The Dale/David Project continues a tour of the basics tonight with the Screwdriver. It seems like we've overlooked some of these simple drinks on our quest to make the more interesting ones. This evening the Tipsy Texans are on tour in South Austin at the residence of Jenna Noel, associate publisher of Edible Austin magazine. What Mlle Noel lacks in cocktail provisions she adequately makes up for in camera technique. So we've been shooting fabulous photos of primitive cocktails.

Photo by Jenna Noel

The Screwdriver is one of those high school level cocktails that I feel like most adults should avoid making, unless you are stirring around in the early morning looking for a simple breakfast tipple. Though Dale's book does not say as much, I believe that the Screwdriver came about in the 1960's as part of the Smirnoff Vodka Invasion of America's cocktail menus. This event represents one of the darkest periods in world history so I won't linger on it. The Screwdriver we make tonight is from local Tito's Vodka and a few stray oranges from the winter Farmer's Market. With the exception of the grapefruits, most of the citrus has disappeared from the market.