Chuck’s Green Flash

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One of the enduring traditions here in this little vacation community (started over 100 years ago by a whole flock of Chicago ministers) is a ritual Happy Hour. Folks who have grown up spending summers together every year since they were born traipse around to each other’s cottages for Happy Hour. Sometimes this is at sunset. Sometimes, sunset comes too late for Happy Hour.

Another more recent tradition is watching, at sunset, for the legendary “green flash.” This is a scientific phenomenon that occurs right as the sun dips down past the horizon of water on a very clear evening. For a split second, all those rosy colors become a vivid green. This sight has been talked about among sailors for centuries. Apparently, this is not just a legend as some still stubbornly maintain. This is an ACTUAL occurrence, although quite rare. It’s quite possible that far more people here in this little community have seen green flashes than there have BEEN green flashes to see, but that’s another matter entirely.

Cousin Chuck (great grandma’s brother’s son) has seen a total of two green flashes in his long and interesting life. After many long discussions on this topic with Chuck last summer, we went home and invented a Green Flash for him. On Sunday night, we served Chuck his very own Green Flash. Now he’s seen three.
float*(see note at bottom)

1 oz each over crushed ice in the following order:

Midori
Peach Vodka
Orange Juice
Cranberry juice

Garnish with maraschino cherry and a slice of pineapple; add cocktail straw; serve.

This is a very pretty drink and kind of spectacular. The layers provide the colors of the fading sunset and the green flash on top. Drink with the straw so you don’t disturb the layers.

* A note on Floating or layering ingredients: To create layers you need to know the specific gravity of each liquor or ingredient. In this case they are listed in the order they need to be poured and, you guessed it, the heaviest gets poured first. Use a spoon (backside) and put it down over the ice. Pour each ingredient sloowwlly into the glass so the surface of the layer below isn’t disturbed. I use my black-and-tan spoon since it is made for this but you can use a big Tablespoon or small serving spoon (uh, not a slotted one). Don’t float the layers until you are ready to serve the drinks. Enjoy!

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