Thanksgiving Traditions

There are a lot of Thanksgiving traditions out there. Some people always fry a turkey. Other warm-hearted families donate their time at soup kitchens. Hell, some people earn their gorge-fest by running the Atlanta half marathon.

My family? Shots.

OK, I’m being an little dramatic, there’s no intervention required here. But after the Turkey leftovers have long since been packed away, the last of that special bottle of wine has evaporated, and we’ve had our first bite of dessert, the hard stuff comes out.

Being of Eastern European and Irish descent, a potent mix, we have a variety of fruit and spice flavored liquors in our freezer and cabinet.

Don’t let the words “fruit and spice” fool you. Some of this stuff is pure jet fuel. Take this Slivovitz for example. A family member from Slovakia brought this one year when he spent Christmas with us. This homemade plum brandy from 1998 (a good year?) is 58% alcohol, it can put a hurting on you, but it burns so good. 

“človeka pri pijatyke a pri hre poznáš” – You learn to know a man when you play or drink with him.

If fruit flavored paint remover isn’t your thing, perhaps you can settle in with a glass of 40% Borovička, a juniper berry liquor similar to gin. Who doesn’t like to sip on a straight shot of gin?

If you’re the guy in front of me in the line at the bar in Buckhead, ordering 12 Jager bombs for your friends, then the Becherovka may be your speed. This anise (and up to 32 other herbs) flavored liquor is often used as a home remedy for arthritis. Better make Grandpa’s a double.

On occasion I will try some Vietnamese vodka, only to remember that it’s nothing like regular vodka, having an intense hazelnut aroma. Another popular drink around the house is Akvavit from Denmark, another anise reminiscent liquor, though the dominant flavor is usually caraway seeds (I had to look that up).

In many of the countries where these distilled beverages originate, drinking is a part of life, particularly in those moments spent with family. It may be a shot of Vietnamese vodka before a meal, a quick snap of Slivovitz before Church, or many shots of Akvavit with brunch. It’s not about getting smashed, but about celebrating moments with the people in your life, which I think fits right in with the season. Raise a glass with your friends and family this Thursday, and enjoy.

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somewhat related – Dirty has has two posts on pairing wine with Turkey and co., which I recommend giving a read – you may be surprised at the results. If you haven’t had a quality, dry Riesling, you are missing out