Drinks

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Drinking with friends is a ritual as well as a pleasure among the Irish, and the toast "Slainte agus Saol agat!" (Health and a long life to you!) is the usual compliment to the company. Whiskey, which takes its name from the Gaelic 'uisgebeatha' (Water of Life) is the classic Irish drink....we drink it neat, or with plain water but never with ice! Guinness has been produced here since 1759 and is regularly called 'stout' in any Irish pub around the country. A popular Irish tipple in days gone by was poteen, an illicit spirit produced in home-made stills in remote parts of the country. It was made from fermented grain (kinda like distilling whiskey) and left to mature. You won't find any of this today I'm afraid unless its for medicinal purposes *g*

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Irish Whiskey Punch

This is a favourite nightcap in Ireland.....very relaxing before going to bed. It is always taken to keep a chill away or an attack of 'flu'. Such pleasant medicine too! *g*

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1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
Boiling water
1 measure Irish Whiskey
3 cloves
1 slice of lemon

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Heat a stemmed glass, add the sugar and dissolve in a little boiling water. Add the whiskey, cloves, slice of lemon and fill with boiling water.

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Sloe Gin

Sloes are the fruit of the blackthorn shrub which grows in many parts of Ireland.

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2 lbs freshly picked sloes (you can use damsons too!)
2 lbs lump sugar
Gin (lots of it!)
1 or 2 glass bottles

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Crush about 12 sloes with a fork and mix with sugar. Three quarter fill the bottles with this then fill up the rest of the way with gin. Cork if you can or close tightly with tops of bottles. Shake once a week for six months. Strain and rebottle!. This is the most beautiful ruby colour you ever saw, and makes an excellent after-dinner liquer.

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