times).

Is Four Loko the new Power Hour of the campuses? The new shotgunning of a beer? The new keg stand? If the malt liquor is anything like the Purple Passion of the '90's, you won't be able to drink THAT much of it without getting that malt-liquor-stomach. I picture this as a start-the-night-off kind of drink, you know, like the before dinner fruity martini, that soon gets switched out after one good one. For those that do drink it all night long and end up in the health center after falling down in the bushes-- you would have done that with another type of alcohol anyway. You can't blame the can -- you CAN blame the can carrier. It's just too easy to blame a company, or a product, for the sadness and depravity that pervades the young drink-til-you-throw-up drinkers. They are always going to be around, whether or not you ban what they are jonesin' for.

One must give acclaim to Phusion Projects, Four Loko’s producer, for seeking to educate and give back to the community. They are quick and often to remind us that their products are meant for those of age, and that they do not condone underage drinking. When there has been a campus incident involving their beverage, they comment on it, admonish the partygoers and wholly support the school administration in rectifying it -- even if it means banning their product. When is the last time Budweiser released a statement apologizing for its product's role in a destructive party or riot? I don’t think blame get misplaced on Budweiser as often as it does on Phusion Projects.

So caffeine and alcohol -- is that REALLY the point? The debate doesn't hold much water, especially with the longstanding prevalence of other stronger caffeine-alcohol combinations (Four Loco has about the same amount of caffeine as a Tall Starbucks coffee). No, to me, the debate seems to focus on the uneducated, overzealous "kids" that are going to hurt themselves on this new, intriguing type of product. And the answers are the same tried and true as ever -- EDUCATE them, and trust that they will also educate themselves. Sometimes a hangover truly is the best medicine.

Bottom line for Four Loko - While I don't agree that caffeine and alcohol combined products should be banned, I do not consider this a Liquor Chick Approved Drink. Too much sugar and calories - 600 calories and 60 grams sugar per 23 ounce can. But it does give me new ideas for the Liquor Chick Lab... And I promise NOT to have college students taste test my lightened up version