The Brandy Bar + Cocktails

Recent Posts

Wed 9/6 – Native American Punch $5 special/Thurs 9/7 – Native American Cocktails

By

Wed 9/6 – 4-9 PM – In keeping with our Thursday Native American Cocktails, we will be offering a Native American Punch $5 special: Fresh Cranberries, Fresh Rosemary, Sparkling Moscato topper, and CB Frost. A wonderful early fall drink with notes of fruit and spice.

Thurs 9/7 – 4-9 PM – Wealthier folks from the Charleston (formerly Charles Town) area found the Western North Carolina mountains to be the place to visit in the summer months. The mountains offered cooler summers, less mosquitos, and other insects, as well as beautiful greenery and mountain streams, all making their summer stay the place to be in hot weather. But generations before their entry, the Cherokee had discovered this paradise and developed their own path from their coastal villages into the cool and inviting mountains of Western North Carolina. They followed trails worn by bison, bear, deer and other wildlife searching for food, water, salt licks and shelter. Later the trails will be followed by the early colonists as they also trekked the 300-mile trail from Charleston to Western North Carolina and into their Cherokee hunting grounds in Cherokee, NC. The trail also was intersected by other trails of the Cherokee from Tennessee, Virginia, and northern Georgia. The game was plentiful, and the mountains offered a safe haven but that will also change later as the Colonists continued to intrude into the Indian lands and ignore the many treaties that followed, leaving the Cherokee with a small portion of their summer hunting lands which today we call “Cherokee.”  One of the areas of the trail around Ninety-Six, SC became an important meeting place where Chiefs and Government officials met, negotiated, signed treaties or deeds. Ninety-Six became a major trading and political center, protected after 1779 protected by a garrisoned fort called Fort Star with many forts sprouting up between 1740 and 1800 into the mountains. In 1968 Duke Power flooded Keowee Town to create a power station on what is now Keowee Lake, and the Cherokee path was lost. The information offered here was the result of the amazing couple, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hale, who had retired to area and Arthur being an engineer with the Department of Transportation would each week explore the former location of the trail, trying to determine exactly where it ran and how much of it remains. Included is his suggestion as to the path. Their pamphlet was published by the Polk County Historical Association in Columbus, NC.

Native American drinks; Angry Indian – CB Frost, Calvados, Gin, Rum, Cointreau, lime-orange-cranberry juice; Cherokee Tea – CB Frost, Sassafras tea; Native Mint Tea – Leblon, Mint, Club Soda; Cherokee Cider – Keeper Apple Brandy, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup, Maple Syrup; 1/2 Price on Fruit/Infused flight

 

Wed 8/30 – 4-9 PM – $5 white sangria special and Thurs 8/31 – 4-9 PM – Blue Moon cocktail specials

By

Wed. 8/30 – 4-9 PM $5 sangria special! White sangria with sauvignon blanc, brandy, raspberries, strawberries, pineapple chunks, and apricot, orange & pineapple juices. Great way to end the last days of summer and introduce the warm days of early fall!
Thurs 8/31 – 4-9 PM – Blue Moon Cocktail specials:  Celebrate with us the next full moon with our “Moon Cocktails.”  A special full moon called the Blue Moon will rise Wed 8/30 to the east just after sunset.  It will be the brightest and largest moon of the year so not only is it a full moon but it is a Blue Moon meaning it is the 2nd full moon within a single calendar month. The Blue Moon is also a supermoon meaning it coincides with perigee, the point in the moon’s orbit when it’s closest to Earth. it will appear slightly larger than normal, about 7% bigger. Full Moons are called various names by various peoples, such as those given by: Native Americans “Snow, Storm, and Hunger Moon;” 

   In the 1930’s the Maine Farmer’s Almanac began publishing “Indian” Moon names for each month of the year. The tribes of the northeastern United States called this Snow Moon or Storm Moon (also Hunger Moon) because of the heavy snows that fall in this season and difficult hunting opportunities.

   The Purim holiday in the Hebrew calendar, marks the Jewish people’s deliverance from a royal death decree around the fourth century BCE, as told in the Book of Esther. It is celebrated by exchanging gifts of food and drink, feasting, and donating to charity. The Chinese Lantern Festival, is a traditional end of the Chinese New Year celebration held on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese Calendar. The full Moon (Purnima) is Magha Purnima, the last day of the month of Magha in the Hindu-Buddist calendars. Magha is the lunar month when the full Moon is in the lunar mansion that contains the star we call Regulus. For Hindus, Magha is a month for austerity, performing acts of charity, and ritual bathing at holy riverside locations. For Buddhists, this full Moon corresponds with Māgha Pūjā, the second-most important festival of the year & is also celebrated on the full Moon day of the third lunar month in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Sri Lankar It celebrates a gathering of the Buddha with 1,250 of his first disciples, which preceded the custom of periodic recitation of discipline by monks. On this day, Buddhists celebrate the creation of an ideal and exemplary community.

   In USA – vampires – a full moon (and being well fed) means their strength is at its fullest, whilst a moonless night could influence their desire for nourishment through blood; our werewolves – folks bit by a werewolf will turn into their wolf roots & howl at the moon. Well let’s ask ourselves – does the full moon really cause us to do strange things? Cocktail Specials – Bloody Moony – Brandy, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, etc.; Cherry Moon – Brandy, grenadine, lemon-lime soda; Eclipse Night – Copper & Kings Immature Brandy, CB Frost brandy, crème de cassis; Harvest Moon – Applejack, cinnamon bitters, apple cider; Super Moon – Brandy, Cointreau, cream of coconut, lime juice; Brandy by the glass special (with or without ice) Ginger, Coffee, or Plum.   

8/23 – $5 sangrias; 8/24 – Coffee cocktails; and 8/26 – 5-6:30 – Flowers & Fruits

By

Wed 8/23 – $5 sangria special – These cool mornings and late evenings call for a nice red sangria, not too heavy but not too summery – red cabernet, fresh plums, raspberries, strawberries and maybe a sprig of rosemary for entertainment, with fresh fruit juices. A great combination of tastes!

Thurs 8/24 – 4-9 PM – Coffee cocktails – “Coffee – the favorite drink of the civilized world.” – Thomas Jefferson.  The history of coffee dates back to 850 AD, and possibly earlier with a number of reports and legends surrounding its first use. The word “coffee” entered the English language in 1582 via the Dutch koffie, borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish kahve, in turn borrowed from the Arabic gahwah. 

Ancestors of today’s Oromo people in a region of Oromia Ethiopia were the first to cultivate coffee plant and recognize the energizing effect of the coffee. There is also evidence of either coffee drinking or knowledge of the coffee tree from the early 15th century, in the Sufi monasteries of Yemen, spreading soon to Mecca and Medina. By the 16th century, it had reached the rest of the  Middle East, Persia, Turkey, India, and northern Africa. Coffee then spread to the Balkans, Italy, and to the rest of Europe, as well as Southeast Asia despite the bans imposed during the 15th century by religious leaders in Mecca and Cairo, and later by the Catholic Church.   In the mid-1600’s, coffee was brought to New Amsterdam, later called New York by the British. Though coffee houses rapidly began to appear in the colonies, tea continued to be the favored drink in the New World until 1773, when the colonists revolted against a heavy tax on tea imposed by King George III. The revolt, known as the Boston Tea Party, would forever change the American drinking preference to coffee. 

Brazil became the largest producer of coffee in the world by 1852 where it remains. It dominated world production, exporting more coffee than the rest of the world combined, from 1850 to 1950. Since 1950 the playing field has widened due to the emergence of other major producers, notably Colombia, Ivory Coast,  Ethiopia, and, most recently, Vietnam, (which overtook Colombia and became the 2nd largest producer in 1999 and reached 15% market share by 2011.  A recent change to the quality of the coffee market is lattes, Frappuccino, and other sugary coffee drinks. With their rise, they became more popular causing coffee houses to be able to use cheaper coffee beans. The cheaper coffee beans are called Robusta and they contain more caffeine than the more expensive beans. The cheaper beans’ higher caffeine content is also a factor in their popularity.  Another myth is the high caffeine content in light, dark, and espresso beans. Though darker roasted beans have a more intense flavor, they have less caffeine than light roast. This is because when a coffee bean is roasted, it loses up to 90 percent of its water content.  Espresso has 63 mg of caffeine in a 1-ounce shot while regular coffee, has 12 to 16 mg of caffeine in every ounce, on average, but who drinks 1 ounce of coffee? So, 8 oz of regular coffee gives you 95 to 128 mg of caffeine.

Coffee cocktails: Amaretto Coffee – Amaretto, coffee, whipped cream; Espresso Martini – CB Frost, espresso, Tia Maria; Black Russian – CB Frost, Trader Vick’s chocolate liqueur,  splash of Kahlua; White Russian – CB Frost, Marco white chocolate liqueur, splash of Kahlua, heavy cream; Irish Coffee – Calvados, brown sugar, whipped cream; 1/2 price on Armagnac/Calvados flight

Sat 8/26 – 5-6:30 – FLOWERS AND FRUITS: Flower arranging 101.  JOIN US AUGUST 26th for a relaxed and fun evening that will combine your love of flowers with a special container to reflect your unique personality.

Jackie Honeycutt will furnish flowers she grows in her garden as well as cutting tools and other incidentals for your arrangement.  She will also give some design pointers to lead you through your masterpiece. You will need to bring your special container, jar, can, bag, whatever you feel best represents your “self.” If you do not have a container Jackie can provide a practical one for you. While “arranging,” we will be offering the “fruits” such as a special fruity sangria or other fruity cocktails from the Bar. The program is limited to 10-12 folks so please RSVP by August 23rd so we can be sure there are ample flowers.  Time: 5:00 – 6:30 PM and the cost: $20.00. You may sign-up on https://www.facebook.com/events/844223617053911/?ref=newsfeed

 

Wed – 8/16 – 7-9 PM – Songwriter Sessions & Thurs – 8/17 – 4-9 PM – Denominational Cocktails

By

Wed 8/16 – 7-9 PM Songwriter Sessions featuring Mare Carmody, Tom Fisch, and Brodie Porterfield. An evening of original songs in the natural acoustics and listening room atmosphere of the historic Brandy Bar + Cocktails 

Mare Carmody is a voice of southern songwriting, having lived in Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas and North Carolina.  Playing music has always been a way of life throughout her travels. Mare is currently part of the trio Carver Carmody & McIntire.

Flat Rock’s own Tom Fisch is a songwriter and singer of songs. His music has been described as a style deeply rooted in the influences of artists such as Doc Watson, John Prine, Pete Seeger, and John Denver

Brodie Porterfield is one half of the South Carolina-based duo, The Waterkickers.  His writing features  heartfelt narratives, accompanied by sophisticated guitar melodies.       

With hosts Mare Carmody and Charlie Wilkinson. Contact info: WNCSongwriterSessions@Gmail.com 

Thurs 8/17 – 4-9 PM – Prior to 1913 Henderson County did not maintain a public record of marriages, births, or deaths, leaving people still very much alive who did not have these documents. Without written evidence they often had to rely on the family Bible for proof of their births or marriages for Social Security, health insurance and other purposes. As the Bibles were safe havens for family records, burial plots in the church yard became sources of knowledge to be honored as well. Maintenance free perpetual care cemeteries, with their cookie cutter flat bronze plaques and pull-out vases are today’s preferred method of burial. Those “cemetery days” formerly set aside for the families to gather for cleaning and clearing the grounds around the graves of their departed loved ones are dying like their patrons. When removing debris on those occasions, family members would touch a headstone and read the name aloud, and other members hearing it would share some small tale or secret about the deceased’s life, and it would be logged into memory to be passed on by those present. It was a critical part of a family’s obligation to record the notable events in the life of its members by logging them in the safe recesses of this sacred file. The Bible would also safeguard lockets of baby’s hair, grants, deeds, maps, claims or other important documents, and when death became reality, its entries referenced grave sites in cemeteries where loved ones were buried. It became the vessel of things past – things that needed memory – for without it these things would fade into nothingness. The old headstones, carved of whatever stone was available, showed love and individual creativity. They were often of odd sizes and less uniform shapes, and their details were personal designs based on remembrance and tradition. Some were only inscribed with the essentials of birth, death, and maybe marriage, but others offered personal comments that gave their witnesses a hint of the deceased’s life sparkle while here. Such we found in the Old Salem Cemetery in Fletcher: Died in a RR Accident October 26, 1906, at 3:40 pm Engine No 622 with coal car. While firing this engine he was killed instantly at Hickory, NC

Denominational Cocktails: Presbyterian – Brandy, ginger ale and club soda; Catholic – Brandy, rum, orange & lime & lemon juice, grenadine;  Episcopal – Douglas Fir, CB Frost, Cointreau, lemon juice, sour mix, lemon bitters; Lutheran – Cognac, Cointreau, Chartreuse, lemon juice, bitters; Unitarian Universalist  – CB Frost, curacao, lime & orange juice, lemonade topper;  1/2 price fruit/infused flight

Reminder of Flowers and Fruits event: Flower Arranging 101, set for 8/26 – 5–6:30 PM, Check our Facebook page for more info: https://www.facebook.com/TheBrandyBar

 

Wed 8/9 – NC Writers Network guest speaker Tim Jones (7-9 PM) & Sangrias (4-9 PM) and Thurs 8/10 – 4-9 PM Bucket List Cocktails

By

Wed 8/9 – 4-9 PM, we will offer both red and white sangrias and from 7-9 PM – NC Writers Network and The Brandy Bar + Cocktails present guest poet Reverend Tim Jones as next in their program In the Company of Writers. The program offers a series of personal and conversational dialogues featuring guest writers/poets followed by an open mic forum. These inspirational gatherings will elucidate and entertain those attending. The guest author speaks from 7-8 PM with open mic from 8 -9 PM. The Chicago blues music of Mr. Jimmy welcomes you, continues during intermission, and closes the evening.  The Reverend Tim Jones, a native of Henderson County, has been the Chief Operations Officer for the Hendersonville Rescue Mission since 2001. Ordained in the Episcopal Church in 2010, he serves on the clergy team at St. James. An avid hiker and artist, his nature photographs and paintings have been featured in numerous gallery exhibitions and public installations in places of healing. A storyteller and poet as well, his three books of poetry include Blue Mountain Poems, I Pray You, and Down Where The Soul Is. He’s currently working on a fourth collection about his experiences in Jerusalem. His counsel is “Slow down. Pay attention. Be grateful. Those three movements sum up not only my poetry, but all my creative work.”

Thurs 4-9 PM – Bucket List Cocktails – When Did Folks Start Saying “Bucket List?”  A brief search on Google reveals that this is a new term – believed to have first been coined for the 2007 movie “Bucket List” with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. It probably derived from the Old English idiom “to kick the bucket” which means “to die.” So credit for the current use of the term is given to the film’s screen writer, Justin Zackham. A May 29, 2015 article in SLATE magazine confirms the credit and cites a column in the Wall Street Journal in which Vocabulary.com executive editor Ben Zimmer and word researcher Hugo van Kemenade acknowledge this origination. However, Bucket List was not included in the fifth edition of the American Heritage Dictionary because “it needs a few more years in usage before it proves itself worthy of addition to the big book.” Nevertheless, the term has been frequently picked up in contemporary usage and cultural coincidences.  Such as on Glee, 17 year old Kurt Hummel, took out his iPhone to make note of the things he intends to do before he dies, one being “arrive at school in a hot air balloon.” Tony DiNozzo on NCIS, shaken by a terrorist attack and worried about his mortality, printed out a list which included “date a Bond girl and/or Miss Universe.”  Doofus Andy on Parks & Recreation listed on his bucket list “winning the lottery, making the best grilled-cheese sandwich ever….”.  Well whatever is on your bucket list, come and join us at The Brandy Bar + Cocktails for our “bucket list.” Bucket List Cocktails: Bucket List – Brandy, Absinthe rinse, fresh lemon juice, honey syrup, cardamom bitters; Harvey Wallbanger – Brandy, hazelnut liqueur, orange juice; Pearl Harbor – Brandy, Midori melon liqueur, pineapple juice; Sex On the Beach –Frost brandy, peach brandy, crème de cassis, orange & cranberry juice; Brandy Collins – Frost brandy, gin, fresh squeezed lemon juice, simple syrup, club soda; 1/2 price on US Flight         

 

Wed 8/2 – Partner appreciation and Thurs 8/3 – 4 – 9 PM National Park Cocktails

By

Wed 8/2 – 4 – 9 PM – Calling all men out there – treat your partner. When you come in with your partner, we will give you 1/2 price off on your partner’s favorite cocktail drink. Everyone needs to be appreciated!

Thurs 8/3 – 4-9 PM – National Park Cocktails! What are the 5 oldest National Parks in the US? (1) Yellowstone National Park, established March 1, 1872, is the oldest national park in the United States and the second oldest in the world. Created by an Act of Congress signed by President Grant, it is located between the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. The park is home to numerous hot springs and the world’s largest collection of geysers, including the iconic Old Faithful.  (2) Established September 25, 1890, Sequoia National Park is located in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. The park’s natural wonders include Mount Whitney, rising 4,418 meters above sea level. It contains 5 of the 10 largest trees in the world, including the General Sherman tree estimated to be at least 2,300 years old. (3) First placed under deferral protection by Abraham Lincoln in 1864, Yosemite National Park wasn’t officially established as a national park until October 1, 1890. Located in California’s Sierra Nevada, it’s the third oldest and third most visited National Park in the United States. Almost 95% of the park is designated wilderness. (4) Mount Rainier, established March 2, 1899, is an active volcano in the state of Washington, with both Seattle and Portland located within a 300-kilometer radius. (5) Crater Lake in Oregon was established May 22, 1902 and is the deepest lake in the United States. Situated in the crater of a volcano that collapsed over 7,700 years ago, it’s famous for the blue clarity of its water, and with two volcanic islands within the lake.  (5) The best known of all, the Grand Canyon National Park, came later as the 15th park to be designated on February 26, 1919. It is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, and covers 1,217,262 acres. The Canyon is over 277 miles long and over 1 mile deep and 18 miles wide (and getting wider).

            Coming even later as National Parks go, we cannot forget our North Carolina Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Although the National Park Service wanted a park in the eastern United States, it did not have any money so a Commission was appointed in 1925. Though Congress had authorized the park in 1926, there was no nucleus of federally owned land around which to build a park. However with combined help from private citizens, businesses, and government, lands for the park were finally purchased and established on June 15, 1934.

Yellowstone Cocktail – Applejack, cherry brandy; Sequoia Cocktail – Brandy, grapefruit juice, simple syrup; Yosemite -. Courvoisier, dry vermouth, Campari; Mount Ranier – Brandy, rum, Cointreau, fresh lime & cherry juice; Crater Lake – Brandy, rum, agave syrup, fresh lime juice & bitters;          1/2 price Fruit flight   

REMINDER – Wed 7/9 – NC Writers Network returns at 7-9 PM with Reverend Tim Jones, a native of Henderson County, who has been the Chief Operations Officer for the Hendersonville Rescue Mission since 2001. He shall read from his 3 books of poetry.                                                                                  

Wed 7/26 -4-9 PM Boozy fruity sno-cones and Thurs 7/27 – 4-9 – US Women’s Soccer Cocktails

By

Wed 7/26 – 4-9:00 PM – These hot summer days beg for an ice cone – slushy. So we have taken this to a new level. You may choose any fruit brandy for a pour-over on crushed ice. You can suck, sip, and drink from our sno-cones with a fruit of your choice to your heart’s content. Watch out!

Thurs 7/27 – 4-9:00 PM – US Women’s Soccer Cocktails –   We hardly know anything about Women’s Soccer, but we do know we’ll support and shout out for our US team. The FIFA Women’s World Cup is a professional association football tournament contested by senior women’s national football teams, organized by FIFA. The tournament, held every four years and one year after the men’s World Cup, (First played in 1991 in China), and has since been expanded to 32 teams following the 2023 decision. The tournament is contested with eight round-robin groups followed by a knockout round for 16 teams. The defending champions are the United States having won the previous two 2015 and 2019 tournaments. The event will take place from July 20 through August 20 in Australia and New Zealand. This Women’s World Cup represents a series of firsts: (1) the first co-hosted tournament (2) first seniors World Cup to be held across multiple confederations (3) first seniors’ tournament to be held in Oceania, (4) first Women’s World Cup in the Southern Hemisphere and the 3rd to be held in the Asia-Pacific region. This is the 9th event of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The final event will take place on August 20 at Sydney Olympic Stadium.

    The match schedule was announced by FIFA on 12/1/21 with kick-off times confirmed on 10/24/22, 2 days after the final draw. The group stage fixtures are split between the co-hosts with New Zealand hosting Groups A, C, E, and G, and Australia for Groups B, D,F, and H. The United States is in Group E. Because of the Ukraine war, Russia will not be participating this time.  This year’s total prize pool is $110 million, $80 million greater than the last one. Previous tournaments (including men’s) have paid total prize money to the national associations but for the 2023 Women’s they will give prize payments directly to the players as well as the associations. The US belongs to the CONCACAF confederation (North America, Central America, Caribbean). The allocation of slots for each confederation was confirmed on 12/25/2020 with the CONCACAF receiving a total of 6 slots. For the draw 32 teams were divided into 4 pots with the US placed in Pot 1 with New Zealand and Australia (co-hosts).

     Oh….and we do have 2 NC women from the NC Courage Team: Casey Murphy and Emily Fox. Other members: Goal Keepers Aubrey Kingsbury, Casey Murphy, Alyssa Naeher; Defenders: Alana Cook, Crystal Dunn, Emily Fox, Naomi Girma, Sofia Huerta, Kelley O’Hara, Emily Sonett; Midfielders: Savannah DeMelo, Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Kristie Mewis, Ashley Sanchez, Andi Sullivan; Forwards: Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Alyssa Thompso, and Lynn Williams. Now let’s go out there and root for the US WOMEN’S TEAM!!

US Women’s World Cup Cocktails: US’ Our Old Fashion – Muddled orange & cherries topped with C & K Brandy and ice; Brazil’s Caipirinha -Leblon, muddled lime, sugar; Italy’s Negroni – CB Frost, Douglas Fir, Campari, sweet vermouth; France’s Les Bleus 75 – Courvoisier, lemon, simple syrup, topped with Champagne;  Norway’s Blackberry Fir – Douglas Fir, Blackberry liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup; 1/2 Price Worldly Flight

Wed 7/19 – 4-9 Sangria special & 7-9 Songwriter Sessions and Thurs 7/20 – 4-9 Movie themed cocktails

By

Wed 7/19 – 4-9 PM – Sangria $5 Special -Pinot Grigio, brandy, fruits: apple, pear, kiwi, and fruit juices: apple, pear, pineapple. A light, almost effervescent finish to a sultry summer day!

Also Wednesday the Songwriter Sessions (7-9 PM) – Featuring Christina Chandler, Kristian Phillip Valentino and Charlie Wilkinson. Christina Chandler has been making music since she was 6 and taking advantage of any chance to grow and learn as a vocalist. She relocated to Asheville in 2009, picking up guitar and ukulele, writing new tunes and returning to her songwriting roots. Kristian Phillip Valentino was born and raised in Chicago and now resides in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville. His musical palette falls between the lines of indie folk, singer-songwriter and Americana, and his lyrics are healing balm from the daily struggle as they wash over you with deep reverence. Charlie Wilkinson makes stuff up. Sometimes he strums along while he explains. He likes to think that, in the words of Chief Bromden, “It’s the truth, even if it didn’t happen.” With hosts Mare Carmody and Charlie Wilkinson. For more information contact http://WNCsongwritersessions@gmail.com
Thurs 4-9 PM Movie themed cocktails – The Big Lebowski – Jeff Bridges – White Russian. In the late ’90s, The Big Lebowski, starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, and Steve Buscemi, became an instant cult classic. “The Dude,” Jeff Bridges’ character, was defined by his shaggy sweater, long locks, dark sunglasses and strong preference for White Russians, a velvety cocktail. If he wasn’t drinking one, he was carrying one, finishing one, or finding ways to make one in other peoples’ houses.
Casino Royale – Sir James Bond – David Nevin – The Martini Bond is the quintessential Martini man. In Casino Royale, agent 007 instructs a bartender shake it very well, until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Bond named the cocktail the Vesper in honor of a woman he would come to love (despite her betrayal), lose and pine for. Much like the femme fatale for which it is named, a true Vesper is sadly gone from the world & impossible to resurrect today, so we have substituted an Italian herbal vermouth in lieu of usual dry.
The Blues Brothers – John Canady – The Orange Whip. Three Orange Whips! declares John Candy’s character in the famous film The Blues Brothers, right before the major fund-raising scene. Following its film debut, the cocktail experienced a huge resurgence in popularity. Hey, if the brothers blue think it’s cool, we can’t argue with that.
Bonfire of the Vanities – Bruce Willis – The Sidecar. A classy drink for a classy film! In the movie, a character who isn’t supposed to drink finds himself at a meeting with Bruce Willis’ character, Peter Fallow. In the absence of his wife, who would never let him drink, the man orders a Sidecar. The classic cocktail is still one of The Brandy Bar’s most popular drinks.
Sex And The City – Parker/Davis/Cattrall/Nixon –Cosmopolitan. So many drinks were consumed during Sex and the City’s run on TV and the big screen. The long-running show charted the four main characters’ of Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, Kim Cattrall, and Nixon’s experiences trying almost every trend in drink, dining, fashion, and men. Yet one constant remained: the cosmo.
Some Like It Hot – Marilyn Monroe – Manhattan. Sure, men have cross-dressed in newer movies than Some Like it Hot, but those films don’t have mobsters, jazz music, and Marilyn Monroe. This heady mixture can only be matched by the film’s standout drink, the Manhattan, with its equally stiff combination of alcohols. Top it off with a maraschino cherry for the ultimate unisex cocktail. 1/2 price special on Worldly Flight 
 

Wed 7 /12 – Sangria specials & NC Writers Network and Thurs 7/13 – Simple cocktail drinks

By

Wednesday, July 12 – 4-9:00 PM – $5 Sangria special – Granache, brandy, orange-pineapple-lime juices – Natural fruit juices without the toooo sweet taste but a nice balance. Add some ice and you’re ready for a relaxing summer afternoon! 

AND NC Writers Network returns with “In the Company of Writers” with guest authors: Kenneth Chamlee and Molly Bolton.  Sign-ups for the open mic visit:https://thebrandybar.com/writers-open-mic/

        Kenneth Chamlee is the author of If Not These Things (Kelsay Books, 2022) and The Best Material for the Artist in the World, a poetic biography of 19th century American landscape painter Albert Bierstadt (Stephen F. Austin State University Press, 2023). His poems have appeared in The North Carolina Literary Review, Cold Mountain Review, The Worcester Review and The Ekphrastic Review, among other publications. A Professor Emeritus of English at Brevard College in North Carolina, Ken conducts workshops for the Great Smokies Writing Program at UNC-Asheville and is a 2022-2023 Gilbert-Chappell Distinguished Poet for the North Carolina Poetry Society. Learn more at www.kennethchamlee.com.

          Molly Bolton was awarded a Gilbert-Chappell mentorship with Ken Chamlee in 2023. Her poetry explores the intersections of grief, spiritual liberation, the Blue Ridge mountains, and queerness. Molly’s writing can be found or is forthcoming in The EcoTheo Review, Hippocampus, Susurrus, and Morehouse Press. A spiritual care provider, she served as staff chaplain at The Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio for 6 years. She now teaches the art of spiritual direction through the Still Harbor program, leads workshops on poetry as a tool for grief support, and writes weekly liturgy for the spiritual collective enfleshed. Find out more about her work at revmollybolton.com.

Thurs 7/13 – 4-9:00 PM – We’ve been reading “Gleanings” from the 1910 THE FRENCH BROAD HUSTLER compiled by Dorothy Wood and comparing some of the simpler attitudes from that year to today’s points of view. This small cottage newspaper was an intermittently published rag from 1893 – 1919 covering primarily Henderson and Transylvania Counties.  https://www.digitalnc.org/newspapers/french-broad-hustler-hendersonville-n-c/   Perhaps you will be pleasantly surprised by the conciliatory point of view of such ordinary subjects as “census takers” and a great deal of pride in what appeared to us as the mundane. “CENSUS BEGINS FRIDAY. If a quiet, inoffensive looking man comes into your home and asks you personal and intimate questions about your age, color, is inquisitive about the size of the mortgage you are carrying, don’t get angry. Treat him kindly, for remember, he’s the census man. On April 15 he begins his work which will continue for the following 30 days. He will ask you your age, sex, color, race, whether single or married, widowed or divorced, how long married, how many children born and living, place of birth of parents and children, can you speak English, etc. About this time you ask the census man to have a glass of buttermilk, and while he is drinking it you tell him how to make hair grow on a head which resembles a billiard ball, how to vote bonds for cement sidewalks and then not get the walks, etc. You converse pleasantly for a bit and then he starts in again. What is your occupation, were you working on April 15, 1910, how many weeks were you out of a job during 1909, can you read and write, have you been to school since Sept. 1, 1909, do you own your own home or do you pay rent, is your home mortgaged, did you serve in the Union or Confederate army or navy, are you blind, deaf or dumb. You wipe the perspiration from your brow, breath hard and look the census man in the eye. He will take the hint and leave, but if you want to tell him what you think about good roads, the care of babies, the big hog contest and the need of a daily paper, it will be all right. But be sure and treat him kindly – he’s paid to be inquisitive.”

The simple drinks: CB Frost and cranberry; Fir and Tonic – Douglas Fir and Q Tonic water; Classy Southern tea – C & K brandy with sweet or unsweetened iced tea; Orange frost – CB Frost with frozen orange juice; Vermy Cold – CB Frost and Antica Posta Vermouth (served over frozen grapes); Single pour of Ginger Brandy or Cointreau Noir

Wed 4/5 – 4-9 PM $5 sangrias and Thurs 4/6 – 4-9 PM – Post July 4th cocktails!

By

Wed 7/5 – 4-9:00 PM $5 sangria specials – white wine, brandy, fresh mint, cucumber, coconut water – a light fresh touch for a hot summer evening!

Thurs 7/6 – 4-9:00 PM – Post July 4th cocktails

    In excerpts from a letter found in the local Murray family history from Colonel John Johnston (undated), we have a firsthand account of the true patriotism found among the colonists as they fought for their freedom: “….all our family are clear for independence and have all been active, and always ready on every emergency: and seem not to shock at the noise of a gun, or the whistle of a bullet. The cause we imbark in is glorious and under the persuasion of that no man’s heart can faint: our death will be crowned with laurels. Providence has favored us with remarkable instances of His goodness to us. In a remarkable battle fought at Charleston Bay, six men-of-war and a large army of land forces attached an island called Sullivan Island about four miles from town: where was a battery to face the ships and small intrenchments with a few men, where they attempted to land their forces. And the ships battered the breast works for nine hours without success and the forces attempted to land twice without success: and the ships got so damaged that they could hardly get off… Victory depends on unanimity and resolution and a steady resigned will to Providence: from which I would advise the wife and lover of every Freeman of America to be encouraged and fear not the alarm of war, for Providence is bound to protect them that trust in Him as well in battle as in bed.”

    We celebrate Independence Day on July 4th of each year but, speaking for myself, I’m not sure we truly appreciate the hardships and sacrifice that went into it.  We checked out a brief timeline for America’s struggle and wanted to share: On September 5, 1774 – October 27, 1774, the First Continental Congress, met in response to the Intolerable Acts, met in Philadelphia. All thirteen colonies except Georgia were represented. They composed a “Declaration of Rights and Grievances,” which detailed “grievous acts and measures” imposed by the Crown to which “Americans cannot submit.” On April 19, 1775, the “shot heard ‘round the world’ at the battles of Lexington and Concord, began the American Revolution. On July 5, 1775, one year before they would declare independence, the Second Continental Congress sent the Olive Branch Petition to England. The king refused to even look at it, and instead issued the Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition, declaring the colonies to be in “open and avowed rebellion.” King George III addressed Parliament to declare that Great Britain would not give independence to the colonies: “The object is too important . . . to give up so many colonies which she has planted with great industry, nursed with great tenderness… On May 10, 1776, Congress passed a resolution calling on the colonies to form their own local governments “where no government sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs have been hitherto established.” On November 15, 1775, in a letter to a fellow Continental Congress delegate, John Adams described the basic structure of what would become the American government, including the separation of powers: “A Legislative, an Executive and a judicial Power, comprehend the whole of what is meant and understood by Government.” The ideas presented in this letter had a profound influence on the state constitutions of Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, and ultimately, the federal Constitution. On July 2, 1776, Congress declared independence from Great Britain and two days later July 4, 1776, adopted the Declaration of Independence. Copies of the Declaration were then sent out to the new “Free and Independent States” to print and distribute. Well so much for the history lesson, now let’s drink and celebrate the freedom we have fought so hard to keep! Post July 4th Cocktails: Margherita Italiana – CB Frost, Aperol, Cointreau, lime juice; Star Spangled Berry – Applejack, grenadine, lemon juice, muddled blueberries; Dona Carmen – Pisco, grapefruit juice, sour mix; French 75 – Courvoisier, lemon juice, topped with Champagne;  Gilded Grand – Cointreau, grapefruit juice, honey, lemon juice.

REMINDER Wed 7/12 – NC Writers Network presents its monthly “In the Company of Writers” series, featuring guest authors Kenneth Chamlee and Molly Bolton. Visit our Facebook page for more details https://www.facebook.com/TheBrandyBar/events