The Acceptance Letter is a spicy, fruity applejack cocktail to help you through the hardest part: waiting.
Ugh. This week. I started strong and was super motivated to stick to my two-posts-a-week goal. Then, late Monday afternoon, I got an email letting me know that NYC Public School High School acceptance letters would be coming home this Friday.
And my brain exploded.
The only things I’ve been able to accomplish since are 1) clean my stove and 2) bring you this cocktail.
My son is in 8th grade and he and I spent this past Fall touring high schools and attending interviews and auditions. Then in December, we ranked our choices 1 through 12, handed our application to his guidance counselor and it became the NYC Department of Education’s job to match him to one (and only one) of our twelve choices.
Now, apparently, that match has been made. Hopefully.
I don’t think this is going to happen BUT there is a chance he could be matched to a school that’s not on our list. Or no school at all.
Which really makes you wonder since high school is, like, mandatory.
Like I said, I don’t think that will happen but I still sprouted a cold sore overnight. I don’t do this well. I can hear you thinking all sorts of Buddhist thoughts to share with me but I am physically incapable of hearing them. I would be 100% better off having no idea this stupid piece of paper was on its way. Ignorance would definitely be bliss in this scenario.
It’s enough to make a gal need a drink.
[clickToTweet tweet=”The Acceptance Letter: an applejack cocktail to take the edge off the hardest part. Waiting.” quote=”Help your tweeps through the waiting part.” theme=”style1″]
And then, since my ability to worry knows no bounds, I started thinking about all the people around the world who are waiting for acceptance letters right now. Tons and tons of people have no idea what September holds for them. Or even this summer. Will they get into college? Or get that scholarship? Will they have an internship? A job? And where? Will they have to move?
So, like the dutiful mixologist I imagine myself to be, I’m bringing this smooth, spicy, fruity cocktail to the virtual waiting room of the world. It’s the least I can do.
The first thing you’ll notice is the sweet, fruitiness of the applejack and the cherry liqueur. That’s swiftly followed by a wave of sophisticated spiciness from the allspice dram and orange bitters. This drink is super smooth. It declares its presence without the slightest hint of show-off-iness. It’s like sipping on confidence. I’m taking that any place I can get it this week.
- 2 oz applejack
- 1/2 ounce cherry liqueur
- 1/2 ounce allspice dram
- 1/4 ounce Vermouth di Torino
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- garnish with orange twist
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Chill a rocks glass.
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Fill cocktail shaker with ice.
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Combine all ingredients in shaker.
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Stir well.
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Strain into chilled rocks glass.
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Garnish with a twist of orange.
Karen @ Karen's Kitchen Stories says
March 11, 2016 at 11:31 pmSo glad he got into one of his top choices. This post made me want a drink just reading it! So happy I didn’t have to go through this stress until my kids went to college! Beautiful cocktail though =)
Christine says
March 12, 2016 at 7:20 amThanks Karen! I’m hoping this experience will give us an edge when we apply for colleges. And we have four years to rest up!
Jason Young says
March 11, 2016 at 4:31 pmA very intriguing drink! By cherry liqueur do you mean something like a maraschino liqueur or more of a Heering cherry style?
Christine says
March 11, 2016 at 4:47 pmHi, Jason. I used Heering and think it’s the best choice. I just shy away from mentioning brands in a recipe. Let me know if you try it!
Ginger Wroot says
March 9, 2016 at 12:54 pmI’ve raised two kids, and I know if you have an eighth-grader son, you probably need a strong drink every so often–ha! I have some apple jack in the back of the liquor cabinet, and you’ve inspired to bring it to the front and try this. Thanks!
Christine says
March 9, 2016 at 1:46 pmYou very much seem to know where I’m coming from 😉 Definitely move that applejack up in line before it gets too warm out and all we want is gin and tequila!
Pam Greer says
March 8, 2016 at 8:08 amYou have to be accepted to high school? Here, you just go to the one you’re zoned for, unless you want to get into a specific magnet school (there’s maybe 5 of them). Anyway, I would love it if you would link this up to Tipsy Tuesday at Grey is the New Black.
Christine says
March 8, 2016 at 8:13 amI know, Pam. It’s bleepin’ crazy. But it worked out. I’ll be over to Tipsy Tuesday asap.
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake says
March 6, 2016 at 5:27 pmI hope your son ended up making it in to your top choice, or at least one on the list! The same thing was happening in the UK this week, I think something like 50% of kids in London didn’t get into a school on their list, there’s just not enough schools anymore apparently!
This cocktail looks delicious though, and the perfect way to wait it out!
Christine says
March 6, 2016 at 7:50 pmHe did! His second choice which is the perfect school for him, just a little far. Distance it the only reason it wasn’t number one. We are so pleased and wildly relieved. We just need more schools because this is a little crazy. Thanks for joining us, Michelle.
Bam's Kitchen says
March 6, 2016 at 8:52 amLovely cocktail to take the edge off. I am delighted to hear that your son got into a school that was a good fit for him. Cheer to that!
Christine says
March 6, 2016 at 7:50 pmCheers, Bobbi. xo
Dini @ The Flavor Bender says
March 4, 2016 at 11:59 pmI hope you treated yourself to MANY of these drinks! You certainly deserve it after the week you’ve had! They should have a high school system like in NZ! If you live in the designated area of the high school, they HAVE to take you in! (Although that means there have been parents who rent houses in the area a couple of years ahead, just to be eligible to the HS of choice). But these drinks will definitely help the waiting – They look and sound amazing! 🙂
Christine says
March 6, 2016 at 8:28 amThanks, D. There are many states in the US that have “zoned” schools as well. There are pros and cons to both but certainly less anxiety with the zoned system. I’m very happy to say he got his 2nd choice school! And we are very very pleased and relieved. It is really the perfect school for him. So this drink turned celebratory 😀
dstein4000 says
March 4, 2016 at 8:15 amThis sounds intriguing. You must have a very well stocked liquor cabinet by now. How many did you drink to deal with that amount of stress? And then the horrible, painful and ugly cold sore shows up. When i was at Rounabout I would get some huge ones that would go from lip to my chin. Good luck today! I’ll be waiting with bated breathe to hear the news. And I’m still working on the Challenge. How do you feel about pork?
Christine says
March 4, 2016 at 9:30 amVery well stocked home bar 😉 And I LOVE pork. Love it! I’ll keep you posted on high schools.
Welcome to LittleSugarSnaps says
March 4, 2016 at 7:50 amYou have my deepest, deepest sympathy and my crossed fingers and toes (and I won’t judge you if you have one of these cocktails in hand when the letter arrives home). Schooling is similarly brutal around me and we face tuition, exams, results, selection preferences and then finally placement decisions. Ultimately lots of close friends ending up in lots of different schools – heartbreaking. That’s all to come over the next 12 months for us. On a positive note I really love the name of your cocktail – so apt. And the flavours. And I still haven’t got myself that Allspice Dram yet – what is wrong with me?
Christine says
March 4, 2016 at 9:34 amHave it delivered! You will want it over the next 12 months. There was a brief moment in time where it looked possible that we might be moving to London and when I started researching the schooling system I wondered if I would ever figure it out. I’m certain people moving to NYC feel the same way. Alas, it didn’t happen. Iris was pretty young and I fantasized about her having an English accent.