by Sandra Crittenden

  My favorite cocktail is the Gin & Tonic or the G&T, if you want to sound hip. It is simple, refreshing, and easy to make. I do several variations on this classic drink but you can never go wrong with the basic version. For years, we kept our home bar stocked with Bombay Sapphire Gin because it was my father-in-law's favorite. Since he passed away we have experimented with a few other brands as well, but, the clean crisp flavor of Bombay Sapphire is still always deliciously reliable.   For this drink, all you need is ice, 2 ounces of your favorite gin, a bottle of tonic water, and a wedge of lime. You can make it stronger or weaker depending on the amount of tonic you use. I typically use about 4 ounces. I fill my glass with ice to the top and add the gin, a squeeze of lime, and top with the tonic water. A citrus garnish is traditional but optional as is the umbrella used here.   I serve this in various glasses depending on my mood. The balloon glass is common in Spa

  Every year on June 14, cocktail aficionados have the opportunity to celebrate America's quintessential spirit on National Bourbon Day. Bourbon has been produced in the United States since the 1700s, although the name Bourbon was not widely used as branding until the 1870s. It became officially known as America's spirit when Congress recognized it as a distinctive product of the U.S. and declared Bourbon whiskey to be "America's Native Spirit" in 1964.   Bourbon is made from a distilled mixture of grains, at least 51% of the grain mash must be corn, and it must be made in America. Other grains that may be used to complete the mash are rye, barley, and wheat, however, the more corn that is used, the sweeter the taste will be.   There are many brands of Bourbon and each seems to have its devotees. I have not pledged allegiance to any one particular label yet. My husband tends to get gifted several bottles of liquor every Christmas and we enjoy trying out

  Have you depleted all your supplies that you normally keep on hand during the Stay Home orders?, It may be time to rethink and restock what necessities you really need to stay home for a long time.    For wine lovers, there are other pressing needs than just food, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer. As hurricane season arrives on the Gulf Coast, there are other concerns in addition to Covid-19 worries, as you think about restocking freezers and pantries again, think about what wines you will enjoy most if you get stuck at home. Read the online version of the  June 2020 issue of  Galveston Monthly  magazine or check out the printed magazine version below.