Head Trauma, Healing, and a Hint of Maple Syrup
Conversations over cocktails often take unexpected turns, blending the light-hearted with the deeply thoughtful. In this week’s Cocktails with Friends episode, host Bob Cutler welcomed Jessica Riccardi, a speech-language pathologist and assistant professor, for a spirited discussion that meandered from caramel whiskey critiques to the complex topic of brain injuries in children and athletes.
What began with a jovial reminiscence of collegiate life and a friendly rivalry between the University of Maine and the University of New Hampshire quickly turned into a more profound dialogue about Jess’s important work in concussion research. The conversation’s unexpected depth highlighted a recurring theme of the podcast: life’s big ideas can emerge just as easily over an old fashioned as they can in a lecture hall.
No Cocktails with Friends episode would be complete without a little cocktail banter. Jess, who lives with a bartender, declared her go-to drink to be a smoked old fashioned, sometimes made with maple syrup for a touch of sweetness. Bob teased her relentlessly about her bottle of Bird Dog caramel whiskey, which elicited a mix of disbelief and amusement from listeners. “That’s such a UNH thing,” he quipped.
Maple Smoked Old Fashioned
A cozy, smoky twist on the classic old fashioned, perfect for sipping during deep conversations or unwinding after a long day.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon or rye (your choice—Jess likes to alternate!)
- ½ oz pure maple syrup
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Orange peel (for garnish)
- Ice
- Wood chips (for smoking, optional)
Instructions:
- Prepare your glass: If you want to add the smoky touch, place a few wood chips on a fireproof surface and carefully light them until they start to smolder. Cover with an empty rocks glass to capture the smoke for a few seconds. Remove the glass and set aside.
- Mix the cocktail: In a mixing glass, combine the bourbon (or rye), maple syrup, and bitters. Add ice and stir for 20-30 seconds until well-chilled.
- Strain and garnish: Strain the mixture into the prepared rocks glass over a large ice cube. Express the oils from an orange peel over the drink by gently squeezing it, then drop it in as a garnish.
- Enjoy: Sip slowly and savor the warmth of bourbon (or rye), balanced by the sweetness of maple and a hint of smoke.
Listen to the full episode of Cocktails with Friends on your favorite podcast platform.