The Dale/David Project went on the road last week in an exciting trip to Houston, specifically to Beaver's and the current home bar of Bobby Heugel. (You can read about my previous Houston field trip here.) The original post was going to be Live Blogging at Beaver's! But then I had a few too many of Bobby's libations and now will be posting 4-5 days after the fact. So be it. If I had been live blogging people would have been too busy watching Olympians wrestle in skimpy singlets, which is what was on the TV at the Beave that night.

Beavers bar man Bobby Heugel honored us by mixing a few drinks from the Dale

First I want to share an image with you that I think is very intriguing. This photo was taken not at Beaver's but rather at a shitbox burger joint I can't remember the name of. The point is that there is something very appropriate about there being a Zima sign right above the urinal: Is it because it tastes like piss? Or because you might as well just pour it down the pisser?

Do they still make this stuff? It was all the rage during my high school years (before we graduated to the Mickey's hand grenades)

In addition to heading up the bar team at Beaver's, Bobby Heugel is the founder of the acclaimed DrinkDogma.com, a comprehensive online beverage resource. Whereas I just like to ramble on about drinking, post a bunch of shoddy photos, and talk the occasional smack, Bobby's site is focused on delivering usable information to readers--if I could just take a page out of his book. On this evening, Bobby very generously agreed to take a page out of Dale's book, so to speak, by participating in the Dale/David Project. But first, I tried a couple of Bobby Heugel originals.

The Lost in Madrid Cocktail

Lost in Madrid
2 oz. Plymouth Gin
1 oz. Vya Dry Vermouth
1/4 oz. Licor 43
2 Dashes Orange Bitters (Angostura)
Stir & strain, garnish with a lemon twist

The Brave is an intense experience

The Brave
2 oz. Averna Amaro
3/4 oz. Laphroaig 10 yr.
1/4 oz. Orange Curacao
1 Dash Angostura Bitters
Flamed Orange Zest
Swirl to warm thoroughly

I handed Bobby the book and he selected two cocktails. The first is the Man O' War.
The Man O' War consists of Wild Turkey 101, orange curacao, sweet vermouth, and lemon juice, garnished with an orange slice and a cherry.

Dale/David Project #43--The Man O' War

Next up Bobby made a Silver Fizz. Actually, two Silver Fizzes. The first followed Dale's recipe, which oddly has as much simple syrup as it does gin. I have made this drink several times before but never really noticed how sweet it was until Bobby made the drink following his own formula.

Dale/David Project #44--Silver Fizz

Silver Fizz (Bobby Heugel version. Double simple syrup for DDG version)
1 1/2 oz Gin
3/4 oz Lemon juice
1/2 oz Simple syrup
1 Egg white
Shake vigorously with ice so as to emulsify the egg, then strain into a highball glass--Dale calls to top with soda. The drink is served without ice.