Editor’s note: Bar Boi is a new series on dapperQ created by our latest contributor, Seattle-based Mellina White Cusack. Bar Boi is a monthly piece that pairs a seasonal dapper outfit with a swag cocktail to match. Salud!
Summer is upon us! Weekend cabin trips and lighter, more playful fabrics are on the horizon. And this brings me to a hotly contested piece of clothing: shorts. There’s been a heated debate floating around the fashion blogs as of late; should shorts never leave the house, or is there an appropriate time and place to go bare with your legs? As often as I try to leave the house in pants only, the longer (and hotter) the days get, the more inclined I am to find shorts for the season. After scouring the internet and going from store to store diving into summer trends, it seems shorts can be a part of a fashionable mod ensemble.
The outfit: Hat, Goorin Bros. Shirt and shorts, J. Crew. Belt, Tasso Elba.
There is a consensus on the do’s and don’ts of summer shorts. Here are four tips:
Length: The shorts length should land just above the knee. Anything shorter belongs on the tennis court. Longer and you may end up with “man-pris.” J. Crew offers a selection of lengths to suit a Dapper of any stature. Their current collection has shorts from 5″ to 10.5″ inseam length. I especially like their Japanese chambray.
Fabric:Jeans are out. And so are basketball shorts. Trunks only belong poolside. Go for chinos, cotton blends, chambray and linen, like this pair from H&M.
Cargo and Carpenter are not options: Keep the shorts straight and fitted, free of pleats, extra pockets and anything designed to hold a hand tool. (Check out Chubbies’ “Cargo Embargo.”) If you want to be a bit whimsical, try a fun pattern. These are fun nautical shorts from Brooks Brothers.
Dress is up with a blazer: Make your shorts ensemble “party ready” by adding a blazer. Seersucker and linen works best. Check out an excellent guide below from Fashion Beans.
The Woodland S’more
Nothing expresses the essentials of summer like the aroma of a s’more roasting over a camp fire. The warm, melted chocolate over a freshly torched marshmallow completed with a crunchy graham cracker- there is nothing better. I worked on this cocktail to capture the joy of a s’more in a boozy form. Behold, the Woodland S’more.
1 scoop Chocolate Ice Cream
2 Oz Rye Whiskey
1 Oz Lapsang Souchong Syrup (recipe follows)
1 Large Marshmallow
Wood Smoked Ground Graham Cracker, for the rim (recipe follows)
1- Gently rim Double Old Fashioned glass with ground graham crackers.
2- Place whiskey and syrup in cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into glass.
2- Top with ice cream.
3- Lightly roast marshmallow with a
kitchen torch, then skewer with a toothpick.
Lapsang Souchong Syrup
Lapsang Souchong is a Chinese black tea that is smoked over pine wood. This process gives it a rich, smokey aroma that helps bring this cocktail to life. You can find Lapsang Souchong at specialty shops and some high end grocery stores.
1 Tsp Lapsang Souchong (or one tea bag)
8 Oz Water
1 Cup White Sugar
1- Brew tea leaves in boiled water for 4 minutes.
2- Stir hot tea with sugar until the sugar is completely dissolved.
3- Allow to completely cool. Store in your refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Smokey Ground Graham Crackers
People have described the Woodland S’more as a summer camp fire in a glass. The graham cracker rim is the cherry on top to the smokey goodness that is the signature to this cocktail. If you have a home smoker, take advantage of barbecuing your crackers in it. If not, they will still add an excellent dimension even without the smoke.
6 Graham Crackers
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1- Place crackers in the smoker and smoke for one hour. Remove and cool.
2- Place graham crackers and cinnamon in a food processor or spice grinder.
3- Grind until smooth and store in an airtight container.
