Apple Knockers and my Buddy Paulie.
This Sunday at the Post, we made up a gallon or so of Apple Knockers, which consists of fresh apple cider into which one pours commercially available mulling spices and heats it to just shy of a boil. It is laced with a generous slug of Laird’s Applejack (New Jersey’s very own for almost 300 years – George Washington drank the stuff) and served with a cinnamon stick.
Once the spices, cider, Applejack and cinnamon stick sing in harmony, the drink smells wonderful and is simply delicious. So much so that it was happily quaffed by the all the Usual Suspects – except for my buddy Paulie. You see, Paulie is a Budweiser Man down to his bone marrow, and when he’s in top form he can keep the night shift working at the brewery. Spirits never pass his lips.
Still, I thought that he might just like an Apple Knocker. What’s not to like? So, I figured I’d offer him a sip of mine
:Me: “Yo, Paulie! Try this.â€
Paulie: “Nah, I don’t drink that shit.â€
Me: “Just taste it, fer Chrissakes; it’s apple goddamned cider with a little apple whiskey in it.†(offering him my cup)
Paulie: (Takes the cup and sniffs) “It smells like a f***ing candle!â€
Which caused everyone anywhere near him to piss their pants laughing.
Paulie … I farookin’ love the guy.
Update: More about the infamous Paulie here. He absolutely slays me.
Gawd! That sounds delish. But what I love even more, is the fact that you have a pal named “Paulie”. hehe
Comment by Pammy — December 19, 2006 @ 7:36 pm
I’m with Paulie… but I’m not a man. I have that candle… a Yankee Candle in fact: Home sweet home. I might be convinced to drink it with a shot of Laird’s Applejack!!!!
Comment by Pixie — December 19, 2006 @ 9:39 pm
Walnuts!
Comment by Elisson — December 19, 2006 @ 10:50 pm
OMG!!! ROFLMAO – priceless.
Comment by Teresa — December 20, 2006 @ 12:18 am
I’ve been working on the same bottle of Laird’s Applejack for 6 years now. Just take a jigger or two out every so often, when I want a Jack Rose cocktail.
Looking at your picture, it seems they’ve given the bottle a facelift. Probably raised the price, too…
Comment by El Capitan — December 20, 2006 @ 12:38 pm
Hehehehe…great story about Paulie.
But…uh…Fanny Farmer wrote a cookbook. Fanny MAY is the candy company and Fanny MAE is the mortgage thingy. Not to be confused with Fanny Flagg, who wrote “Fried Green Tomatoes”…or…nevermind.
Too many Fannies spoil the story. Or somethin like that. Not to be confused with too MUCH fanny, which is…ah…like I said. Nevermind.
Comment by Pammy — December 20, 2006 @ 1:41 pm