The IndoTini

The IndoTini, pictured here with her team.

Good Evening, Body Bar Mixer Participants! And Good Evening to you, too, Couch Potato Cocktail Enthusiasts.  Pull up a chair; let me mix you up a well deserved drink.

Tonight's offering is the IndoTini, named after our beloved IndoRow classes - IndoRow, Synergy Row, Tabatta Regatta, and our newest entry, Row and Flow.  The IndoTini is pictured above with her team. Why? Because rowing is a team sport, and it works best if the team is rowing in synch.  I'm happy to report that in this cocktail, the team member ingredients are in perfect synch. The happy result is a beautifully balanced libation.

Now, I know, you're thinking that our IndoTini looks very similar to the GinYasa from a few days ago. But looks, just like certain exercises, can be deceiving.

We've all had the deceptive exercise experience, have we not?  A BBB Certified Fitness Genius-yes...each of them really is a Certified Fitness Genius - he or she will cue an exercise that you can (initially) do without much effort, right? And you're thinking, Yeah! I'm digging this class. I'm in mad shape! Go, me!

And then, BOOM. All of a sudden, you get it. The burn locks in, sweat starts beading on your forehead, and on other parts that we shall not name here (after all, your Body BarTender is a lady).

But, I digress. Back to the drink...

The IndoTini recipe is below. As in rowing, it is available in Three Pressures: Low, Medium, and FULL PRESSURE!  (Please read that in your mind's voice like Diania yells it.)  I will not offer a Racing version, because let's face it...we'd all fall off our rowers.

In case you are wondering, your Body BarTender is enjoying a Full Pressure version tonight. Why? Because she filled up her card. That's why.

Without further delay, the IndoTini Recipe:

The IndoTini (Easy Pressure Ingredients)

3/4 ounce Vodka
3/4 ounce Orange Liquor (a good quality triple sec)
1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
1/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 good dashes Fee Brothers Cranberry Bitters
2 good dashes Regan's Orange No. 6 bitters

The IndoTini (Medium Pressure Ingredients)

1 ounce Vodka
3/4 ounce Orange Liquor (a good quality triple sec)
1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
1/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 good dashes Fee Brothers Cranberry Bitters
2 good dashes Regan's Orange No. 6 bitters

The IndoTini (Full Pressure Ingredients)

1.5 ounces Vodka
3/4 ounce Orange Liquor (a good quality triple sec)
1 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice
1/4 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 good dashes Fee Brothers Cranberry Bitters
2 good dashes Regan's Orange No. 6 bitters

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass filled with ice. Find a paddle that will fit into the glass. With your chest lifted - be proud! - and your core and gluteus muscles engaged, row...I mean stir...until the drink is well blended and very cold as follows:

Low pressure ingredients - 24 stroke rate
Medium Pressure ingredients - 26 stroke rate
Full Pressure ingredients - 28 stroke rate

Strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with an orange peel.

Raise your glass. Imagine yourself and your perfectly in-synch team rowing up to the beach.  Cabana boys are waiting with cocktails for us. A cheesy dance music mix is playing. Massage tables are at the ready...Victory is ours!

Cheers!

The GinYasa

The GinYasa, shown here in Mountain Pose

Greetings Body Bar Friends! I know, I know. Your Body BarTender is two weeks late with this post. I was so busy filling my Mixer card with fun stickers, that time just slipped away from me.  To make up for my delinquency, I shall post a few good libations this week for your reading and sipping enjoyment.

Today's offering is the GinYasa, named in honor of that Vinyasa thing we all love so much. Truth be told, though, when I named this drink, I had no idea what Vinyasa even meant. So, I asked Ebbs, one of our resident yoga oracles. She did a little research and shared this:

 "There are multiple meanings or possible translations for the word, several of them are pretty cool, but the most commonly used translation is "to place with special care" relating to placing the body and the breath with care and attention, etc."

Let's keep this in mind while we mix and enjoy this drink, shall we?

This drink is as easy as Happy Baby to make, gorgeous to behold, and just plain delicious.

The GinYasa

Ingredients:

1 ounce gin
1 ounce Campari
1 ounce sweet vermouth (get a good kind!)
1 ounce freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
2-3 good dashes Regan's Orange No. 6 Bitters (or other bitters of choice)

Place the ingredients with Vinyasa style special care in a mixing glass filled with ice. Breathe in. Stir until the drink is well chilled, being mindful of any areas in your stirring hand that are feeling tight or tense. Exhale out that tension. Strain the drink into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with grapefruit peel. Bring your hands to heart center and reflect on our collective good fortune for the Body Bar community.

Bottoms up (inversion!) and Namaste.

The Russian Twist

Greetings, Body Bar Mixer Challenge Participants and friends! I know, I know. The Body BarTender is a day late. I hope you will accept my sincerest apologies. I have been spending so much time at the Bloomington Body Bar filling up my Mixer Card, that time simply got away from me.

This week's reward for all of your hard work is the Russian Twist. This is an easy-to-make cocktail using ingredients that are readily available. The key to making it really sing, is that one must throw one's obliques into the shaking process, as if you were doing...you guessed it...Russian Twists!

The Russian Twist

2 oz. Russian Vodka (truth-be-told, it doesn't have to be Russian)

• ¾ oz. fresh lime juice (FRESH is a must)
• ¾ oz. unsweetened cranberry juice
• ½ oz. agave nectar or simple syrup (use less if you wish)
• Orange twist or fresh cranberries, for garnish 

Have ready a chilled coupe or cocktail glass. Combine all ingredients except for the garnish in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.  Sit on the floor, or on your home rower or BOSU ball, hinge back and move the shaker from side to side in the style of the Russian Twist exercise. Just do it more quickly than is done in class. If your lower back starts to hurt, remember to be safe by squeezing your glutes, or by reducing your hinge angle.  When the drink is thoroughly chilled (or your obliques are very tired, whichever comes first), strain the cocktail into your drinking vessel. Garnish as desired. 

Give yourself a toast for your dedication to fitness. Enjoy!

The Barrebon Old Fashioned

The Barrebon Old Fashioned

Greetings, Mind Body Workout Champs. Congratulations on a week of hard work at the Bloomington Body Bar!  As a reward for your work, and in keeping with the theme of balance in our lives, I offer you the Barrebon Old Fashioned. Don't fret if your dance card did not include a Barre class this week. You can still enjoy this smooth, relaxing take on the classic Bourbon Old Fashioned. If you think that don't like bourbon, try it anyway.  What is life about if not to try new things?

This is a simple drink to craft, even for the novice. But, before you start on the recipe below, here are some tips and tricks.

1. Use a decent "Barrebon". It makes up most of the drink, so it is important.

2. If you don't want an entire bottle of St. Germain, Big Red has teeny little bottles for sale that should make a drink or two. Start with 1/4 ounce and work up if you like your drink sweeter.

3. Use a maraschino cherry if you must, but if you can find something better, such as a Luxardo Cherry (or if you are lucky enough to know the supermodel/rocket scientist author of the blog, one of her house-made cocktail cherries.)

4. This is a boozy cocktail, meant for sipping. Make one when you have time to relax and reflect on how wonderful you are and how happy you are to be part of the BBB community.

The Barrebon Old Fashioned

2.5 ounces good bourbon

1/4 - 1/2 ounce St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur 

2-3 generous dashes of bitters ** 

Wide slice of orange peel

Best quality cocktail cherry you can get

**Angostura, Peychauds, or Regan's Orange Bitters No. 6, or your favorite

Put some ice in an old fashioned glass. One large cube is optimum, but several small ones are okay. In a mixing glass filled with ice (I use a 16 oz mason jar),  pour bourbon, St. Germain, and bitters. Mix until drink is thoroughly chilled. Strain into the old fashioned glass. Squeeze the orange peel to release some of the tasty orange oil. Rub it around the rim of the glass. Garnish the drink with the orange peel and a cherry. 

Raise your glass to your friends at the Body Bar! Cheers!!