3097 Comments
User's avatar
Matt Rudow's avatar

If I just put the mint leaf right in the drink because I don’t have a a clothes pin, would that mess anything up? Or I should I just leave the garnish out entirely?

Matthew Hooper's avatar

Leave it out.

marydn's avatar

"...I will give you such a pinch."

Now I heard that in Joe Besser's voice but were thinking of him or the Warner Bros cartoon gags?

The Wanderer's avatar

Besser's line has shown up in Warner Brothers' cartoons.

Georgiaburning's avatar

I learned about gin by making Dad his G&T’s. Always Gilbey’s. We later would buy him Tanqueray for Father’s Day but he still liked the Gilbey’s

Michael Bowen's avatar

Thank you for your recommendations, BTW. I bought myself a bottle of the Jameson Triple-Triple, and it's quite tasty. I was also at a bar tonight that had Sazerac so I had them make a Manhattan with that, and man, it was good.

Reader's avatar

Not a question but I drove home from work in a whiteout tonight. Two inches of snow in an hour. I hope it will be gone by morning.

"M"'s avatar

Glad you're home safe!

Bagels of Doom's avatar

That little clothes pin keeping the mint leaf in place is perfection.

goCatgo's avatar

If a bus leaves 'Lanta going West at 60 mph, and a truck leaves Texarkana with a load

of Coors, 16 oz Tall Boys, when does the Bandit find the Runaway Bride Sally Fields ?

JCfromNC's avatar

Only when it's funny!

Matthew Hooper's avatar

Ask the chimpanzee.

"M"'s avatar

Look at that S car go

goCatgo's avatar

Dang. I would be asleep after 2. You can call me a sissy.

Linoleum von Curmudgeon, Esq.'s avatar

I have not been drinking much the past 16 years because being olde makes it harder to get out of the bed the next day.

But if a certain asshole finally does die (may Crom smite him hard and often!) I will drink something to celebrate his passing.

I do remember one of the last things I drank was some scotch served neat by my boss who appreciated my hard work. It went down very easily. He said it was expensive. I cannot remember the name of the potion. I think I can swing $350. Any suggestions?

Thatsit Fortheotherwon's avatar

Glenmorangie is about $40/bottle. Save your money for a sportscar.

Up Here in the Clouds's avatar

No, but I have a very special bottle of wine waiting for a very special occasion.

Rags's avatar

The only ingredient I have are vintage Nick and Nora glasses. Guess I'll have to console myself with Thin Mints and the Thin Man.

tehbaddr's avatar

The clothes pin is a nice touch, but can I use a paper clip or binder clip? Haven't seen a clothes pin in decades!

goCatgo's avatar

I got plenty for bags of chips, cookies, and to hold down aluminuminum foil to keep the cats out. I even got some high class, fancy ass plastic ones.

Granddaughter stole some to hang her jeans on the deck rail.

She are woman now so I no ask no questions.

Matthew Hooper's avatar

They make teeny tiny clothespins for bartenders. A binder clip would be a your best bet.

Zyxomma's avatar

I have some on pushpins with which I affix special things to my bulletin board at work.

marcus816's avatar

Condesa Gin Prickly Pear And Orange Blossom, sipping gin. I’ll just leave this here for the gin-averse. (Empress 1908 Cucumber Lemon Gin, also too, and just add soda. You’re welcome.)

Bat In The Belfry's avatar

I’ve been eyeing the Empress, but hadn’t pulled the trigger yet. Just may do with that description

What A Debacle's avatar

I fucking love pretty much all gin.

BeachLoafer's avatar

Especially Bombay Sapphire in a proper 5:1 Martini.

My drug of choice, and because it's *only* 80 proof I can have more than one without falling over things. 🍸

tehbaddr's avatar

That stuff is old school English with the pic of the Old Queen Mum on it!

justifiable's avatar

Heresy! Victoria was a REIGNING QUEEN and Empress in her own right, and while she was referred to as the Grandmother of Europe, "Queen Mother" refers to a dowager queen, the former queen consort of a deceased king, and the mother of the current monarch.

"Queen Mum" only became a popular term when Elizabeth II was crowned and her mum, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, really leaned into the title and wouldn't retire into obscurity. Since she left behind $14M in debts and reportedly drank like a fish, she probably should have a gin named after her, right?

BeachLoafer's avatar

A bartender at a classy joint in Edinburgh made me a martini with Three gin, telling me it was the queen's preferred brand. It was ok (but was also my 3rd (I think) martini), so I bought a bottle for further evaluation once back home.

I'll be sticking with Bombay Sapphire.

tehbaddr's avatar

I recall there being graphics of the berries right on the label. No fucking around!

TootsStansbury 🇺🇦's avatar

I love the Friday posts from Booper our Harbinger

Richard S's avatar

The Harbinger of the Weekend!

Wookiee Monster's avatar

What is that beautiful house?

Where does that highway go to?

Am I right, am I wrong?

Notorious J.I.M.'s avatar

My god, what have I done?

Matthew Hooper's avatar

Sorry, can’t answer that. You must ask yourself these questions.

Old Man Yells at Cloud's avatar

There is orange blossom water underground

TootsStansbury 🇺🇦's avatar

I was gin averse having gotten sick on it in *ahem* high school, but Mr S inherited martinis from his dear old father in law and Daddy wasn’t so choosy about quality (he proudly showed up to stay at a beach house rented with my friends armed with Lighthouse Gin because Outer Banks). Long story short, I found Hendrick’s, yeah, yum.

coco lurks from home's avatar

You can add me to the never-again club of gin haters, also after a bad high school experience. There is no hangover worse than a gin hangover.

Even Southern Comfort - which I've also never touched again.

Matthew Hooper's avatar

Southern Comfort’s recipe changed in the nineties, when Sazerac acquired the brand. It now uses actual whiskey, instead of whiskey flavor and bad vodka. This probably explains why it got you sick the first time around.

coco lurks from home's avatar

Probably also had something to do with the fact that I drank a massive amount of it, and I weighed like 90 pounds. It's for the best, really. I learned my lesson well, and sometimes I wish I could enjoy an occasional cocktail, but the truth is I don't process alcohol well at all. Still love to read your recipes though!

Noma Larkey's avatar

I too had the hangover to end all hangovers on gin. And damn, I used to love a good gin & tonic in the summer. So alas, I'm a vodka guy now. But when I see these lovely cocktail recipe's with gin from our Hooper, it temps me to try it again.

Sherry's avatar

Yeah..Bad memories of Myrtle Beach throwing up at the age of 17. Could never touch gin again. I have tried it in other drinks and it's not as bad as I remember.

Ganjaneer's avatar

FYI or Irish cousins across the way make gin out of seaweed.

Richard S's avatar

Gray Whale Gin uses both seaweed and pine. It's made in the northern California coastal region, so it uses local botanicals. When I first tried it, I could taste both the sea and the forests. I describe it as "cruising the Pacific Coast Highway in your convertible, with the top down, blasting "Mendocino" by the Sir Douglas Quintet on the stereo."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epc1hDkbfLM

Zyxomma's avatar

We love Gray Whale for G&Ts. It's perfect.

Salmo Trutta's avatar

Finally got to meet Hooper and taste his brilliant concoctions this past Friday, after many years of following his fascinating, educational drink posts. The whole family was there for mysSeptuagennial Birthday; The Bride had this week's "False Spring" which she let me sip, I had a Jet Pilot and my dear MIL had a Singapore Sling. (Designated Daughter Driver had a nice mocktail.)

Such a nice place in the center of bucolic Medina, Ohio, and just a few miles from our home meaning we WILL become regulars.

Kate Bergam's avatar

I just love these Friday cocktails. And I don’t even drink cocktails, I drink wine!

Schmannity's avatar

Outspoken anti-Trump foreign leader under DOJ investigation for alleged drug trafficking ties: Report

The president of a Latin American country is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for his alleged drug trafficking ties, according to a New York Times report.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called President Donald Trump a "barbarian" for ordering lethal strikes on boats in the Caribbean identified by the U.S. as participating in drug trafficking.

Because he doesn't have a US mortgage.

FukuiSanYesOta's avatar

Whereas a previous Latin American President from Honduras - Juan Orlando Hernández - who was convicted of a massive drug trafficking operation, and openly said that he would "shove the drugs right up the noses of the gringos". And got a 45 year sentence IN THE US!

He gets a pardon.

Schmannity's avatar

"He said some very nice things about me. He was treated very badly, that I will tell you"

FukuiSanYesOta's avatar

Nuremberg 2.0. Get Uday and Qusay in there as well. And all the other enabling fucks. I'm done with this.

helenasgarden's avatar

I bet the regime is making all sorts of deals with cartels to let the drugs flow.

Schmannity's avatar

In exchange for guns, of course.

helenasgarden's avatar

It's a time honoured tradition.

Stulexington's avatar

Also they're probably making up an excuse to bomb his yacht.

good_duck's avatar

Good morning!

#Worldle #1520 (21.03.2026) 4/6 (100%)

🔥 Current Win Streak: 8 days

🟩🟨⬜⬜⬜➡️

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟨↘️

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟨➡️

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🎉

🧭⭐📍🗿📜🛡️🔤🗣️💰👫

https://worldle.teuteuf.fr/share

The embarrassing thing is that I was reading about this in Wikipedia yesterday, and still couldn't remember the name or anything useful about it.

Mysterysurf's avatar

Huh. Sounds somehow familiar.

𝗣𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

𝘛𝘰 𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘝𝘪𝘬𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘖𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘯, 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘙𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘢, 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 “𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳” — 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴.

BUDAPEST — In the run-up to Hungary’s pivotal election in April, a unit of Russia’s foreign intelligence service last month began sounding the alarm over plummeting public support for Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose friendly ties to Moscow have long given the Kremlin a strategic foothold inside NATO and the European Union.

Officers from the intelligence service, or SVR, suggested that drastic action might be necessary — a strategy they called “the Gamechanger.” In an internal report for the SVR obtained and authenticated by a European intelligence service and reviewed by The Washington Post, the operatives proposed a way to “fundamentally alter the entire paradigm of the election campaign” — “the staging of an assassination attempt on Viktor Orban.”

(from the Washington Post)

vorpal 86...47...ʰᵘᵗ ʰᵘᵗ ʰᵘᵗ's avatar

complete with miracle ear regeneration powers

helenasgarden's avatar

Hmmm. Sounds very Trumpy.

FukuiSanYesOta's avatar

I say kick Hungary out of the EU. Fuck them.

Schmannity's avatar

Will survive goulash shortages

FukuiSanYesOta's avatar

I like their paprika. I'm sure most Hungarians are great.

Right now, the country is the bad (Russian) apple in the EU barrel.

FukuiSanYesOta's avatar

That fucking asshole Orban keeps blocking the EU from sending 90 billion to Ukraine.

helenasgarden's avatar

Infuriating. Kick them out. Traitors.

Land Shark 🇺🇦 🏳️‍⚧️'s avatar

We tried that here, Vlad. Got the criminal elected but now everything has gone to shit and he'll end up out of power. Not a good long term play.

NewLarry's avatar

Yeah, but look at what's happening in the meantime. It'll take DECADES to undo all his shit.

Schmannity's avatar

Trump Threatens Airstrikes On U.S. Gas Stations

‘Lower Your Prices Now Or Face The Might Of The American Military,’ Says Commander-In-Chief

https://theonion.com/trump-threatens-airstrikes-on-u-s-gas-stations/

Tasner Hasenpfeffer's avatar

Except we used up all our missiles failing to intercept Iranian drones.

Stulexington's avatar

Oh they intercepted the Iranian drones ... the problem is Iran had more.

Mysterysurf's avatar

Never fear. DJT Jr. has invested in drones now.

The Wanderer's avatar

Exercises done, so I now foray out into the world to go see the local annual art show downtown. It's splendid weather for walking about.

After I get home I plan on working on Part 7 of my latest action-comedy, 'The Sweet Zwieback Affair' (don't worry; like the other stories:

Bicycles Don't Bathe

Spies are like Daffodils

Lemon Curry?

the title has zero relationship to the narrative).

Random's avatar

*drags self in*

Well, that was a horrible night's sleep. When I wasn't awake, I was beset by nightmares.

Tasner Hasenpfeffer's avatar

Get up and pee or something. For me, that usually resets the nightmare/residual anxiety thing so I sleep better afterwards.

If I don't, the residual anxiety lingers and I have the same dreams again.

Holly - Lima Charlie's avatar

Happy Caturday Wonks. We're finally seeing our snowpack receding into the shadowy depths of the forest! The air is warmer this morning and there's the first signs of green moss and ferns emerging from under the snow. This time of year the sap is flowing and the sugarhouses are humming with activity. There are still a few old fashioned places that tap their trees with galvanized buckets. When I see buckets hanging from these old maples I'm transported back in time to a New England that's slowly disappearing. These buckets have been replaced with sugarbushes that have miles of tubing and stainless steel tanks to hold all the harvested sap and industrial strenghth sugarhouses for boiling in vats as large as this cabin. Paul brought home our annual supply the other day so we're all set until next year. Pancakes and bacon for brunch sounds about right this morning.

https://substack.com/profile/439485293-holly-lima-charlie/note/c-231078459

Land Shark 🇺🇦 🏳️‍⚧️'s avatar

Pancakes and bacon ... it's what's for dinner!

Lucy Bea's avatar

Oooh, I haven’t had breakfast for dinner in ages! I was just planning out this week’s meals, and I have bacon in the freezer… Think I’ll do eggs and home fries, though. Hubby was the pancake / French toast chef.

Rosy red ASS's avatar

Mmmmmmm I should have gotten bacon yesterday.

Oy!'s avatar

AP: "Judge orders Voice of America be put back together again. What are the chances that will happen?"

And that's been the problem with these Trumpkrieg attacks on our institutions: they have learned to game the system, knowing how slowly it responds, so they get in and DOGE the fuck out of everything they can and when the dust settles, the damage is done.

"The ballroom is not even going to touch the East Wing" . . .

Rosy red ASS's avatar

12th of NEVER is when it will happen.

TerseNurse's avatar

possibly the 13th

Schmannity's avatar

Kari Lake is surely putting her shoulder to the wheel

C&A Bongo Man's avatar

For a "builder" his legacy mostly seems to be demolition.

lmurr's avatar

"The tariff refunds will be too complicated, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯."

Frank Talk, Action Pundit!'s avatar

OK, y'all, this is one of the two days my Hubby fears during the year - SPRING CLEANING DAY!

Y'all pray for us.

TerseNurse's avatar

May Sithrak have mercy on your.... oh never mind. Good luck!

Frank Talk, Action Pundit!'s avatar

*I* like it. Hubby, not so much.

Jen has Puce Sarcasms's avatar

I hate doing it, but I like the afterwards when everything is so nice.

Here's to sparkling windows!

Land Shark 🇺🇦 🏳️‍⚧️'s avatar

Send him on an errand to, say, Texas for wings or something ...

Frank Talk, Action Pundit!'s avatar

But I need him to move furniture and reach high places!

GiggleSnort's avatar

"A far-right conspiracy theorist turned high-ranking official at the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) claims to have once teleported to a Waffle House." (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/20/fema-gregg-phillips-waffle-house). The intersection of far right and loony is very large.

helenasgarden's avatar

Perhaps this illiterate loon meant being 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑑 when eating at Waffle House?

GrandParadeOfLifelessPackaging's avatar

I'm pretty sure I've been teleported to a Waffle House at the end of a forgotten Friday night.

ManchuCandidate's avatar

Mr Lahey kind of Drunk AF.

vorpal 86...47...ʰᵘᵗ ʰᵘᵗ ʰᵘᵗ's avatar

I mean, who HASN'T woken up in a Waffle House booth with a big plate of breakfast in front of them and had no idea how they got there?

Rosy red ASS's avatar

Aren't drugs usually involved? Hmmmmmmmmmm.

MRK's avatar

As I've said before, conspiratorial thinking rots your critical thinking ability, so the more you engage with conspiracy theories, the more open you become to outlandish bullshit.

Frank Talk, Action Pundit!'s avatar

I wonder why?

"Trump rejected the deal because we’d rather shoot down a $20,000 drone with multiple interceptors that cost $2 million each."

https://bsky.app/profile/ronfilipkowski.bsky.social/post/3mhjxjz5vn22s

Stulexington's avatar

Because if Ukraine starts selling drones at 20k a pop, they might be able to get out from under the crippling debt they're facing if by some miracle they win against Russia. Also, America is supposed to be the best, of course Trump doesn't want to appear weak by buying stuff from someone else.

Frank Talk, Action Pundit!'s avatar

*"Campaign donors" laughing gif*

Birb-General of the US's avatar

Just saw this.

𝗘𝗹𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗸 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗲, 𝗨𝗦 𝗷𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀

https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260321-us-jury-finds-elon-musk-misled-shareholders-during-twitter-purchase

EyeQueue's avatar

This fucking plastic-faced chump needs to be thrown in jail or out the country.

He also has blood on his hands.

coco lurks from home's avatar

Yeah. But the penalty is basically couch cushion change to him.

TerseNurse's avatar

also too, he really looks like shit.

EyeQueue's avatar

Plastic faced freak.

Rosy red ASS's avatar

I wouldn't mind reading that obituary, as well as a few others.

EyeQueue's avatar

One of the top 5 most punchable faces. I would stand in line to take my turn.

NatalyaResists's avatar

His deal with the crossroads demon is due.

TerseNurse's avatar

there's a lot of that going around

FukuiSanYesOta's avatar

He should be up for SEC investigation for this as well. This is deliberate stock price manipulation. That's so fucking illegal.

Land Shark 🇺🇦 🏳️‍⚧️'s avatar

Did Elno buy the SEC yet? I wonder how much that would cost ...

Stulexington's avatar

I forget, did DOGE fire half of them?

Jen has Puce Sarcasms's avatar

don't need to. Just gotta install loyalists

Cheap at half the price!

FukuiSanYesOta's avatar

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/doge-leave-top-us-markets-regulator-sources-say-2025-10-30/

"WASHINGTON, Oct 30 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency initiative, or DOGE, has wrapped up work at the Securities and Exchange Commission and will exit the agency this week, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday."

Nothing to worry about here.

Land Shark 🇺🇦 🏳️‍⚧️'s avatar

IK,R? If I'd known buying congresscritters was so cheap, I'd have picked up a couple.

Rosy red ASS's avatar

OMG SHOCKED FACE!!!! /SSSSSSS

Jen has Puce Sarcasms's avatar

From the No Shit Sherlock files

Stulexington's avatar

To be fair, a jury was finally able to say it at the end of a trial.