Cocktail Thursday: Tennessee Edition
If your Georgia Bulldogs are returning home with a limp in their stride and their playoff aspirations on the line, you could probably use a drink. I can help you with that. These are the times that try Dawgs’ souls I suppose. It is a testament to the heights to which Kirby Smart has taken this program that a two loss season in which both of the defeats have come on the road against top 10 opponents, and with his roster being a MASH unit, feels like the end of the world. We knew coming in to the year that the Bulldogs would likely play the toughest schedule in the nation, and that they would need some luck to get through it unscathed. Instead, we have gotten the opposite of luck. Georgia hasn’t played a game this year with a healthy running back rotation, a fully healthy offensive line, or a complete linebacking corps. The defensive line only finally came close to together over the past couple of weeks. Injuries are a part of the game, everybody has some, and they tend to even out over time. So this is not an excuse so much as a partial explanation. it’s just difficult to get everyone on the same page when you can’t even get everyone on the field at the same time. I think it’s safe to say at this point that we also now realize in hindsight exactly how transcendent a talent Brock Bowers was, and how much we miss Ladd McConkey. Frankly, legal troubles in the receiving corps haven’t helped matters either. Rara Thomas was slated to be our #1 receiver, Colbie Young was looking like his heir apparent, and both ended up needing bail rather than being there to bail out Carson Beck. Speaking of everyone’s favorite Jacksonvillain, Beck has crashed to earth after a season in 2023 that saw him look like the Heisman front runner. There’s only so much blame that can be placed on those around him. The fact is when the offense needed Beck to put it on his back, his shoulders simply haven’t been broad enough. Perhaps the expectations were unfair from the beginning. But that makes the reality of his fall from grace no less harsh. The Red and Black limp back to Athens for the first time in five weeks just hoping for a win. This feels like one of those games where survival is the aim, and victory will not be measured in style points, but actual points. I would love a one point win over the Volunteers in this moment the way a fat kid loves cake which, as a former fat kid, I can assure you means truly, madly, and deeply. There have been rumblings and rumors that this might be a rare blackout game in Athens. Mike Georgia, where it’s black jerseys for the first time since the 2020 Peach Bowl against Cincinnati? Possibly. Candidly, I think it might be a good idea. Normally, I am against all manner of fake juice. However, this team needs all the juice it can squeeze, fake or otherwise. Wear black jerseys. Play Of Montreal during pregame to weird out the visitors. Send Mike Bobo backward around Ag Hill three times on a unicycle. At this point I’ll take whatever mojo, juju, or voodoo we can muster. And what’s the drink for the evening when you fear the Georgia Bulldogs may have to resort to superstition and ritual to pull off a win? A Dark Magic. You’ll need: 2 oz London Dry Gin (Tanqueray or Bombay work nicely) 1 oz apple brandy 1 and 1⁄2 oz blackberry syrup (or muddled fresh blackberries, if you can find them this time of year) 1⁄2 oz lemon juice Blackberries and fresh sage for garnish. They say sage has cleansing powers, if you believe in such things. Maybe buy two bunches, just in case. Shake the gin, apple brandy, blackberry syrup, and lemon juice with ice. Strain it into a glass. Garnish with a couple of blackberries and sage leaves on a cocktail skewer. Enjoy, and…. Go ‘Dawgs!!!
If your Georgia Bulldogs are returning home with a limp in their stride and their playoff aspirations on the line, you could probably use a drink.
I can help you with that.
These are the times that try Dawgs’ souls I suppose. It is a testament to the heights to which Kirby Smart has taken this program that a two loss season in which both of the defeats have come on the road against top 10 opponents, and with his roster being a MASH unit, feels like the end of the world. We knew coming in to the year that the Bulldogs would likely play the toughest schedule in the nation, and that they would need some luck to get through it unscathed.
Instead, we have gotten the opposite of luck. Georgia hasn’t played a game this year with a healthy running back rotation, a fully healthy offensive line, or a complete linebacking corps. The defensive line only finally came close to together over the past couple of weeks. Injuries are a part of the game, everybody has some, and they tend to even out over time. So this is not an excuse so much as a partial explanation. it’s just difficult to get everyone on the same page when you can’t even get everyone on the field at the same time.
I think it’s safe to say at this point that we also now realize in hindsight exactly how transcendent a talent Brock Bowers was, and how much we miss Ladd McConkey. Frankly, legal troubles in the receiving corps haven’t helped matters either. Rara Thomas was slated to be our #1 receiver, Colbie Young was looking like his heir apparent, and both ended up needing bail rather than being there to bail out Carson Beck.
Speaking of everyone’s favorite Jacksonvillain, Beck has crashed to earth after a season in 2023 that saw him look like the Heisman front runner. There’s only so much blame that can be placed on those around him. The fact is when the offense needed Beck to put it on his back, his shoulders simply haven’t been broad enough. Perhaps the expectations were unfair from the beginning. But that makes the reality of his fall from grace no less harsh.
The Red and Black limp back to Athens for the first time in five weeks just hoping for a win. This feels like one of those games where survival is the aim, and victory will not be measured in style points, but actual points. I would love a one point win over the Volunteers in this moment the way a fat kid loves cake which, as a former fat kid, I can assure you means truly, madly, and deeply.
There have been rumblings and rumors that this might be a rare blackout game in Athens. Mike Georgia, where it’s black jerseys for the first time since the 2020 Peach Bowl against Cincinnati? Possibly. Candidly, I think it might be a good idea. Normally, I am against all manner of fake juice. However, this team needs all the juice it can squeeze, fake or otherwise. Wear black jerseys. Play Of Montreal during pregame to weird out the visitors. Send Mike Bobo backward around Ag Hill three times on a unicycle. At this point I’ll take whatever mojo, juju, or voodoo we can muster.
And what’s the drink for the evening when you fear the Georgia Bulldogs may have to resort to superstition and ritual to pull off a win?
A Dark Magic.
You’ll need:
- 2 oz London Dry Gin (Tanqueray or Bombay work nicely)
- 1 oz apple brandy
- 1 and 1⁄2 oz blackberry syrup (or muddled fresh blackberries, if you can find them this time of year)
- 1⁄2 oz lemon juice
- Blackberries and fresh sage for garnish. They say sage has cleansing powers, if you believe in such things. Maybe buy two bunches, just in case.
Shake the gin, apple brandy, blackberry syrup, and lemon juice with ice. Strain it into a glass. Garnish with a couple of blackberries and sage leaves on a cocktail skewer. Enjoy, and….
Go ‘Dawgs!!!
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