Ida

I work at a Starbucks and can see why people have differing opinions. There is one in a Giant Eagle store where rude, and at best, personality-less employees serve old coffee with grounds in the bottom or lattes with burnt milk. Then there is the newer Starbucks in town. Don't even get me started on the staff, there is nothing welcoming about the place. But the Starbucks I work at is really a nice coffee shop. And honestly, I don't say this just because it's the one I work at. My manager is great to work for in every way, and insists on what Starbucks calls legandary service. We are all human and so we all make mistakes from time to time when making a drink, but when I started working here I was surprised at how the baristas care about making the drinks right, keeping coffee fresh, keeping everything clean, and being pleasant and welcoming to every customer. And if you've ever worked with the public, you know that can be difficult with some customers. Everyone I work with goes out of there way to make sure every customer walks away satisfied. We have some hard chairs around tables and some cumfy stuffed chairs, and people must find it inviting enough because at any given time you can find people with their laptops, or families relaxing, or individuals reading. As for over-roasted coffee, I personally like the darker roasts. But we always have a lighter roast brewing also. There are some of the Starbucks coffees that I just don't like, and we aren't always brewing one that I really care for. And I make better espresso at home. But then I don't use the espresso roast beans either. Their espresso beans are too bland. Maybe they use that one because it won't interfere with all the syrups people want added to their lattes. I personally don't know how people down some of the sweet concoctions they order, but I do have to say that if a customer wants to have it made their way, Starbucks is the place to go. We take orders for lattes with 1 and a half pumps of this syrup and 2 pumps of that syrup, half decaf, nonfat with whip cream. It doesn't matter how they want it, we aim to please. And in many parts of America, that sort of service is hard to find. And lets face it, when you are paying 3 or 4 bucks for a drink, it had better be made the way you want it. One can find fault with any company. Starbucks is like any other shop; some are great places to hang out and others are not worth going into. And I'm sure the different areas with different availabilities has much to do with one's opinion on the subject.

I've not had gin very many times and have never bought a bottle. I thought maybe I'd pick up a bottle and try some new drinks but in looking at a list for pricing I saw Beefeater Dry Gin and Beefeater Wet Gin. I have no idea what that means. The only thing I think of when I see the word dry with any form of drink I think of dry wine. I know many people like their wine dry but it always tasted like someone threw up in my glass. So now dry or wet gin? Is there any way that this can be explained in a post? Bet you guys never knew anyone who knew so little about spirits.

I've seen several mentions of the Aviation on eGullet but have never had one so I looked it up on drinksmixer.com. It does look like it would be very good. Is the Maraschino Liqueur very sweet? Of course there isn't that much of it in the drink so I guess it wouldn't make it too sweet. Sorry, I know this has nothing to do with the thread.

As for the bottle that I am looking for a stopper to fit: my husband makes wine and when he went to get supplies he got a cork that fits it. It looked so big when he handed it to me that I didn't think it would fit but it is exactly the right size. It is just a plain cork though but at least I can use the pretty bottle until I run across just the right pretty glass stopper for it. I will keep watching ebay. Sooner or later they are bound to have one that will go with it.

I never worry about using old glass. I do, however, get a little crazy about cleaning it. I wash the glass container with hot soapy water and a brush and rinse in hot water. Then I put water and bleach in it and let it set on my counter while I go do other things. After that I rinse it and wash it again with hot soapy water and rinse with hot water and let air dry. I have also used oxi clean and let soak but I always end with a good wash with hot soapy water and a very good hot rinse. I never use a dishwasher because I'm not sure how well it will clean the inside of a bottle. I just went through my momma's things and found an old clear glass bottle that looks like it will hold about a fifth. Our wine corks are a little too big but the cork stopper from a bottle of Rain vodka fits perfectly. I'm seeing an orange infusion in it.

Thanks Katie, I'l have to keep checking ebay. When I looked there a couple of weeks ago I didn't see anything that I thought would look nice with my bottle that wasn't plain glass that just sits on the bottle. I want something that will kind of cork it. ebay is a really good idea though. You never know what they are gonna have.

Reminds me of another lifetime. I went with friends to a party. After I had already had enough to drink (and smoke) a girl was wining about the punch being gone. I finally had enough of her wining and grabbed every spirit I could find and dumped it into a huge bowl and added some 7up. It needed something so I added beer. It made it kind of creamy. I never liked punch so I didn't drink any, just walked away. Everyone loved it and I kept hearing people ask "Who made the punch? I gotta know how to make that stuff." Just goes to show that teens will drink ANYTHING.

Wow, the tangerine does sound wonderful! Wasn't it hard to get the zest without the pith in a tangerine? I thought the limes were tough. But lemons are much easier. You mentioned the lemoncello thread so I looked at it. I started one and added a little lime zest as mentioned. I'm gonna have to get more vodka so I can make that orange one. I do have plenty of the Priviet left but that stuff is too nasty to risk ruining my orange liqueur.

Well alphaiii, you'll have to let us know how you like the Marie Brizzard. As for me, I'm gonna get some oranges and try making my own orange liqueur. I won't make it sweet. That way if I need something sweeter I can just add a little simple syrup when mixing a drink.

Yeah, I've heard people say they liked the silver better in a margarita and I will try it but the 1800 Reposado was on sale so that is what I got. It made a very good margarita.

I also would be interested in knowing which one is good. I've never found one that I liked particularly. I thought about just infusing some vodka with lots of orange zest. It doesn't have to steep all that long. That way the orange can be pretty strong and not taste artificial or nasty and I can use a simple syrup to control the sweetness. I made margaritas with a few strawberries, lime juice, lime infused vodka, and simple syrup. I used the 1800 Reposado. It turned out very good and wasn't too sweet. Then had the idea about making orange infused vodka for an orange liquor instead of triple sec or cointreau. I just never liked the flavored stuff from the shelf. Would an orange vodka really make that much of a difference in a margarita instead of triple sec or cointreau? Of course I must confess that I haven't tried Gran Marnier.

I left my lime zest (from 6 limes)steep in the vodka for 5 days. It is nicely green and does taste very good. I made just a little simple syrup with sugar, water, and the lime zest that I removed from the infusion and added it to the filtered infusion and put it in a bottle that looks like it must be about 24 oz. then I topped it off with more vodka. I put it in the freezer and will try it in a week or so. This stuff would go with so many different things. If any of you have done infusions and could suggest anything I should do differently, please do so. I am learning and would appreciate your experienced input.

I got a bottle of the Level vodka. Thought I'd try it now as it is on sale in PA this month. It is really very good. Smells good, is smooth and clean. I like. I haven't done more than just taste it yet. Just as I checked out and turned to leave, I saw a display of Priviet vodka. 1.75L for $18. I've never heard of that kind that I can remember. The woman at the shoppe saw me look over at it and said it's a premium vodka and is only priced so low because it is a one time buy. I figured at that price I can't go wrong. If it's supposed to be a premium then it should at least be good enough for mixing. It smells and tastes like rubbing alcohol. I put it away, thinking I'd use it if I found myself without drinkable vodka. My hubby talked me into trying it mixed. First I tried it in some unsweetened juice and 7 up. It wasn't good. Then I added different things like schnapps and some simple syrup. Mixed with so many ingredients it was actually ok. Of course after tasting it several different ways, it got better and better. By the time we got to talking and playing cards, it went pretty well. Then I worried about the next morning. Who knows what a headache that stuff would give? I drank more when I was younger and never had a hangover but thought maybe age would have changed that. But the next morning I was headache free so at least I don't have to worry about that while I'm using the rest of the Priviet. I don't know anything about Priviet except that it's from Russia and is grain. Anyone know more about it?

I will try the club soda. I've never had it just because it never seemed like anything I'd like, but then I've never mixed a drink that was so yummy that just needed the sugar cut. I mixed it another way night before last. I live a good 20 minutes from a store so I hadn't gotten any club soda yet. I used 3 oz. vodka, 3 oz. peach schnapps, 1 oz. cinnamon infused vodka, 6 oz. 7 up, over ice. It wasn't as sweet this way, but I do want to try it with club soda.