This past weekend was a scorcher. While Lynn worked in our garden, I looked around our refrigerator for something to distract me. We have a number of bar staples left over from our wedding last October, including a mammoth jar of maraschino cherries, a case of tonic water, a case of Red Bull, and a case of pineapple juice. While I was away in London, Lynn purchased a gallon of Gordon’s gin with her friends and left the bottle in the freezer. Like Archimedes, when he discovered the rule of displacement, I thought: “Eureka!” Within moments I had worked out what I believe to be a new cocktail, and it is really tasty. When I brought it out to the garden for her, I snapped off a spear of mint on a whim and added it to the drink. We had a few before dinner on Saturday and sat on the porch with a pair of them on Sunday evening.

Our latest feline acquisition is a tough, trash-talking, street-wise West Philly tabby cat, about two years old. For no good reason, I first named him Wicked Lester (the name of KISS before they were KISS) then expanded it to Lester Bangs, the mad rock critic. His full name, when he’s in trouble, which is often, is “Wicked Lester Bangs! You stop that this instant!”

Try this drink. It’s a lot of fun.

The Lester Bangs

1. Place two maraschino cherries in chilled martini glass.

2. Add two spoons of cherry juice from jar.

3. Rub rim of glass gently with fresh mint leaf then place in glass.

4. Mix 2 parts pineapple juice, 1 part tonic water, 1 part Red Bull, 1 part gin of choice.

5. Shake gin, pineapple juice, and Red Bull vigorously with ice.

6. Pour into glass. Add cold tonic.

7. Serve on hot summer afternoon.

Note: Red Bull is optional. Lynn can’t stand it, so I leave it out of hers.

Please send in any drinks you’ve come up with lately.