“Today’s special edition on the R.U.G. is brought to you by our Tempest,” Sunset welcomed every listener back to the show, “So, Tempest, what are you going to show us today?”
“We are live, coming to you from Ponyville’s bar to show you a little job that I’ve been doing to make ends meet after my travels, telling the many creatures about the Storm King’s defeat. When Starlight and the others told me about their idea of the R.U.G., I had to stop travelling and find a place to settle and work in Ponyville,” Tempest told her story.
“And how are you settling into Ponyville?” Sunset asked.
“The town is warm and welcoming, and everypony is eager to make new friends,” Tempest chuckled, “I think it’s Pinkie rubbing off on everypony. Settling in was no issue, and quickly there was an opening at Ponyville’s bars and cafes. As my other name, Fizzlepop Berrytwist, suggest, I made myself useful by serving drinks and cocktails.”
“So what are you going to serve on the show for us today?” Trixie joked lightly.
“I am going to serve you different cocktails that I have learnt at my time in Ponyville as well as on my travels. I got my cutie mark whilst making punches and juices during the Summer Sun Celebration fireworks, hence my fireworks being juice droplets,” Tempest continued on.
“We are all of age to drink, and we are sticking the Equestrian laws,” Starlight reassured their listeners.
“That’s sounds great. I don’t know about you, but talking all the time sure makes the throat high and dry,” Sunset said, which the others nodded in agreement, “What’s a bartenders’ tool for a great cocktail?”
“There are several actually,” Tempest reached under the bench and pulled out several items, “Shakers are used for controlling mixing and produces a nice foamy finish. There are different strainers for separating bits of ice. Bar spoons are for mixing as well as for measuring small portions liquids. Jiggers are a bartender’s measuring cups, muddlers to get oils out of fruit skins or crush ice and a peeler for finishing off the drink with fruit.”
“I hear that ice is important as well, right?” Trixie rubbed a hoof with a chin.
“You are right as well,” Trixie nodded, pointing to the freezer, “You can get great alcohol mixes, fresh fruits and juices, but if you put a piece of stinky ice from your freezer, it will taste like you literally got it out from the freezer. What is recommended is to pick out a bag of ice, ask a friendly unicorn to freeze some fresh, clean water or if you are in the big city, you can get dense cubes or crushed ice.”
“So without further ado, what drinks would you recommend for each of us?” Starlight asked.
“For you Starlight, I’m thinking of something sweet with a nice punch. I am going to make you something called a bramble. It’s a crushed iced drink with lemon, sugar and a dash of spirit. Before we add the spirit so there isn’t too much liquid in the glass, we are going to muddle some berries.” Tempest got to work, putting a cup of lemon, sugar and spirit in, adding some blackberries and muddling them individually into the shaker.
“Now I can add our two ounce, or fifty-five grams of gin and shake to incorporate them all together,” She closed the shaker and shook it vigorously like a professional bartender, “You pour it into a chilled glass, fill two-thirds with crushed ice and garnish with a blackberry so the customer knows what they are drinking.” She did as she said, finishing off with a fresh blackberry and a cold metal straw. Starlight took the drink and slurped on the straw. A happy shiver came down her body.
“You’re definitely a good bartender, Tempest,” Starlight complimented, “This drink is delicious. Hint of alcohol balancing nicely with the berries. What’s it called again?”
“A bramble, and I’m glad you liked it,” Tempest thanked for the compliment before turning to Sunset for her drink, “For Sunset, I’m thinking a mint julep.”
“Whatever you recommend,” Sunset waved a hoof, “Seeing you work on Starlight’s cocktail is making me thirsty.”
“For a mint julep, you are going to need a lot of leaves,” Tempest cut some stems off a fresh mint potted plant, “I think it’s best to use the bottom leaves so you can use the top ones as a garnish. You are going to need about fifteen leaves.” She pulled some leaves off and placed them in a metal cup.
“You need a sugarcube to start the abrasion process to get the mint oils out and a dash of simple syrup. I’m going to muddle the drink, but not too much. You just need to spread the mint around the inside. You need seventy grams of bourbon whiskey and add two-thirds the way up with crushed ice,” Tempest explained as she worked, “Mix them with the mixing spoon, or swizzle it, then garnish with mint leaves. It can be finished with a hint of rum on top.” She presented the finished cocktail to Sunset.
“And there you go, a wonderful mint julep,” Tempest presented, which Sunset immediately took in her magic and drank happily.
“Minty and fresh for the tastebuds,” Sunset smiled, “This tastes great!” Tempest then finally turned to Trixie.
“Can you create a drink that is as great and as powerful as the very pony sitting opposite you?” Trixie challenged. Tempest nodded with a smirk.
“For something sharp and magical for the tastebuds, I’m going to do a Ramos gin fizz. It’s a citrus spilt of lemon and lime juice and a couple drops of orange flower water,” Tempest explained as she worked, “I’m now adding some simple syrup, then we come to the special part.”
“What’s so special about this drink?” Starlight asked as she finished her cocktail in curiosity.
“It has a meringue, so we are adding egg whites into it. With some heavy cream, add fifty-five grams of gin and egg white for a foamy top,” Tempest explained, separating an egg’s yolk and whites.
“I never knew you can add egg whites to a cocktail,” Starlight observed. Trixie looked a little disturbed.
“It may sound strange, but trust me, you’ll like it,” Tempest reassured, “You need to do a dry shake to form the meringue. You got to shake it for a while, which is why it used to be a multi-hoofed task.” She opened the shake and inspected it.
“Now we have a meringue forming, I’m adding a big dense cube of ice and shake it again,” Tempest continued, shaking it vigorously, “Use a strainer to separate the drink into a chilled glass, and chill it for a few minutes in the fridge.” She put it in the fridge.
“Now I’m really thirsty,” Trixie half-complained.
“Patience, perfection can’t be rushed you know,” Tempest winked.
“You sound like Applejack now,” Trixie said through gritted teeth as she tapped on the bench. Tempest took the drink out from the fridge.
“Now you can see two distinct layers of the meringue forming,” Tempest indicated, “And if you put a straw in, it should stay upright. Take some seltzer, and there is your Ramos gin fizz.” Trixie immediately took the drink in her magic and slurped greedily on the straw.
“Who knew egg whites and cocktails go well together,” Trixie smiled.
“Thank you for showing us your job away from the studio, Tempest,” Sunset thanked, “And that is all we have time for on the R.U.G. today. Hope that inspired you to order something different the next time to go out to Manehattan or Canterlot, but for now, it’s goodbye from us.”