The Video Game Critic

I have a tendency to do "binge gaming," where I'll go months without playing anything, then finish five games in a row over the course of two months.

SigSauerLover wrote:I own thousands of games, and dozens of systems. I've been a collector since I was 23. But sometimes I just don't play much. Longest I've been is 3 months last year. When I was just spending all my money on ammunition to go shooting. I get much more joy sending projectiles downrange than with video games. It just gives a bigger fun factor and is a very safe hobby to get into despite what some scared liberals may want people to think.

But yes, I went 3 months. I've been collecting for ages, and love gaming. I probably play my PS2 ever day now. Lately I've been playing pinball hall of fame, the gottlieb collection. Not a bad little compilation for 5 bucks!

For me it's the opposite, my dad's a gun owner and my sister shares his interest, me not so much. I tried shooting with him once and it wasn't really my thing, I definitely prefer shooting guns in games over doing it in real life.

scotland wrote:

JustLikeHeaven wrote:As I'm getting older I play less and less videogames. I think I talk about games online these days more than I actually play them! The only system I have any interest in is the Wii U and that thing is pretty much dead, so I'm apprehensive about buying one. I think I will get one eventually, by then it will hopefully be on clearance.
I don't think I'll ever stop playing videogames. But I have other interest, hobbies that I'm currently much more interested.

What other hobbies?

I've got a few things that I'm interested in that take up free time. The big one that I've mentioned briefly before is boardgaming. I think as videogames moved further towards online gaming...and less as a social experience I tried to find something to fill the void. Well, I discovered the world of modern boardgames and I've never looked back. Boardgaming is a hobby that is currently going through a golden age/Renaissance of sorts. I'd say at this point boardgames have become my #1 hobby.

Another thing that I'm into is mixology. I like hosting parties at my house and I've really gotten into mixing drinks. I've got books, I watch videos, I have people over for drinks to practice. It's not something that takes up too much time, but it comes to the forefront during the warm summer months. PS - I make the best whiskey sour, the best gimlet and the best margarita you'll ever taste!

Something that goes hand in hand with my barkeeping skills is my love of cigars. When I started getting into cigars a few years ago, I learned that with the internet people take everything to a hobby/enthusiast level. I'm not heavily into smoking cigars, but learning about them...the lingo...discovering new types to try. It's time consuming. Plus sitting down to actually enjoy one can take 45-90 mins depending on the size of the stogie.

My newest hobby this year is smoking pipe tobacco. Again, it's very interesting to see the enthusiast level that people bring to this. I've just started dabbling, but I'm already a fan of this very relaxing past time. Plus, the wife loves the smell of some nice pipe tobacco.

Reading books is another of my main hobbies. Like videogames and others I tend to go on binge spurts where I'll get really into this. I mostly read fiction, but I'll try anything if it sounds interesting.

I have an extension DVD/Blu Ray collection. I'm a big movie lover, but I'm sort of a purveyor of cinematic trash. I love B movies, horror films, exploitation films...just weird/oddball stuff. I host a monthly get together with friends where I feed them, make drinks and then sit them down to some really crappy B movie for laughs. It tends to be a good time and most of my friends beg me to continuing doing them.

Cooking is another hobby of mine! I absolutely love to try new recipes and new ingredients. Again this stems from really loving to host parties and having friends over. I'm a very social person and all of these things stem from that I suppose. Needless to say if you were to ever meet me and be at my house...you'll be well fed, treated to excellent cocktails, have your choice of cigars, boardgames, videogames or movies! I've got lots of hobbies and stuff to keep me busy. My friends/family mostly benefit from it though lol.

JLH - You know, if you happen to be in the Minneapolis area, I'm free most days...I'll just leave that out there.

Speaking of cocktails, do you have a good old fashioned recipe? I use 3oz of Woodfood Reserve bourbon, 3 spashes of bitters, simple syrup (enough to line the bottom of the glass), an orange slice, and a cherry, but can never get it to taste quite the way I want it to. I've had some at nice bars that taste like candy but I have no idea what they're doing to get it that way. I've tried muddling the orange and cherry, using an orange peel, changing the amount of bitters/syrup - nothing works.

Aside from games, I also like watching movies(mainly action and horror) and TV shows(mainly sitcoms) and I do some occasional reading(usually autobiographies of rock bands like KISS and Guns n Roses).

David wrote:JLH - You know, if you happen to be in the Minneapolis area, I'm free most days...I'll just leave that out there.

Speaking of cocktails, do you have a good old fashioned recipe? I use 3oz of Woodfood Reserve bourbon, 3 spashes of bitters, simple syrup (enough to line the bottom of the glass), an orange slice, and a cherry, but can never get it to taste quite the way I want it to. I've had some at nice bars that taste like candy but I have no idea what they're doing to get it that way. I've tried muddling the orange and cherry, using an orange peel, changing the amount of bitters/syrup - nothing works.

Hey David,

What kind of bitters are you using? I recommend a combination of a couple dashes angostura and a couple dashes fee brother's and/or regan's orange bitters. Make sure you turn the bottle completely vertical when you "dash" it. I also recommend using extra large ice cubes (you can make them by using a tray like this: http://www.amazon.com/Tovolo-King-Cube- ... B00395FHRO) a larger, slower-melting cube will result in less dilution and better flavor.

If you're using 3oz of whiskey, you might need to add more simple syrup. Muddling the bitters with an actual sugar cube is the preferred method though. No need to muddle fruit.

My favorite whisky to use in an old fashioned is any good bourbon. Woodford reserve should produce great results. Bulleit is great for the price as well.

Ptdebate - Thanks for the tips! I just have angostura, but I'll have to try different the orange bitters also. I've only ever seen angostura. And you use a sugar cube? Do you add in a little water to dilute the sugar?

Heh...well I'm in Rhode Island, so I don't make it out to Minnesota all that often. Duly noted though! LOL.

For an old fashioned...I like using the plain ol' angostura bitters. My friend makes his with orange bitters instead...it doesn't make a huge difference, but it's fun to play around.

I think the most important thing about an old fashioned is the alcohol. I happen to love Woodford's Reserve (and Bulleit), but I don't usually put it in my old fashioned. I tend to use Maker's Mark instead. MM doesn't contain any rye so it is more mellow than most bourbons. I also would only use 2 oz of bourbon instead of three. Otherwise you'll have to adjust the standard recipe like ptdebate mentions.

If you're planning on using a sugar cube you'll want to put the 2 dashes of bitters onto the cube. Then take a soda cap of water and add it to the glass. Muddle this together until it creates a paste.

I use a homemade 2 to 1 simple syrup recipe that is two parts sugar to one part water. This creates a sweeter, thicker syrup than the standard 1 to 1 recipe. So I squirt a small amount (bout 1/4 oz) of the syrup into the bottom of the glass. Add 2 dashes of bitters. Peel an orange and toss the peel into the glass. Then gently muddle/press together. Afterwards I add the 2 oz of bourbon. Then I use a barspoon to stir and combine that. Add two large ice cubes and stir again. Making sure to dilute the drink a bit. I finally add 1 or 2 more ice cubes and stir one last time. Again making sure to dilute the drink with the ice a bit. It should also get ice cold from the stirring. Properly stirring and the type of bourbon are probably the two most important parts of an old fashioned. When I'm done I'll either leave it as is or top with a homemade maraschino cherry or a high quality store bought one. I never use the ones people put on a ice cream sundae.

That is my go to recipe...but I tinker around with it. Sometimes I don't stir it enough with ice and it tastes off. I've tried 3 to 4 dashes of bitters before...that gives it too much of a spice note for my liking. Sometimes I add a lemon peel with the orange peel.

If I make it right, it will taste strong and the bourbon will be the main flavor. But it will be slightly mellowed and balanced by the ice and syrup. The bitters and orange peel give it just a tiny bit of spice.

scotland wrote:

JustLikeHeaven wrote: I think the most important thing about an old fashioned is the alcohol.

Amen Brother.

I want to clarify why I chose Makers Mark especially after my "alcohol is the most important thing" statement. It's important to use a good bourbon/whiskey. However, I think you only want to use good whiskey up to a point. Tossing 2 oz of bourbon from a 15 year aged, $60 bottle of bourbon might not be the best use of it. Typically those pricier bottles taste amazing on their own. You can drink em neat or on the rocks...no need to sully them with simple syrup, bitters and fruit. I feel like Makers Mark is that right level of good tasting bourbon that works great in a cocktail. It's smooth and plays well with the cocktail's ingredients. I also don't feel bad using it to make a drink. Hope that makes a little more sense. Makers Mark, Woodfords, Bulleit are all ideal options. You probably don't want to toss some Pappy Van Winkle into your old fashioned lol.

JustLikeHeaven wrote:

scotland wrote:

JustLikeHeaven wrote: I think the most important thing about an old fashioned is the alcohol.

Amen Brother.

I want to clarify why I chose Makers Mark especially after my "alcohol is the most important thing" statement. It's important to use a good bourbon/whiskey. However, I think you only want to use good whiskey up to a point. Tossing 2 oz of bourbon from a 15 year aged, $60 bottle of bourbon might not be the best use of it. Typically those pricier bottles taste amazing on their own. You can drink em neat or on the rocks...no need to sully them with simple syrup, bitters and fruit. I feel like Makers Mark is that right level of good tasting bourbon that works great in a cocktail. It's smooth and plays well with the cocktail's ingredients. I also don't feel bad using it to make a drink. Hope that makes a little more sense. Makers Mark, Woodfords, Bulleit are all ideal options. You probably don't want to toss some Pappy Van Winkle into your old fashioned lol.

Agreed on Maker's Mark--it's probably my most frequently purchased bourbon; at $19.99 for 750mL the price can't be beat.

As for muddling the orange peel, it's not something I've personally tried, but I was thinking--wouldn't the results be more-or-less equivalent to a couple drops of orange bitters? You've got the sweetness from the simple syrup combining with the zesty bitterness of the orange peel...just a thought.

One surprisingly good (and affordable at $34.99) bourbon I tried recently was Elijah Craig 12-year small batch. It's a 12-year bourbon more suited to drinking neat or on the rocks due to its predominantly oaky nose which eases into a creamy vanilla finish.