Your wedding was an incredible celebration; however, it was just one day. Now, you’re starting off your married life together and settling into a day-to-day routine together. Dishes. Laundry. Cooking. Work. It all seems so pedestrian. Sometimes, you think back to your wedding day – the union of your lives, but also an event that blended your styles and created an opportunity for those you love to come together to witness and celebrate. You don’t have to – and shouldn’t - wait for your anniversary to experience that connection again. Finding ways to relive the intensity of the love you felt on your wedding day can be as simple as establishing a new tradition around an activity you already both enjoy: drinking. Now's a great time to bring back the tradition of after dinner whiskey.
The after-dinner drink, or digestif, is a lost art; however, it’s the perfect place to reestablish some intimacy and communication in your relationship. After a long day of conference calls and meetings, most couples exchange “how was your day?” conversations while distracted by preparing dinner, or other pressing household chores. However, many people don’t want to discuss their day right after having ended their day – they need some time to decompress first. Or perhaps there are children whose dinners, story times, and bedtime routines have to be prioritized. Enter the ritual of the after-dinner drink: a sacred adult moment to savor and celebrate. A perfect adult alternative to Netflix and Chill that actually allows for building communication and intimacy.
On your wedding day, you likely commemorated the occasion with something like this – a whiskey barrel engraved with your signature logo. Now, your personal brand as a couple can become part of the fabric of your every day. With
Whiskey Made’s Personalized Whiskey Bar Tray Set, you and your boo can retreat to your comfy chairs, take a load off, sip your favorite whiskey or digestif, and take some “you” time to truly check in. Your Bar Tray Set is made from a bourbon barrel and features a tray made from a center bourbon barrel lid slat carved to seat two 10-oz. tumblers, a decanter or bottle, and your personalized engraving. As a complement to our
personalized Guest Book, it is the perfect little reminder of who you were when you started this journey, and, as you sip your drink over your personalized monogram, you’re drawn back to who you were on your wedding day. It’s a mini-anniversary in your living room any time you want it.
Don’t know the first thing about digestifs, or want a new recipe to inspire your new ritual? Your Bar Tray set is the perfect excuse to mix one of America’s classic cocktails: the Sazerac.
Unlike many drinks associated with fast party lifestyle of New Orleans, the Sazerac is meant to be savored, lingered over. With its sweet, spicy, and herbal notes, this classic cocktail is often served after dinner, and is considered one of America’s original inventions.
Peychaud’s bitters were created by French Quarter pharmacist Antoine Peychaud, who is credited with inventing the cocktail in the 1830s. Initially, the Sazerac was made with cognac; however, after an insect epidemic decimated many French vineyards, the cognac was replaced with rye whiskey.
In this twist, we have used an American craft aquavit – popular in Scandinavia – instead of the traditional absinthe rinse. Aquavit is having a moment in craft cocktails nationwide, though traditionally is it served neat. We highly recommend
Krogstad Festlig Aquavit from Portland, Oregon. Its star anise and caraway blend take center stage, adding a delicious spicy undertone to your cocktail.
SCANDI SAZERAC
Ingredients:
- Aquavit
- Sugar Cube (or 2 teaspoons simple syrup)
- 4 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
- 2 oz. Rye Whiskey
- Garnish: lemon peel
Steps:
- Rinse tumbler with aquavit, discarding any excess, and set aside.
- In a mixing glass, muddle the sugar cube (or simple syrup) and the bitters.
- Add the rye to the mixing glass, fill with ice, and stir
- Strain into the prepared rocks glass
- Twist a slice of lemon peel over the surface to extract the oils and discard
The beauty of this cocktail is its simplicity; just a few steps that can easily become a ritual that signifies the coming together of you and your spouse to live the Big Easy. So, now you have the ritual down, and a go-to cocktail. If you find yourself with nothing much to talk about, maybe sitting together and enjoying each other’s company is just fine. Otherwise, check out
this article on seven steps to an effective end-of-day conversation.
Unlike a wedding, daily routines, chores, and unexpected stressors don’t come with time to prepare a script or hire an officiant. Making time to check in with each other and create space for the unfolding of your relationship together as a couple is an essential part of the transition into day to day married life. Let us inspire you to start a new tradition to continue that celebration into your everyday life together.
