my tidbit about the triple sec -- cointreau and gran marnier are just so darn expensive! i've used patron citronge and gran cala before, and both are much more affordable and still very high quality products.

as for the margarita itself, i like my drinks on the heavy side, so i use 3:1:1 of tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur. haven't tried mixing it in with lemons yet, but can definitely see how that might also work. do use a good tequila, but if you're having a party, there is nothing wrong with sauza.

lol! i thought you actually came up with a science fiction infused vodka.
alas, i haven't tried this. but if i do, i'm definitely making a cocktail in honor of the firefly series.

Wow! An excellent question -- I just got into gin recently myself, and I'm rather fond of Bombay Sapphire. I branched out and tried Hendrick's & Tanqueray Rangpur, but I find them very weak and unflavourful after getting my socks knocked off getting acclimated to Bombay Sapphire.
I'm guessing I'll try Junipero & G Vin next... but I do think I might always go back to Bombay Sapphire even though that was the first I've ever really tried.

Has anyone tried DH Krahn? I have to admit, the packaging is kind of appealing to me (and its made in the area i grew up in!).

No, I think its fairly common actually -- Bud's got a canned version of this called clamato beer.

http://www.x-entertainment.com/update...

*I* think it sounds kinda gross, but then again, whenever I see a Bud label, I want to throw up. I might try your mix though, at home sometime.

Oh, I've really been enjoying Peak Organic's Nut Brown Ale (Portland, Maine) also.

oooh, seconding the Allagash. I've only tried Allagash white & black and they've both been amazing.

Don't know if anyone's mentioned Ommegang yet (upstate NY, but that counts as north east no?) -- if you like Allagash's stuff, you would probably enjoy Ommegang methinks.

I just saw an excellent youtube series by a New Orleans mixologist, showing how to make various cocktails, and they did one for Pisco Sours
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dyDUW...

The foam, you'll get as long as you shake long & hard enough in a cocktail shaker (also good for cutting up the egg white a bit so its not chunky when poured out).

just out of curiosity -- what exactly are you going to do with the sugar cane itself? Cut it up and... garnish a caipirinha?

i have a really amazingly good chestnut gnocchi at enotecha in 'Inoteca on the lower east side. coupled with a wonderful wine selection and patio dining during summer... it really was perfect :)

after a couple days (and mixes) with this gin, i have to say -- its not a good mixing gin. its really known for its cucumber tones, and cucumber just doesn't stand out very much by itself. so although it could be mixed in normal gin concoctions, its kind of a waste.
at the same time, i haven't really developed a taste for hendrick's. i think i'll probably go back to bombay sapphire after this. cucumber is nice and all that, but i want a gin with the real juniper tones in it -- real taste!

I have to say, I really enjoyed the Sunset Bar in Allston, MA (outer Boston)
http://aqueousphase.org/2008/02/paradise-is-in-allston/

One of the more local places for me (Upper East Side, NYC), is David Copperfield's. Great selection & very down to earth attitude.
http://www.davidcopperfields.com/

I've really enjoyed cream sherry flips... take cream sherry, add egg! yum. (we need to bring back egg-based drinks..!)
http://www.artofdrink.com/2007/11/cream-sherry-flip.php
http://aqueousphase.org/2008/02/mutan...

I just got a bottle yesterday and I have to say, just by itself with a bit of ice and some slices of cucumber is superb...!

You're welcome! I've yet to have a bad experience with Freshdirect's parbaked breads in general. I'm celebrating my St. Paddy's on Monday this year (being contrary) and can't wait for my irish soda bread to get here tomorrow morning =).

i find the freshdirect variety quite delicious
and its parbaked, so you can finish it off in your kitchen and get that fresh bread baking scent http://www.freshdirect.com/product.js...

this is more of a post-dinner bar date place... but I just went to angel share last week. http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile...

my gawd. it's so romantic, you'd want to take off your pants even if you're not into your date. it gets a little busy though, we had to wait about 10-20 minutes (totally worth it).

Seconding alot of the suggestions here -- cafe mingala, afghan kebab & uskudar are excellent ethnic choices (burmese, afghan, turkish). mediterraneo also has great atmosphere and food.
if you're going more upscale, park avenue cafe is right there (now that they're doing the new-fangled new restaurant every season thing). Maya (pseudo-Mexican) is also quite delicious. If you want to go touristy, there's Serendipity 3 closeby. And there's about a million nice sushi places if you go just a little bit East from Park, for some reason.