Although, as you may know, if you're stranded in a desert, you probably shouldn't drink any alcoholic beverages because, refreshing as they may be at the time, all they'll do is dehydrate you. Which is bad in the desert. So to amend the previous statement, here's a refreshing drink that you'll enjoy, particularly if you're in a hot place and dehydration isn't a problem. Like a bar in Arizona all year around. Or a back porch anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere in July. You get the idea.
Presbyterian Cocktail Recipe
The aforementioned drink is called the Presbyterian. It’s like an Old Fashioned in some regards, as both are often described as “old man drinks,” but are drinks that are still popular, especially during these warm summer months. As is the case with most mixed drinks, several recipes for the Presbyterian abound. The most common method:
- pour 2 ounces of scotch over ice into a Collins glass
- top it off with half ginger ale and half club soda.
If so desired, ginger ale alone can be used, or cola can be substituted for the club soda. That seems a bit too sweet, however. Some recipes also use bourbon, and other recipes use rye whiskey. It’s all up to your own taste.
Why is it Called a Presbyterian?
So, why is it called a “Presbyterian?” Good question. If only there were a good answer. Does it really matter? The point is, it’s a tasty, refreshing drink. Not “tasty” in a nice-tall-glass-of-lemonade way, but tasty in a manly, scotch way, even if you don’t like scotch. That’s the great part about a Presbyterian. The ginger ale rounds off the scotch quite a bit and leaves a pleasant amount of the flavor.
Facts about Presbyterians
Still wondering about the name? Fine. Here’s some postulating: Presbyterians are, or were originally, Calvinists, followers of the religious doctrines of the 16th Century French theologian and reformer John Calvin. Calvinists emphasized the omnipotence of God and the salvation of the elect through God’s grace alone. Whatever that means.
Here’s something interesting: one of the main tenets of Calvinism is the concept of Total Depravity. Basically, it means that humanity, on the whole, is corrupt, that man is as bad as he can be. We are inclined to wickedness, and would not be capable of any good at all, were it not for the Spirit of God. At least, that’s one writer’s understanding of it after a 5 minutes surfing the web.
The other main tenets of Calvinism -- Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and the Perseverance of the Saints -- aren’t nearly as fun/relevant as to refreshing mixed drinks as Total Depravity is. So given that mankind is inherently corrupt and wicked, as the Presbyterians (the national church of Scotland, by the way) recognize, what better way to celebrate this fact than a tall glass of scotch? Well, how about a tall glass of scotch on ice topped off with a refreshing spritz of ginger ale. And really, who doesn't like a nice glass of ginger ale? The commies, that's who. And probably those damn English. So drink up, lad.
