Smorgasbord #54
We finally opened it | Fit in, stand out | Martinez
We finally opened it
I proposed to Diana eleven years ago at Casa Madero, a winery in Parras de la Fuente, Mexico. That day, we bought a bottle of Casa Madero’s 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon. We brought it back to Phoenix and kept it in our apartment for a few years, and it moved to our home eight years ago. We could’ve opened it five years ago, but we were very sleep-deprived with two toddlers and a newborn, so we decided to wait for our tenth wedding anniversary.
Our tenth wedding anniversary was three weeks ago, and we didn’t open it then. But last Sunday, we had friends over for dinner, and it felt like the special occasion we had been waiting for. The cork broke halfway, so I had to push it into the bottle and pass the wine through a colander. There was some sediment, but that was to be expected from a fourteen-year-old bottle of wine.
The wine was so good. It was a very smooth Cabernet. It still had some astringent power, very dark red fruit notes with a hint of green bell pepper. I think it’s fair to say that it was worth the wait. I don’t usually drink wine, but I probably had half of the bottle while Diana and some of our friends had the rest.
Overall, having friends made the evening extra special. Diana and I decided hospitality would be our charism as a family, and welcoming others into our home has been a source of joy for a decade. Good food, good drink, good friends; that should be a bumper sticker. It feeds the soul as well. After all, we’re made for communion.
Fit in, stand out
I have been thinking about how we all have these two seemingly conflicting desires at any given moment. We want to fit in and be part of a group, but at the same time, we want to stand out. Even though we’re all unique, we may have some common ground with others.
For example, I’m okay with this newsletter being low-key and niche. My goal is not to become rich or famous from it but to have a creative outlet. At the same time, I want people to read it because it might be helpful to someone when I write about fatherhood, faith, or cocktails. The niche part is the standing out portion of the desire.
I want to fit in with my group of friends, but I also want to stand out and have something distinct about me. A friend of mine used the concept of “personal expression," which, to me, sounds a lot like personality, and this is what I find fascinating about being Catholic.
When you look at the Communion of Saints, you will find an assortment of personalities who stand out because they lived their faith heroically. Whether you struggle with anger like St. Jerome did or have had a difficult marriage and heartache caused by your children like St. Monica did—I guess that’s more situation-specific. Still, hopefully, I make my point that we all have the potential to fit in (become saints) and stand out (by being who we ought to be).
Martinez
Christmas is two months away, and it is getting less hot in Phoenix, so I’m gravitating toward spirit-forward cocktails with a certain warmth. If you like Manhattans, then you might like the Martinez.
To make a Martinez, you’ll need:
1.5 oz gin
1.5 oz sweet vermouth
.25 oz Luxardo maraschino liqueur
Two (2) dashes of Angostura bitters
Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir for 60 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe if you want to serve it up. It’s also good with a big chunk of ice in an old-fashioned glass.
Because of the sweet vermouth I had, which is very rich, I had to dilute this drink a bit more so it didn’t feel heavy or syrupy. I like the cherry sweetness of Luxardo and the spiciness of the bitters in it. You may get notes other than juniper, depending on the gin you use. That bottle of Hendricks is very floral, which made it more fragrant and exciting than if I had used Kirkland’s London Dry gin (which is very lovely, too, don’t get me wrong). It tastes like Christmas, but it might as well give you Pumpkin Spice vibes during the fall. Either way, this is a wonderful drink as a nightcap on a Friday night after all your kids have gone to bed.
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Sobremesa
Do you have something you’re saving for a special occasion?
Is there a saint or blessed you identify with?
What does your end-of-the-workweek winding down ritual look like?
1. My soul….I hope.
2. Father Willie Doyle, S.J. (Google him. You won’t regret it.)
3. Don’t really have one.
I love your recommendation on the cocktail! I, too, live in Phoenix and I am so delighted that Tuesday begins our cooler weather next week. Love to read your posts, keep up the great work.