The Brandy Bar + Cocktails

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Wed. 12/8/21 – 7-9:00 NC Writers Network presents Tom Hooker as guest author

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In the Company of Writers presents a series of personal and conversational dialogues featuring guest writers/poets followed by an open mic forum. The Chicago blues music of “Hollywood Johnny” Cosgrove welcomes you, continues during intermission and closes the evening. These inspirational gatherings will elucidate and entertain those attending. The special guest author in the series, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 8, features Tom Hooker and his most recent book “Twenty-Five Angels.” He has short stories and poems published in a number of literary journals across the nation. He and Gary Ader co-authored a novel entitled THE WAR NEVER ENDS, and he has also written a non-fiction work entitled CALVARY’S CHILD: THE LIFE OF AMANDA CAROL HOOKER.

His newest book, Twenty-Five Angels recounts a story of the crew of the Reba Jean, a B-17 bomber in the U.S. Eighth Army Air Corps, that took to the skies above WWII Europe. Flying at an altitude of twenty-five thousand feet (twenty-five angels), the crew, including a pilot with an overly acute sense of responsibility for his men, a Jewish officer, and an anti-Semitic non-com, strive to achieve victory over the elite German Luftwaffe, and survive. The events that occur along the way make for a compelling story, culminating in a breathtaking ending sure to leave you on the edge of your seat.   

Following his entertaining reading and discussion there will be an open mic for those wishing to share their stories, with sign-ups from 6:30 until 6:50 p.m. Co-Sponsored by The Brandy Bar + Cocktails & North Carolina Writers Network. There will also be a sign-up link on The Brandy Bar + Cocktails web-site:https://thebrandybar.com/writers-open-mic/

Wed 12/8 – NC Writers Network 7-9 PM & Thurs 12/9 – 4-9 PM – 12 Days of Christmas cocktail specials

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In 567, the Council of Tours “proclaimed the twelve days from Christmas to Epiphany (traditionally 6 January) as a sacred and festive season, and established the duty of Advent fasting in preparation for the feast.” Christopher Hill, as well as William J. Federer, states that this was done in order to solve the “administrative problem for the Roman Empire as it tried to coordinate the solar Julian calendar with the lunar calendars of its provinces in the east. Traditionally the 12 days of Christmas begin December 25 thru January 5 (although some celebrations begin December 26 thru January 6).

The traditions of the Twelve Days of Christmas have been nearly forgotten in the United States. Contributing factors include the popularity of the stories of Charles Dickens in nineteenth-century America, with their emphasis on generous giving; introduction of secular traditions in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially the American version of Santa Claus, and increase in the popularity of secular New Year’s Eve parties. Presently, the commercial practice treats December 25th as the last day of the “Christmas” marketing season, as the numerous “after-Christmas” sales” that commence on 26 December demonstrate. The commercial calendar has encouraged an erroneous assumption that the Twelve Days end on Christmas Day and must therefore begin on 14 December.

Some who celebrate the Twelve Days may give gifts on each of them, with each of the Twelve Days representing a wish for a corresponding month of the new year. We may feast on traditional foods and otherwise celebrate the entire time through the morning of the 25th. Contemporary traditions include lighting a candle for each day, singing the verse of the corresponding day from the famous English carol written in 1780 titled The Twelve Days of Christmas and lighting a yule log on Christmas Eve and letting it burn some more on each of the twelve nights. For some, the 12th night remains the night of the most festive parties and exchanges of gifts. Some households exchange gifts on the first (25 December) and last (5 January) days of the Twelve Days.

What better way to celebrate the Christmas countdown with our 12 cocktails – 6 this week and 6 next. Always remember that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is drinking cocktails when friends are near.

12 Drummers Drumming – Apple brandy, rum, cranberry juice, ginger beer; 11 Pipers piping – Spiced apple brandy served warm; 10 Lords a leaping- CB Frost, rum, pineapple juice, lime juice, orange juice, grenadine, sprite;  9 Ladies Dancing – Applejack, gin, grenadine, sour mix; 8 Maids a milking – CB Frost, amaretto, heavy cream; 7 Swans a swimming – CB Frost, Chambord, blackberries, Champagne topper. 1/2 price US Flight 

Thurs 12/2 – 4-9:00 PM Movie inspired cocktails + weekly Christmas drawing each Friday

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The Big Lebowski – Jeff Bridges – White Russian  (Brandy, Godiva white chocolate liqueur, heavy cream. 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 (Brandy, splash of gin to balance & Vermouth).    James 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 (brandy, rum, orange juice & cream). 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, which contains cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice, is still one of The Brandy Bar’s most popular drinks.

Sex And The City – Parker/Davis/Cattrall/Nixon –Cosmopolitan (Brandy, Cointreau, lime juice, cranberry juice). 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 sweet vermouth, whiskey (substitute brandy), and bitters. Top it off with a maraschino cherry for the ultimate unisex cocktail.

Fruit/infused flight 1/2 price

Reminder December 8th – NC Writers Network featuring  Tom Hooker and his newest novel and Kim Nelson power point on immigration in WNC. 

Each Saturday at 6:00 pm we will have a drawing from entries submitted on Friday night. Just come in Friday and drop your entry into the glass jar located on the Bar top. These are our unique Christmas presents to our very special members!