Root Beer for Grown Ups

About a month ago, Ryan and I were walking through the liquor store, when I spotted this old-timey bottle. I was intrigued. Upon closer inspection, I saw that it was a root beer liqueur, named after an old man: the Blackmaker. The bottle's tag tells the tale of a grumpy gentleman, who spent his time in the mountains, collecting herbs and making concoctions. He sold his mixtures to the town store, including this liqueur. I can't resist booze with a kooky story. 

The old man's ingredients for root beer extract included wintergreen, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, sweet birch, and star anise. I can just see him wandering the woods with his pack, collecting all sorts of herbs, grumbling to himself. Maybe some lass broke his heart. Maybe the Blackmaker never existed. One thing I do know - this bottle is more than a cool label. It's contents are mighty tasty.

Root Beer Float Martini

1 1/2 ounces whipped cream (or vanilla) vodka
1 1/2 ounces Blackmaker root beer liqueur
Whipped cream (optional)

Chill martini glass so it's nice and cold. You can do this by just filling it with ice and letting it sit for a few minutes. Fill martini shaker with ice. To the shaker, add whipped cream vodka and Blackmaker. If you'd like it creamier and didn't make a "bikini by summer" New Year's resolution, go ahead and add some whipped cream to the shaker. Now shake shake shake...shake shake shake...shake your booty. Grab your martini glass (dump out the ice, if chilling) and fill with liquid deliciousness.

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If you're not a martini kind of gal or fella, you can also mix 1 part vanilla vodka, 1 part Blackmaker, and 2 parts club soda over ice. Add a splash of cream, and you've got yourself a grown up root beer float.

After enjoying a delicious grown-up root beer float last night, Ryan and I headed to the Annual Bull and Gelding Sale in Red Bluff.

 A beautiful buckskin for sale.

My cowboy

We went for the cattle dog trials. It was a lot of fun to watch the Border Collies attempt to herd the calves. Some of them would get so close. The calves would start to load into the trailer, then one stubborn calf would take off running in the opposite direction. It's amazing what those dogs can do. 

Ryan would love to have a working dog. Patsy's fast (despite her short little legs), but I don't know how intimidating she'd be to livestock. She chases deer off all the time, but we all know what scaredy cats they can be.