COVID-19 Quarantine activities
We are all staying at home these days, muddling through trying to find joy in a little extra down time, or maybe amusement in a little extra lonely time, or maybe a respite in a little extra crazy time with your kids home from school. However you happen to be doing today - because let’s be serious, some days we will be doing well and some we won’t - here are a few of our favorite activities so far, in case these suggestions prove helpful for you. Plus some cocktails to pair with them, if that’s something you would like!
I really love old Audrey Hepburn movies. My top favorites are: Sabrina, A Roman Holiday, and How to Steal A Million. I would pair any of these with an elegant sparkling cocktail like the French 75. Just shake 1 oz. Juniper or Spruce gin, 1/2 oz lemon juice and 1/2 oz. simple syrup with ice. Strain into a champagne flute and top with sparkling wine.
I’m also watching all the old episodes of the Great British Baking Show. They’re just so lovely, and non-stressful, and inspire me to bake with my kids. Pair with a gin and tonic or a classic gin bramble, which is oh so British. Shake 2 oz Juniper gin, 1 oz. lemon juice, and 1/2 oz. simple syrup with ice, then strain into a glass filled with ice (preferably crushed). Drizzle 1/2 oz. blackberry liqueur or berry syrup over the top of the cocktail. Pair the same cocktail options with rewatching all of Downton Abbey!
Joel says if you haven’t watched Chuck, go watch all the seasons of Chuck on Netflix. It’s a goofy spy comedy-drama from the late aughts. Chuck is a computer geek who isn’t living up to his potential and, long story short, he accidentally downloads a super computer into his brain and becomes a CIA asset and much hilarity and drama and romance ensues. Pair with a fitty-fitty martini to channel James Bond, but a lot lighter. Stir 1 oz. of any of our gins with 1 oz. of Dolin Blanc Vermouth or Cocchi Americano, 2 dashes orange bitters, and ice until ice cold. Strain into a cocktail coupe or martini glass. Garnish with a lemon twist, if you desire.
Joel also recommends checking out the Essential Craftsman’s Spec House series on youtube. There are hours and hours (and hours and hours) of videos that go through and TEACH YOU TO BUILD A HOUSE! That’s pretty cool. Pair with an old fashioned. Stir 2 oz. of any of our whiskies (personally I’m pretty into our Special Old Bourbon as an old fashioned) with 1 tsp. of simple syrup (2 tsp. if you prefer a sweeter old fashioned), and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters with ice to chill. Serve over an ice cube or two and garnish with an orange peel coin, if you want.
Our visitor experience director Doug recommends watching Schitt’s Creek (and if you’ve already watched it, watch it again!). And pairing it with a cedar sour. Shake 2 oz. of our Cedar gin with 3/4 oz. lemon juice, and 3/4 oz. simple syrup with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass.
Things to Listen To
Our production manager Erin recommends listening to the Happiness Lab while drinking a can of our Frenchie canned cocktail. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/id1474245040?i=1000468548405
I love to geek out on art history - and the Art Detective podcast is like getting to go back to college and have the most engaging art history professor ever. Pair with something thought provoking and French like the Lucien Gaudin cocktail. Combine 1 oz. Juniper gin with 1/2 oz. each of cointreau, dry vermouth, and Campari, stir with ice then strain over an ice cube. Garnish with lemon peel.
Or, listen to how various people started their businesses that they built into empires, plus my favorite voice in radio, How I Built This with Guy Raz. Pair with a Boulevardier for maximum impact. Stir 2 oz. Hay&Sunshine Whiskey with 1 oz. sweet vermouth, 1 oz. Campari and ice until chilled. Serve over a couple ice cubes.
Things to Do or Make
Quite possibly the very best option is to put Lizzo on Spotify, clear all your furniture out of the way and have a mood lifting dance party. You could have a gin and juice while you dance to Juice, just combine a shot of gin with half orange juice and half grapefruit juice.
My favorite at-home workout right now is doing yoga with Leslie Fightmaster on youtube. You should probably pair this with a green juice or berry smoothie not a cocktail, haha.
I’m teaching myself embroidery with a simple embroidery kit. It’s very soothing to focus on at night after the kids are in bed, and there are lots of full kits available from Etsy. Just make sure you find one that comes with embroidery thread. I would pair an embroidery project with a Frenchie cocktail or a hot toddy - combine 1.5 oz. whiskey, 1/2 oz. each of lemon juice and honey in a mug and top with 4 oz. hot water.
Cook yummy food! My old friends at Food52 have a list of the easy comforting things they are cooking during quarantine. You could cook your way through Alison Roman’s Dining In. I love Alison Roman’s cooking style (maybe because she has almost all the same favorite foods as me, haha). And if you’re looking for lots more cocktail recipe ideas, I guess you could order my cocktail book. Camp Cocktails totally double as quarantine cocktails.
We hope you are all staying safe, staying well, and staying home. Much love to you all!!!!