Present for You
Presence
Guess what? It’s my birthday! For this year’s celebration I’m offering a special birthday themed pairing here on B&B. I’m also keeping it short and sweet cause hey, it’s my birthday!
Present for you by Shou Sugimoto
Let’s start with a present, shall we? For me? Really? There can’t be many better puzzle boxes for this occasion than the “Present for you” box by Karakuri Creation Group artist Shou Sugimoto. (Brian Young’s “Birthday Surprise” is another good one, but I’ve already written about that one.) Present for you was Sugimoto’s 2017 end of year offering, and a truly pleasant surprise for those who received it. Sugimoto, one of the newest members of the group, has recently started to create some very interesting shapes and mechanisms, including the amazing Ferris Wheel from last year’s Idea Contest. He has an art background and brings a fresh sensibility to the group.
All wrapped up with a radiant ribbon
Present for you is a beautiful creation, crafted from maple, magnolia, chanchin, and Japanese torreya woods to resemble a present, all wrapped up with a pretty bow. The contrasting wood ribbon is particularly nice. Getting this present to open to see what’s inside is no simple task, however. No matter whether you’re a wrapping paper ripper or a neat as you please unfolder, it will take some time with this one. It’s a really clever mechanism and requires quite a bit of dexterity too. If you have a friend to help, even better. Thanks for the present, Shou, it’s just what I wanted.
The Friendsip
For a birthday toast, I’m waxing philosophical and suggesting that the best present we all have is the lives of those we love who are present in our own. With that in mind, I’m raising my glass to all my family and friends, near and far, old and new. This is a cocktail I created from some spirits a friend sent me to try a while back. I had made a comment about how interesting they sounded, and next thing you know, a few little bottles arrived on my doorstep. It was a nice surprise, and provided some perfect inspiration at the time. The samples were of Chareau aloe liqueur and Amaro Angeleno, both incredibly unique California spirits which were not available in my region at the time. Chareau is a light and refreshing spirit distilled from local aloe vera, cucumber, eau de vie, lemon peel, muskmelon, and spearmint. It adds a truly unique flavor to any drink. Amaro Angeleno is a distinctly Californian light bitter liqueur in the Italian style with bright citrus notes. Both are truly delicious on their own, and both are fantastic in cocktails. I combined them for this one, and call it the “Friendsip”. Here’s to my family and friends, thanks for your presence in my life. Cheers!
I get by with a little help from my friends
Friendsip
1 ½ oz reposado tequila
½ oz Amaro Angelino
¾ oz Chareau aloe liqueur
½ oz Cointreau
¾ oz fresh lime
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a favorite glass. Garnish with a lime bow.
