Learning a Thing or Two About Drinking

“Usually I am more accustomed to wine…”

“Wine is great too! Nothing beats the classics, especially a nice Pinot Noir, or a whole bottle of Moscato…” Salvatore watched as Hops was practically drooling from where she stood behind the bar, the counter barely disguising a half-empty glass of something that the bun was sipping on out of sight of the watchful gaze of Angora. 

It was his first time in a while visiting The Rabbit Hole, having decided that it was high time he tried to socialize again since his last stage of festering alone in his condo with only his corvat Poe and a seemingly endless supply of wine to keep him company. And of course the accursed typewriter that haunted his writers’ block from the corner of his vision any time he was forced to look at it. Maybe getting out and away from its mocking gaze was good for him. Perhaps touching grass wasn’t such a bad idea.

But now here Salvatore was at The Rabbit Hole without the faintest idea of what to order. He should’ve taken the time to actually look into some cocktails, see what goes in them or what he might enjoy, all 20/20 in terms of hindsight now that the anxiety of looking foolish was welling up inside him. Maybe he should’ve just stayed home… or just order a glass of wine then leave to not return for at least another year.

“If you like wine, you might like a Shardonnay!” Hops’ pleasant voice cut through Salvatore’s thoughts as he was still staring at the menu completely lost. “It is pretty much just two wines mixed together, afterall. But if you want to try something totally new, a Smooch Hooch has red wine and a touch of rum.” Hops was so sweet, Salvatore couldn’t tell if she was just giving good customer service or if she was always like that. He wanted to believe it was the latter.

But Salvatore still was unsure, nervous hands fidgeting with the corner of the menu for a bit longer before Hops seemed to light up suddenly. She straightened up, hopping over to pull back the swinging door to the area behind the bar and gesturing it towards Salvatore.

“Here! Come back and join me and you can help me make you something you’d like!”

“A-are you sure?” Salvatore stuttered as he looked at her in disbelief.

“Of course, it is pretty slow today! Just make sure you wash your hooves first, dear.”

Salvatore set the menu down, hopping off his stool and making his way behind the bar. Hops was so quick, and by the time he had finished washing himself she had already set out some recipe cards and a plethora of ingredients and supplies to make drinks with.

“Now,” she didn’t hesitate to dive right into it, “A Sin and Tonic is going to be the most simple to make, and it’s the most common drink here since it’s cheap -- you know how greed buns can be with their carats, but a Hopscotch is my favorite-” She rambled on while Salvatore picked up the recipe cards, looking a few over before one caught his eyes and he held that one out to Hops.

“Everyone has different tastes ya k-- Oh!” Her rambling stopped quickly as she took the card from Salvatore, smiling brightly as she looked at him. “A Sinnamon Whiskey, of course!”

Hops pulled out two smaller glasses, setting them in front of each of them. “Now to start with the glass is very important, it affects the aroma and overall body of the drink you put it in. The Sinnamon Whiskey uses a liquor glass.” She slides over a bottle of amber brown alcohol to Salvatore, taking up a separate one for herself before neatly pouring out some into her glass. “Two shots of whiskey, of course. It wouldn’t be named that otherwise.” Salvatore tried his best to pour out the same amount as Hops had, taking twice as long to make sure it was even with the liquid in her glass. 

“If you go a little over, it’s ok, no one’s gonna kill ya and the customer would probably be happier for it,” she notes, making a dramatic show of “accidentally” adding a bit more whiskey into her glass with a shrug before sliding over a colorful bag tied with a bow. “And add some of this in, I call it my secret ingredient.”

“What’s in it?” Salvatore asked curiously.

“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret anymore!” Hops laughed and rolled her eyes, as if she got this question constantly. She gave a little wave of her hand as she added a dash of powder from the bag before grabbing a cinnamon stick and stirring the drink with it. “You want to add a bit of cinnamon for the flavor, but make sure you take it out after because it is wood after all and you wouldn’t want it to be caught up in the grande finale!”

Salvatore blinked in confusion while he stirred his drink before Hops pulled a lighter out of her breasts and lit the glass in her hands on fire.

Salvatore nearly spilled his drink, hopping back a bit in surprise as the other bun held up the glass towards him. “The alcohol gives it a slow and controlled burn, don’t worry! And you blow it out before you drink it so it doesn't burn your tongue, ok? But this is why it isn’t served with ice like a usual whiskey.” She leans over and lights Salvatore’s drink for him, tapping the rim of her glass against his before blowing it out and downing the shot for herself. Salvatore looked at her in astonishment for a minute before following suit and doing the same.

The spice of the cinnamon and the whiskey hit him first, filling his palate with the sweet aroma before the hit of the alcohol followed suit and burned down his throat as he swallowed. It was much stronger than the wine Salvatore was used to, of course, and much fuller as it sat in his belly. Salvatore gave a little shake of his head and a cough as his chest grew warmer and hellfire grew a bit brighter. Hops gave him a little clap and a wide, happy grin in turn.

“There ya go, mister, I hope you liked that! Next time you gotta try a seasonal drink! The Fairy Sherry or the Gold Fashioned have been quite popular lately!”

Maybe Salvatore could get used to this after all.