You heard it first on the Fool's Paradise with Rex programme on WFMU. Here is your recipe for the official Grade "A" Fancy holiday cocktail for 2023 —

Beyond the Valley of the Ultra Blitzen

Ingredients:

1 oz.    Flor de Caña 4 Extra Seco Rum
1 oz.    Cocci Americano Aperitif
1/4 oz. Verino Mastiha Antica liqueur
2 tsp.   cava

Garnish:

red apple

Stir first three liquids over ice; strain into a cocktail glass. Add cava. For garnish, depending on the size of the apple, and your glass, cut a slice or triangular half slice and slide it into glass. (Yes, we sat the garnish on the rim to make it pretty for the photo, but to get the best of both ingestibles, you want the apple to bob in the glass to absorb some of that aromatic broth. They're perfect together.)

Shopping: If you're in NYC all the boozes can be found at Astor Wines & Spirits: the Nicaraguan rum, French aperitif, Greek liqueur, and Spanish cava. Then just a short walk up to the greenmarket for a fresh apple.

Bottle notes: the light, dry rum, the sweet/bitter Cocchi, and Spanish bubbly will probably be familiar territory. The liqueur was new to us and pretty exciting, which is why we worked this year's cocktail around its heady floral and herbal notes. The ingredient mastiha, also called mastic, is made from the resin of a variety of evergreen bush found only on the isle of Chios. It's used in baking, for a natural chewing gum, and is said to have medicinal properties. Lots more online, should you choose that rabbit hole.

 

 

Shake Up the Airwaves

This Saturday, December 23rd

Grade "A" Fancy Shakes Up the Airwaves

That year just plodded by, didn’t it? But it's almost over, so rejoice! It is holiday time, and as tradition dictates, we join your host of hosts, Rex, to celebrate the American Novelty Songbook in peerless Fool's Paradise fashion, spinning more zany holiday-themed novelty records than anyone might think is prudent, all at 45 rounds per minute. Speaking of rounds, have one with us! On Saturday, Grade "A" Fancy's own Chief Mixing Officer will unveil a brand new tipple specially created to mark the occasion, mixed before your very ears! This feature we like to call "Bartender of the Airwaves" is truly a milestone in broadcasting history.

What will this year’s cocktail be? Tune on Saturday from 1 to 3pm ET when the name and recipe will be revealed. In the tri-state area, listen on the mighty WFMU 91.1 FM Jersey City and NYC, and 90.1 and 91.9 in the Hudson Valley. If you find yourself stranded somewhere in the Yukon, or behind a skyscraper, listen in real time at WFMU.org via the miracle of the internet. If you insist on spending the day with family the show will be archived so you'll be able to enjoy the radio hi-jinx at your leisure for years to come.

What will you need to play the home game?

𝐻𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑖𝑠𝑡 (𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘 𝑖𝑡 𝑡𝑤𝑖𝑐𝑒):

· Flor de Caña 4 Extra Seco Rum (dry rum from Nicaragua)
· Cocchi Americano Aperitif
· Verino Antica Mastiha liqueur (available at Astor in NYC or your local Greek

   boozatorium)
· Cava (we’re using Campo Viejo Brut)
· One red apple

Tools and Glassware:

· Mixing tin or glass
· Barspoon
· Strainer
· Small cocktail glass
· Knife

 

Advance Prep:

· Pop some cocktail glasses in the freezer, if you like.
· Wash your apple

 

Make a tray of ice, chill your glasses, and we'll see you Saturday. Well, you'll hear us. You know what we mean, listen in. And check this space after the show for the official recipe.