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Firefly is like the second coming of the crack epidemic. Josh McRae
My dear friend Emily invited a group of six friends to her lake house for a fun-filled, kind of rainy, but relaxed weekend. The only thing that is expected of you during a lake or beach weekend is to catch up with friends, eat really good food, and drink lots of adult beverages. In the two days we were holed up indoors, we managed to not only accomplish these requirements, but also far exceed them. Many outsiders would be amazed that seven people can sit and talk for hours on end and still not finish a conversation.
Since this was kind of a party, I'll tell you about the mouthwatering food. Emily's mom made us a fantastic Cuban feast on Friday night, which also excited my tastebuds at lunch the next afternoon. Turkey burgers and pasta salad were on the menu for Saturday night. Pair these with snacks galore, you couldn't beat it. But the most important thing on the weekend menu was Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, which quite possibly makes the greatest cocktail on the face of the earth. Warning: I say "greatest _____ on the face of the earth" quite a bit, but at the time, I really do mean it.
Now on to the greatest cocktail... In the south, on a hot and sweltering 105 degree, 100 percent humidity day, one cannot not live without a cold glass of sweet tea with a squeeze of fresh lemon. It's the ultimate thirst quencher for folks who like a little sugary sweet goodness added to their parched system. Leave it up to a company from the ultimate Southern city, Charelston, SC, to create a liquor so reminiscent of lazy summer afternoons that it actually tastes, looks, but feels nothing like virgin sweet tea. It is made outside of Charelston on Wadmalaw Island and is a combination of distilled muscadine grape vodka (Firefly's first liquor venture) and American tea leaves. Firefly successfully created the ultra-trendy and intoxifying spirit that is all the rage for every Tom, Dick and Harry, and has serious devotees all the way from college kids to young professionals to yuppies to even retirees. Luckily, Emily lives in Charelston, and brought many, many bottles of this liquid gold to the lake.
You may be thinking a sweet tea flavored liquor would cause your stomach to do a back flip; don't worry, I thought the same thing. During a party at my friend Charlsie's parent's house, I tasted pure paradise, with paradise being a 50/50 mixture of Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and lemonade, thus being known as a Grown-up Arnold Palmer (or a Spiked Sunshine Tea for all you Augusta residents). After my first drink, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's quite refreshing and extremely tasty. From that point on, I knew I was hooked. The initial sensation of the cocktail sends your subconscience to a beach in some sunny locale, but after you take in that first sip, you can tell this stuff is not to be taken lightly. You experience a little twinge as it trickles down your throat, but once it's finally settled, you feel your senses awaken and the troubles of your day simply melt away. A Grown-up Arnold Palmer induced haze--my favorite.
If you live in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Virginia, Colorado, Nevada, Kentucky, or New York, count yourself among the lucky ones because Firefly is only available in these ten states. With the Labor Day weekend quickly approaching, do yourself a favor and stock up on Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, but be prepared, all of your friends will sneak sips, drinks and even bottles if left alone with this sweet nectar of the Southern gods.
Grown-up Arnold Palmer/Spiked Sunshine Tea
Lemonade:
1 cup simple syrup (recipe follows)
1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
4 cups water
Combine all ingredients in a big pitcher.
Simple Syrup:
In a sauce pan, add 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Simmer until sugar has dissolved. Makes one cup simple syrup.
To assemble drink:
Fill a highball glass with crushed ice, then fill half full with Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and top with lemonade. Garnish with lemon slices.
Firefly is like the second coming of the crack epidemic. Josh McRae
My dear friend Emily invited a group of six friends to her lake house for a fun-filled, kind of rainy, but relaxed weekend. The only thing that is expected of you during a lake or beach weekend is to catch up with friends, eat really good food, and drink lots of adult beverages. In the two days we were holed up indoors, we managed to not only accomplish these requirements, but also far exceed them. Many outsiders would be amazed that seven people can sit and talk for hours on end and still not finish a conversation.
Since this was kind of a party, I'll tell you about the mouthwatering food. Emily's mom made us a fantastic Cuban feast on Friday night, which also excited my tastebuds at lunch the next afternoon. Turkey burgers and pasta salad were on the menu for Saturday night. Pair these with snacks galore, you couldn't beat it. But the most important thing on the weekend menu was Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, which quite possibly makes the greatest cocktail on the face of the earth. Warning: I say "greatest _____ on the face of the earth" quite a bit, but at the time, I really do mean it.
Now on to the greatest cocktail... In the south, on a hot and sweltering 105 degree, 100 percent humidity day, one cannot not live without a cold glass of sweet tea with a squeeze of fresh lemon. It's the ultimate thirst quencher for folks who like a little sugary sweet goodness added to their parched system. Leave it up to a company from the ultimate Southern city, Charelston, SC, to create a liquor so reminiscent of lazy summer afternoons that it actually tastes, looks, but feels nothing like virgin sweet tea. It is made outside of Charelston on Wadmalaw Island and is a combination of distilled muscadine grape vodka (Firefly's first liquor venture) and American tea leaves. Firefly successfully created the ultra-trendy and intoxifying spirit that is all the rage for every Tom, Dick and Harry, and has serious devotees all the way from college kids to young professionals to yuppies to even retirees. Luckily, Emily lives in Charelston, and brought many, many bottles of this liquid gold to the lake.
You may be thinking a sweet tea flavored liquor would cause your stomach to do a back flip; don't worry, I thought the same thing. During a party at my friend Charlsie's parent's house, I tasted pure paradise, with paradise being a 50/50 mixture of Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and lemonade, thus being known as a Grown-up Arnold Palmer (or a Spiked Sunshine Tea for all you Augusta residents). After my first drink, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it's quite refreshing and extremely tasty. From that point on, I knew I was hooked. The initial sensation of the cocktail sends your subconscience to a beach in some sunny locale, but after you take in that first sip, you can tell this stuff is not to be taken lightly. You experience a little twinge as it trickles down your throat, but once it's finally settled, you feel your senses awaken and the troubles of your day simply melt away. A Grown-up Arnold Palmer induced haze--my favorite.
If you live in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Virginia, Colorado, Nevada, Kentucky, or New York, count yourself among the lucky ones because Firefly is only available in these ten states. With the Labor Day weekend quickly approaching, do yourself a favor and stock up on Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, but be prepared, all of your friends will sneak sips, drinks and even bottles if left alone with this sweet nectar of the Southern gods.
Grown-up Arnold Palmer/Spiked Sunshine Tea
Lemonade:
1 cup simple syrup (recipe follows)
1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
4 cups water
Combine all ingredients in a big pitcher.
Simple Syrup:
In a sauce pan, add 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Simmer until sugar has dissolved. Makes one cup simple syrup.
To assemble drink:
Fill a highball glass with crushed ice, then fill half full with Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and top with lemonade. Garnish with lemon slices.
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