Meanwhile Back at the Tavern...

I really hope you were able to spend some of today outside because it was GLORIOUS!!!  I was at the U District market all day, enjoying the weather and all the puppies (seriously I do the markets just for puppy scritches some days).  I also scored some nettles and some fiddle head ferns which I'm really excited to have for dinner later this week.  But perhaps the best part was meeting the folks at Hierophant Meadery, who made this amazing off-dry mead you see pictured.

If you've never had mead, you totally should.  It's a type of wine made from honey and it's delicious all on its own.  This one is lightly sweet, with mild honey flavor and lots of grassy notes.  This is going to be a favorite warm weather sipper I can tell.

But mead always makes me think of high fantasy, which always makes me think of D&D, and the way every adventure begins: in the tavern where a shadowy figure lurks.  This cocktail is the perfect thing to kick off your night of adventure.  The sweetness from the mead and shrub are balanced by a little lemon and bourbon, keeping it refreshing and light.  Use a more robust bourbon like Buffalo Trace, or Woodinville Whiskey, to add a light smokey note to the background. And top it all off with a bit of seltzer or tonic, for an effervescent kick.

Meanwhile Back at the Tavern...

1 oz Blueberry Thyme shrub
1 oz Semi-Dry Mead
1 oz Bourbon
.25 oz Lemon Juice
2 oz Seltzer or Tonic

Put everything except seltzer in a shaker with ice.  Shake around 20 seconds, until well chilled.  Strain into a glass and top with seltzer.  Add ice if desired.  Raise high and toast to the beginning of your adventure. 

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