No matter how you slice it, being told that you're no longer needed at the place you've worked for many years just plain sucks. I don't know this from personal experience, but I know because someone whom I'm very fond of working with had this happen to her just the other day. She's been a fixture at our company. She hired many of the best people on our staff. She knows everything. Even a week later I find myself asking, "How could they have let her go?!?" And yet, they did.
So I asked myself, "What can I do to help?" Of course, the answer is what it always is on this blog--make her a drink! And so, I present to you, my gentle readers...
A Kick in the Ass
2 oz Bacardi 8 year rum
2 oz pineapple juice
1/2 oz cooled espresso
1/2 oz orgeat syrup
dash of Underberg bitters
Shake over ice and strain into a glass of crushed ice. Garnish it with an umbrella, plastic giraffes, a orange and cherry "flag", or just your secret hopes and dreams of a new and better job.
As with any of my creations, each ingredient has meaning and purpose. I started with the rum because that's what she asked for as the base spirit. While I'm no fan of regular old Bacardi (I'm too much of a snob for that), the Bacardi 8 year actually has some honest to goodness decent flavor. It's got good rum funk and a touch of smokey spice--perfect for the "kick". The pineapple juice and orgeat balance the rum with fruity sweetness, which is needed even in bad times (unless you want a completely unpalatable drink, which anyone can make and no one wants). The espresso echos the "kick" and warms up the tropical fruit flavors, while the bitters serve to highlight the truth of the situation--bitter, while also being a nod to the honoree's German heritage.
Cheers, Anita! ~Dr. Cocktation
