And change… my bad. I’ve been a bit… busy!

Please allow me to make it up to you. I’ve got photos aplenty and I’m grinding on all the ones that will be shared, but to atone for my sins, please allow me to indulge and share with you a drink I just invented yesterday. I’m calling it Apple Rye until I think of a new name.

You need fresh apples and apple cider to make it happen. Ingredients also needed: rye whiskey (use the brand and variety you believe in),  maraschino  liqueur, orange bitters, & pecan bitters.

Take an apple, slice it.

Put in a mug, add 4 parts rye.

Let the apple slices soak in the rye for at least an hour.

Put the apple slices in serving glasses (preferably something wide and deep and cylindrical.)

Pour the soaked rye into a cocktail shaker.

Put a modest amount of ice (not too much; you will be pouring the ice out into the drinks) into the shaker.

Pour 1/2 part maraschino  liqueur into the shaker

Two dashes of orange bitters into the shaker

Two dashes of the pecan bitters into the shaker

Shake

Pour 4 parts cider into the shaker

Shake again

Pour out the drink evenly into the glasses. Make sure to distribute the ice/foam at the bottom evenly to your guests. You shouldn’t have too much ice, and the foam is the best part and you really should share it.

Use this recipe for good, and not evil.

Oh, and behold a North Carolina beach after a glancing blow from Tropical Storm Hermine last month.  I’ll be back soon.