We did wine on the beach with a live reggae band for east coast new year's. It was very mellow.

Happy upcoming new year's, west coast! I must go to bed now. I have to catch a flight.

I can't wait to find out the results of bon's taste test.

This was a blind test -- blindfolded and anonymized by Bob. It was still easy to tell which mixer was which. Quotes here are what I said at the time. From worst to first:

• homemade lime syrup. Big yeuch. Too tart and sugary, without the smoothness of Rose's, and too bitter. (The limes were of poor quality, though, and I didn't exactly use Audrey Saunders' method. Just simple syrup + juiced limes.)

• Rangpur lime syrup. [link] Expected this to do better at $2 an ounce. Here is what I said: "I don’t smell anything (big whiff). That is very, very sweet. Almost no sourness. Kind of floral. Just tastes like straight up syrup. Maybe with this one you would want to add more vodka. [I did later, and it was a mistake.] It’s got depth of flavor, but it’s overpowered by the syrupiness of it. It doesn’t taste limey at all. It doesn’t have a sourness to it." Maybe this would work better for cooking, or margaritas, which I guess I will try next.

• Roses. "I think this is Rose’s. Sharp. Bitter. Syrupy. The sugar tastes right, but the lime itself is a little bitter and sharp."

Finally, the winner:

• Stirrings clarified lime syrup. Not as flavorful as the Rose's, more watery, but less bitter. A good choice for gimlet drinkers who want something smoother. Good lime flavor and not too sweet, and more floral than Rose's.

Still, if I go to a bar, I want Rose's (or at least to be asked what I prefer). For a dead simple drink bars almost always fuck this up when they spurn Rose's.

Anyway, happy drinking everyone and good luck for 2011! Rabbits!

bon's conclusion: Chandler was right.

Or, Chandler didn't have Stirrings.

But his basic argument was correct.

Our actual midnight celebration was pretty pathetic. Kelly had gone to bed, not feeling well. CJ and I yelled Happy New Year at each other. He went outside and yelled it to the freezing cold air (-1 degrees). Never opened the champagne or the sparkling cider. Both CJ and I are working on crashing for the night.

I wanna hit a real New Years party one year. And have someone to kiss at midnight.

I wanna hit a real New Years party one year. And have someone to kiss at midnight.

On my first NYE after I graduated from college I was at a party in Washington, DC and I kissed a girl at midnight that I'd just met that night. I never knew her name but I remember that kiss.

I kissed a guy on the cheek tonight at midnight. It's the kissiest I've ever been at NYE.

Speaking of live bands, which band member gets the most tail? I'm looking at the fingering of the bass player, and thinking "I'd tap that ass." My sister insists its the lead singer. Male friend decided it was dependent on the genre--rock band guitarist would be bass, reggae would be lead (IIRC). Pianists get no play (although our keyboard guy was so cool he was playing with one hand in his pocket at times--perhaps he didn't need external stimulation).

bon, I still think that most of the non-Rose's gimlets I've had have been better, except for the place that touted their organic lime syrup. That was the worst gimlet I've ever had.

I'm looking at the fingering of the bass player, and thinking "I'd tap that ass."

Heh, the singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams is famous for tapping her bass players. In fact, I think every guy she's dated over the last decade was a bass player.

Ditto, Joni Mitchell who hooked up with a bass player for a decade.

Strong hands and rhythm - not a bad set of criteria.

Happy New Year!

Interesting. I never thought of people being attracted to performers based on what instrument they play. I've usually been attracted to whoever is cutest/has most charisma.

Speaking of live bands, which band member gets the most tail? I'm looking at the fingering of the bass player, and thinking "I'd tap that ass." My sister insists its the lead singer.

Drummer.