Wild About Jennie – 5:00 Fridays TM

On this day after Thanksgiving people are thankful for one of two things: being with their family or being away from their family. Oh, I say this in jest. Sort of. We spent our Thanksgiving among friends. This crazy blogging world is not just about imaginary friends who click clack away across the ethers. I have actually cultivated real friendships, the kind of friendships where people get on a plane with their kids to visit you for Thanksgiving and spend the day in the kitchen making homemade marinara sauce, two pizzas, three pies, and two batches of homemade biscuits. And clean up. 

My friend Jennie came to North Carolina to spend Thanksgiving with us. Our children snuggle and fight like siblings in the loveliest of ways. We’re either going to be sister wives or in laws. Time will tell. Nonetheless, I think a tradition has been born. We kicked off our days together with laughter, lots of gabbing, and cocktails. We don’t even need the cocktails to spark the laughter and gabbing, but it does fuel us once we get started. Poor Mac Daddy endured the chatter of friends and the squeal of children running amok peppered with the barking of a frazzled dog. He handled it all with aplomb.

The warmth of friendship coupled with the chill of fall is ripe for bourbon. And it just so happens to be perfect for some Wild Turkey. I mean, being turkey day and all.

Wild About Jennie

1 ounce Wild Turkey (or a splash more if you like it strong)
3 ounces ginger beer (Note: This is not the same as ginger ale!)
large orange wedge
spring of fresh rosemary
tiny dash of bitters (optional – Jennie likes the bitters. I prefer it without.)

Pour Wild Turkey over ice in a rocks glass. Add ginger beer. Squeeze in the juice from a large orange wedge. Add a tiny dash of bitters at this point if you’d like. Stir it up with the sprig of rosemary and plop it in for a woodsy garnish.

Cheers to friendship, laughter, and love. And bah humbug to the consumerism of Black Friday that grips us. Sorry, I just had to add that. Carry on.