Things I’ve been afraid to tell you: I’ve been struggling a little bit with this digital home of mine. Lately I’ve felt like I’ve kind of been going through the motions of cocktail-making, shooting, posting, social media-ing (and none of it very well). It’s felt like more of an obligation than a passion. I didn’t think too much of it. It’s a phase, I told myself.
Then I saw this post from Glennon Doyle (do you know her? She is amazing. Go follow her immediate and let her blow your mind.) She talked about how she started playing guitar, after telling herself she couldn’t for years. That she wasn’t good enough. That she didn’t have the skills. But then she was like, wait a minute. That’s a lie. I can do this. And I don’t have to be good. Because art and creativity are not about showing off. Art is about SHOWING OURSELVES. Art is about showing our true selves to the world. THAT is what it’s about. Nothing else matters, really.
For awhile now, I’ve been creating based on many, many shoulds. I should be posting ALLTHECONTENT! I should be making holiday cocktails! I shouldn’t post about my life, too personal. I should stick to the cocktails. I should stay in my lane. I should follow the trends. I should stick to my niche. On and on it went. But I lost of sight of why I created this space in the first place: I wanted to share with you—not just cocktails but life. I really wanted The Shared Sip to be a destination that made us all want to be friends, to gather around the proverbial bar cart and share not just sips, but stories. It was never about the drinks.
When I think about what lights me up from the blogs I read, it’s not the recipes, really. It’s the people behind the recipes. It’s their personalities and their struggles and their victories and all the things that are happening outside of the social media posts. Do you know Jayme of Holly & Flora? Sure, she makes create cocktails. But did you know she started her own winery this year? Did you know she and her husband and her small but mighty team of helpers hand-picked every single grape this year themselves? Did you know they took a giant leap of faith and are building a company full of passion and love?
What about Jason of Barrel-Aged Dad? Recently he decided to forgo his MO of all-pretty-cocktails-all-the-time and let a little more life in. His family. His behind the scenes. The day-to-day that can sometimes seem mundane but is really the good stuff. The stuff that elicits a giggle or a “me too!” I look forward to the stories about his two little boys as much as his tips for the perfect negroni.
Or Tracy of Shutterbean—one of my biggest inspirations in the blogging world. Her posts are equal parts recipes, inspiration, real life messes and thoughtful pep talks (for when you need one). Her dishes are delicious, but I follow along for the other stuff. The things she creates to show herself—not to show off. It’s magic.
So I’m thinking deeply over the next month of what I really want to do with The Shared Sip. How can I show up more fully? How can I stop showing off and start showing myself? How can I share the messy stuff (and there’s been a lot in 2017) — that goes beyond a pretty cocktail?
I’m working to figure that out. But I’m excited, for the first time in a long time. I think it’s gonna be really good. So what do you think? Can we stop showing off, and start showing ourselves, in 2018?
About this cocktail: I wanted to start a series that was based on one spirit—and show you how to use it in at least 3 ways. Investing in a new specialized spirit can feel daunting. Will it be worth the money? Will I really use it? Is it going to collect dust in my liquor cabinet like all the other bottles?
I want you to feel excited, not anxious, when creating in your home bar. So let’s commit to a spirit together and make some great cocktails!
The first liquor I chose is the incredibly delicious Spiced Pear Liqueur from St. George Spirits. Honestly, you could just drink this on the rocks. It’s that good. But it’s also perfect for the holidays and can be used in so many unexpected ways.
I’ll be posting two more recipes in the coming weeks so you can test them all out and see which you like best (and definitely encourage you to experiment on your own—and report back, of course!). Let’s have some fun, shall we?
Heir ApPEARant // A Spiced Pear, Lime + Gin Cocktail
- 1 oz St. George Spirits Spiced Pear Liqueur
- 1 oz dry gin (I used Tanqueray)
- .5 oz fresh lime juice
- barspoon cinnamon bark syrup
- half barspoon absinthe (I used St. George Spirits)
Assembly
Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake until very cold, about 20 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a slice of pear. Pro tip: Use a pear that’s under-ripe for garnish. It will slice easier and stay put on your glass. Spritz it with a little lime juice to keep it from browning, if you’re feeling fancy.
Barware notes:
Glasses, shaker and jigger are from Crate & Barrel. Picks are from Crate & Barrel Outlet, no longer available. Napkins were shamelessly stolen from a bar in Vienna. Not sorry at all.