In It for the Whiskey, I Swear [Mixology 101]

Shotaro sat patiently on a stool behind the bar, watching as Hops gracefully moved between shelves of liquor and bottles of various ingredients. It was Sho’s day off from his unending work as a PI, and he found solace in the familiar ambiance of the bar. He always made it a point to stop by when he had some free time to chat with the bartenders— Especially Hops, petite and always full of pep, who seemed to be the life of the establishment.

"Alright, Shotaro, pay close attention," Hops said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Today, I'm going to teach you how to make one of my signature drinks, the Sinnamon Whiskey. It's a real crowd-pleaser. And it’s your favorite, if I remember right?"

Shotaro nodded, letting out an amused chuckle at her memory, eager to impress Hops with his skills. He knew it was part of the small bartender’s job to remember her regular patrons’ favorites, but he couldn’t help but shift with a boyish delight on his seat when she so easily recalled his own. Like the majority of everyone who met her, Sho was intensely fond of Hops… And it wasn’t a stretch to say that he would take every minuscule amount of attention she gave him and willfully warp it into the thought that she adored him in turn. She didn’t. He was quite obviously just another patron, and she was just a friendly soul.

Regardless, Shotaro had always been drawn to the art of mixology, but his busy schedule rarely allowed him the time to experiment with cocktails. Mostly, he just poured himself some bourbon into the same dubiously rinsed glass that never really left his desk as he spent hours reviewing his notes and photos for his cases. Now, he had the perfect opportunity (excuse) to learn from the best (cutest).

Hops crouched down momentarily to grab a large jar filled with a concoction of cinnamon sticks and cloves, all swollen from being submerged in a slightly murky rye whiskey. When she placed it on the counter, the liquid shimmered ever so slightly, causing Shotaro to quirk his brow at the small bartender in question. As if reading his mind, Hops pat the lid of the jar with pride, practically beaming. "The key to the Sinnamon Whiskey is the infusion," she explained, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "You need to let the whiskey sit with these ingredients for at least 48 hours, so the flavors meld together. And of course,” she smirked, leaning in with an overdramatic zeal, her voice lowered to a playful murmur. “You have to add my special ingredient.”

As Hops went back to unscrew the lid on the jar, she laughed, and Shotaro listened intently, unable to help himself from letting his eyes wander towards her radiant smile. It made his own grin stretch a little wider with fondness. Her mere presence was captivating in itself, and he found himself momentarily lost in her playful energy. He quickly refocused as Hops strained the infused whiskey into a mixing glass. Damn, he really needed to keep his mind from wandering.

"Now, for the fun part. Your turn!" Hops said, grabbing a couple of lowball glasses and placing large ice cubes inside each one. Gently, she pushed one over in front of Sho so he could properly participate. "Pour the whiskey over the ice. It's important to use a single large cube to minimize dilution."

Shotaro followed her instructions diligently, his gaze occasionally drifting towards Hops' delicate hands as she worked her magic. He marveled at her skill and grace, though his momentary distractions led to him missing her attempting to get his attention.

"Alright, Shotaro," Hops said, playfully tapping his shoulder. "Focus now. We're almost there."

Embarrassed by his absentmindedness (moreso by being caught), Sho cleared his throat and apologized, concentrating on the final steps. Hops handed him a cinnamon stick and showed him how to garnish the glass.

"And now, for the pièce de résistance," Hops exclaimed, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Le feu!"

Hops performed an elegant, swirling motion with her hand to distract Sho as she groped for the lighter she had conveniently tucked in her garter belt. With a few clumsy flicks of the lighter just above the surface of the drink, it burst into brilliant flames that danced gracefully, illuminating the bar. Shotaro did his best to act like he hadn’t just seen behind the ‘magic trick,’ feigning amazement with his eyes widened in awe.

"The flames won't burn for too long, and they don’t really add anything to the flavor," Hops explained, her voice full of excitement. "But it's all part of the show! The presentation is everything."

With a newfound fondness for her enthusiasm, Shotaro took his turn and poured the infused bourbon over the ice, the drink cascading smoothly into the glass. He took the lighter when it was passed to him, igniting the surface of the drink with amusement, watching as the flames came to life.

Hops clapped, her smile radiant. "Perfect, Shotaro! You did it!"

Proud of his little accomplishment, but more excited by the praise from the adorable bartender, Shotaro absolutely beamed with delight. Hops rewarded him with a friendly pat on the shoulder, her touch inadvertently sending shivers down his spine. What a guy.

"For a job well done," Hops said, handing him a small satchel. "Here's a little gift from me—a single drink's worth of my special secret ingredient. Use it wisely." she winked.

Shotaro thanked her, his heart filled with a mixture of boyhood giddiness and pride. Although Hops would always maintain purposefully oblivious to his infatuation, he couldn't help but cherish the moment they had spent together. Tucking the satchel away into his breast pocket, he knew he would be hard-pressed to use the thing… As much as he did enjoy his whiskey.

Maybe he’d just be better off storing it in a small display case on his desk. Yeah. That seemed like a better use of the gift, anyway.